Portable search and rescue system

• US 20030003893A1
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tadiran Spectralink Ltd. (Elbit Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tadiran Spectralink Ltd. (Elbit Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Tovi, Pinhas, Beni, Itzhak
• Granted Patent: US 7,003,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/18 Military applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/006 for emergency situations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems

Abstract

A search and rescue system comprising an integral Interrogation, Decoding and Display Unit and a plurality of Personal Survival Units which can intercommunicate and are capable of transmitting GPS generated location information. A number of applications are described.

Claims

1. A search and rescue system comprising:

a. an integral Interrogation, Decoding and Display Unit (IDDU) being attachable to a transceiver, said transceiver being capable of operating on standard radio communication frequencies, said IDDU comprising a first processor for generating at least one interrogation message for transmission via said transceiver; and

b. at least one Personal Survival Unit (PSU) having a predetermined identification code, said PSU comprising a second transceiver, a GPS module for receiving GPS signals, and a second processor comprising message authorization functionality for identifying received transmissions that comprise said identification code and for authorizing said PSU to respond to said identified transmissions.

2. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said response of said PSU comprises said GPS signals, said GPS signals being usable by said IDDU to derive location information therefrom.

3. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said GPS module comprises a locator unit to derive location informationfrom said GPS signals.

4. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said transceiver is part of a base unit of a mobile radio communication system.

5. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said PSU is incorporated within a mobile unit of said mobile radio communication system.

6. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said IDDU is man portable.

7. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said IDDU further comprises a first memory for storing programs for operating said first processor, identity codes identifying said at least one PSU and responses received from said at least one PSU.

8. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said IDDU further comprises a GPS module for receiving GPS signals and for deriving location information therefrom.

9. The search and rescue system of claim 8, wherein said first memory is further for storing said location information

10. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said IDDU further comprises a user input interface comprising a numerical keypad.

11. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said IDDU further comprises a user input interface comprising controls for said transceiver.

12. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said IDDU further comprises an output interface comprising a display screen.

13. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said first processor comprises cryptographic functionality for encrypting outgoing messages and decrypting incoming messages.

14. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said first processor is attached to an output for outputting message data for display.

15. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said second processor comprises cryptographic functionality for encrypting outgoing messages and decrypting incoming messages.

16. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said second processor is attached to an output for outputting message data for display.

17. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said PSU further comprises a second memory for storing said at least one identification code and said location information, said second memory further being for storing programs for operating said second processor, text data comprising predetermined messages and messages received, and audio data.

18. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said at least one PSU further comprises a user input interface comprising a plurality of keys.

19. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said at least one PSU further comprises an output interface comprising a display screen.

20. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said at least one PSU is capable of communicating with at least one other PSU that comprises a part of said search and rescue system, said communication including prompting for location information.

21. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said second transceiver is capable of transmitting and receiving text data.

22. The search and rescue system of claim 21, wherein said text data is selected from predetermined messages stored in said second memory.

23. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein said at least one PSU further comprises a microphone and a speaker, said second transceiver being for transmitting and receiving audio data.

25. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said response of said PSU comprises said GPS signals, said GPS signals being usable by said IDDU to derive location information therefrom.

26. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said GPS module comprises a locator unit to derive location information from said GPS signals.

27. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said transceiver is part of a base unit of a mobile radio communication system.

28. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said PSU is incorporated within a mobile unit of said mobile radio communication system.

29. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said IDDU is man portable.

30. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said IDDU further comprises a first memory for storing programs for operating said first processor, identity codes identifying each said PSU and responses received from each said PSU.

31. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said IDDU further comprises a GPS module for receiving GPS signals and for deriving location information therefrom.

32. The search and rescue system of claim 30, wherein said first memory is further for storing said location information.

33. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said IDDU further comprises a user input interface comprising a numerical keypad.

34. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said IDDU further comprises a user input interface comprising controls for said transceiver.

35. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said IDDU further comprises an output interface comprising a display screen.

36. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said first processor comprises cryptographic functionality for encrypting outgoing messages and decrypting incoming messages.

37. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said first processor is attached to an output for outputting message data for display.

38. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said second processor comprises cryptographic functionality for encrypting outgoing messages and decrypting incoming messages.

39. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said second processor is attached to an output for outputting message data.

40. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein each said PSU further comprises a second memory for storing said location information, said at least one identification code identifying said PSU and said at least one additional identification code identifying at least one other said PSU, said second memory being for further storing programs for operating said second processor, text data comprising predetermined messages and messages received, and audio data.

41. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein each said PSU further comprises a user input interface comprising a plurality of keys.

42.he. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein each said PSU further comprises an output interface comprising a display screen.

43. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein each said PSU is capable of communicating with at least one other PSU.

44. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein said second transceiver is capable of transmitting and receiving text data.

45. The search and rescue system of claim 44, wherein said text data is selected from predetermined messages stored in said second memory.

46. The search and rescue system of claim 24, wherein each said PSU further comprises a microphone and a speaker, said second transceiver being capable of transmitting and receiving audio data.

24. A search and rescue system comprising:

a. An integral Interrogation, Decoding and Display Unit (IDDU) being attachable to a transceiver, said transceiver being capable of operating on standard radio communication frequencies, said IDDU comprising a first processor for generating at least one interrogation message for transmission via said transceiver; and

b. a plurality of Personal Survival Units (PSU), each said PSU having a predetermined identification code, each said PSU comprising a second transceiver;

a GPS module for receiving GPS signals and a second processor comprising message authorization functionality for identifying received transmissions that comprise said identification code and for authorizing said PSU to respond to said identified transmissions, said second processor being further for selecting at least one additional identification code identifying at least one other said PSU to attach to an outgoing message, said outgoing message thereby being receivable by said other PSU, and for causing said second transceiver to send messages thereto.