Architecture for enabling network centric communications, sensing, computation, and information assurance

• US 8,090,264 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Hunt, Jeffrey H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, DZUNG D
• Application Number:
  US12/276,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 398/116, 398/122, 398124-125, 398127-131
• US Class Current: 398/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1125 using a single common optical path

Abstract

A free-space network may include: at least one free-space sensor for sensing at least one uncooperative target; at least one free-space communications network for allowing a plurality of cooperative users to communicate, at least one free-space processor for processing information from the at least one free-space sensor and information from the at least one free-space communications network; and at least one free-space communications link connecting in free-space the at least one free-space sensor, the at least one free-space communications network, and the at least one free-space processor. The at least one free-space communications network may include a plurality of free-space multi-channel relay converters for tracking a plurality of cooperative users, and a connection system for aligning the plurality of free-space multi-channel relay converters with one another to allow a plurality of cooperative users to communicate.

Claims

1. A free-space network comprising:

at least one free-space sensor for sensing at least one uncooperative target;

at least one free-space communications network for allowing a plurality of cooperative users to communicate, wherein said at least one free-space communications network comprises a plurality of free-space multi-channel relay converters for tracking a plurality of cooperative users and a connection system for aligning the plurality of free-space multi-channel relay converters with one another to allow a plurality of cooperative users to communicate, wherein said connection system comprises an internal alignment reference and steering mirrors and each free-space multi-channel relay converter is adapted to align with the internal alignment reference;

at least one free-space processor for processing information from said at least one free-space sensor and information from said at least one free-space communications network; and

at least one free-space communications link connecting in free-space said at least one free-space sensor, said at least one free-space communications network, and said at least one free-space processor.

2. The free-space network of claim 1 further comprising at least one free-space information storage device for storing information from said at least one free-space sensor and for storing information from said at least one free-space communications network.

3. The free-space network of claim 1 further comprising at least one free-space source comprising at least one of a spectral source, an imaging source, a coherent source, a laser, an incoherent source, a non-laser light, a single frequency spectra source, or a broadband source.

4. The free-space network of claim 1 wherein said at least one free-space sensor comprises at least one of an imaging sensor or a spectral sensor.

5. The free-space network of claim 1 wherein said at least one free-space communications link comprises at least one of an optical laser or a radio frequency link.

6. The free-space network of claim 1 wherein the at least one free-space sensor, the at least one free-space communications network, and the at least one free-space processor are geographically dispersed in free-space.

7. A free-space network comprising:

at least one free-space spectral sensor for sensing at least one uncooperative target using spectral signals;

at least one free-space communications network for allowing a plurality of cooperative users to communicate, wherein said at least one free-space communications network comprises a plurality of free-space multi-channel relay converters for tracking a plurality of cooperative users and a connection system comprising an internal alignment reference and steering mirrors for aligning the plurality of free-space multi-channel relay converters with one another to allow the plurality of cooperative targets to communicate;

at least one free-space imaging sensor for sensing at least one uncooperative target using imaging signals;

at least one free-space storage device for storing information from said at least one free-space spectral sensor and for storing information from said at least one free-space imaging sensor;

at least one free-space processor for processing information from said at least one free-space spectral sensor and for processing information from said at least one free-space imaging sensor; and

at least one free-space communications link connecting in free-space said at least one free-space spectral sensor, said at least one free-space imaging sensor, said at least one free-space processor, and said at least one free-space storage device.

8. The free-space network of claim 7 further comprising at least one free-space source comprising at least one of a spectral source for emitting spectral signals, an imaging source for emitting imaging signals, a coherent source, a laser, an incoherent source, a non-laser light, a single frequency spectra source, or a broadband source.

9. The free-space network of claim 7 wherein said at least one free-space communications link comprises at least one of a laser or a radio frequency link.

10. The free-space network of claim 7 wherein the at least one free-space spectral sensor, the at least one free-space imaging sensor, the at least one free-space storage device, and the at least one free-space processor are geographically dispersed in free-space.

11. A method of forming and using a free-space network comprising:

providing at least one free-space sensor;

providing at least one free-space communications network comprising a plurality of free-space multi-channel relay converters and a connection system comprising an internal alignment reference and steering mirrors;

providing at least one free-space processor;

connecting said at least one free-space sensor, said at least one free-space communications network, and said at least one free-space processor using at least one free-space communications link;

communicating between a plurality of cooperative users over the free-space communications network;

tracking the plurality of cooperative users using the plurality of free-space multi-channel relay converters;

aligning the plurality of free-space multi-channel relay converters with one another using the connection system; and

sensing at least one uncooperative target using said at least one free-space sensor.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of processing information from said at least one free-space sensor and information from said at least one free-space communications network using said at least one free-space processor.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of providing at least one free-space information storage device, and storing information from said at least one free-space sensor and from said at least one free-space communications network using said at least one free-space information storage device.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the free-space sensor comprises at least one of a free-space spectral sensor or a free-space imaging sensor, and further comprising the steps of providing at least one free-space source comprising at least one of a spectral source, an imaging source, a coherent source, a laser, an incoherent source, a non-laser light, a single frequency spectra source, or a broadband source, and emitting at least one signal using said at least one free-space source in order to sense said at least one uncooperative target using said free-space sensor.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one free-space sensor, the at least one free-space communications network, and the at least one free-space processor are geographically dispersed in free-space.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one free-space communications link comprises at least one of an optical laser or a radio frequency link.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the method provides at least one of information storage reduction, processing reduction, redundancy reduction, decentralized processing, ultrahigh bandwidth free-space communications, geographically dispersed sensing of uncooperative targets, or geographically dispersed communication between cooperative users.