METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACQUIRING AND ESTABLISHING A DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20080057861A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Klein, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04

Abstract

A radio deployment pack (110) includes a plurality of radios and deployable infrastructure package within a single package. The package is created by placing an order including the selection of frequency band of operation and either stand-alone mode infrastructure, to be used when all existing infrastructure is inoperable, or expanded infrastructure mode, to be used to extend coverage across remote region having gaps in coverage. The selection of infrastructure is preferably used to assign a battery option, the battery option being either a disposable battery or rechargeable battery. The use of the RDP (110) provides a communication system without the use of local infrastructure and without prior knowledge of communication system operation. The package may further include RFIDs (404) for inventory and location tracking of the radios, portable infrastructure and or emergency equipment (410). Wired programming capability is optionally provided through the use of a smart rack 502. Wireless programming is optionally provided through the use of PAN enabled deployable elements.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a pack of portable radios;

a deployable infrastructure, including;

a portable repeater;

an extendable antenna platform for supporting the portable repeater;

a portable console providing a remote dispatch station and programming capability for the pack of portable radios;

a unitary package for shipping and storing the pack of portable radios and deployable infrastructure for on-site configuration of the communication system; and

the on-site configuration being enabled by a user programming the pack of portable radios via the portable console.

2. The communication system claim 1, wherein each portable radio includes a preloaded battery.

3. The communication system claim 2, wherein the portable radios are stored in carrying trays within the unitary package.

4. The communication system claim 3, wherein the carrying trays are include smart racks having slots formed therein, each rack having an identification number associated therewith and each slot of each rack having a sub-identification number that is communicated to each radio prior to removal from its respective slot.

5. The communication system claim 4, wherein the sub-identification number provides a unique ID for each radio for use in an ad hoc network.

6. The communication system of claim 5, wherein a “

call-list”

is formed from the unique IDs of the radios, the call list for providing information associated with a user assigned to each radio.

9. The communication system of claim 4, wherein the unitary package is stored until an unforeseen event causes local communication systems to be inoperable.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein users unfamiliar with communication system, unpack the unitary package, each radio automatically becoming wirelessly cloned upon removal from each slot of the carry tray.

11. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the portable console wirelessly programs each radio of the unitary package via personal area network technology.

12. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the portable console is pre-programmed with nationwide interoperability frequencies, the user of the portable console selecting the frequency band of operation from a user-friendly list generated upon power-up of the portable console, the user-friendly list intended for lay-person use of the system.

13. The communication system of claim 12, wherein the portable console is pre-programmed to provide one of:

a single infrastructure mode, for stand-alone operation and expanded infrastructure mode.

14. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the unitary package is formed based on a customer order, the customer order including:

a selection of frequency band of operation;

a selection of stand-alone infrastructure mode or expanded mode infrastructure; and

a disposable battery option or a rechargeable battery option being assigned in response to the selection of infrastructure mode.

15. The communication system of claim 14, wherein the portable console provides instructions to the user upon power-up, the instructions including user to remove each radio from the unitary package to disperse to other individuals, the radios cloning themselves upon removal from the package.

16. The communication system of claim 1, wherein unitary package is sold to a service provider and the service provider pre-programs the pack of portable radios using service provider frequencies, the service provider leasing or renting the unitary package to an end customer.

7. The communication system of claim 7, further comprising additional packages for linking additional radios to the communication system with additional unique IDs.

8. The communication system claim 7, wherein each of the packages includes at least one of a belt clip and a carry case.

17. A method for forming a communications system, comprising:

packing a plurality of communication elements formed of a pack of portable radios and portable infrastructure into a unitary package, the plurality of communication elements operating as one of;

a stand-alone system operable without the use of local infrastructure and an expanded infrastructure system to provide temporary coverage that inter-operates between pre-existing regionally distinct systems;

shipping the unitary package to a customer; and

unpacking the unitary package by the customer to automatically deploy the communication system.

18. The method of claim 17, further including, prior to packing:

selecting the frequency band of operation;

selecting at least one of a stand-alone infrastructure mode and an expanded infrastructure mode; and

assigning a disposable battery option in response to selecting the stand-alone infrastructure mode and assigning a rechargeable battery for the expanded infrastructure mode.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

storing the unitary package until an emergency event occurs.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of unpacking enables automatic power-up of the communication system.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising, for the stand-alone mode, the step of storing the unitary package for up to a predetermined amount of time based the disposable battery shelf life.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step programming the pack of portable radios via a PAN network.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of programming the pack of portable radios via a single wire bus technology.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of programming the pack of portable radios using a combination single wire bus technology and PAN technology.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of packing further includes:

packing the portable radios into carry tray, the carry tray being a smart carry tray enabling programming capability.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the carry tray includes contacts enabling single-wire bus programming of the portable radios.