First responder communications system

• US 7,245,216 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tri-Sentinel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tri-Sentinel Incorporated
• Inventors: Burkley, Raymond, Taras, Gordon, Mason, Charles, Cronin, John, Curran, Chuck, Carreto, Ignacio
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US11/274,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.11, 340/539.18, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A First Responder Communications System (FRCS), also referred to as an Automated Incident Control System, is provided that supports inter-agency and intra-agency communications among first responders including fire, police, border patrol, emergency medical service, safety, and/or other agencies. The FRCS also increases situational awareness of personnel by automatically providing position information as well as other sensor information. The FRCS also provides position and time information via Global Positioning System (GPS) and/or other positioning systems, and data from deployed and/or personal sensors to provide enhanced communications, command and control capabilities to the first responders and incident command. The FRCS includes a heads up display (HUD) including one or more LEDs or LCDs and a signal receiver that attaches to a faceshield or windshield (shield) to receive/display instructions via an electromagnetic or sonic signal via a transmitter coupled to a computer or other source.

Claims

1. A communications system, comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices that each include a network subsystem and a positioning subsystem, the network subsystem automatically assembling a wireless network among the mobile devices using at least one of a plurality of channels for information transfer and automatically assigning at least one unique identification number to each mobile device, wherein the network subsystem uses a primary channel of the plurality of channels and automatically switches to use an alternative channel of the plurality of channels in response to a failure of the primary channel, the positioning subsystem automatically generating position information of each mobile device; and

at least one control system coupled for information transfer with the plurality of mobile devices, the control system tracking and mapping individual positions of each mobile device using the position information and identifying each mobile device on the map using the identification number.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein communications among the mobile devices and the control system occur using at least one of High Frequency (HF) communications, Very High Frequency (VHF) communications, Ultra High Frequency (UHF), microwave communications, cellular communications, satellite communications, and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) communications.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the positioning subsystem includes at least one of a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Radio Frequency Identification/Direction Finding (RFID/DF) system, an infrared (IR) system, an acoustic system, a triangulation system, and a signaling system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the information transfer includes voice information, voice over internet protocol (VOIP), and data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification number is a media access control (MAC) address, wherein the MAC address is associated with routing packets having modified priorities, wherein “

all routing packets are high quality packets”

ensuring higher reliability between nodes.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system further comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays the individual positions of each mobile device on a three-dimensional map.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification number is a media access control (MAC) address, wherein location-based multicast group Internet Protocol (IP) addressing is used to map the individual positions of each mobile device within an incident scene.

8. A portable communication device, comprising:

a network system that automatically assembles a wireless network among other portable communication devices and control devices in an area and automatically reads a unique preassigned identification number from each portable communication device;

a communication system that receives and transmits voice and data communications over the wireless network using at least one of High Frequency (HF) communications, Very High Frequency (VHF) communications, Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/microwave communications, cellular communications, satellite communications, and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) communications; and

a positioning system that includes Global Positioning System (GPS) components and at least one location sensor, the positioning system automatically determining a position of the device periodically and automatically transferring the position to at least one of the control devices via the wireless network.

9. A method for automatically tracking and communicating among mobile devices, comprising:

automatically assembling a wireless network among a plurality of mobile devices and control systems in an area, wherein assembling includes adding mobile devices and control systems to the wireless network as they arrive in the area and removing mobile devices and control systems from the wireless network as they depart the area;

automatically activating a portable processing device in response to vehicle start, wherein the portable processing device is a radio frequency base unit and the vehicle is an emergency response vehicle;

receiving voice and data communications at the portable processing device from each of the mobile devices of the wireless network in response to the automatic activating, wherein the data communications include position and identification information of each mobile device of the wireless network relative to a position of the portable processing device;

tracking a position and status of a mobile device using the position and identification information; and

generating a map of an engagement and displaying individual positions and identifications of each mobile device of the wireless network using the position and identification information, wherein at least one area of the map can be selected in order to focus on a portion of an incident area and at least one responder team.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile devices include at least one two-way pager system for communications, wherein the pager system provides at least one pre-programmed response to a user for use in responding to received messages, wherein the pre-programmed responses are reprogrammable.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein communications among the mobile devices and the portable processing device are made via at least one of High Frequency (HF) communications, Very High Frequency (VHF) communications, Super High Frequency (SHF) communications, Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/microwave communications, cellular communications, satellite communications, public safety band communications, and Public Switched Telephone Network. (PSTN) communications.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications are established on a primary channel to enable at least one of a mesh network and an ultra wide band network (UWB).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the communications are established on at least one alternative channel when communication on the primary channel fails, wherein use of the at least one alternative channel is communicated to portable processing device.

14. A portable device, comprising:

a network system that automatically assembles a wireless network among other portable devices and control devices in a geographical area;

an identification system that automatically reads a unique identification number from the portable communication device;

a communication system that receives and transmits data over the wireless network via at least one of the other portable devices and control devices using at least one of High Frequency (HF) communications, Very High Frequency (VHF) communications, Super High Frequency (SHF) communications, Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/microwave communications, cellular communications, and satellite communications; and

a positioning system that includes Global Positioning System (GPS) components and at least one location sensor, the positioning system automatically determining a position of the device periodically and automatically transferring the position to at least one of the control devices via the wireless network.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the positioning system further includes at least one of a Radio Frequency Identification/Direction Finding (RFID/DF) system, an infrared (IR) system, an acoustic system, a triangulation system, a signaling system, an accelerometer-based system, a gyroscope-based system, and a logic-based dead reckoning system.

16. The device of claim 14, further comprising at least one neural logic algorithm that processes data of the logic-based dead reckoning system for responder location and tracking.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising at least one sensor, wherein the sensor provides at least one of light, temperature, biometric information, barometric data, and signal strength data.

18. The device of claim 14, further comprising at least one of an identification generator that generates the identification number and an encoder subsystem that encodes data transferred among the portable devices and the control devices.

19. A method for automatically communicating among mobile devices, comprising:

automatically assembling a wireless network among a plurality of mobile devices and control systems in an area, wherein assembling includes adding mobile devices and control systems to the wireless network as they arrive in the area and removing mobile devices and control systems from the wireless network as they depart the area;

automatically transferring data communications among the mobile devices and the control systems, wherein the data communications include packetized data of position and identification information of each mobile device of the wireless network;

tracking a position and status of a mobile device using the position and identification information; and

generating a display that includes a map displaying individual positions, position tracks, and identifications of each mobile device using the position and identification information.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving sensor data from at least one sensor of at least one mobile device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

comparing the sensor data with previously received data of the mobile devices;

generating predictions using results of the comparison, wherein the predictions are predictions of progress of an engagement; and

displaying the generated predictions on the display.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising a navigation system that includes at least one indicator on at least one article of equipment or clothing of a responder, wherein the navigation system indicates at least one of a direction and movement of the responder.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one of an intensity and an operating mode of the indicators can be changed by a remote commander, wherein the indicators communicate at least one of commands and instructions to the responder.