Virtualizing Digital Assistants for Anonymous Emergency Communications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional medical alarm systems are ineffective due to user-operated requirements, such as wearing devices and remembering to recharge them, leading to non-use and inefficiency, especially for individuals who are alone or have privacy concerns, and digital personal assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant are restricted from making emergency calls.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing preprogrammed digital assistants with dedicated phone numbers and virtual private networks for anonymous communications, ensuring privacy and automatic connectivity to healthcare providers without the need for user-operated devices, and providing continuous battery backup during power outages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional medical alarm systems are used, then emergency help can be summoned, but user compliance deteriorates due to requirements to wear devices and remember to recharge them
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors the user's environment and detects falls or emergencies without requiring the user to manually activate any device. Sensors continuously monitor for anomalies and automatically trigger emergency protocols, eliminating the need for users to remember to charge or wear devices actively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary setup during installation where devices are pre-configured and positioned in the user's home. Emergency detection capabilities are pre-activated and continuously monitored, so when an emergency occurs, the system is already prepared to respond immediately without requiring user intervention.
2Ease of operation
If digital personal assistants are used for emergency calls, then convenient voice activation is achieved, but privacy deteriorates due to lack of anonymous communication capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the user's voice command and the emergency service. A dedicated emergency number is used as the intermediary, which routes calls through a privacy-protecting mechanism that allows emergency services to be contacted without revealing the user's personal information or location to the digital assistant's corporate entity.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is segmented into separate functional components: the digital assistant handles voice recognition, a dedicated emergency number handles call routing, and emergency services handle response. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function while protecting user privacy by preventing the digital assistant's corporate entity from accessing emergency communication details.
3Reliability
If user-operated devices are required, then device functionality is maintained, but reliability deteriorates when users are unable to operate them during emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-activation during emergencies. Sensors automatically detect falls, unusual inactivity, or other emergency conditions and trigger the emergency response protocol without requiring the user to manually activate any buttons or switches, ensuring operation even when users are incapacitated.
Solution Approach 2:
During installation, the system is pre-configured with user profiles, emergency contacts, and device positioning. Detection algorithms are pre-programmed to recognize various emergency conditions. This preliminary setup ensures that when an emergency occurs, the system is already prepared to automatically respond without requiring any user operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for providing anonymous communications from a user to a called party includes obtaining a dedicated phone number and creating a user account for the user and assigning the dedicated phone number to the user account. A provider account is created for a digital assistant using the dedicated phone number and the digital assistant is preprogrammed with the user account. The digital assistant is also preprogrammed with a skill for recognizing a specific utterance (e.g. “Call”). Connectivity is provided between the digital assistant and the Internet, for example, using a wireless access point. The digital assistant listens for the specific utterance and, upon recognizing the specific utterance followed by an identification of the called party, the digital assistant initiates a voice call through the Internet to the called party.