Mobile intelligent tracking and communication hub

• US 9,413,689 B1
• Filed: 11/12/2012
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: On Track Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: On Track Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Garner, Glenwood III, Shikowitz, Penny
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Jianye
• Application Number:
  US13/674,282
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/00 Packet switching elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• 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 84/22 with access to wired networks

Abstract

A mobile intelligent tracking and communication hub (MITCH) includes a communication module, a sensor module, and a processor. The processor is communicatively coupled to the communication module and to the sensor module. The processor is typically configured for (i) receiving a data packet in the first protocol from a first device, (ii) manipulating the data packet in response to situational status information received by the sensor module, (iii) translating the data packet from the first protocol to the second protocol, and (iv) transmitting the data packet with the communication module to a second device, the second device being configured to receive data in the second protocol.

Claims

1. A mobile communication hub communicating with at least first and second devices, comprising:

firmware configured to implement the hub in a hub environment;

a communication module stored in the firmware, the communication module being configured to connect the first and second devices to each other by receiving and transmitting data in both a first protocol and a second protocol;

a sensor module stored in the firmware, receiving situational status information from at least one sensor outside the firmware, and gathering information about another environment other than the hub environment, wherein at least one of the first and second devices is located in said another environment;

a processor communicatively coupled to the communication module and the sensor module, said processor being configured for;

receiving with the communication module a data packet in the first protocol from the first device;

manipulating the data packet in response to situational status information received by the sensor module;

translating the data packet from the first protocol to the second protocol; and

transmitting the data packet with the communication module to the second device, the second device being configured to receive data in the second protocol.

2. The mobile communication hub according to claim 1, wherein manipulating the data packet comprises (i) adding data to the data packet, (ii) deleting data from the data packet, and/or (iii) formatting data in the data packet.

3. The mobile communication hub according to claim 1, wherein translating the data packet from the first protocol to the second protocol comprises translating the data packet from the first protocol to an intermediate protocol and thereafter translating the data packet from the intermediate protocol to the second protocol.

4. The mobile communication hub according to claim 3, wherein manipulating the data packet comprises manipulating the data packet when the data packet is in the intermediate protocol.

5. The mobile communication hub according to claim 1, wherein manipulating the data packet comprises manipulating the data packet when the data packet is in the first protocol.

6. The mobile communication hub according to claim 1, wherein manipulating the data packet comprises manipulating the data packet when the data packet is in the second protocol.

7. The mobile communication hub according to claim 1, wherein the sensor module receives the situational status information by communicating with the sensor being selected from the group consisting of a location sensor, an acceleration sensor, an audio sensor, a visual sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a chemical sensor, a radiation sensor, and a biological sensor.

8. A mobile communication hub, comprising:

firmware configured to implement the hub;

a communication module stored in the firmware, the communication module being configured to connect first and second devices to each other by receiving and transmitting data in both a first protocol and a second protocol, the communication module being further configured to communicate with a communication network;

a processor communicatively coupled to the communication module, said processor being configured for;

receiving with the communication module a data packet in the first protocol from the first device;

receiving with the communication module a command from the communication network, the command originating from a monitoring center outside the firmware and communicating with the hub and the first and second devices via a backhaul;

manipulating the data packet in response to receiving the command and situational status information from outside the firmware across the communication network, said situational status information comprising measured environmental data above a threshold;

translating the data packet from the first protocol to the second protocol; and

transmitting the data packet with the communication module to the second device, the second device being configured to receive data in the second protocol.

9. The mobile communication hub according to claim 8, wherein receiving with the communication module the command from the communication network comprises receiving the command from a mobile device within the communication network.

10. The mobile communication hub according to claim 8, wherein manipulating the data packet comprises (i) adding data to the data packet, (ii) deleting data from the data packet, and/or (iii) formatting data in the data packet.

11. The mobile communication hub according to claim 8, wherein translating the data packet from the first protocol to the second protocol comprises translating the data packet from the first protocol to an intermediate protocol and thereafter translating the data packet from the intermediate protocol to the second protocol.

12. The mobile communication hub according to claim 11, wherein manipulating the data packet comprises manipulating the data packet when the data packet is in the intermediate protocol.

13. A mobile communication hub communicating with at least first and second devices, comprising:

firmware configured to implement the hub;

a communication module, the communication module being configured to receive and transmit data in both a first protocol and a second protocol, the communication module being configured to communicate with a communication network;

a processor communicatively coupled to the communication module, said processor being configured for;

receiving with the communication module a data packet in the first protocol from a first device located outside the firmware of the hub;

receiving with the communication module situational status information from the communication network, wherein said situational status information comprises measured environmental data from at least one sensor outside the firmware, connected to the communication network and gathering information about an environment in which at least one of the devices is located;

manipulating the data packet in response to receiving situational status information comprising said measured environmental data above a threshold from one of the devices in the communication network;

translating the data packet from the first protocol to the second protocol; and

transmitting the data packet with the communication module to a second device, the second device being configured to receive data in the second protocol.

14. The mobile communication hub according to claim 13, wherein receiving with the communication module the situational status information from the communication network comprises receiving with the communication module the situational status information from a mobile device in the communication network.

15. The mobile communication hub according to claim 13, herein receiving with the communication module the situational status information from the communication network comprises receiving with the communication module the situational status information from a monitoring center in the communication network.

16. The mobile communication hub according to claim 13, wherein manipulating the data packet comprises (i) adding data to the data packet, (ii) deleting data from the data packet, and/or (iii) formatting data in the data packet.

17. The mobile communication hub according to claim 13, wherein translating the data packet from the first protocol to the second protocol comprises translating the data packet from the first protocol to an intermediate protocol and thereafter translating the data packet from the intermediate protocol to the second protocol.

18. The mobile communication hub according to claim 17, wherein manipulating the data packet comprises manipulating the data packet when the data packet is in the intermediate protocol.