Portable secure-telephone communications module

• US 5,454,037 A
• Filed: 10/28/1993
• Issued: 09/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grayline International Limited
• Original Assignee: Grayline International Limited
• Inventors: Pacella, Angelo M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US08/144,250
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 379/453, 379/451, 379/437, 379/440, 379/446, 244/2, 52/27.5, 52/27, 52/108, 52/110, 52/29, 52/36, 52/63, 52/83, 52/79.4, 52/79.5, 135/95, 135/106, 135/103, 380/52, 381/94, 381/73.1, 455/128, 455/66, 455/300, 312/1, 312/3, 312/5, 312/6, 312/223.4
• US Class Current: 379/453
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/00 Suppression or limitation of noise or interference by means associated with receiver H04B1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/68 Circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping

Abstract

A portable secure-telephone communications module including a collapsible enclosure for holding a person desiring to perform secure remote telephone communications, a secure telephone remote communication device in the enclosure, and RF shielding for the enclosure to inhibit RF leakage for preventing eavesdropping from outside the enclosure.

Claims

1. A portable secure-telephone communications module, comprising:

a collapsible enclosure for holding a person desiring to perform secure remote telephone communications;

a secure remote telephone communication device in said enclosure; and

means for RF shielding said enclosure to inhibit RF leakage for preventing eavesdropping from outside the enclosure.

2. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 in which said collapsible enclosure includes a collapsing frame.

3. The portable secure communications module of claim 2 in which said frame includes pantograph-type structural members.

4. The portable secure communications module of claim 2 in which said enclosure further includes rigid base and top members at the ends of said frame.

5. The portable secure communications module of claim 4 in which said frame folds into at least one of said base and top members when said enclosure is collapsed.

6. The portable secure communications module of claim 5 further including means for fastening together said base and top members when said enclosure is collapsed.

7. The portable secure communications module of claim 5 further including a telescoping handle in one or both of said base and top members extendible for transport of said module.

8. The portable secure communications module of claim 4 in which said communication device is in one or both of said base and top member when said enclosure is collapsed.

9. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 in which said enclosure includes a collapsible seat.

10. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 in which said enclosure includes a collapsible instrument cluster.

11. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 in which said enclosure includes an internal light.

12. The portable secure communications module of claim 4 further including a plurality of wheels extending from at least one of said base and top members so that said enclosure can be rolled when collapsed.

13. The portable secure communications module of claim 2 in which said collapsible enclosure further includes means for covering said frame.

14. The portable secure communications module of claim 13 in which said means for covering said frame includes a flexible cover for collapsing with said frame.

15. The portable secure communications module of claim 14 in which said means for RF shielding includes a metallic substance in said cover.

16. The portable secure communications module of claim 15 in which said means for RF shielding includes a metallized fabric, metallic screening, or metallic foil collapsible with said frame.

17. The portable secure communications module of claim 14 in which said cover is opaque to prevent visual eavesdropping and prevent devices in the enclosure from transmitting modulated non-visible light waves from the enclosure.

18. The portable secure communications module of claim 11 further including means for inhibiting sound leakage to the outside of said enclosure.

19. The portable secure communications module of claim 18 in which said means for inhibiting includes means for modulating said cover for disrupting laser interception and inhibiting noise.

20. The portable secure communications module of claim 19 in which said means for modulating includes means for directing noise at said cover.

21. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 further including means for projecting noise out from said enclosure to mask voice leakage from said enclosure.

22. The portable secure communications module of claim 21 further including means for determining when the person in said enclosure is using said communication device.

23. The portable secure communications module of claim 22 in which said means for projecting noise is responsive to said means for determining when a person is using said communication device to mask noise leakage when the person is using the communication device.

24. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 further including means for providing power to the on-board electronic systems and means for filtering said power to prevent power line signal interception.

25. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 further including means for ventilating said enclosure.

26. The portable secure communications module of claim 25 in which said means for ventilating includes RF shielded external air-conveying openings.

27. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 further including a video camera for external monitoring from said enclosure.

28. The portable secure communications module of claim 27 further including means for directing the video camera view to allow surveillance of areas outside the enclosure from within the enclosure.

29. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 further including an external signal beacon indicating when said module is in use.

30. The portable secure communications module of claim 29 further including means for enabling said beacon to provide operator control.

31. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 further including means for testing for RF leakage from said enclosure.

32. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 further including a module tamper alarm activated when said module is collapsed to deter tampering.

33. The portable secure communications module of claim 18 in which said means for inhibiting includes a sound-absorbing material covering a portion of the enclosure interior.

34. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 further including photosensitive means for detecting light on the enclosure outside to determine when an enclosure dark storage area has been compromised.

35. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 further including wireless communication means for offsite signalling of module status.

36. The portable secure communications module of claim 1 further including motion detection means communicating with the enclosure outside for detecting motion in an area outside the module.

37. The portable secure communications module of claim 15 further including metallic zipper means electrically communicating with said metallic substance for providing an RF shielded opening in said flexible cover.

38. A portable secure telephone communications module, comprising:

a collapsible enclosure including a collapsing pantograph-type frame covered with an RF shielded flexible cover for collapsing with said frame into at least one or both rigid base and top members;

means for ventilating said enclosure, including RF shielded ventilation ports;

means for projecting wide-band noise from said enclosure to mask voice audio leakage from said enclosure;

means for vibrating said flexible cover, and rigid top/bottom cabinet sections to inhibit external monitoring of said cover and cabinet sections; and

a secure remote telephone communication device in said enclosure for providing for secure communications from said enclosure.

39. A portable secure-telephone communications module, comprising:

a collapsible enclosure for holding a person desiring to perform secure remote telephone communications, said collapsible enclosure including a collapsing frame and a flexible cover for collapsing with said frame;

a secure remote telephone communication device in said enclosure;

means for RF shielding said enclosure to inhibit RF leakage for preventing eavesdropping from outside the enclosure including a metallic substance in said flexible cover; and

metallic zipper means electrically communicating with said metallic substance for providing an RF shielded opening in said flexible cover.