Method and apparatus for persistent communications, interoperability and situational awareness in the aftermath of a disaster

• US 9,426,834 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Greene, Michael F., Delaney, William J., Spang, Kristin A., Kimbark, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, ANDREW CHUNG CHEUNG
• Application Number:
  US14/807,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20150341964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 370/245, 370/319, 370/320, 370/330, 370/335, 370/337, 370/406, 370/436, 370/466, 340/539, 340/905, 340/990, 455/78, 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/00 Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18539 Arrangements for managing radio, resources, i.e. for establishing or releasing a connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• 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 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system for providing situational awareness outside a temporary incident area network includes a prioritized connection module for connecting a mesh network at the incident area to one of a plurality of available communications channels, with the selection based not only on the availability of a communications channel but also on the associated expense, speed, reliability or bandwidth, so that high bandwidth traffic such as video and pictures can be reliably sent from the incident area to a location outside of the incident area. In one embodiment switching to a satellite phone network bypasses problems with terrestrial networks such as cell phone networks and landlines which may be down.

Claims

1. A method for intercommunication between two or more entities of two different talk groups of a mesh network in an incident area regardless of the type of communications devices or frequencies used by the two or more entities, comprising:

enabling communication between the two different talk groups using a central command controller that converts traffic between the two or more entities of the two different talk groups to a universal protocol and a common frequency;

causing the two or more entities of the two different talk groups to set up an ad hoc temporary incident area network and establishing a communications interoperability solution with one or more newly-arriving entities into the incident area, whereby interoperability is established between all of the two or more entities within the incident area regardless of communication device protocol or frequency compatibility and wherein the two different talk groups establish the communication interoperability solution by eliminating interference between communications interoperability solutions of the mesh network.