Dual transmission emergency communication system

• US 20040198312A1
• Filed: 01/07/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Jarett, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,200,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail

Abstract

A telematic emergency communication system is provided. The system includes a user terminal that generates emergency communication signals within an emergency signal band. A spacecraft network has a first emergency mode receiver and attempts to receive the emergency signals via a spacecraft. A terrestrial network has a second emergency mode receiver and receives the emergency signals when the spacecraft network is unable to sufficiently detect the emergency signals and routes the emergency signals to a control center. A method of performing the same is also provided.

Claims

1. A telematic emergency communication system comprising:

at least one user terminal generating emergency communication signals within an emergency signal band;

a spacecraft network comprising a first emergency mode receiver and attempting to receive said emergency communication signals via at least one spacecraft; and

a terrestrial network comprising a second emergency mode receiver, receiving said emergency communication signals when said spacecraft network is unable to sufficiently detect said emergency communication signals and routing said emergency communication signals to a control center.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said user terminal comprises a controller determining whether emergency communication is between said at least one user terminal and said spacecraft network or between said at least one user terminal and said terrestrial network.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said emergency communication signals are transmitted from said at least one user terminal at a frequency level of approximately less than 4 Kbits/sec.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said spacecraft network comprises a dual mode receiver and a dual mode transmitter each of which having a normal communication mode and an emergency communication mode.

5. A system as in claim 1 further comprising at least one gateway station comprising:

a router receiving communication signals from said control center;

a multiplexer electrically coupled to said router and multiplexing said communication signals; and

a dual mode transmitter electrically coupled to said multiplexer and having a normal communication mode and an emergency communication mode and transmitting said communication signals to said at least one spacecraft.

6. A system as in claim 5 wherein during said normal communication mode said dual mode transmitter is transmitting normal communication signals at a first frequency level and during said emergency communication mode said dual mode transmitter is transmitting emergency communication signals at a second frequency level that is less than said first frequency level.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein said spacecraft network comprises at least one gateway station comprising:

a dual mode receiver having a normal communication mode and an emergency communication mode and receiving communication signals from said at least one spacecraft;

a demultiplexer electrically coupled to said dual mode receiver and demultiplexing said communication signals; and

a router electrically coupled to said demultiplexer and routing said communication signals to said control center.

8. A system as in claim 7 wherein during said normal communication mode said dual mode receiver is receiving normal communication signals at a first frequency level and during said emergency communication mode said dual mode receiver is receiving emergency communication signals at a second frequency level that is less than said first frequency level.

9. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one spacecraft transmits and receives normal communication signals at a first frequency and transmits and receives said emergency communication signals at a second frequency to and from said at least one user terminal.

10. A system as in claim 1 wherein said terrestrial network comprises:

a normal mode transceiver receiving and transmitting communication signals; and

a switching center electrically coupled to said normal mode transceiver and routing said communication signals to said central office.

11. A system as in claim 1 wherein said terrestrial network comprises:

a base station emergency mode receiver receiving said emergency communication signals;

a demultiplexer electrically coupled to said base station emergency mode receiver and demultiplexing said emergency communication signals; and

a router electrically coupled to said demultiplexer and routing said emergency communication signals to said control center.

12. A system as in claim 1 wherein said control center directly transmits and receives said emergency communication signals to and from said at least one spacecraft.

13. A system as in claim 1 wherein said control center comprises a dual mode transmitter and a dual mode receiver for transmitting and receiving normal communciation signals and said emergency communication signals directly to and from said at least one spacecraft.

14. A method of telematically communicating with a user terminal in a telematic emergency communication system comprising:

generating at least one emergency communication signal within an emergency signal band;

attempting to receive said at least one emergency communication signal with a first emergency mode receiver of a spacecraft network via at least one spacecraft; and

receiving said at least one emergency communication signal via a terrestrial network when said spacecraft network is unable to sufficiently detect said at least one emergency communication signal.

15. A method as in claim 14 further comprising determining whether said at least one emergency communication signal is to be communicated between a user terminal and said spacecraft network or between said user terminal and said terrestrial network.

16. A method as in claim 14 further comprising receiving and transmitting both normal communication signals and emergency communication signals via at least one base station of said terrestrial network.

17. A method as in claim 14 further comprising:

receiving and transmitting communication signals via a normal mode transmitter within at least one base station of said terrestrial network; and

routing said communication signals to a central office.

18. A method as in claim 14 further comprising:

receiving said emergency communication signals via a base station emergency mode receiver within at least one base station of said terrestrial network;

demultiplexing said emergency communication signals; and

routing said emergency communication signals to a control center.

19. An emergency telematic communication system comprising:

a spacecraft network comprising;

at least one gateway station having an first emergency mode receiver and an emergency mode transmitter; and

at least one spacecraft attempting to receive and transmit emergency communication signals between at least one user terminal and said at least one gateway station;

at least one user terminal generating said emergency communication signals within an emergency signal band, determining whether said at least one spacecraft has sufficiently detected said emergency communication signals, and generating a site determinative signal; and

a terrestrial network comprising;

a second emergency mode receiver receiving said emergency communication signals in response to said site determinative signal; and

a normal mode transceiver transmitting and receiving normal communication signals to and from said at least one user terminal.

20. A system as in claim 19 wherein said at least one gateway station comprises:

a dual mode transmitter for transmitting normal communication signals and emergency communication signals; and

a dual mode receiver for receiving normal communication signals and emergency communication signals.