Mobile Wireless Tower EAS Polling Logic for Non-Subscriber Alert Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for distributing emergency alert system (EAS) messages to mobile devices within a specific zone are limited, as they often fail to reach non-subscribers of the service provider within the tower's range, and lack efficient methods for targeted notification.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where a mobile wireless tower polls a trusted host server for EAS messages, identifies relevant objects containing zone-specific information, and broadcasts formatted notifications to all available mobile devices within its range, using TCP/IP infrastructure to ensure efficient and targeted delivery of emergency alerts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mobile wireless tower broadcasts messages to all subscribers within its range, then the coverage area is maximized, but non-subscribers cannot receive the emergency alerts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency alert delivery reliabilityVSAvoidnotification coverage scope
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the notification delivery process into two independent channels: traditional subscriber-based messaging and IP-based universal messaging. The IP polling logic creates a separate communication path that independently queries IP addresses within the geofenced area, allowing non-subscribers to receive alerts through a different mechanism while subscribers continue to receive alerts through the original channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an IP polling logic as an intermediary component between the message generation system and the delivery mechanism. This intermediary queries the IP address database to identify all devices within the affected geofenced area, translates the emergency alert into IP-routable messages, and distributes them independently of subscriber status, thereby bridging the gap between traditional cellular messaging and universal IP-based communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the system polls a host server for EAS messages using TCP/IP infrastructure, then the message distribution efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage distribution efficiencyVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the existing EAS message reception capability with IP-based polling functionality into a unified message distribution system. The IP polling logic reuses the existing message queue and broadcast infrastructure, combining traditional cellular messaging pathways with IP-routable message delivery through a common architecture that handles both subscriber and non-subscriber notifications through integrated but distinct processing streams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the system creates formatted notifications for all available wireless mobile devices, then the notification completeness is improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification completenessVSAvoidalert processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining an up-to-date IP address database that pre-maps IP addresses to geographic locations and mobile device identifiers. When an emergency alert is generated, the IP polling logic immediately queries this pre-organized database using the geofenced area coordinates, rather than scanning or discovering devices in real-time. This pre-positioning of data structures enables rapid message formatting and distribution to all identified devices within the affected area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3249851B1Emergency alert system distribution to mobile wireless towers
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP3249851B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3249851B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3249851B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus comprising: a network infrastructure arrangement; logic, the logic being arranged to obtaining an object associated with a host server (104) through the network infrastructure arrangement, the logic further being arranged to identify a message contained in the object and to create a representation of the message; and a transmitter, the transmitter being arranged to transmit the representation of the message. The logic may be arranged to determine if the object includes an indication that identifies a first zone (120), and to identify the message contained in the object if the object includes the indication that identifies the first zone.