PERSONAL NETWORKING NODE FOR TACTICAL OPERATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20120094697A1
• Filed: 04/21/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Conner, Keith F., Weimer, Christopher L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,676,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A radio that provides communications and tactical situational awareness includes a screen, a communications module for establishing a link with a server, a knowledge management (KM) module for receiving alerts from the server and the communications module, and a map application that displays associated menu options on the screen for selection by the user. A communications interface operates to (i) initiate communications with the server through the communications module, (ii) handle information to be communicated to the server from the map application, and (iii) receive alerts from the server through the KM module. A user location module operates to (i) send data corresponding to the user'"'"'s location and identified targets to the communications module for forwarding to the server, and (ii) provide data from the server corresponding to locations of other radio users, their availability to exchange messages and any targets they identify, to the map application in the radio.

Claims

1. A radio for providing a user with communications and situational awareness for tactical operations, comprising:

a programmable processor for controlling modules and components of the radio, wherein the processor is programmed and configured according to a mobile or embedded operating system and has GPS functionality;

a viewing screen;

a network interface;

a communications module coupled to the network interface and configured to establish a communication link with an associated server;

a knowledge management (KM) module coupled to the network interface and to the communications module, wherein the KM module is configured to receive alerts originating from the server and from the communications module of the radio;

a map application coupled to the KM module and to the viewing screen, wherein the application is configured to display a number of menu options for selection by the user;

a communications interface coupled between the communications module and the map application, wherein the communications interface is operative to (i) initiate communications with the server through the communications module, (ii) handle a flow of information or data to be communicated to the server from the map application in response to a menu option selected by the user, and (iii) receive alerts sent to the radio from the server, through the KM module of the radio; and

a presence and user location module coupled between the communications module and the map application, wherein the location module is operative to (i) send data corresponding to a location of the user and locations of targets identified by the user via the map application, to the communications module for forwarding to the server, and (ii) provide data originating from the server and corresponding to locations of other radio users, the presence or availability of the other users to exchange text or voice messages with the user, and targets identified by the other users, to the map application in the radio.

2. A radio according to claim 1, wherein the viewing screen is constructed and arranged for enabling the user to enter a command or a message in response to a touch of a command button or a keyboard image displayed on the screen.

3. A radio according to claim 1, wherein the network interface is configured to establish an Internet connection.

4. A radio according to claim 3, wherein the network interface is constructed and arranged to establish the Internet connection through an IEEE 802.11 or Wi-Fi access point.

5. A radio according to claim 3, wherein the network interface is constructed and arranged to establish the Internet connection through a cellular wireless network.

6. A radio according to claim 3, wherein the network interface is constructed and arranged to establish the Internet connection by tethering the radio from another radio or device that is connected to the Internet.

7. A radio according to claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to operate according to the Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) over the communication link established with the server.

8. A radio according to claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to operate according to the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) over the communication link established with the server.

9. A radio according to claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to establish the communication link with the server as a secure communication link.

10. A radio according to claim 9, wherein communications module is configured to establish the secure communication link with the server as part of a virtual private network (VPN).

11. A radio according to claim 1, wherein the map application is configured to display a list of buddies of the user on the viewing screen in response to a buddy list command entered by the user.

12. A radio according to claim 11, wherein the map application is operative to provide the user with a number of communications options on the viewing screen with respect to a given buddy, group of buddies, or other radios selected by the user.

13. A radio according to claim 12, wherein the communications options include at least one of text messaging, voice calling, centering or following a selected buddy on a displayed map;

sending text, image or video files;

sending a link, requesting a picture, requesting a selected buddy'"'"'s mission, and activating or deactivating a GPS function of a remote user.

14. A radio according to claim 1, wherein the map application is configured to enable the user to add, move, or remove a target at one or more locations on a map displayed on the viewing screen.

15. A radio network for providing communications and situational awareness for personnel engaged in tactical operations, comprising:

a server; and

one or more network radios, wherein each radio includes;

a programmable processor for controlling modules and components of the radio, wherein the processor is programmed and configured according to a mobile or embedded operating system and has GPS functionality;

a viewing screen;

a network interface;

a first communications module coupled to the network interface and configured to establish a communication link with the server;

a first knowledge management (KM) module coupled to the network interface and to the communications module, wherein the KM module is configured to receive alerts originating from the server and from the communications module of the radio;

a map application coupled to the KM module and to the viewing screen, wherein the application is configured to display a number of menu options for selection by the user;

a communications interface coupled between the communications module and the map application, wherein the communications interface is operative to (i) initiate communications with the server through the communications module, (ii) handle a flow of information or data to be communicated to the server from the map application in response to a menu option selected by the user, and (iii) receive alerts sent to the radio from the server, through the KM module of the radio; and

a presence and user location module coupled between the communications module and the map application, wherein the location module is operative to (i) send data corresponding to a location of the user and locations of targets identified by the user via the map application, to the communications module for forwarding to the server, and (ii) provide data originating from the server and corresponding to locations of other radio users, the presence or availability of the other users to exchange text or voice messages with the user, and targets identified by the other users, to the map application in the radio.

16. A radio network according to claim 15, wherein the server includes a second communications module configured to send information to, and to receive information from, one or more of the network radios that link with the second communications module.

17. A radio network according to claim 16, wherein the second communications module is configured to link with the network radios over a secure communication link.

18. A radio network according to claim 17, wherein the secure communication link with the second communications module is part of a virtual private network (VPN).

19. A radio network according to claim 16, wherein the server includes a user and target geolocation module, and the second communications module is configured to forward messages containing geolocation information to the user and target geolocation module, wherein the messages include locations of users of the network radios, and targets identified by the users including images with GPS locations.

20. A radio network according to claim 19, wherein the server includes a second knowledge management (KM) module coupled to the user and target geolocation module, and the second KM module is configured to receive certain KM events from users of the network radios, and to receive from the geolocation module messages containing geolocation information that are forwarded from the second communications module to the geolocation module.