Wireless Device Auto Check-In for Incident Command Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manual systems for accountability management of first responders during emergency incidents are inefficient, as they rely on individual phone calls and lack real-time tracking of personnel status and location, making it difficult for incident commanders to coordinate responses effectively.
Innovation Solution
A wireless device with processing circuitry that receives incident data, determines user confirmation, calculates estimated time of arrival, and transmits updates on location within a virtual region, enabling real-time tracking and communication of personnel status and location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If manual systems such as individual phone calls are used to initiate and manage firefighters during an incident, then the incident commander can communicate with each responder, but it wastes time and the incident commander cannot track responder location and status in real time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system of phone calls with an automated electronic communication system. Wireless devices automatically transmit location and status data via network communications, eliminating the need for manual calling and tracking while providing real-time information to the incident commander.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless devices perform self-service by automatically determining their own location using GPS, detecting their status, and transmitting this information without requiring manual intervention from the incident commander. The system autonomously manages communication and tracking functions.
2Reliability
If proprietary wireless devices with special equipment are used to relay location and status, then real-time tracking is achieved, but communication among responders and notification to incident commander have deficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless device is designed as a universal multi-functional platform that combines location tracking, inter-responder communication, incident commander notification, and personnel data sharing in a single device. This eliminates the limitations of proprietary devices by providing comprehensive adaptability for various first responder operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for a wireless device (12) to facilitate personnel accountability is provided. Incident data is received. The incident data includes a location of an incident. A determination is made whether confirmation has been received that a user of the wireless device (12) agrees to respond to the incident. In response to determining confirmation has been received: a location of the wireless device (12) is determined, a first estimated time of arrival to the location of the incident from the location of the wireless device (12) is determined, transmission of the first estimated time of arrival is caused, a virtual region around the location of the incident is generated, a determination is made if the wireless device (12) enters the virtual region, transmission of a first update is caused in response to determining the wireless device (12) enters the virtual region.