UAV Relay for Emergency Location Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for locating individuals making E911 calls in urban or rural areas are often inaccurate, require manual intervention, and lack rapid and automated solutions, especially in emergency situations where visibility is poor or communication signals are compromised.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones to determine and verify the location of network devices, including mobile phones and other devices, by sending and receiving signals through existing wireless networks, and forwarding this location to emergency services for accurate and rapid response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional methods (maps, visual observation, dead reckoning) are used for location determination, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and speed are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as an intermediary component between the mobile device and emergency services. The UAV carries a transceiver that communicates with both the mobile device via wireless signals and with emergency services personnel, thereby enabling accurate location determination without requiring complex equipment at the emergency responder's end. The UAV acts as a mobile communication relay that bridges the gap between the caller and responders.
2Productivity
If manual navigation and observation methods are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity and response time are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service location determination where the mobile device automatically transmits its location information to the UAV transceiver without requiring manual input from the caller. The UAV then automatically processes this information and relays it to emergency services, eliminating the need for manual navigation or observation by emergency personnel and significantly reducing response time.
3Reliability
If E911 systems are used in rural areas with poor signal strength, then coverage is extended, but reliability of communication is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV transceiver serves as a mobile intermediary communication node that can physically relocate to establish better signal connections. In rural areas with poor signal strength, the UAV can position itself between the mobile device and emergency services infrastructure, creating a reliable communication pathway that adapts to environmental conditions and overcomes signal weakness.
4Productivity
If automated location determination systems are implemented, then productivity and response time are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV transceiver is designed as a multi-functional device that can serve multiple purposes: determining location of mobile devices, providing communication relay in poor signal areas, and assisting emergency services personnel. This universality allows the system to achieve high productivity and response time without requiring separate specialized equipment for each function, thereby controlling overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for determining and verifying a location of a network device in emergency situations with emergency messages including legacy 911, E911 and text-to-911 messages from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone. The method and system provide a current physical geographic location for mobile devices in urban areas (e.g., spot, chair, desk on in a room on a building floor, campus, enterprise, city, state, region, country, continent, etc.) and rural areas in an emergency situation such as an accident, fire, terrorist attack, military incident, weather, flood event, etc. and forwarding the current physical geographic location to a legacy 911 network, a Emergency Services IP networks (ESInet) or text-to-911 Short Message Services (SMS) networks to alert emergency responders.