Mobile broadband communications system, such as a deployable self-contained portable system

• US 8,270,325 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2010
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacific Star Communications, Inc. (Curtiss-Wright Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pacific Star Communications, Inc. (Curtiss-Wright Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoffmann, Christopher J., Barber, Jim, Snell, Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): CORBIN, KENNETH B
• Application Number:
  US12/907,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20110228701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/227, 370/328, 370/338, 370/466, 370/352, 370/311, 370/318, 370400-401, 455418-420, 455/403, 455/428, 455424-425, 455/550.1, 455/552.2, 4554261-4262, 361/690, 361/676, 361/678, 361/679, 361/687, 361694-695, 725 62- 63
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for establishing IT services in edge environments are described. In some examples, the system comprises a transportable housing capable of being carried by personnel, a plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components contained in the housing and coupled together and configured to provide the broadband communications network, a management subsystem operatively coupled to the plurality of components, a network connection subsystem defined by at least a first portion of the plurality of components and configured to establish access to the broadband communications network, and a connection subsystem defined by at least a second portion of the plurality of components and that provides a user with a connection to the broadband communications network via the network connection subsystem.

Claims

1. A mobile, integrated communications system for establishing a self-supported broadband communications network, the system comprising:

a ruggedized, self-contained housing having an interior area;

a plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components disposed in the interior area of the housing and coupled together to provide the communications network, the housing and the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components therein being carriable a unit by a person;

a software management subsystem operatively coupled to the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components;

a network connection subsystem defined by at least a first portion of the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components and the software management subsystem and configured to establish access to the broadband communications network;

a connection subsystem defined by at least a second portion of the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components and that provides a user with a connection to the communications network via the network connection subsystem; and

a support member removeably disposed in the interior area of the housing, selected components of the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components being carried by the support member, the support member and the selected components thereon being removable from the housing as a unit;

wherein the network connection subsystem is configured to establish access to a second network, and the connection subsystem is configured to allow the user to access the second network connection subsystem; and

wherein the housing, the software management subsystem, the network connection subsystem and the connection subsystem are configured to be transported to a first location and deployed a first time to establish the broadband network at the first location, and transported by the person to a second location different from the first location and deployed a second time after the first time to establish the broadband network at the second location.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the support member is slideably received by the housing.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the software management subsystem includes a housing processor and at least one support member processor operably coupled to one another.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an interconnection subsystem in the housing that operably couples each of the commercial off-the-shelf components to electrical power.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the software management subsystem includes a housing processor, and wherein the system further comprises an interconnection subsystem in the housing that operably couples each of the commercial off-the-shelf components to the housing processor.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an interconnection subsystem in the housing that operably couples each of the commercial off-the-shelf components to a housing processor, at least a portion of the commercial off-the-shelf components being operably coupled to the interconnection subsystem via a support member processor.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the system includes a cooling system coupled to the housing and configured direct airflow directly through at least a portion of the commercial off-the-shelf components.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the system includes a cooling system coupled to the housing and configured direct airflow directly through at least a portion of the commercial off-the-shelf components, the cooling system including at least one flow control device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing includes one or more rugged cases coupleable together, each of the cases containing portions of the commercial off-the-shelf components, and wherein the software management subsystem includes one or more housing processor and one or more support member processors, each case carrying one housing processor and each support member carrying one support member processor, the one or more housing processors and the one or more support member processors being operably coupled together.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the software management subsystem is configured to at least one of communicate with the off-the-shelf components, control electrical power to the off-the-shelf components, control the operations of the off-the-shelf components, and monitor the operation of the off-the-shelf components.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the software management subsystem includes an annunciator configured to convey a status associated with one or more portions of the integrated communications system.

12. A mobile, integrated communications appliance for establishing a self-supported communications network in an environment, the appliance comprising:

a transportable housing having an interior area therein;

a plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components contained in the interior area of the housing, coupled together, and configured to provide the communications network, housing and the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components contained therein being carriable as a unit by a person;

a management subsystem operatively coupled to the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components and configured to monitor and manage operation of the commercial-off-the-shelf components;

a network connection subsystem defined by at least a first portion of the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components, the network connection subsystem being coupled to and managed by the management subsystem and configured to establish a local area network generally proximate to the housing;

a communication subsystem in the housing and configured to allow a user to access the local area network via a wired or wireless connection;

a support member removeably disposed in the housing, selected components of the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components being carried by the support member, the support member and the selected components thereon being removable from the housing as a unit; and

wherein the network connection subsystem is configured to establish access to a second network, and the connection subsystem is configured to allow the user to access the second network connection subsystem; and

wherein the housing, the management subsystem, the network connection subsystem and the connection subsystem are configured to be transported to a first location and deployed a first time to establish the broadband network at the first location, and transported by the person to a second location different from the first location and deployed a second time after the first time to establish the broadband network at the second location.

13. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the at least a portion of management subsystem and the communication subsystem are carried on the support member.

14. The appliance of claim 12, further comprising an interconnection subsystem in the housing that operably couples each of the commercial off-the-shelf components to at least one of electrical power and a housing processor, the interconnection subsystem including support member portions carried by the support member and housing portions carried by the housing, the support member portions and the housing portions being configured to form an operable connection when the housing slideably receives the support member and to disconnect when the support member is removed from the housing, the commercial off-the-shelf components being operably coupled to the support member portions, the housing portions being operably coupled to at least one of electrical power and a housing processor.

15. The appliance of claim 12 wherein the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components include at least one of a network switch, a server, a firewall, a telephone hub, an encryption gateway, and a wireless gateway.

16. The appliance of claim 12, further comprising a power subsystem coupled to the commercial off-the-shelf communication components, the power subsystem being configured to provide electrical power to and activate the commercial off-the-shelf communication components upon activation of a single switch by a user.

17. The appliance of claim 12, further comprising a power subsystem coupled to the commercial off-the-shelf communication components, the power subsystem being configured to provide electrical power to the commercial off-the-shelf components and including at least one battery.

18. The appliance of claim 12, further comprising a power subsystem coupled to the commercial off-the-shelf communication components, the power subsystem being configured to provide electrical power to the commercial off-the-shelf components and being coupleable to an external power source.

19. A mobile, integrated communications system for establishing a self-supported communications network, the system comprising:

a plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components coupled together and configured to provide the communications network;

a management subsystem operatively coupled to the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components, the management subsystem including at least one housing processor;

a network connection subsystem defined by at least a first portion of the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components and the management subsystem and configured to establish access to the communications network;

a communication subsystem in the housing and configured to allow a user to access the local area network via a wired or wireless connection;

one or more support members, the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components being carried by the one or more support members;

a housing capable of being carried by a person, the housing containing the one or more support members, selected components of the off-the-shelf components being fully contained in an interior area of the housing and removeable from the interior area with the one or more support members as a unit;

a power subsystem coupleable to the commercial off-the-shelf communication components, the power subsystem being configured to provide electrical power to the commercial off-the-shelf components; and

an interconnection subsystem in the housing that operably couples each of the commercial off-the-shelf components to the power subsystem and the housing processor, the interconnection subsystem including support member portions carried by the one or more support members and housing portions carried by the housing, the support member portions and the housing portions being configured to form an operable connection when the housing slideably receives the one or more support members and to disconnect when the one or more support members is removed from the housing, the commercial off-the-shelf components being operably coupled to the support member portions, the housing portions being operably coupled to the power subsystem and the housing processor

wherein the network connection subsystem is configured to establish access to a second network, and the connection subsystem is configured to allow the user to access the second network connection subsystem; and

wherein the housing, the software management subsystem, the network connection subsystem and the connection subsystem are configured to be transported to a first location and deployed a first time to establish the broadband network at the first location, and transported by the person as a unit to a second location different from the first location and deployed a second time after the first time to establish the broadband network at the second location.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the management subsystem includes at least one support member processor, each support member carrying one support member processor coupled to the support member portion of the interconnection subsystem.