Patent Description:
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for retrieving specific and adjacent structure network maps in real time.

Known systems and methods for testing a public safety network in a building include a user walking through the building to collect coverage data of the public safety network for a public safety communication system and spatially organizing the coverage data via a grid overlaid on a floor plan of the building on a floor by floor basis. Then, municipalities can use the coverage data to certify the building as being suitable for occupancy and being minimally or reasonably covered by the public safety network for public safety scenarios, for example, to ensure that an emergency responder, such as police department, fire department, and/or EMT personnel, have direct access to the public safety communication system during an emergency situation.

However, as part of certifying the building, there are certain exceptions and limitations for compliance. For example, a limited number of failed test points on the grid are allowed for the municipality to certify the building. Accordingly, even when the building is certified, some areas on some floors of the building may be insufficiently covered by the public safety network for reasonable use thereof. Unfortunately, when responding to the emergency situation, there are no known systems and methods for the emergency responder to identify in real time where in the building the areas with insufficient coverage are located. Indeed, that coverage information may only be stored in a paper or electronic file with permit information for the building.

Because of this lack of access to the coverage information in real time, the emergency responder may enter the building without knowledge of the areas where he will likely lose communication with teammates and the like. Systems and methods have been developed to train and implement tactics for the emergency responder to operate when he loses communication, but only after such a loss occurs. Furthermore, only the emergency responder who loses the communication knows where he is located within the building, and when such a loss occurs, he cannot transmit any outgoing information or receive any incoming information. Indeed, emergency personnel at a command center may have access to a map of the building, but is reliant on the public safety network to communicate with the emergency responder in the building to warn the emergency responder about any danger within the building.

In view of the above, there is a continuing, ongoing need for improved systems and methods.

Unites States Patent Application Publication <CIT> relates to a wireless communication system and a method to provide wireless communication between a first communication component and a second communication component. In at least one of the first and second communication components, strength of a signal between the first and second communication components is monitored. If the strength of the signal drops below a threshold, an alert is generated.

While this invention is susceptible of an embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention. It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiments.

Embodiments disclosed herein can include systems and methods for retrieving specific and adjacent structure network maps, including RF coverage data, in real time. For example, systems and methods disclosed herein can load a computation device available to emergency personnel at a command center and/or an emergency responder entering a target building during an emergency therein with coverage information necessary to inform the emergency personnel and the emergency responder about coverage limitations in the building. In some embodiments, the computation device can be loaded with the coverage information in real time while the emergency responder is in transit to the building and during the emergency, and in some embodiments, the computation device can be loaded with the coverage information at a home location of the emergency responder in response to notifications concerning the emergency.

In accordance with disclosed embodiments, systems and methods can store grid test results, that is, the RF coverage data, and/or certification results based on the grid test results in a database that organizes, stores, and/or cross-references the grid test results with geographic information for locations related to the grid test results, for example, where underlying data associated with the grid test results was collected or where the underlying data associated with the grid test results originated. In some embodiments, the geographic information can include a building address, a property identification number (PIN), a GPS location, a GPS index, a building diagram, and/or a height of a building.

As disclosed and described herein, the target building can include the building in which the emergency has been identified, and systems and methods disclosed herein can use the grid test results and/or the certification results for the target building and/or from buildings surrounding the target building, that is, adjacent buildings, for example, when the grid test results and/or the certification results are unavailable for the target building, to load the computation device with the coverage information. For example, in some embodiments, the computation device can access the database via a website either directly by entering the building address of the target building or via a link received from the emergency personnel to view the coverage information for the target building and the adjacent buildings.

In some embodiments, systems and methods disclosed herein can visually present the coverage information in 2D and/or 3D, for example, on a map, on a user interface device of the computation device to provide guidance to the emergency responder regarding areas in the target building where, based on the coverage information, poor coverage likely exists, and, therefore, that should be avoided. For example, during a fire in an apartment on a twenty-first floor of a high rise building, if there is poor coverage in a northeast stairwell on floors <NUM>-<NUM>, then systems and methods disclosed herein can visually present the coverage information indicative of that poor coverage on the map displayed on the computation device and, in some embodiments, display a path directing the emergency responder to reach the twenty-first floor via southeast or northwest stairwells, thereby avoid the areas with the poor coverage. In some embodiments, systems and methods disclosed herein can display grid test points where the coverage limitations likely exist, that is, where the grid test points failed a coverage test, and shade those grid test points in one color, for example, red.

In some embodiments, a plurality of emergency responders can enter the target building, and each of the plurality of emergency responders can carry a respective computation device that includes a respective radio. In these or other embodiments, the respective radio of the respective computation device carried by each of the plurality of emergency responders can transmit the coverage information and real time coverage signals detected and/or generated thereby to the respective computation device carried by other ones of the plurality of emergency responders as each of the plurality of emergency responders traverses the target building. Then, the respective computation device carried by each of the plurality of emergency responders can use a combination of GPS signals and the coverage information and the real time coverage signals generated or received thereby to track other ones of the plurality of emergency responders and alert a respective one of the plurality of emergency responders and/or the emergency personnel when that one of the plurality of emergency responders is proximate any of the areas with the poor coverage.

For example, in some embodiments, the respective computation device carried by each of the plurality of emergency responders can include a tactile feedback mechanism that can vibrate in a first pattern when detecting proximity to any of the areas with the poor coverage and that can vibrate in a second, different pattern when entering any of the areas with sufficient coverage after being located in any of the areas with the poor coverage. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the respective computation device carried by each of the plurality of emergency responders can transmit notification signals to the command center when detecting proximity to any of the areas with the poor coverage.

Exemplary, but non-limiting use case scenarios of systems and methods disclosed herein can include fire department personnel driving to the target building and/or a fire chief using the coverage information to organize a plan of attacking a fire in the target building while staying in communication with each other, police department personnel responding to an emergency response, swat, hostage, and/or shooting event using the coverage information to be aware of all of the areas with the poor coverage prior to entering the target building, a surveillance team using the coverage information to ensure that all of the areas in the adjacent buildings relevant to surveilling the target building have the sufficient coverage, and/or EMT personnel using the coverage information to identify a need for relay personnel to call a hospital or a doctor when treating a patient in any of the areas with the poor coverage.

<FIG> is a system <NUM> according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in <FIG>, in some embodiments, the system <NUM> can include a dispatch server <NUM> located at an emergency dispatch location, a municipal database device <NUM> remotely located from the emergency dispatch location, a first user device <NUM>, and a second user device <NUM>. In some embodiments, the dispatch server <NUM> can include a programmable processor <NUM> and a dispatch database device <NUM>. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first user device <NUM> can include a communication device worn by an emergency responder when responding to an emergency. Still further, in some embodiments, the second user device <NUM> can include a tablet, a personal computer device, a mobile device, etc. that can display RF coverage data for an identified geographic location in which an emergency is located, and in some embodiments, the identified geographic location can include a target building, the RF coverage data can be related to the target building and/or adjacent buildings thereto.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of an unclaimed method <NUM> according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in <FIG>, the method <NUM> can include the programmable processor <NUM> receiving user input defining a boundary of a first coverage area of an emergency dispatch location associated with the dispatch server <NUM>, as in <NUM>. Then, the method <NUM> can include the programmable processor <NUM> accessing the municipal database device <NUM> to retrieve a batch of RF coverage data relevant to the first coverage area and storing or caching the batch of RF coverage data in the dispatch database device <NUM>, as in <NUM>. In some embodiments, the batch of RF coverage data can relate to (<NUM>) geographic locations within the first coverage area, (<NUM>) geographic locations within second coverage areas of other emergency dispatch locations adjacent to the first coverage area, and (<NUM>) geographic locations adjacent to the boundary of the first coverage area.

As also seen in <FIG>, in unclaimed embodiments, the method <NUM> includes the programmable processor <NUM> receiving a notification of an emergency event at the identified geographic location, as in <NUM>. Then, the method <NUM> includes the programmable processor <NUM> retrieving the RF coverage data for the identified geographic location.

For example, in some unclaimed embodiments, the method <NUM> can include the programmable processor <NUM> (<NUM>) determining whether the RF coverage data for the identified geographic location is cached on the dispatch database device <NUM>, as in <NUM>, (<NUM>) when the RF coverage data for the identified geographic location is cached on the dispatch database device <NUM>, pushing the RF coverage data for the identified geographic location to the second user device <NUM>, as in <NUM>, and (<NUM>) when the RF coverage data for the identified geographic location fails to be cached on the dispatch database device <NUM>, directing the second user device <NUM> to retrieve the RF coverage data for the identified geographic location from the municipal database device <NUM>, as in <NUM>. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> can include the programmable processor <NUM> determining that the RF coverage data for the identified geographic location is cached on the dispatch database device <NUM> when the RF coverage data for the identified geographic location is included in the batch of RF coverage data previously stored in the dispatch database device <NUM>, as in <NUM>. Finally, the method <NUM> can include the second user device <NUM> displaying the specific RF coverage data, as in <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of a method <NUM> according to the present invention. As seen in <FIG>, the RF coverage data for the identified geographic region is divided into a plurality of grid cells <NUM> that include passing grid cells <NUM> (i.e. where the RF coverage data is above a predetermined threshold), failing grid cells <NUM> (i.e. where the RF coverage data is below the predetermined threshold), untested grid cells <NUM> (i.e. where no RF coverage data is available) and out of coverage grid cells (i.e. where RF coverage is known to be zero). In some embodiments, the method <NUM> includes the dispatch device <NUM> or the first user device <NUM> tracking an ambient location of the first user device <NUM>, as in <NUM>. Then, the method <NUM> includes the dispatch device <NUM> or the first user device <NUM> detecting when the ambient location of the first user device indicates proximity to and/or possible or likely entry of the first user device <NUM> to the failing grid cells <NUM>, for example, based on a direction of travel and/or previously tracked locations of the first user device <NUM> within the identified geographic location, as in <NUM>. When the dispatch device <NUM> or the first user device <NUM> detects the ambient location of the first user device <NUM> indicating proximity to and/or possible or likely entry of the first user device <NUM> to the failing grid cells <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes the dispatch device <NUM> transmitting a first alert to the first user device <NUM> and the first user device <NUM> generating the first alert that visually or physically informs a user of the first user device <NUM> that he is proximate to and/or likely to enter the failing grid cells <NUM>. Similarly, the method <NUM> includes the dispatch device <NUM> or the first user device <NUM> detecting when the ambient location of the first user device <NUM> indicates proximity to and/or possible or likely entry of the first user device <NUM> to the untested grid cells <NUM>, and responsive thereto, the dispatch device <NUM> transmitting a second alert to the first user device <NUM> and the first user device <NUM> generating the second alert that visually or physically informs the user of the first user device <NUM> that he is proximate to and/or likely to enter the untested grid cells <NUM>. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> can also include the first user device <NUM> broadcasting a third alert when the first user device <NUM> detects its ambient location within the failing grid cells <NUM>, as in <NUM>, and can broadcast a fourth alert when the first user device <NUM> detects its ambient location within the untested or out of coverage grid cells <NUM>, as in <NUM>. Finally, the method <NUM> can include the dispatch device <NUM> or the first user device <NUM> detecting when the first user device <NUM> enters the passing grid cells <NUM> after being outside thereof, for example, when the ambient location of the first user device <NUM> is within the passing grid cells <NUM> after previously being undetected or after the ambient location of the first user device <NUM> was within the failing grid cells <NUM> or the untested or out of coverage grid cells <NUM>, and responsive thereto, the dispatch device <NUM> transmitting a fifth alert to the first user device <NUM> and/or the first user device <NUM> generating the fifth alert that visually or physically informs the user of the first user device <NUM> that he has reentered the passing grid cells <NUM>.

In some embodiments, each of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth alerts can be different types. In this regard, it is to be understood that various embodiments for the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth alerts are contemplated, including audio, visual, and/or haptic signals broadcast from the first user device <NUM> with different and/or increasing lengths, intensity, volume, brightness, and/or strength.

Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, other components may be added to or removed from the described systems, and other embodiments may be within the scope of the invention.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claim 1:
A method comprising:
receiving a notification of an emergency event at a geographic location;
retrieving RF coverage data for the geographic location;
detecting when an ambient location of a user device (<NUM>) indicates proximity to and/or possible or likely entry of the user device (<NUM>) to a portion of the geographic area associated with the RF coverage data that is below a predetermined threshold;
when the ambient location of the user device (<NUM>) indicates proximity to and/or possible or likely entry of the user device (<NUM>) to the portion of the first geographic location associated with the RF coverage data that is below the predetermined threshold, transmitting a first alert to the user device (<NUM>);
detecting when the ambient location of the user device (<NUM>) indicates proximity to and/or possible or likely entry of the user device (<NUM>) to a portion of the geographic area unassociated with the RF coverage data; and
when the ambient location of the user device (<NUM>) indicates proximity to and/or possible or likely entry of the user device (<NUM>) to the portion of the first geographic location unassociated with the RF coverage data, transmitting a second alert to the user device (<NUM>).