Handheld portable real-time tracking and communications device

• US 8,185,101 B1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions Of Sandia LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Wiseman, James M., Riblett, Loren E. Jr., Green, Karl L., Hunter, John A., Cook, Robert N. III, Stevens, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ismail, Shawki S
• Assistant Examiner(s): LO, CHRISTOPHER KWOK YEUNG
• Application Number:
  US12/388,592
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.42, 370/333, 370/395.2, 455/517, 455/512, 455/513, 455/435.3, 455/435.2, 455/11.1, 455/9, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/133, 455/134, 455/135, 455/166.2, 455/552.1, 455/550.1, 455/226.1, 455/226.2, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/418, 455/452.1, 455/452.2
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

Portable handheld real-time tracking and communications devices include; a controller module, communications module including global positioning and mesh network radio module, data transfer and storage module, and a user interface module enclosed in a water-resistant enclosure. Real-time tracking and communications devices can be used by protective force, security and first responder personnel to provide situational awareness allowing for enhance coordination and effectiveness in rapid response situations. Such devices communicate to other authorized devices via mobile ad-hoc wireless networks, and do not require fixed infrastructure for their operation.

Claims

1. A portable handheld real-time tracking and communications device comprising:

a controller module including a micro-processor, the controller module operatively arranged to control and provide an interface between modules comprising the device, the controller module including,

a power module operatively arranged to provide power to the modules comprising the device, the power module including a battery,

a memory module operatively arranged to receive and store instructions for operating the modules comprising the device,

an encryption module operatively arranged to encrypt information communicated from the device to a mobile ad hoc network,

an access control module operatively arranged to create and maintain a listing of external devices authorized for communication with the device, the access control module comprises a master transmit list of devices authorized for communication with the device, a list of external devices within wireless range of the device, and a transmit list, the transmit list consisting of the union of the master transmit list and the list of external devices within wireless range of the device;

a communications module operatively connected to the controller module, the communications module including,

a global positioning system (GPS) module, the GPS module operatively arranged to provide global positioning information pertaining to the devices'"'"' position,

a mesh network radio module, the mesh network radio module operatively arranged to communicate information between the device and the mobile ad-hoc network;

a data transfer and storage module operatively connected to the controller module, the data transfer and storage module including,

an input-output connector operatively arranged to allow hard-wired communication with external hardware,

a flash memory module, the flash memory module operatively arranged to store configuration files,

a compact flash memory socket, the compact flash memory socket operatively arranged to accommodate a compact flash memory card,

an external communication port;

a user interface module operatively connected to the controller module, the user interface module including,

a keypad operatively arranged for operator input,

a plurality of status indicating light emitting diodes (LEDs) the LEDs operatively arranged to indicate an operating status of one or more modules,

a composite video output;

a water resistant enclosure operatively arranged to provide containment for the modules comprising the device, the enclosure comprising two or more portions, the two or more portions fastened together by tamper-resistant fasteners, the two or more portions incorporating a water resistant seal there between.

2. The device of claim 1 where the external communication port is one or more ports selected from the group consisting of an ethernet port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, an RS-232 port and a joint test action group (JTAG) port.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the communications module further comprises a personal area communications (PAN) module, the PAN module configured for Bluetooth compatible communications between the device and external communication devices.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the communications module further comprises a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) compatible socket, the socket configured to accept PCMCIA compatible devices thereby providing compatibility with a plurality of communication protocols.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a vibration motor operatively connected to the controller module, the vibration motor operatively arranged to provide physical notice of alarm conditions to an operator.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a GPS antenna operatively connected to the GPS module the GPS antenna contained within the enclosure.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a mesh radio communications antenna operatively connected to the communications module, the mesh radio communications antenna contained within the enclosure.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a graphics controller module operatively connected to the controller module, the graphics controller module operatively arranged to provide a composite video output to an external display device.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a battery charging module operatively connected to the power module and operatively arranged to charge the battery from an external power source.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the user interface module further comprises a general purpose input-output (GPIO) expander, the GPIO expander comprising a plurality of bi-directional input-output lines, the plurality of bi-directional input-output lines operatively configured to provide digital input-output lines for interconnection to the external hardware.

11. A system for real-time tracking and communications comprising:

a plurality of portable handheld real-time tracking and communications devices, each of the plurality of devices comprising;

a controller module including a micro-processor, the controller module operatively arranged to control and provide an interface between modules comprising the device, the controller module including,

a power module operatively arranged to provide power to the modules comprising the device, the power module including a battery,

a memory module operatively arranged to receive and store instructions for operating the modules comprising the device,

an encryption module operatively arranged to encrypt information communicated from the device to a mobile ad hoc network,

an access control module operatively arranged to create and maintain a listing of external devices authorized for communication with the device, the access control module comprises a master transmit list of devices authorized for communication with the device, a list of external devices within wireless range of the device, and a transmit list, the transmit list consisting of the union of the master transmit list and the list of external devices within wireless range of the device;

a communications module operatively connected to the controller module, the communications module including,

a global positioning system (GPS) module, the GPS module operatively arranged to provide global positioning information pertaining to the devices'"'"' position,

a mesh network radio module, the mesh network radio module operatively arranged to communicate information between the device and the mobile ad-hoc network;

a data transfer and storage module operatively connected to the controller module, the data transfer and storage module including,

an input-output connector operatively arranged to allow hard-wired communication with external hardware,

a flash memory module, the flash memory module operatively arranged to store configuration files,

a compact flash memory socket, the compact flash memory socket operatively arranged to accommodate a compact flash memory card,

an external communication port;

a user interface module operatively connected to the controller module, the user interface module including,

a keypad operatively arranged for operator input,

a plurality of status indicating light emitting diodes (LEDs) the LEDs operatively arranged to indicate an operating status of one or more modules,

a composite video output;

a water resistant enclosure operatively arranged to provide containment for the modules comprising the device, the enclosure comprising two or more portions, the two or more portions fastened together by tamper-resistant fasteners, the two or more portions incorporating a water resistant seal there between.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising one or more in-vehicle tracking devices.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the one or more in-vehicle tracking devices each incorporate a display and a graphical user interface (GUI).

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the one or more in-vehicle tracking devices are operationally configured to display the position of each device of the plurality of portable handheld real-time tracking and communications devices, on a map.

15. A portable handheld real-time tracking and communications device comprising:

a controller module including a micro-processor, the controller module operatively arranged to control and provide an interface between modules comprising the device, the controller module including,

a power module operatively arranged to provide power to the modules comprising the device, the power module including a battery,

a memory module operatively arranged to receive and store instructions for operating the modules comprising the device,

an encryption module operatively arranged to encrypt information communicated from the device to a mobile ad hoc network,

an access control module operatively arranged to create and maintain a listing of external devices authorized for communication with the device;

a communications module operatively connected to the controller module, the communications module including,

a global positioning system (GPS) module, the GPS module operatively arranged to provide global positioning information pertaining to the devices'"'"' position,

a mesh network radio module, the mesh network radio module operatively arranged to communicate information between the device and the mobile ad-hoc network;

a data transfer and storage module operatively connected to the controller module, the data transfer and storage module including,

an input-output connector operatively arranged to allow hard-wired communication with external hardware,

a flash memory module, the flash memory module operatively arranged to store configuration files,

a compact flash memory socket, the compact flash memory socket operatively arranged to accommodate a compact flash memory card,

an external communication port;

a user interface module operatively connected to the controller module, the user interface module including,

a keypad operatively arranged for operator input,

a plurality of status indicating light emitting diodes (LEDs) the LEDs operatively arranged to indicate an operating status of one or more modules,

a composite video output, and

a general purpose input-output (GPIO) expander, the GPIO expander comprising a plurality of bi-directional input-output lines, the plurality of bi-directional input-output lines operatively configured to provide digital input-output lines for interconnection to the external hardware; and

a water resistant enclosure operatively arranged to provide containment for the modules comprising the device, the enclosure comprising two or more portions, the two or more portions fastened together by tamper-resistant fasteners, the two or more portions incorporating a water resistant seal there between.