Command and control communications system with sub-networks and interface devices

• US 7,756,513 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ARINC Incorporated (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ARINC Incorporated (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Wesley D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, HEMANT SHANTILAL
• Application Number:
  US10/879,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20060002372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,204 Days
• Field of Search: 370351-356, 370/395.52, 4554141-4144, 455/404.1, 4554561-4563, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/427, 455/552.1, 455/554.2, 455/555, 379 45- 49, 379/219, 379/224, 709201-203, 701200-226
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A sub-network device and a method of communicating using a sub-network, interconnect device and a network as a backbone within a communications system includes receiving a request for information at the interconnect device from a wireless communications device to communicate with the interconnect device, the interconnect device interconnects the wireless communications device to the sub-network, transmitting the request for information from the wireless communications device to the network, the network including terrestrial communications and being connected to a public safety agency network, receiving the requested information at the sub-network from the public safety agency network over the network in response to the transmitted request for information and transmitting the requested information back to the wireless communications device through the interconnect device.

Claims

1. A method of communicating using a sub-network, interconnect device and a network as a backbone within a communications system, comprising:

receiving a request for information at the interconnect device from a wireless communications device to communicate with the interconnect device, the interconnect device interconnects the wireless communications device to the sub-network;

transmitting the request for information from the wireless communications device to the network, the network including terrestrial communications and being connected to a public safety agency network;

receiving the requested information at the sub-network from the public safety agency network over the network in response to the transmitted request for information; and

transmitting the requested information back to the wireless communications device through the interconnect device,

wherein the network is a fully meshed, geographically diverse, four node Internet Protocol and Asynchronous Transmission Mode network, the interconnect device is connected to mobile radio communications, satellite communications, cellular communications and 802.11b wireless communications, and the mobile radio communications, satellite communications, cellular communications and 802.11b wireless communications are connected to a remote interconnect device installed in an automobile so that the sub-network can receive the request for information from the wireless communications device in the automobile using a land mobile radio while the automobile is in motion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the requested information being information related to a tragic event or emergency situation and the information is requested by one of at least a police, fire and rescue official.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving the request originating from one of at least cellular communication, satellite communication and 802.11 wide area network communication.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the request for information originating from a first responder that includes one of at least a federal, state, and local government official.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting the request for information to a second interconnect device that further transmits tilt request to one of at least an Internet and a public service telephone network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the sub-network including a security device so that access to the sub-network is only granted to authorized users.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the sub-network using Internet Protocol and Voice over Internet Protocol technology to communicate.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the requested information including one of at least aircraft passenger name records, aircraft seat availability status, air waybills, aircraft movement and material management transactions.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the request for information through satellite communications as a backup communication when primary communications become inoperable.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the request for information through an Internet Protocol enabled point-of-presence that interfaces with the network, and the wireless communications being one of at least radio communications, satellite communications and 802.11b wireless communications.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the request for information at the sub-network from a first wireless communications device operating on a first frequency, transmitting the request for information from the sub-network to another a second wireless communications device operating on a second frequency, receiving the requested information at the sub-network from the second wireless communications device operating on the second frequency and transmitting the requested information back to the first communications device operating on the first frequency.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-network establishes one of at least a broadcast group closed user group after receiving the request for information.

14. The sub-network device of claim 1, further comprises the second interconnect device being connected to an Internet, public switched telephone network and aviation service network.

13. A sub-network device connected to a backbone network within a communications system, comprising:

a first interconnect device that is connected to wireless communications;

a second interconnect device that is connected to terrestrial communications; and

a network manager that includes a controller that controls the sub-network device to receive a request for information through the first interconnect device from a wireless communications device, transmits the request for information to a government agency network through the backbone network, receives the requested information from the government agency network at the sub-network device through the backbone network and transmits the requested information through the first interconnect device to the wireless communications device,

wherein the backbone network is a fully meshed, geographically diverse, four node Internet Protocol and Asynchronous Transmission Mode network, and the first interconnect device allows the wireless communications device to communicate with a wireless local area network device that uses a land mobile radio in an automobile while the automobile is in motion.