Patent ID: 7687750
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: F41G,F41H,F42B

Abstract:
1. A system to control the firing of a plurality of armaments, each armament comprising a firing control system having a first normal inactive state wherein the armament is prevented from being fired, a second active state wherein firing of the armament is enabled, and each armament requiring targeting data in order to be launched to a specific location, control of the armaments being divided between a plurality of parties comprising: a central computer remote from the territories of the parties; a plurality of computer terminals, one under the control of each of the parties; a first communication channel between the central computer and each of said computer terminals and a second communication channel between the firing control system of each of the armaments and at least one of the central computer or the computer terminal controlling such armaments; a program in each of said computer terminals for transmitting a request from any of said computer terminals to said central computer, said request specifying that the firing control systems of the armaments controlled by the requesting terminal be switched from said first state to said second state and said request identifying the target parties whom the armaments are intended to target; a program in said central computer, operative, upon receipt of said request from the terminal of a first of said parties, to: (1) transmit a signal to all parties notifying them of the request made by the first party, the identification of the first party, and the identification of the target parties, (2) upon confirmation or multiple confirmations of said request by the first party and upon request of a target party, to switch said target party's firing control systems from said first state to said second state, (3) upon cancellation of initial request by said first party, to switch said firing control systems of all said target parties from said second state to said first state, and (4) upon impact of missiles launched by a target party onto said first party, to switch said firing control system of said first party from said first state to said second state.