Electronic interactive communication system and the method therefor

• US 20030119563A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Moore, John, Spivey, Archie, Wyke, Kenneth C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,124,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

An electronic interactive communication system and method is disclosed. Software controls and a control manager resides on a unit that communicates with a central location. The central location transmits information to the unit. The information, or data, may reside in a database at the central location. A number of different units receive data from the central location'"'"'s transmission source to update or manipulate data already on the units. The system exchanges data from the units to the central location using a narrow bandwidth. The unit includes a transceiver and a processor. The unit also includes a display to display the data to the user after the received data has been associated with the stored data. For example, received data is overlaid on a map being displayed on the unit.

Claims

1. A data exchange system, comprising:

a transmitter coupled to a storage comprising data, wherein said transmitter transmits a signal carrying said data;

a transceiver to receive said signal; and

a processor coupled to a display to interpret said signal and to associate said received data within said signal with data accessible by said processor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said data is stored on said processor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said display displays said received data associated with said stored data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said transceiver transmits unit data to said storage.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a filter coupled to said processor to select said data.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a unit encasing said processor and said transceiver.

7. A data exchange processing unit, comprising:

a processor for receiving data from a central source;

a memory coupled to said processor for storing graphical data manipulable by a control;

a display coupled to said processor to display said received data and said graphical data according to said control; and

a manager to identify and administer said control, wherein said manager is enabled by said processor.

8. The unit of claim 7, where said data from said central source is transmitted over a wireless network.

9. The unit of claim 7, wherein said control operates in an operating environment that supports said manager.

10. The unit of claims 7, further comprising an antenna coupled to said transceiver.

11. The unit of claim 7, wherein said received data is displayed as software icons.

12. A method for exchanging data between a unit and a control center, comprising:

receiving said data at a transceiver coupled to a processor on said unit from said control center;

manipulating graphical data via said processor with a control communicating with a manager; and

associating said data with said graphical data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said associating includes overlaying said data onto said graphical data.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying said graphical data associated with said data on said unit.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising accessing a data storage at said control center.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising querying controls for said graphical data.

17. A method for associating data transmitted to a unit having a memory, wherein said memory includes stored data accessible by a software control on said unit, comprising:

launching said control within an operating environment on said unit;

retrieving said stored data from memory;

requesting an update for said stored data;

receiving update data at a transceiver on said unit;

associating said update data with said stored data; and

displaying said stored data and said update data on said unit according to said control.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising accessing a data storage at a central location that transmits said update data.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising filtering said update data at said unit.