Patent Application
20080194246
The invention relates to the field of communication networks and, more specifically, to wireless networks.
Emergency response organizations increasingly depend on wireless communication technology to provide communication during emergencies. Disadvantageously, however, emergencies often result in damage to, or sometimes even destruction of, existing network infrastructure, thereby preventing communications between emergency personnel. In other words, the existing communications infrastructure lacks survivability. Furthermore, even if portions of the existing communications infrastructure do survive the emergency, the existing communications infrastructure may not be able to handle the increased traffic load typical during emergencies. Specifically, remaining portions of the existing communication infrastructure may be overloaded as emergency personnel, and the general public, attempt various types of communications. Such deficiencies became clear during the events of Sep. 11, 2001, and again during the events of Hurricane Katrina.
Various deficiencies in the prior art are addressed through the invention of an apparatus and method for providing a rapidly-deployable wireless network. An apparatus includes means for providing radio access network (RAN) functions, means for providing at least one core (CORE) networking function, and means for providing at least one service. The RAN functions include one or more air interfaces, control functions, and network gateway functions. The CORE networking functions include at least one of an AAA function, a DNS function, a DHCP function, a call/session control function, and the like. The services include one or more applications, such as voice calls, voice conferencing, file transfers, sensor data transfers, high-speed data downloads, streaming video, video conferencing, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. The apparatus may further include means for providing at least one additional wireless interface, including one or more of a wireless interface for mesh networking, a wireless interface for backhaul to existing network infrastructure, and a wireless interface for performing management functions.
The apparatus is adapted for being deployed on a mobile platform, such as an individual mobile platform, a vehicle-based mobile platform, or any other mobile platform which may be used to transport the apparatus to a site at which a rapidly deployable wireless network is required. The apparatus may be deployed in various situations, e.g., for emergency response situations (e.g., responding to fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, terrorist attacks, and the like), civilian search and rescue operations, large-crowd events (e.g., sporting events, concerts, and the like), rapid replacement of commercial cellular networks (e.g., where part of a network of a commercial wireless service provider is unavailable), military situations, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. The apparatus may be deployed in any other situation where a wireless network may be useful. The apparatus may be deployed to provide a standalone wireless network independent of any existing network infrastructure, or to provide an integrated wireless network utilizing existing network infrastructure.
The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures.
The present invention provides a rapidly deployable network (denoted herein as a 911 network on wheels, i.e., 911-NOW). The 911-NOW network is formed using one or more 911-NOW nodes. A 911-NOW node is an integrated network node supporting RAN functions (and, optionally, one or more additional wireless interfaces), core networking functions, and services. A 911-NOW node is implemented on a mobile platform such that the 911-NOW node may be deployed to form a wireless network wherever such network may be required. By providing RAN functions (and, optionally, one or more additional wireless interfaces), core networking functions, and services, a single 911-NOW node may form a fully-functional and completely autonomous wireless network independent of existing network infrastructure. Thus, one or more 911-NOW nodes may be deployed to form a standalone wireless network that is not dependent on existing network infrastructure, but which may utilize existing network infrastructure where such existing network infrastructure is available.
The emergency site 101 may be any location or combination of locations at which a wireless network is required. The emergency site 101 may be a localized site, a collection of localized sites, a widespread site, a collection of widespread sites, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. For example, emergency site 101 may be a single location, multiple locations within a town or city, or even span one or more counties, states, countries, continents, and the like. The 911-NOW network is not limited by the scope of the emergency site. The emergency site 101 may be associated with any type of emergency. For example, emergency site 101 may be associated with a natural disaster (e.g., a flood, a hurricane, a tornado, and the like), a manmade disaster (e.g., a chemical spill, a terrorist attack, and the like), and the like, as well as various combinations thereof.
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For example, wireless user devices 104 may include wireless devices carried by emergency personnel for communicating with other emergency personnel, receiving information for use in responding at the emergency site, collecting information at the emergency site, monitoring conditions at the emergency site, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. For example, wireless user devices 104 may include devices such as walkie-talkies, wireless headsets, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptops, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. The wireless user devices 104 may include various other equipment, such as monitors (e.g., for monitoring breathing, pulse, and other characteristics; for monitoring temperature, precipitation, and other environmental characteristics; and the like), sensors (e.g., for detecting air-quality changes, presence of chemical or biological agents, radiation levels, and the like), and various other equipment.
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By placing 911-NOW modules on mobile platforms, network scalability is automatically managed. Since the scope of an emergency situation typically dictates the response to the emergency situation (in terms of emergency personnel and equipment deployed), deployment of emergency response equipment and personnel of a scope sufficient to respond to an emergency will automatically result in deployment of sufficient 911-NOW modules to support the response to the emergency. For example, a fire requiring three fire engines will most likely not require more than three 911-NOW modules to support the firefighters and other personnel responding to the fire, a disaster requiring twenty fire engines and five ambulances most likely will not require more than twenty-five 911-NOW modules to support the firefighters and other emergency personnel responding to the fire, and so on.
In other words, using the 911-NOW network architecture, there will most likely not be a need for emergency personnel to dispatch special vehicles for purposes of scaling the scope of the 911-NOW network to match the scope of the emergency situation for which the 911-NOW network is being deployed (although such special deployments may be useful in some situations). By removing the decision of the number of 911-NOW modules required to support the response to an emergency, critical time and resources otherwise required to determine the number of required 911-NOW modules may be saved. Thus, emergency personnel do not have to worry about having sufficient resources to support any communications which may be required at the emergency site.
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The 911-NOW nodes 110 further support mobility of user devices 104 at emergency site 101. More specifically, 911-NOW nodes 110 support mobility of user devices 104 such that, as users 102 move around emergency site 101, communication sessions between wireless user devices 104 of those users 102 and 911-NOW nodes 110 are seamlessly transferred between 911-NOW nodes 110 (i.e., from a 911-NOW node currently serving the wireless user device to another 911-NOW node). The mechanism for handoff of wireless user devices 104 between 911-NOW nodes 110 may be performed in any manner, and, thus, may be based on one or more factors, such as relative signal strength, loading of the respective 911-NOW nodes 110, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof.
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The management device 105 is operable for configuring and controlling standalone 911-NOW network 100. For example, management device 105 may be used to configure and reconfigure one or more of the 911-NOW nodes 110, control access to the 911-NOW nodes (e.g., authorization, authentication, and like functions), control functions and services supported by the 911-NOW nodes 110, upgrade software run by the 911-NOW nodes 110, perform element/network management functions for individual 911-NOW nodes or combinations of 911-NOW nodes (e.g., fault, performance, and like management functions) and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. The management device 105 may be implemented using existing devices (e.g., laptops, PDAs, and the like), or using a newly-designed device adapted to support such management functions. The management device 105 may connect to one or more 911-NOW nodes 110 directly and/or indirectly using wireline and/or wireless interfaces.
Although primarily depicted and described with respect to one on-site management device 105, additional on-site management devices may be deployed for configuring and controlling a 911-NOW standalone network. Furthermore, the management device 105 (or one or more other management devices) may be connected to 911-NOW nodes 110 off-site for performing different functions. For example, the management device 105 may be connected to a 911-NOW node when the 911-NOW node returns to the location from which the 911-NOW node was dispatched (e.g., returns to its station) in order to perform various functions, such as post-analysis diagnostics, reconfigurations, software upgrades, management functions (e.g., fault, performance, and like management functions), and the like, as well as various combinations thereof.
The 911-NOW nodes 110 support wireless communications using one or more wireless technologies. For wireless access communications, each 911-NOW node 110 may support one or more different wireless technologies, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Evolution-Data Optimized (1xEV-DO), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. For wireless mesh communications, each 911-NOW node 110 may support Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) or WiMAX technology, microwave technologies, or any other wireless technology. For wireless management communications, each 911-NOW node 110 may support one or more such cellular technologies, and, further, may support WiFi technology, Bluetooth technology, or any other wireless technology.
In one example, wireless access communications are provided using 1xEV-DO, wireless mesh communications are provided using WiFi, and wireless management communications are provided using WiFi. In another example, wireless access communications are provided using UMTS, wireless mesh communications are provided using WiMAX, and wireless management communications are provided using WiFi. In another example, wireless access communications are provided using HSDPA, wireless mesh communications are provided using WiFi, and wireless management communications are provided using Bluetooth. In other words, various different combinations of wireless technologies may be used to support different types of communications by 911-NOW nodes 110.
As described herein, wireless communications supported by 911-NOW nodes 110 convey user information, control information, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. For example, user information may include voice communications (e.g., voice calls, audio conferences, push-to-talk, and the like), data communications (e.g., text-based communications, high-speed data downloads/uploads, file transfers, sensor data transfers, and the like), video communications (e.g., video broadcasts, conferencing, and the like), multimedia communications, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. The wireless communications supported by 911-NOW nodes 110 may convey various combinations of content, e.g., audio, text, image, video, multimedia, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. For example, control information may include management information, network configuration/control information, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. Thus, 911-NOW nodes 110 support wireless communication of any information.
Although a specific number of 911-NOW nodes 110 is depicted and described as being deployed to form a 911-NOW network, fewer or more 911-NOW nodes may be deployed to form a 911-NOW network supporting communications required to provide an effective emergency response. Similarly, although a specific configuration of 911-NOW nodes 110 is depicted and described as being deployed to form a 911-NOW network, 911-NOW nodes may be deployed in various other configurations (including different locations at one emergency site or across multiple emergency sites, different combinations of mesh connections between 911-NOW nodes, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof) to form a standalone 911-NOW network supporting RAN functions, CORE networking functions, and various services supporting multimedia communications to provide an effective emergency response.
As described herein, although one or more 911-NOW nodes 110 are capable of forming a fully-functional, standalone cellular wireless network without relying on existing infrastructure (fixed or variable), where there is existing infrastructure (that was not damaged or destroyed), the standalone 911-NOW wireless network may leverage the existing network infrastructure to form an integrated 911-NOW wireless network capable of supporting various additional capabilities (e.g., supporting communications with one or more other standalone 911-NOW wireless networks, supporting communications with one or more remote emergency management headquarters, supporting communications with other resources, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof). An integrated 911-NOW wireless network including a mesh 911-NOW network in communication with existing network infrastructure is depicted and described herein with respect to
The existing network infrastructure 301 may include wireless access capabilities (e.g., radio access networks, satellite access networks, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof), backhaul capabilities (e.g., public and/or private, wireline and/or wireless, backhaul networks supporting mobility management functions, routing functions, and gateway functions, as well as various other related functions), core networking capabilities (e.g., MA functions, DNS functions, DHCP functions, call/session control functions, and the like), services capabilities (e.g., application servers, media servers, and the like), and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. Since 911-NOW nodes 110 also supports such capabilities, in some embodiments at least a portion of these capabilities of existing network infrastructure 201 may only be relied upon when necessary.
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The existing network infrastructure 301 supports communications for 911-NOW mesh network 100. The existing network infrastructure 301 may support communications between wireless user devices 104 of 911-NOW mesh network 100 (e.g., complementing wireless mesh communications between 911-NOW nodes 110 of the standalone 911-NOW network 100). The existing network infrastructure 301 may support communications between wireless user devices 104 of 911-NOW mesh network 100 and other emergency personnel and/or emergency systems. For example, existing network infrastructure 301 may support communications between wireless user devices 104 of 911-NOW mesh network 100 and an emergency headquarters 320, one or more other 911-NOW mesh networks 330 (e.g., at emergency sites remote from emergency site 101), and the like, as well as various combinations thereof.
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Thus, the mesh networking capabilities provided by 911-NOW nodes 110, in combination with backhaul networking capabilities provided by 911-NOW nodes 110 using wireless backhaul connections with existing network infrastructure 301, enable communications between emergency personnel at one emergency site (e.g., between users connected to 911-NOW nodes 110 of a standalone 911-NOW mesh network), between emergency personnel at different emergency sites (e.g., between users connected to 911-NOW nodes 110 of different standalone wireless mesh networks), between emergency personnel at one or more emergency sites and emergency management personnel (e.g., users stationed at emergency headquarters 320), and the like, as well as various combinations thereof.
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Thus, 911-NOW nodes 110 may each support four different types of wireless interfaces. The 911-NOW nodes 110 support one or more wireless access interfaces by which user devices 104 may access 911-NOW nodes 110. The 911-NOW nodes 110 support one or more wireless mesh interfaces by which 911-NOW nodes 110 communicate with other 911-NOW nodes 110. The 911-NOW nodes 110 support one or more wireless backhaul interfaces by which 911-NOW nodes 110 communicate with existing network infrastructure (such as existing network infrastructure 301 of
The functions module 501 includes a wireless functions module 509, a core (CORE) networking functions module 520, and a services module 530. The wireless functions module 509 includes a radio access network (RAN) functions module 510 and, optionally, a wireless interface module 515. The CORE networking functions module 520 provides CORE networking functions. The services module 530 provides one or more services. The RAN functions module 510 (and, when present, wireless interface module 515) communicate with both CORE networking functions module 520 and services module 530, and CORE networking functions module 520 and services module 530 communicate, to provide functions depicted and described herein.
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The wireless functions module 509, CORE networking functions module 520, and services module 530 cooperate (in combination with processor 540, memory 550, and support circuits 560, and any other required modules, controllers, and the like, which are omitted for purposes of clarity) to provide a rapidly deployable wireless node which may form: (1) a single-node, standalone wireless network; (2) a multi-node, standalone wireless network (i.e., using wireless mesh connections between 911-NOW nodes); or (3) an integrated wireless network (i.e., using wireless backhaul connections between one or more 911-NOW nodes and existing network infrastructure and, optionally, using wireless mesh connections between 911-NOW nodes).
The RAN functions module 510 provides RAN functions. The RAN functions include supporting one or more wireless access interfaces for communications associated with wireless user devices. Specifically, RAN functions module 510 supports a plurality of air interfaces (AIs) 5111-511N (collectively, AIs 511). The AIs 511 provide wireless access interfaces supporting communications associated with wireless user devices. For example, AIs 511 may support functions typically provided by a base transceiver station (BTS).
The RAN functions module 510 provides control functions. The control functions may include any control functions typically performed by controllers in radio access networks. For example, the control functions may include functions such as admission control, power control, packet scheduling, load control, handover control, security functions, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. For example, in one embodiment the control functions may include functions typically performed by RAN network controllers (RNCs) or similar wireless network controllers.
The RAN functions module 510 provides network gateway functions. The network gateway functions may include any functions typically performed in order to bridge RAN and CORE networks, such as IP session management functions, mobility management functions, packet routing functions, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. For example, where intended for use with CDMA2000-based wireless technology, the network gateway functions may include functions typically performed by a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN). For example, where intended for use with GPRS-based and/or UMTS-based wireless technology, the network gateway functions may include functions typically performed by a combination of a GPRS Gateway Support Node (GGSN) and a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN).
In one embodiment, RAN functions module 510 may be implemented as a base station router (BSR).
The wireless interface module 515 provides one or more wireless interfaces. The wireless interfaces provided by wireless interface module may include one or more of: (1) one or more wireless mesh interfaces supporting communications with other 911-NOW nodes; (2) one or more wireless backhaul interfaces supporting communications with existing network infrastructure; and/or (3) one or more wireless management interfaces supporting communications with one or more management devices. The wireless interface module 515 supports a plurality of air interfaces (AIs) 5161-516N (collectively, AIs 516), which provide wireless interfaces supporting communications associated with one or more of: one or more other 911-NOW nodes, existing network infrastructure, and one or more management devices.
The CORE networking functions module 520 provides networking functions typically available from the CORE network. For example, CORE networking functions module 520 may provide authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) functions, domain name system (DNS) functions, dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) functions, call/session control functions, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. One skilled in the art knows which functions are typically available from the CORE network. The CORE networking functions module 520 is adapted to provide core networking functions independent of any existing network infrastructure.
The services module 530 provides services. The services may include any services capable of being provided to wireless user devices. In one embodiment, for example, services module 530 may provide services typically provided by application servers, media servers, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. For example, services may include one or more of voice services, voice conferencing services, data transfer services (e.g., high-speed data downloads, high-speed data upload, file transfers, sensor data transfers, and the like), video services, video conferencing services, multimedia services, multimedia conferencing services, push-to-talk services, instant messaging services, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. One skilled in the art knows which services are typically available over RAN and CORE networks. The services module 530 is adapted to provide services independent of any existing network infrastructure.
The BSR 610 includes a base station (BS) 612, a radio network controller (RNC) 613, and a network gateway (NG) 614. The BS 612 includes a plurality of air interfaces (AIs) similar to AIs 511 depicted and described with respect to
The wireless interface module 615 may include one or more of: a wireless management interface module 616 including one or more AIs supporting wireless communications with one or more management devices, a wireless mesh interface module 617 including one or more AIs supporting wireless communications with one or more other 911-NOW nodes, and a wireless backhaul interface module 618 including one or more AIs supporting wireless communications with existing network infrastructure.
In one embodiment, a 911-NOW node 110 may be implemented without wireless interface module 615 (e.g., if the 911-NOW node 110 is not expected to require support for wireless mesh, backhaul, or management communications). In other words, support for the additional wireless interfaces of wireless interface module 615 is optional.
In one embodiment, a 911-NOW node 110 is implemented such that wireless interface module 615 includes a subset of: wireless management interface module 616, wireless mesh interface module 617, and wireless backhaul interface module 618. In this embodiment, the implementation of the wireless interface module 615 may be tailored depending on the type(s) of wireless interfaces that the 911-NOW node 110 is expected to need when deployed, i.e., depending on whether the 911-NOW node 110 will require wireless management, mesh, and/or backhaul capabilities.
In one embodiment, a 911-NOW node 110 is implemented such that wireless interface module 615 includes each of: wireless management interface module 616, wireless mesh interface module 617, and wireless backhaul interface module 618. In this embodiment, the 911-NOW node 110 supports wireless management, mesh, and backhaul capabilities such that such additional wireless interfaces are available should the 911-NOW node 110 require such capabilities.
In one embodiment, for example, for a 911-NOW node only expected to be deployed as a single-node, standalone network, wireless interface module 615 may only include wireless management interface module 616 (since mesh and backhaul support is not required). In one embodiment, for example, for a multi-node, standalone network, wireless interface module 615 may only include wireless management interface module 616 and wireless mesh interface module 617 (since backhaul support is not required). In one embodiment, for example, for an integrated network, wireless interface module 615 may include each of wireless management interface module 616, wireless mesh interface module 617, and wireless backhaul interface module 618 (since management, mesh, and backhaul capabilities are all required).
The CORE networking functions module 520 includes a plurality of modules supporting CORE networking functions. As depicted in
The services module 530 includes a plurality of modules supporting various services. As depicted in
Although primarily depicted and described herein with respect to a specific configuration of a 911-NOW node including three modules providing wireless functions (including RAN functions and, optionally, additional wireless interfaces and associated interface functions), CORE networking functions, and services, respectively, 911-NOW nodes may be implemented using various other configurations for providing wireless functions, CORE networking functions, and services. Similarly, although primarily depicted and described herein with respect to a specific configuration of a functions module providing specific wireless functions, CORE networking functions, and services, functions modules of 911-NOW nodes may be implemented using various other configurations for providing wireless functions, CORE networking functions, and services.
Therefore, it is contemplated that at least a portion of the described functions may be distributed across the various functional modules in a different manner, may be provided using fewer functional modules, or may be provided using more functional modules. Furthermore, although primarily depicted and described with respect to specific wireless functions (including RAN functions and, optionally, one or more additional wireless interface functions), CORE networking functions, and services, it is contemplated that fewer or more wireless functions (including RAN functions, optionally, and one or more additional wireless interface functions), CORE networking functions, and/or services may be supported by a 911-NOW node. Thus, 911-NOW nodes are not intended to be limited by the example functional architectures depicted and described herein with respect to
At step 704, a rapidly deployable wireless node is placed on a mobile vehicle. The rapidly deployable wireless node may be permanently affixed to the mobile vehicle, temporarily affixed to the mobile vehicle (i.e., affixed in a way that the rapidly deployable mobile node may be easily detached from the mobile vehicle if necessary or desired), or simply placed in the mobile vehicle (e.g., carried onto the mobile vehicle by personnel to be transported on the vehicle). The rapidly deployable wireless node supports RAN functions (and, optionally, one or more additional wireless interfaces), at least one CORE networking function, and at least one service. For example, the rapidly deployable mobile node may be a 911-NOW node depicted and described herein.
At step 706, the mobile vehicle, including the rapidly deployable wireless node, is transported to a site. The transportation of the mobile vehicle to the site varies depending on the type of vehicle. For example, the vehicle may be driven to a site, flown to a site, and the like. The site may be any site at which a rapidly deployable wireless node may be desirable. For example, the site may be an emergency site (where the mobile vehicle is an emergency vehicle such as a fire truck, a hazmat vehicle, and the like), the site may be a battlefield site (where the mobile vehicle is a military vehicle such as a humvee, a tank, and the like), and the like, as well as various combinations thereof.
At step 708, the rapidly deployable wireless node is configured to support communication at the site. In one embodiment, the rapidly deployable wireless node may be automatically configured to support communications at the site. At step 710, the rapidly deployable wireless node supports communications at the site. At step 712, method 700 ends. Although omitted for purposes of clarity, eventually, the mobile vehicle leaves the site (e.g., to provide support at a different site or to return to headquarters from which the mobile vehicle was dispatched). For example, a fire truck returns to the fire station after the fire is out, a tank returns to command headquarters after the battle is over, and the like.
It should be noted that the present invention may be implemented in software and/or in a combination of software and hardware, e.g., using application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), a general purpose computer or any other hardware equivalents. In one embodiment, the present 911-NOW process 805 can be loaded into memory 804 and executed by processor 802 to implement the functions as discussed above. As such, 911-NOW process 805 (including associated data structures) of the present invention can be stored on a computer readable medium or carrier, e.g., RAM memory, magnetic or optical drive or diskette, and the like.
The 911-NOW network enables emergency personnel to communicate mission-critical information on a rapidly-deployable, highly-flexible, secure wireless network. The 911-NOW network is a fully integrated service architecture that may be deployed as a single-cell solution for local communication or configured as an ad-hoc network of cells for widespread communication (e.g., for multiple localized or large emergency sites). The 911-NOW network supports auto-configuration, wireless mesh networking, interoperability with existing systems and technologies, network service and management function, and various other features, functions, and capabilities, thereby providing a cost-efficient solution that is scalable and flexible to emergency response needs, as well as spatial and temporal network deployment scenarios.
The 911-NOW network may be deployed in support of multiple missions in emergency response and disaster recovery operations, such as first responder communications, search and rescue operations, restoration of local cellular service, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof. In such scenarios, applications which may be supported by the 911-NOW network include basic voice communications, push-to-talk, database access capabilities, file transfer applications (e.g., to provide access to floor plans, emergency exits, elevator shafts, chemical storage rosters, hazardous material handling instructions, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof), alert messaging broadcasts, streaming video, location tracking (e.g., of people, vehicles, and the like), sensor monitoring applications (e.g., temperature, air composition, radiation, and the like), biometric monitoring applications (e.g., breathing, pulse, and oxygen tank sensors that transmit information about the health of emergency personnel, and the like).
The 911-NOW network provides numerous functions, including assured access and reliable communications anywhere and at any time, capacity and coverage on-demand for mobile incident area networks, standards-compliant air interface technologies and network interoperability through IP interfaces, efficient local communication in the absence of fixed network infrastructure including integrated services architecture for full stand-alone network operation, wireless backhaul capabilities to fixed public and/or private network(s), wide-area coverage through wireless mesh networking, reachability and robustness through flexible multi-path routing, converged multimedia communication capabilities (e.g., with voice, high-speed data, video, and like communication capabilities) and the like.
The 911-NOW network provides security features. The 911-NOW network provides triple-layered wireless network security to protect the network operator, network elements, and user devices. For example, 911-NOW nodes may include advanced security tools such as air interface complexity, cryptographic authentication, encryption, scrambling, link-layer assisted security protocols, and the like, may be implemented in the 911-NOW network in order to deter technical fraud, information eavesdropping, session hijacking, and other potential security vulnerabilities. The 911-NOW nodes may support various other security measures associated with RAN functions (and additional wireless interface functions), CORE networking functions, and services provided by 911-NOW nodes, thereby resulting in a highly secure 911-NOW network.
The described features, functions, and capabilities of the 911-NOW network thereby enable increased situational awareness at emergency sites and situational awareness of emergency sites by emergency management personnel at remote emergency management sites (i.e., headquarters), communication between emergency sites as well as between emergency sites and emergency headquarters, and various other desirable results. The operation of a 911-NOW network may be better understood with respect to
Although primarily depicted and described herein with respect to using rapidly deployable nodes (such as 911-NOW nodes depicted and described herein) to deploy a wireless network in emergency response situations, rapidly deployable nodes may be used to deploy a wireless network in various other situations. In one embodiment, rapidly deployable nodes may be used in large-crowd environments. For example, rapidly deployable nodes may be deployed during large-crowd events, such as sporting events (e.g., in a city hosting the Super Bowl, in a city hosting the Olympics, and the like), concerts, and the like. In one embodiment, rapidly deployable nodes may be used as a rapid replacement network for commercial cellular networks (i.e., to replace existing network infrastructure while such infrastructure is unavailable). In one embodiment, rapidly deployable nodes may be used in military environments (e.g., to form a rapidly deployable network on the battlefield or in other situations).
Therefore, rapidly deployable nodes according to the present invention are useful for various other applications in addition to emergency response applications, and, thus, may be deployed in various other situations in addition to emergency situations. Thus, the term “emergency site”, which is used herein to denote the geographical location in which one or more rapidly deployable nodes may be deployed to form a wireless network, may be more commonly referred to as a “network site” (i.e., the site at which the rapidly deployable wireless network is deployed to support wireless communications). Similarly, other terms primarily associated with emergency applications may be referred to more generally depending upon the application in which rapidly deployable nodes are deployed. In other words, any number of rapidly deployable nodes according to the present invention may be deployed to any geographical location to form a wireless network for any reason.
It is contemplated that some of the steps discussed herein as software methods may be implemented within hardware, for example, as circuitry that cooperates with the processor to perform various method steps. Portions of the present invention may be implemented as a computer program product wherein computer instructions, when processed by a computer, adapt the operation of the computer such that the methods and/or techniques of the present invention are invoked or otherwise provided. Instructions for invoking the inventive methods may be stored in fixed or removable media, transmitted via a data stream in a broadcast or other signal bearing medium, and/or stored within a working memory within a computing device operating according to the instructions.
Although various embodiments which incorporate the teachings of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate these teachings.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/900,833 entitled “911-NOW: A Network On Wheels For Emergency Response and Disaster Recovery Operations,” filed Feb. 12, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60900833 | Feb 2007 | US |
