Universal Emergency Notification System with Throttling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mass notification systems face challenges in delivering emergency messages efficiently due to diverse telecommunications platforms, language barriers, and geographic differences, leading to delayed and ineffective message delivery, especially during crises when inexperienced agents must initiate campaigns under stress.
Innovation Solution
A universal communications system that allows for rapid initiation and targeted emergency notifications through a user-friendly interface, enabling selection of geographic areas, message delivery criteria, and throttling to manage telecommunications capacity, ensuring messages are delivered effectively across various platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a variety of telecommunications platforms are supported to reach diverse populations, then the coverage and accessibility of emergency notifications are improved, but the system complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a universal interface that consolidates multiple telecommunications platform configurations into a single unified access point. This interface automatically detects and adapts to different platform types (landline, mobile, text messaging, email) without requiring the operator to manually configure each platform-specific setting, thereby achieving multi-functionality while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary component that acts as a bridge between the user and the diverse telecommunications platforms. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of platform-specific protocols and configurations internally, while presenting a simplified, uniform interface to the operator. The intermediary automatically manages the translation and adaptation between different communication standards.
2Measurement precision
If geographic selection capabilities are added to target specific areas, then the precision and relevance of emergency notifications are improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures geographic boundary definitions and population databases before emergency situations occur. During an emergency, operators can quickly select from pre-defined geographic areas or draw custom boundaries using an intuitive map interface, eliminating the need to perform complex geographic analysis in real-time. The system has already performed the computationally intensive tasks of defining service areas and compiling contact lists in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and stores copies of geographic area definitions and associated population data in advance. When geographic targeting is needed, the system retrieves these pre-existing copies rather than generating them on-demand, significantly reducing the time and complexity required for geographic selection during emergencies.
3Speed
If message delivery is accelerated during emergencies, then the response time is improved, but the telecommunications capacity may be overwhelmed
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic, staggered message delivery rather than attempting to contact all recipients simultaneously. Messages are sent in controlled waves with adjustable intervals between batches, allowing the telecommunications network to process each wave without becoming overwhelmed. This periodic approach maintains high overall delivery speed while preventing network saturation and ensuring reliable transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the message delivery rate based on real-time feedback from the telecommunications network. If network congestion is detected, the system automatically reduces the delivery rate; if capacity is available, it increases the rate. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maximize delivery speed while maintaining network reliability and preventing system overload.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention disclosed is a new system and method for directing the initiation of a notification campaign directed to a telecommunications system, wherein a variety of different campaigns are initiated through a universal interface offering access to a variety of telecommunications systems. With the advent of automated telephonic message delivery, certain public safety agencies, such as police departments and fire departments, seek to deliver mass messages to citizenry at risk during emergency situations.