COMMUNICATION HUB FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS

• US 20180330601A1
• Filed: 11/09/2016
• Published: 11/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott Technologies, Inc. (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Scott Technologies, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Sabolcik, Michael Scott
• Granted Patent: US 10,832,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/001 Signalling to an emergency team, e.g. firemen
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method, communication hub and mesh network for facilitating management of emergency responders and emergency response equipment via a communication hub are disclosed. According to one aspect, the communication hub includes at least one telemetry radio configured to communicate with emergency response equipment to gather data from the emergency response equipment. The communication hub also includes at least one 802.11-compliant radio configured to transmit the gathered data to at least one wireless device configured to manage the emergency responders and emergency response equipment.

Claims

1. A communication hub for installation on an emergency response vehicle to facilitate management of emergency responders and emergency response equipment, the communication hub comprising:

at least one telemetry radio configured to communicate with emergency response equipment to gather data from the emergency response equipment; and

at least one 802.11-compliant radio configured to transmit the gathered data to at least one wireless device to facilitate management of the emergency responders and emergency response equipment.

2. The communication hub of claim 1, further comprising a memory to store the gathered data.

3. The communication hub of claim 1, further comprising a cellular radio configured to transmit the gathered data to a remote location via a cellular communication network.

4. The communication hub of claim 3, wherein at least one cellular radio provides access to the Internet.

5. The communication hub of claim 1, further comprising processing circuitry configured to facilitate communication between the communication hub and at least one other communication hub to form a mesh network.

6. The communication hub of claim 5, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to detect the presence of another communication hub and receive data gathered by the other communication hub from emergency response equipment.

7. The communication hub of claim 1, wherein the gathered data includes data from a breathing apparatus wearable by an emergency responder.

8. The communication hub of claim 1, wherein the gathered data includes a position of an emergency responder.

9. The communication hub of claim 1, further comprising hardware to mount the communication hub on an emergency response vehicle.

10. A method for providing a data network for emergency responders, the data network including a communication hub installable on an emergency response vehicle, the method comprising:

providing the communication hub, the communication hub comprising;

at least one telemetry radio configured to communicate with emergency response equipment to gather data from the emergency response equipment; and

at least one 802.11-compliant radio configured to transmit the gathered data to at least one wireless device to facilitate management of the emergency responders and emergency response equipment;

gathering via the at least one telemetry radio data from the emergency response equipment; and

transmitting via the at least one 802.11-compliant radio the gathered data to at least one wireless device to facilitate management of the emergency responders and emergency response equipment.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing the gathered data at the communication hub.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting the data to a remote location via a cellular communication network.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a connection between the communication hub and the Internet.

14-17. -17. (canceled)

18. An emergency response mesh network configured to facilitate management of emergency responders and emergency response equipment, the emergency response mesh network comprising:

a first communication hub comprising;

a first radio in communication with emergency response equipment and configured to gather data from the emergency response equipment; and

an 802.11-compliant radio in communication with at least one wireless device configured to manage an emergency response, the 802.11-compliant radio configured to transmit the gathered data to the at least one wireless device;

a second communication hub in communication with the first communication hub and comprising at least a second radio in communication with emergency response equipment and configured to gather data from the emergency response equipment.

19. The network of claim 18, wherein the first communication hub is in communication with a first set of emergency response equipment and the second communication hub is in communication with a second set of emergency response equipment different from the first set.

20. The network of claim 19, wherein the second communication hub shares data gathered from the second set of emergency response equipment with the first communication hub.

21. The network of claim 18, wherein the second communication hub is in communication with the Internet.

22. (canceled)