Initial Concepts

Our team elected to generate concepts by brainstorming ideas as a group. Through this process, individuals proposed various solutions and the team collectively determined the details for each concept. We generated X concepts, several of which were inspired by current technology we discovered while researching patents related to our project. This may prove useful source material at a later date.

Many of our concepts are not singular products, as we opted to pursue solution systems to fit the scope of our mission. The following is an overview of some key concepts.

1. Drone Relay System

Background: Drones have demonstrated the capability to transmit data across vast distances by relaying data between each other. Drones have also been used for search-and-rescue missions.

Overview: This system would be implemented by ground teams deploying clusters of drones at predetermined locations across Puerto Rico immediately following a natural disaster. The drones would then act as mobile communication hotspots, receiving distress messages and status reports from local communities and transmitting them to ground stations for resource allocation. The possibility for employing search-and-rescue functions is not excluded, but requires further development.

Driving Requirements: cost, deployment speed

2. Reinforced Communication Antennae

Background: Structurally reinforcing telephone poles in order to prevent damage by hurricanes is currently being explored and implemented in communities.

Overview: This system proposes using new technology to improve the current communication infrastructure. New communication antennae would be constructed with a structural design capable of withstanding impact from debris, strong winds, and water damage in the event of a hurricane. Additionally, each antennae would have an independent power system in order to avoid power failure from standard systems.

Driving Requirements: durability

3. Pop-up Communication Antennae

Background: The deployment of these antennae is analogous to missile silos.

Overview: This system would function similarly to the Reinforced Communication Antennae by receiving and transmitting data and by having independent power sources. However, these antennae would not be reinforced. They would remain in structures below ground until immediately after a natural disaster at which point they would be deployed and commence communication operations.

Driving Requirements: durability (in the form of avoidance)

4. Emergency Call Buttons

Background: This concept was inspired by emergency call buttons distributed across college campuses.

Overview: This solution employs the construction of emergency call buttons at predetermined locations throughout Puerto Rico. These call buttons would be used by citizens to report emergencies to local authorities immediately following a natural disaster.

Driving Requirements: redundancy, reliability

5. Multi-Communication Conversion Software

Background: Talk-to-text and talk-to-type software currently exist.

Overview: This software would be implemented in the aftermath of a natural disaster to facilitate communication between citizens and government officials allocating resources. The software would convert any single type of communication into any other format. Examples include, but would not be limited to, talk-to-email, email-to-radio, text-to-radio, etc. The inclusion of radio communication exchanges is of particular interest because of the prevalence of its use following power outages. This solution may be implemented in conjunction other concepts.

Driving Requirements: cost

6. Terminal System

Background: The implementation of this system would be analogous to airport kiosks.

Overview: This communication system employs the construction of a primary terminal at a government ground station and auxiliary terminals at key locations such as hospitals and local government stations such as mayoral offices. The purpose of the terminals is to enable citizens and/or local officials to send distress messages and status reports to officials in charge of resource allocation. Messages would be sent from auxiliary terminals to the primary terminal via underground connections in order to avoid damage from a natural disaster.

Driving Requirements: reliability

7. Communication Centers

Background: Volunteers often assist in the relief process and may act as facilitators.

Overview: This system operates similarly to the terminal system, however independent centers would be constructed to house auxiliary communication terminals and operational staff. The centers would be small structures or tents where volunteer operators manage terminals and provide relief by acting as distribution centers for food, water, and other resources.

Driving Requirements: reliability, redundancy

What did you discuss with the lawyers?

Our group focused on discussing the patents we found and the ethics behind ordering patents on our concept designs. The group learned a great deal on patent law, and how we could apply this knowledge to our project. Specifically were discussing for one of our concepts that is a software to make sure that it’s not done before or that it can easily be created.

What did you patent search reveal? Will anyone sue you for selling your system?

The search revealed other patents that shared similar objectives that the group have set out for the project. We learned a great deal of what can, and cannot be patented. For example, Korean patent CN207321563 (U) reserves the right for specific mediums of communications used for emergency situations. It is officially called System and Method for Effective Communication Service Providing in Disaster. This, in-turn inspired potential concepts for our group, and gave us a foundation for understanding the patent law behind it.

Is there anything you could patent?

We have designed certain ideas that could have the potential of securing a patent. Our concept of designing a system that could communicate among different mediums of multimedia seemed within the realms of patentability. It was specific enough that it would not be considered obvious from previous art, but general enough to continue working on it, and apply new concepts as work continues. The idea could be used for other purposes other than emergencies. The group feared that other companies would take this technology and use it for their own gain. This is a factor that the group will consider in patenting this idea, and possibly keeping it as a trade secret.

Is there anything you would want to patent?

There was serious speculation on whether or not the group wanted to patent the ideas we were generating. The ultimate goal of the project was to contribute to the greater humanity, and ease the restructuring process after a natural disaster specifically in Puerto Rico. The goal was never to amass a large profit. If other were to use our concepts, they would most likely be using them for the same purpose we designed them for. The team ultimately decided that we would want to patent certain designs for other reasons than making money. If we patented out ideas, we would be sharing our information with the world, including those who share the same mission as we do. The group would also control the licensing of other organizations using our ideas. Although other companies capitalize this legality to maximize profits, we would use this to ensure other groups would be using our ideas for the same altruistic mission we had planned for.

After concepts were created we had to decide on which idea would be the best to develop with the given constraints. This was done with a PUGH Matrix which can be seen below. The first PUGH Matrix was to make the pool of solutions smaller and the second PUGH Matrix contained weights on the selection criteria and the solution with the highest rating was selected.