Net-centric coordination channel (NCC)

• US 7,619,977 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Khan, Zia R., Zabat, Ricardo T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hannon; Christian A
• Application Number:
  US11/102,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/237, 370/395.5, 370/210, 370/252, 370/254, 370/255, 370/230.1, 370/235, 370/236, 370/462, 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 370/236
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for registering an unanticipated node into an ad-hoc network. A communication channel is dedicated as the link between a registry within the network and unanticipated nodes. The dedicated communication link typically comprises primary and secondary frequencies in the RF spectrum. An unanticipated node can be registered “on-the-fly” via the dedicated communication link by identification, authentication, and non-repudiation. The unanticipated node can then interoperate with the network via a standard communication protocol.

Claims

1. A method of entering a military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node into a secure ad hoc network environment having an operating channel without a-priori registration of the entering military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node, the method for use in a military, battlefield, or homeland security environment, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a registration link between the entering military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node and a registry within the network environment via a registration channel that is separate from the secure operating channel of the secure network environment, and dedicating selected primary and secondary frequency channels within the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum;

registering the entering military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node with the registry via the registration channel link only, wherein the registering step comprises the steps of receiving authentication data from the entering military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node at the registry via the registration channel, authenticating the registering military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node at the registry based upon the authentication data, and notifying the registering military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node of successful registration via the registration channel, and wherein the registering step further comprises identification and non-repudiation of the registering military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node; and

upon successfully registering the military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node, switching from the registration channel to the secure operating channel of the secure network environment for subsequent communications to thereby allow the registered military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node to both transmit and receive data on an ad-hoc basis with a plurality of other military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment nodes each operating within the secure network environment using the secure operating channel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the dedicated primary and secondary frequency channels are selected within the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) spectrum.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of scanning, detecting and negotiating the military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node services via a standard communication protocol.

4. A system for accommodating “

ad-hoc”

registration of an unanticipated military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node with a communications network having a secure operating channel, the system for use in a military, battlefield, or homeland security environment, the system comprising;

a network registry within the communications network; and

a registration channel link different from the secure operating channel of the communications network that is configured to link the network registry and the unanticipated military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node, wherein the registration channel is comprised of a dedicated primary frequency and a dedicated secondary frequency both selected within the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum;

wherein the unanticipated military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node is registered “

on-the-fly”

via the registration channel link, and wherein the unanticipated military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node configured to switch from the registration channel link to the secure operating channel only after successfully registering with the network registry to thereby allow the unanticipated military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node to subsequently interoperate with on an ad-hoc basis with other military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment nodes operating on the communications network by sending and receiving data using the secure operating channel, and wherein the “

on-the-fly”

registration comprises identification and non-repudiation of the unanticipated military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the registration channel is comprised of a dedicated primary frequency and a dedicated secondary frequency.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the dedicated primary and secondary frequencies are selected in the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the dedicated primary and secondary frequencies are selected within the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) spectrum.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein the deployment of the unanticipated military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node comprises scanning, detecting and negotiating the military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node services via a standard communication protocol.

9. A method of joining a communicating military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node to a secure ad-hoc network having a network registry without a-priori registration with the secure ad-hoc network, the method for use in a military, battlefield, or homeland security environment, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a registration link from the communicating military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node to the network registry via a registration channel that is separate from a secure operating channel of the ad-hoc network, wherein the registration channel is comprised of a dedicated primary frequency and a dedicated secondary frequency both selected within the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum;

registering the communicating military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node via the registration link only and identifying and non-repudiating the communicating military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node; and

upon successful registration, ceasing communication via the registration channel and subsequently deploying the communicating military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node on the secure operating channel of the ad-hoc network to thereby allow the communicating military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment node to send and receive data on an ad-hoc basis with other military, battlefield, or homeland security, environment nodes operating via the secure operating channel.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the ceasing and deploying step comprises switching over from a registration frequency associated with the registration link to an operational frequency associated with the ad-hoc network that is different from the registration frequency.