Voice-Call Gateway Integrating Sensor Networks for Emergency Notification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sensor network systems do not allow residents to report emergency situations or abnormalities by voice to security service providers while they are present in the residence.

Innovation Solution

A voice-call system comprising a gateway, voice-call terminals, and a server device that enables residents to notify security service providers through a simple voice operation, using short-range radio communication and public telecommunications networks for data transfer, allowing both unicast and multicast communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a sensor network system is used to collect monitoring information, then monitoring capability is improved, but voice notification capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring capabilityVSAvoidvoice notification capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sensor network system with a voice call system by integrating a voice call terminal and gateway into the monitoring system. The gateway collects monitoring information from sensor nodes while simultaneously enabling voice communication between residents and security personnel, thus merging monitoring and voice notification capabilities into a unified system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway device performs multiple functions: it collects monitoring information from sensor nodes, manages voice calls between residents and security personnel, and coordinates communication between different system components. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling both monitoring and voice notification through a single integrated device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If conventional sensor network systems are used, then monitoring information collection is achieved, but emergency notification efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring information collectionVSAvoidemergency notification efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables continuous voice communication during emergency situations, allowing residents to notify security personnel immediately without interruption. The voice call terminal and gateway maintain continuous connectivity, ensuring that emergency notifications are transmitted without delay, thus improving notification efficiency while maintaining comprehensive monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway acts as an intermediary that bridges the sensor network system and voice communication system. It collects monitoring information from sensors and simultaneously facilitates voice calls, enabling efficient emergency notification by mediating between different communication channels and eliminating delays associated with conventional sensor-only systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If voice call functionality is added to monitoring system, then notification capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the voice call functionality with the existing sensor network system by integrating a voice call terminal and gateway into the monitoring infrastructure. This consolidation achieves notification capability while minimizing additional complexity by sharing existing system components and infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables residents to report emergencies or abnormalities by voice with ease, facilitating effective communication between residents and security service providers, enhancing security and response efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a first speech signal of the resident converted into an electric signal by the microphone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicrophone transduction:

Implementation Method 2

output, by voice from the speaker, a second speech signal transmitted from the monitoring device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpeaker transduction:

Data Source

PatentEP2913959B1Voice-call system
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2913959B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2913959B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2913959B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A CMS server 5 relays the communication between a gateway 3 disposed in a residence 100 and a monitoring device 4 used by a company that provides security service. When a resident staying in the residence 100 operates an operation section of a voice-call terminal 1 once, the voice-call terminal 1 transmits, to the gateway 3, a speech signal that is input from the resident into a microphone. This speech signal is transmitted from the gateway 3 to the monitoring device 4 via the CMS server 5, and is output from the monitoring device 4. The speech signal that has been transmitted from the monitoring device 4 to the voice-call terminal 1 via the CMS server 5 and gateway 3 is output from a speaker of the voice-call terminal 1.