Mobile unit and system having integrated mapping, communications and tracking

• US 20080077320A1
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Blackbird Technologies Incorporated (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Blackbird Technologies Incorporated (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Koontz, Michael, Loftus, Thomas, Araneda, Dorian
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/362 for broadside radiating helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas

Abstract

A handheld device and system, in which such device and system include at least one mapping module, at least one tracking module interoperative with said at least one mapping module, at least one communications module interoperative with each of said at least one tracking module and said at least one mapping module, at least two antennae communicatively connected via said at least one communications module to at least one central processing unit, wherein at least one of said at least two antenna is suitable for communications using at least two distinct communication modes.

Claims

1. A handheld device, comprising:

at least one mapping module;

at least one tracking module interoperative with said at least one mapping module;

at least one communications module interoperative with each of said at least one tracking module and said at least one mapping module;

at least two antennae communicatively connected via said at least one communications module to at least one central processing unit, wherein at least one of said at least two antenna is suitable for communications using at least two distinct communication modes.

2. The handheld device of claim 1, further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver interoperative with at least one of said mapping module, said tracking module and said communications module.

3. The handheld device of claim 2, further comprising:

an operating system;

a graphical user interface; and

a display.

4. The handheld device of claim 3, further comprising:

at least one sensor providing information on an external condition to said tracking module.

5. The handheld device of claim 3, wherein the communications module comprises at least two communications modes, such that if one mode is inoperable, the communications module can utilize a second mode.

6. A communications system comprising:

at least one central server comprising;

a communications module;

a central processing unit; and

a graphical user interface; and

a plurality of handheld devices;

each handheld device communicating with the at least one central server, each handheld device comprising;

at least one mapping module;

at least one tracking module interoperative with said at least one mapping module;

at least one communications module interoperative with each of said at least one tracking module and said at least one mapping module, said at least one communications module operative in at least two communications modes;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver interoperative with at least one of said mapping module, said tracking module and said communications module

at least two antennae communicatively connected via said at least one communications module to at least one central processing unit, wherein at least one of said at least two antenna is suitable for communications using at least two distinct communication modes;

wherein the at least one central server can display the location of each of the handheld devices on the graphical user interface.

7. The communications system of claim 6, wherein each handheld device dynamically relays position and direction map data to the at least one central server.

8. The communications system of claim 7, wherein each handheld device relays position and direction map data to at least one other handheld device.

9. The communications system of claim 7, wherein each handheld device further comprises at least one sensor providing information on an external condition to said tracking module.

10. The communications system of claim 7, wherein each handheld device further comprises:

an operating system;

a graphical user interface; and

a display;

such that mapping and position data can be displayed on the display.