Apparatus and method for testing emergency locator beacons

• US 8,098,190 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ACR Electronics, Inc. (Drew Marine USA, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ACR Electronics, Inc. (Drew Marine USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bishop, Ronald D., Johnston, Gordon W., Hoffman, Christopher P., Morgan, Scott P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): BYTHROW, PETER M
• Application Number:
  US12/553,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20100103042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 342/42, 342/44, 342/45, 342/60, 342/175, 342/357.07, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.32, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 342/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons

Abstract

An emergency locator beacon testing and communication system is described. The system uses privately-owned Local User Terminals which provide direct feeds to a privately-operated beacon information processor having dedicated on-line servers for consolidating and providing access to beacon test information. The system receives beacon signals relayed through the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system, correlates the beacons'"'"' unique identification numbers (UIN'"'"'s) in the received signals to the UIN'"'"'s of beacons known to be undergoing testing, collects the data transmitted by beacons under test, and displays beacon test results in a useful format on a user-friendly website.

Claims

1. A method for communicating information using an emergency locator beacon, the method comprising:

(a) receiving beacon registration information via a communication network, the beacon registration information including a beacon identification number associated with the emergency locator beacon and contact information associated with an entity designated to receive beacon information;

(b) storing the beacon registration information in a database;

(c) receiving a radio-frequency transmission from an emergency locator beacon via a satellite network, the radio-frequency transmission including a beacon identification number;

(d) extracting the beacon identification number from the radio-frequency transmission;

(e) searching the database to find beacon registration information associated with the beacon identification number extracted from the radio-frequency transmission;

(f) generating a report message for the entity designated to receive beacon information identified by the contact information included in the beacon registration information found in step (e), the report message including beacon information obtained from the radio-frequency transmission; and

(g) communicating the report message via a communication network to the entity designated to receive beacon information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining characteristics of the radio-frequency transmission received in step (c), said characteristics indicative of the operational status of the emergency locator beacon that generated the transmission; and

step (f) including generating the report message including information indicating the operational status of the emergency locator beacon that generated the transmission.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(h) prior to step (c), allocating a time slot during which the emergency locator beacon is to be operated to generate the radio-frequency transmission received in step (c);

(i) prior to step (c), storing the allocated time slot in the database in association with the beacon registration information; and

(j) prior to step (c), communicating the allocated time slot via the communication network to the entity designated to receive beacon information,

wherein step (c) comprises receiving the radio-frequency transmission from the emergency locator beacon via the satellite network during the allocated time slot.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein step (j) further comprises initially sending the entity a confirmation communication, and later sending the entity a reminder communication to remind the entity of the upcoming allocated time slot during which the emergency locator beacon is to be operated.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(h) accessing the contact information included in the beacon registration information found in step (e); and

(i) notifying the entity identified in the contact information regarding availability of the report message via a communication path indicated in the contact information, wherein the communication path is selected from the group consisting of at least one of electronic mail, text message, facsimile and telephone call.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (g) comprises making the report message available via at least one of a webpage, electronic mail, text message, facsimile or telephone call.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(h) after step (c), extracting a message protocol from the radio-frequency transmission;

(i) determining whether the message protocol corresponds to a test protocol; and

(j) if the message protocol corresponds to a test protocol, proceeding with steps (d) through (g).

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(h) after step (c), extracting a message protocol from the radio-frequency transmission;

(i) determining whether the message protocol corresponds to an Inverted Frame Sync (IFS) Self Test message; and

(j) if the message protocol corresponds to an IFS Self Test message, proceeding with steps (d) through (g).

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(h) after step (c), extracting a message protocol from the radio-frequency transmission;

(i) determining whether the message protocol corresponds to an Orbitography protocol or a test protocol or an Inverted Frame Sync (IFS) Self Test message protocol; and

(j) if the message protocol does not correspond to an Orbitography protocol or a test protocol or an IFS Self Test message protocol, processing the radio-frequency transmission as an actual emergency transmission.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises receiving the beacon registration information including a user-designated message to include in the report message.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the user-designated message comprises “

Self Test Successful”

or “

I'"'"'m Okay”

or “

Come and get me”

or “

I'"'"'m on my way home.”

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a location of the emergency locator beacon based on the radio-frequency transmission received in step (c); and

step (f) including generating the report message including information indicating the location of the emergency locator beacon that generated the transmission.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining the location of the emergency locator beacon based on GPS information included in the radio-frequency transmission.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining the location of the emergency locator beacon based on a position of the emergency locator beacon with respect to a plurality of satellites of the satellite network.

15. A system for testing an emergency locator beacon to verify proper operation and for providing test results, the system comprising:

a database for storing beacon registration information including a beacon identification number associated with the emergency locator beacon and user contact information associated with a designated user of the emergency locator beacon;

one or more local user terminals for receiving a radio-frequency transmission from an emergency locator beacon via a satellite network, wherein the radio-frequency transmission includes a beacon identification number;

one or more beacon information processors in communication with the one or more local user terminals and the database, the one or more beacon information processors for extracting the beacon identification number from the radio-frequency transmission, for searching the database to find beacon registration information associated with the beacon identification number extracted from the radio-frequency transmission, for determining characteristics of the radio-frequency transmission indicative of the operational status of the emergency locator beacon that generated the transmission, and for generating a test report based on the characteristics determined; and

a communication network for communicating the test report to the user.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein

the database is further for storing a time slot allocated for testing the emergency locator beacon, and

the one or more local user terminals are for receiving a radio-frequency transmission from the emergency locator beacon via the satellite network during the allocated time slot.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the one or more beacon information processors access the user contact information associated with the beacon registration information and notify a user identified in the user contact information regarding availability of the test report via a communication path indicated in the user contact information, wherein the communication path is selected from the group consisting of electronic mail, text message, facsimile, and telephone call.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the test report is communicated to the user via a webpage.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein one or more of the local user terminals or the beacon information processors extract a message protocol from the radio-frequency transmission, determine whether the message protocol corresponds to a test protocol or an Inverted Frame Sync (IFS) Self Test message protocol and, proceed with generation of the test report if the message protocol corresponds to a test protocol or an IFS Self Test message protocol.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein one or more of the local user terminals or the beacon information processors extract a message protocol from the radio-frequency transmission, determine whether the message protocol corresponds to a test protocol or an Orbitography protocol or an Inverted Frame Sync (IFS) Self Test message protocol, and process the radio-frequency transmission as an actual emergency transmission if the message protocol does not correspond to an Orbitography protocol or a test protocol or an IFS Self Test message protocol.

21. A method for testing emergency locator beacons to verify proper operation and for providing test results, the method comprising:

(a) receiving beacon test data from a beacon tester via a communication network, the beacon test data including a beacon identification number associated with an emergency locator beacon that has been activated to generate a radio-frequency transmission in close proximity to the beacon tester;

(b) receiving the radio-frequency transmission from the emergency locator beacon via a satellite network, the radio-frequency transmission including the beacon identification number;

(c) determining whether the beacon identification number from the beacon test data matches the beacon identification number from the radio-frequency transmission received via the satellite network;

(d) if the beacon identification number from the beacon test data matches the beacon identification number from the radio-frequency transmission received via the satellite network, determining characteristics of the radio-frequency transmission indicative of the operational status of the emergency locator beacon;

(e) generating a test report based on the characteristics determined in step (d); and

(f) communicating the test report via the communication network.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

(g) accessing user identification information from the beacon tester data;

(h) accessing a database to determine user contact information associated with the user identification information; and

(i) notifying a user identified in the user identification information regarding availability of the test report via a communication path indicated in the user contact information, wherein the communication path is selected from the group consisting of electronic mail, text message, facsimile, and telephone call.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein step (f) comprises making the test report available via a webpage.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising generating a beacon test certificate.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

(h) after step (b), extracting a message protocol from the radio-frequency transmission received via the satellite network;

(i) determining whether the message protocol corresponds to a test protocol; and

(j) if the message protocol corresponds to a test protocol, proceeding with steps (c) through (f).

26. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

(h) after step (b), extracting a message protocol from the radio-frequency transmission received via the satellite network;

(i) determining whether the message protocol corresponds to an Orbitography protocol or a test protocol; and

(j) if the message protocol does not correspond to an Orbitography protocol or a test protocol, processing the radio-frequency transmission as an actual emergency transmission.

27. A system for communicating information using an emergency locator beacon, the system comprising:

a database for storing beacon registration information including a beacon identification number associated with the emergency locator beacon and contact information associated with an entity designated to receive beacon information;

one or more local user terminals for receiving a radio-frequency transmission from an emergency locator beacon via a satellite network, wherein the radio-frequency transmission includes a beacon identification number;

one or more beacon information processors in communication with the one or more local user terminals and the database, the one or more beacon information processors for extracting the beacon identification number from the radio-frequency transmission, for searching the database to find beacon registration information associated with the beacon identification number extracted from the radio-frequency transmission, and for generating a report message for the entity designated to receive beacon information, the report message including beacon information obtained from the radio-frequency transmission; and

a communication network for communicating the report message to the entity designated to receive beacon information.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein

the database is further for storing a time slot allocated for operation of the emergency locator beacon to generate a radio-frequency transmission, and

the one or more local user terminals are for receiving a radio-frequency transmission from the emergency locator beacon via the satellite network during the allocated time slot.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the one or more beacon information processors access the contact information included in the beacon registration information and notify the entity identified in the contact information regarding availability of the report message via a communication path indicated in the contact information, wherein the communication path is selected from the group consisting of at least one of electronic mail, text message, facsimile, and telephone call.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein the report message is communicated to the user via a webpage.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein one or more of the local user terminals or the beacon information processors extract a message protocol from the radio-frequency transmission, determine whether the message protocol corresponds to a test protocol or an Orbitography protocol or an Inverted Frame Sync (IFS) Self Test message protocol, and proceed with generation of the report message if the message protocol corresponds to a test protocol or an Orbitography protocol or an IFS Self Test message protocol.

32. The system of claim 27 wherein one or more of the local user terminals or the beacon information processors extract a message protocol from the radio-frequency transmission, determine whether the message protocol corresponds to a test protocol or an Orbitography protocol or an Inverted Frame Sync (IFS) Self Test message protocol, and process the radio-frequency transmission as an actual emergency transmission if the message protocol does not correspond to an Orbitography protocol or a test protocol or an IFS Self Test message protocol.

33. The system of claim 27 wherein the database is for storing beacon registration information including a user-designated message to include in the report message.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the user-designated message comprises “

Self Test Successful”

or “

I'"'"'m Okay”

or “

Come and get me”

or “

I'"'"'m on my way home.”