Abstract:
A radio system allowing radios in a network to utilize functionality of other radios in the network includes a plurality of radios each having the capability to communicate with other radios in the network, and each having functionality that is not common to every other radio in the network. Radios send requests to other radios in the network to re-transmit a signal using a specific transmission mode.

Description:
GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTS 
     The U.S. Government has a paid-up license in this invention and the right in limited circumstances to require the patent owner to license others on reasonable terms as provided by the terms of FA8650-05-C-7214 awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed generally toward radio communication, and more particularly toward networks of radio transmitters/receivers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Modern radio communication involves numerous transmission modes. Each mode may require specialized hardware. In some contexts a single user may wish to utilize multiple modes to accomplish a single task; for example, in a battlefield situation, a soldier may need to communicate with individuals locally and with a strategic coordination system through a satellite. 
     With appropriate hardware and software, a single radio can operate in more than one mode, but no single portable radio can operate in all of the modes necessary for modern radio communication. The hardware necessary to operate in even a few modes may be prohibitively expensive, and the resulting radio too heavy to be easily mobile. 
     In many circumstances a number of radios may be organized into a radio network. Radio networks may include radios having all of the necessary modes of transmission, but those radios may be dispersed over a large area such that an individual operator may not have access to every radio. 
     Consequently, it would be advantageous if a system and apparatus existed that is suitable for conveniently utilizing various transmission modes available in a radio network from anywhere else in the network. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a novel system and apparatus for conveniently utilizing various transmission modes available in a radio network from anywhere else in the network. 
     One embodiment of the present invention includes a radio configured to communicate with other radios and send a request to those other radios to re-transmit a signal whenever a user wishes to transmit a signal by a certain mode or frequency beyond the capabilities of the radio. The radio may also be configured to receive requests from those other radios to re-transmit signals by a certain mode or frequency beyond the capabilities of those other radios but within that radio&#39;s own capabilities. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention includes a network of radios configured to communicate with each other and share transmission capabilities as though such capabilities where native to each radio. Requests to re-transmit a signal may relay through multiple nodes in the network to reach a radio having the desired capabilities. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method of transmitting a signal by a certain mode or frequency by relaying the signal through a network of radios to a radio having the desired transmission capabilities. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The numerous objects and advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of two radios communicating directly; 
         FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of two radios communicating through a network; 
         FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of a radio according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention wherein two radios communicate through an intermediary; 
         FIG. 5  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention wherein two radios communicate through an intermediary and a network; 
         FIG. 6  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention wherein a radio communicates with a satellite through an intermediary and a network; 
         FIG. 7  shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention wherein two legacy radios operating in different modes may communicate; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the subject matter disclosed, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims; numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents are encompassed. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the embodiments has not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a first radio  102  having an interface  104  and an antenna  106  may directly communicate with a second radio  106  having an interface  110  and an antenna  112 . The first radio  102  and the second radio  108  must be configured to send and receive signals  114  having comparable waveforms in comparable modes of communication. Each interface  104  and  110  may comprise a Push-to-Talk (PTT) box, a data link or some other mechanism for imparting a voice or data stream which each radio  102  and  108  may convert into a signal  114 . Each interface  104  and  110  may also include controls as necessary to adjust the configuration and operation of each radio  102  and  108 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a first radio  102  having an interface  104  and an antenna  106  may communicate through a network  206  with a second radio  106  having an interface  110  and an antenna  112 . The network  206  may comprise devices (nodes) incorporating Quint Networking Technology (QNT). The first radio  102  and the second radio  108  must be configured to send and receive signals  202  and  204  understandable to the network  206 . Each node in the network  206  may comprise a radio, a switch incorporated into a physical communications infrastructure, or any other device capable of relaying signals. At least one node in the network  206  must be capable of receiving a signal  202  from the first radio  102 , and at least one node in the network  206  must be capable of sending a signal  204  to the second radio  108   
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a radio  302  according to the present invention may have a processor  304 , memory  306 , an interface  308  and one or more antennas  310  and  312 . The radio  302  may be configured to send and receive signals having one or more waveforms in one or more modes of operation. For example, the radio  302  may be configured to operate using the HAVE QUICK (HQ) system, the SINGCARS (SG) system, Satcom (SC), some other communication mode, or any combination thereof. The radio  302  may operate in at least one mode and in at least one channel that is accessible to other radios in a network of radios (“Common Mode”), and in at least one mode that may not be generally accessible to other radios in the network of radios (“Specific Mode”). The processor  304  may receive a signal and a request in the Common Mode to re-transmit the signal in the Specific Mode. The radio  302  may include an antenna  310  configured for the Common Mode and an antenna  312  configured for the Specific Mode where the Common Mode and Specific Mode require different antenna configurations. 
     The processor  304  may automatically re-transmit a signal in the Specific Mode when the processor  304  receives a request to do so in the Common Mode. The processor  304  may be dynamically configurable through the interface  308  to broadcast the radio&#39;s  302  ability to receive and re-transmit signals in the Specific Mode, or to refuse to re-transmit signals. An operator may thereby decide to make the radio  302  available to re-transmit signals or not at the operator&#39;s discretion. The processor  304  may also be dynamically configurable through a signal received through the one or more antennas  310  and  312  to broadcast the radios  302  ability to receive and re-transmit signals in the Specific Mode, or to refuse to re-transmit signals. A superior authority may thereby override an operator&#39;s decision to make the radio  302  available or unavailable to re-transmit. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , an embodiment of the present invention is shown whereby a first radio  102  may send a signal to a third radio  404  through an intermediary second radio  302 . The first radio  102  may include an interface  104  and an antenna  106 . The first radio  102  may send and receive signals  402  in a Common Mode. The second radio  302  may include an interface  304  and one or more antennas  310  and  312 . The second radio  302  may send and receive signals  402  and  410  in a Common Mode and a Specific Mode. The third radio  404  may include an interface  406  and an antenna  408 . The third radio  404  may send and receive signals  410  in a Specific Mode. An operator using the first radio  102  and wishing to send a signal either by a Specific Mode beyond the capabilities of the first radio  102 , or to a radio configured to receive signals by a Specific Mode beyond the capabilities of the first radio  102 , may send the signal  402  with a request to re-transmit the signal  402  in a Specific Mode to the second radio  302  which is configured to send and receive signals  402  and  410  in at least the Specific Mode and a mode within the capabilities of the first radio  102 . The processor  304  in the second radio  302  may then execute the request to re-transmit the signal  402  by the Specific Mode. The third radio  404  may received the re-transmitted signal  410 . The second radio  302  automatically relays a signal from the first radio  102  to the third radio  404  in a mode compatible with the third radio  404 . 
     In addition to relaying a signal from the first radio  102  to the second radio  404 , this embodiment may also function to route signals around an obstacle which would otherwise impede communication between the first radio  102  and the third radio  404 . For example; where the second radio  302  is in the line of site of both the first radio  102  and the third radio  404 , but the first radio  102  is not in the line of site of the third radio  404 , this embodiment may maintain a connection between the first radio  102  and the third radio  404 . 
     In this embodiment, the second radio  302  does not perform any conversion between message sets; the second radio  302  functions only as a conduit to switch a signal from the Common Mode to the Specific Mode. Likewise, the second radio  302  does not decrypt, decode or otherwise manipulate the signal  402 ; the first radio  102  and the third radio  404  must have compatible security features. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , another embodiment of the present invention is shown whereby a first radio  102  may send a signal to a third radio  404  through an intermediary second radio  302  where the first radio  102  communicates with the second radio  302  through a network  506 . The first radio  102  may include an interface  104  and an antenna  106 . The first radio  102  may send and receive signals  502  in a Common Mode through a network  506  comprised of devices for relaying and transmitting signals. The second radio  302  may include an interface  304  and one or more antennas  310  and  312 . The second radio  302  may send and receive signals  504  and  410  in a Common Mode and a Specific Mode. The second radio may also communicate through a network  506  comprised of devices for relaying and transmitting signals. The third radio  404  may include an interface  406  and an antenna  408 . The third radio  404  may send and receive signals  410  in a Specific Mode. An operator using the first radio  102  and wishing to send a signal either by a Specific Mode beyond the capabilities of the first radio  102 , or to a radio configured to receive signals by a Specific Mode beyond the capabilities of the first radio  102 , may send the signal  502  with a request to re-transmit the signal  502  by a Specific Mode to the second radio  302  through a network  506  comprised of devices for relaying and transmitting signals. The first radio  102  may communicate with the network  506  via a signal  502  in a Common Mode. The network may route the signal as necessary and send a corresponding signal  504  in a Common Mode to the second radio  302 . The processor  304  in the second radio  302  may then execute the request to re-transmit the signal  410  by the Specific Mode. The third radio  404  may received the re-transmitted signal  410 . The second radio  302  relays a signal from the first radio  102 , received through a network  506 , to the third radio  404  in a mode compatible with the third radio  404 . 
     In addition to relaying a signal from the first radio  102 , through a network  506  to the second radio  404 , this embodiment may also function to route signals around an obstacle which would otherwise impede communication between the first radio  102 , the second radio  302  and the third radio  404 . For example; where the second radio  302  is in the line of site of the third radio  404 , but the first radio  102  is not in the line of site of the second radio  302  or the third radio  404 , this embodiment may maintain a connection between the first radio  102  and the third radio  404  by routing signals through a network  506  traversing the obstacle. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , another embodiment of the present invention is shown whereby a first radio  102  may send a signal to a satellite  604  through an intermediary second radio  302  where the first radio  102  communicates with the second radio  302  through a network  506 . The first radio  102  may include an interface  104  and an antenna  106 . The first radio  102  may send and receive signals  502  in a Common Mode through a network  506  comprised of devices for relaying and transmitting signals. The second radio  302  may include an interface  304  and one or more antennas  310  and  312 . The second radio  302  may send and receive signals  504  and  602  in a Common Mode and a Specific Mode. The second radio may also communicate through a network  506  comprised of devices for relaying and transmitting signals. In this embodiment, the second radio  302  may send and receive signals  602  to and from a satellite  604 . An operator using the first radio  102  and wishing to send a signal to a satellite  604  may send the signal  502  with a request to re-transmit the signal  502  by a mode compatible with the satellite  604  to the second radio  302  through a network  506  comprised of devices for relaying and transmitting signals. The first radio  102  may communicate with the network  506  via a signal  502  in a Common Mode. The network may route the signal as necessary and send a corresponding signal  504  in a Common Mode to the second radio  302 . The processor  304  in the second radio  302  may then execute the request to re-transmit the signal  504  by a mode compatible with the satellite  604 . The satellite  604  may received the re-transmitted signal  602 . The second radio  302  relays a signal from the first radio  102 , received through a network  506 , to the satellite  604  in a mode compatible with the satellite  604 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , another embodiment of the present invention is shown whereby two legacy radios  702  and  728 , each communicating in a different mode and neither capable of communicating in a Common Mode may communicate with each other through two or more relay radios  710  and  718 . The first legacy radio  702  may include an interface  704  and an antenna  706 . The first legacy radio  102  may send and receive signals  708  in a Specific Mode. The first relay radio  710  may include an interface  712  and one or more antennas  714  and  716 . The first relay radio  710  may send and receive signals  708  and  717  in a Common Mode and the same Specific Mode as the first legacy radio  102 . The second relay radio  718  may include an interface  720  and one or more antennas  722  and  724 . The second relay radio  718  may send and receive signals  717  and  726  in a Common Mode and a different Specific Mode than the first legacy radio  102 . The second legacy radio  728  may include an interface  730  and an antenna  732 . The second legacy radio  728  may send and receive signals  410  in the same Specific Mode as the second relay radio  718 . An operator using the first legacy radio  702  and wishing to send a signal to the second legacy radio  728  may send the signal  708  with a request to re-transmit the signal  708  in a Specific Mode to the first relay radio  710  which is configured to send and receive signals  708  and  717  in at least the same Specific Mode as the first legacy radio  702  and a Common Mode. In this embodiment, the first relay radio  710  may not have the capability to relay the signal  708  directly to the second legacy radio  728  because the Specific Mode of the second legacy radio  728  may be beyond the capabilities of the first relay radio  710 . The processor  304  in the first relay radio  710  may then retransmit the signal  708  in a Common Mode either directly the second relay radio  718 , of the first relay radio  710  may retransmit the signal  708  in a Common Mode to the second relay radio  718  through one or more other relay radios (not shown) or through a network (not shown) configured to route the signal  708 . The second relay radio  718  may received the re-transmitted signal  717  through whatever transmission path and transmit the re-transmitted signal  717  by a Specific Mode within the capabilities of the second legacy radio  728 . The second legacy radio  728  may then receive the further re-transmitted signal  726  by the Specific Mode. The first relay radio  710  and the second relay radio  718  automatically relay a signal from the first legacy radio  702  to the second legacy radio  728  even though the first legacy radio  702  and the second legacy radio  728  operate in incompatible Specific Modes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , another embodiment of the present invention including a method for sending a signal from a radio by a mode beyond the capabilities of the radio is shown. A first radio  102  sends  802  a request to re-transmit a signal by some mode beyond the capabilities of the first radio  102 . A second radio  302  receives  806  the request to re-transmit the signal. The second radio  302  may receive the request to re-transmit the signal directly, or the signal may be relayed  804  through a plurality of nodes organized as a network  506 . The plurality of nodes may comprise one or more radios, one or more switches incorporated into a physical communications infrastructure, or any other system capable of relaying signals the first radio  102  to the second radio  302 . The request to re-transmit the signal may be separate from signal, embedded in the signal or in some other way associated with the signal. The second radio  302  then re-transmits  808  the signal. 
     It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.