Abstract:
A signal protocol assembly is adapted to bridge electronic communications across a plurality of communications platforms allowing a plurality of electronic devices to transfer data therebetween. The signal protocol assembly is electrically connected between the electronic communications device and a communications hub to help facilitate in the translation of communications from the electronic communications device to a third party independent communications protocol, and back when necessary. The signal protocol assembly includes a microprocessor for receiving data from each of the plurality of electronic devices. The signal protocol assembly also includes a plurality of ports electrically connected to the microprocessor for selectively connecting a portion of the plurality of electronic devices in electrical communication with the microprocessor. The signal protocol assembly also includes a processor port electrically connected to the microprocessor for bi-directionally transmitting data and for receiving power from the communications hub.

Description:
BACKGROUND ART  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention generally relates to systems used to facilitate communication amongst electronic devices. More particularly, the invention relates to assemblies that facilitate the interoperability amongst electronic communication devices of varying communication protocol platforms.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     The internet has made vast amounts of information available to anyone virtually anywhere. Fiber optic systems inexpensively allow people around the world to communicate with each other, either through voice or data via the internet. Voice over internet protocol (VOIP) is a technology that allows people to communicate even more efficiently by utilizing the speed provided through the internet to transmit voice communication. All in all, the world is a much more connected environment.  
         [0005]     Be that as it may, tragedies at the turn of the 21 st  century illustrate the shortcomings of all of these communication networks. In particular, the terrorist attacks in the United States, the Asian tsunami, the earthquakes in Pakistan and India, and the devastations brought on to the southern portion of the United States due to hurricanes (including the flooding of New Orleans) illustrate that the communication networks currently available are inadequate because they do not operate with other systems. This prevents those that are first responders to tragedies from maximizing cooperative efforts to maximize the efforts made by all first responders. While the tragedies listed above are large in scope, first responders and those operating in smaller emergency situations encounter the same frustrations. Neighboring municipalities offering fire fighters to combat a fire often have difficulty communicating with each other. Kidnappings and school unrest often result in aggravation and frustration because initial information regarding the situation cannot be adequately disseminated.  
         [0006]     Investments made by school districts and in municipalities in a particular communication technology are costly. With these types of governmental entities having smaller and smaller amounts of resources, they are not willing to abandon all investments in these technologies for the sake of being interoperable with other departments and/or other municipalities. This problem even exists in the differing agencies throughout the United States. By example, the National Guard may have difficulty communicating with the Army should both agencies be called to a particular emergency, which may be coordinated by a third civilian agency that cannot effectively communicate with responders from either organization.  
         [0007]     One solution to this problem is to translate all of the electronic communications from one platform to another platform. This is difficult because the communications produced by the first platform that is being translated is not adapted to provide the necessary information to easily transform the communications into the other platform.  
         [0008]     A second alternative solution to this problem is to connect all of the possible communication devices together whereby each of the communication devices are capable of communicating with each other. These systems are brought together in a command center type truck having racks of electronics that receive electronic signals to digitize them and place them in various protocols that would allow them to be received by electronic devices of differing platforms. These types of command centers are cost prohibitive and require huge amounts of coordination to get a command center to a particular site in time to aid those that are responding to the particular event.  
         [0009]     The concept of a command center is counter-intuitive in many instances. Command centers are large and require a stable area from which to stage the communications effort. Once in place, a large amount of power is required. In emergency situations, power is not a given, so back-up power supplies are needed, further increasing the size and cost of a command center.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     A signal protocol assembly is adapted to bridge electronic communications across a plurality of communications platforms allowing a plurality of electronic devices to transfer data therebetween. The signal protocol assembly includes a microprocessor for receiving data from each of the plurality of electronic devices. The signal protocol assembly also includes a plurality of ports electrically connected to the microprocessor for selectively connecting a portion of the plurality of electronic devices in electrical communication with the microprocessor. The signal protocol assembly also includes a processor port electrically connected to the microprocessor for bi-directionally transmitting data and for receiving power from a computer. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of one embodiment of the invention connected between an electronic device and a computer;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of one embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the invention in combination with a logic chart of operation relating to use of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a cable  10  is shown adapted to transmit signals bi-directionally between an electronic communications device  12  and a communication hub  14 . While  FIG. 1  shows electronic communications device  12  to be a push-to-talk radio (commonly referred to as a “walkie-talkie”) and a communications hub  14  as being a laptop computer  16  in electrical communication with a signal protocol assembly, generally indicated at  18 , it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the electronic communications device  12  and the communications hub  14  may be devices other than what are shown here for illustrative purposes only. By way of example, a non-exhaustive list of electronic communication devices  12  may include cell phones, public address systems, stationary radio systems, mobile radio stations, pagers, PDAs, and the like. The laptop computer  16  may be any other type of computing device deemed necessary for a particular environment. Again, a non-exhaustive list of computing devices may include desk top computers, rack-mounted computing devices, dedicated communication electronics, and the like. The cable  10  is more fully described in co-pending patent application having attorney docket number 25688-103148, which shares the same inventorship and is assigned to the same assignee and is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the signal protocol assembly  18  is shown in greater detail. This signal protocol assembly  18  includes a microprocessor  20  that receives data from each of the plurality of electronic devices  12 . The microprocessor  20  is selectively connected to each of a portion of the plurality of electronic devices  12  when the cable  10  for the electronic device  12  is connected to one of a plurality of device ports  22 . The device ports  22  are designed to receive the cable  10  allowing for the transfer of data between the microprocessor  20  (and eventually the laptop computer  16 ) and the electronic devices  12 . Each of the device ports  22  is designed with a uniform configuration such that each of the different cables  10  that could be connected to the port  22  are capable of being connected to any one of the device ports  22 . The cable  10  includes a hub end  24  which is identical, regardless of which type of electronic device  12  is being secured thereto at the other end, the device end  26 . Said another way, regardless of the type of electronic device  12  being connected to the signal protocol assembly  18 , the configuration of the cable  10  having a hub end  24  which is identical for every type of electronic device  12  may be connected to and electrically communicate with the microprocessor  20  through any one of the plurality of device ports  22 .  
         [0017]     The signal protocol assembly  18  also includes a processor port  28  that electrically connects the microprocessor  20  with another computing device, the laptop computer  16  in the embodiment shown in the Figures, for bi-directionally transmitting data between the microprocessor  20  and the laptop computer  16 . The processor port  28  also is capable of receiving power from the laptop computer  16  (or whatever computing device  16  is used in the communications hub  14 ) through the processor port  28 . This facilitates size reduction in the signal protocol assembly  18  because it does not require its own independent power source. The signal protocol assembly  18  relies on the power source of the laptop computer  16  to provide the power to run the microprocessor  20  and all the discreet elements within the signal protocol assembly  18 . In one embodiment, the processor port  28  is a universal serial bus, commonly referred to as a USB port. With the USB connection, dedicated lines within a USB cable  30  will supply power to the signal protocol assembly  18  and other dedicated electrical conductors within the USB cable  30  will provide the path through which electronic data is transferred between the signal protocol assembly  18  and the laptop computer  16 . It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of processor ports  28  that include both power transfer and data transfer may be utilized without changing the invention.  
         [0018]     For the remainder of the discussion of the signal protocol assembly  18 , reference will be made to a single port  22  identified in  FIG. 2  as port  1 . It should be appreciated that the other ports are identical to the first port. In fact, it should also be appreciated that there may be any number of device ports  22  incorporated into the signal protocol assembly  18  and that the signal protocol assembly  18  is in now way limited to four device ports  22 .  
         [0019]     The signal protocol assembly  18  includes a device cable  32  that is directly connected to the device port  22 . The device cable  32  correlates with the identification cable described in the above-mentioned co-pending patent application that is inside the cable  10 . The device cable  32  transmits the information received from the identification chip  33  ( FIG. 1 ) inside the cable  10  whose identification information is transmitted through the identification cable therein. The identification of the electronic communications device  12  is sent through the device cable  32  directly to the microprocessor  20  so that it may control the rest of the conductors that are connected to the device ports  22  to receive electronic data from the electronic communications device  12 . This will allow the microprocessor  20  to identify the electronic device and which of the plurality of communication platforms the electronic device  12  employs. By quickly identifying what type of electronic device  12  is being connected to the port  22 , the microprocessor  20  may set the other devices (discussed subsequently) that exist between the device port  22  and the microprocessor  20  to the proper settings allowing the seamless transmission of data from the electronic communications device  12  to the microprocessor  20 .  
         [0020]     Because several electronic communication devices  12  require a physical switch to be thrown in order for the commencement of communication to be transferred between the electronic communication device  12  and another of the electronic communication devices  12 , the signal protocol assembly  10  includes a plurality of relays  34 . These relays  34  are used when the electronic communications device  12  incorporates switches to initiate and/or terminate the transmission of data. By way of example, if the electronic communications device  12  is a push-to-talk radio, commonly referred to as a “walkie talkie,” the relays  34  will act as the push-to-talk switch on the electronic communications device  12  so that the electronic communications device  12  may properly receive and transmit data to the laptop computer  16  through the signal protocol assembly  18 . The relays  34  are used for Audio In  36 , Audio Out  38  and Push-to-Talk  40  inputs for the electronic communication device  12 .  
         [0021]     A relay controller  42  is electrically connected between the microprocessor  20  and each of the plurality of relays  34 . The relay controller  42  receives a command signal from the microprocessor  20  to control the plurality of relays  34 , depending on the action being taken. For example, if the microprocessor  20  is sending an electronic communication to the electronic communications device  12  wherein the electronic communications device  12  is a push-to-talk radio, the microprocessor  20  sends a signal to the relay controller  42  to trigger the relay  34  electrically connected to the push-to-talk connection  40 . Once the signal is sent, the relay controller  42  then switches a second relay  34  to transmit a signal out of the Audio Out connection  38 . In summary, the relay controller  42  orchestrates which of the plurality of relays  34  is to be turned on and off. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  illustrates a single relay controller for each of the plurality of device ports  22  an alternative embodiment would show a single relay controller  42  that orchestrates the relays  34  for all of the plurality of device ports  22 .  
         [0022]     To receive an audio signal in through the Audio In connection  36 , the data transmitted therethrough is received by an analog to digital converter  44 . The analog to digital converter  44  converts the signal received from the electronic communications device  12  into a digital signal before it is received by the microprocessor  20 . Likewise, when the microprocessor  20  sends a signal to be eventually transmitted through the audio out connection  38 , the digital signal created by the microprocessor  20  passes through a digital to analog converter  46 . This allows the electronic signals created by the microprocessor  20  to be transformed into an analog signal which is received by the electronic communications device  12 .  
         [0023]     The signal protocol assembly  18  also includes a digital controller  48 . The digital controller  48  receives and transmits data between the port  22  and the microprocessor  20 . In the embodiment shown, the digital controller is an RS232 controller. The RS232 controller  48  is capable of transmitting and receiving electronic digital signals that would be transmitted or received from an electronics communications device  12  that is capable of receiving and transmitting digital signals. In the instance where the electronic communications device  12  transmits and receives digital signals, the data would be transmitted through the RS232 controller  48  and not through the Audio In  36 , Audio Out  38  and Push-to-Talk  40  connections. Therefore, the relays  34 , the analog to digital converter  44 , the digital to analog converter  46  and the relay controller  42  would not be required or used when the electronic communication device  12  connected to the port  22  is a digital device.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a graphic representation of the logic used to incorporate the invention into a system is graphically represented at  50 , wherein the signal protocol assembly  18  is shown connected to the overall method through the USB cable  30  and the process report  28  as a matter of convenience. The method utilized includes the steps of identifying session and talk groups that are required to communicate with each other at  52 . Session and talk groups may be defined as those persons, entities or groups thereof that need to communicate with each other for a particular purpose. Once these talk groups are identified with network IDs at  52 , the talk sessions logic is employed at  54  to allow the communication between a plurality of different electronic communication devices  12 . A router is employed at  56  to route the electronic signals to the appropriate electronic communications devices  12  to which the signals which are being processed by the method  50 . Those electronic signals are then transmitted to the other electronic communication devices  12  at  58 .  
         [0025]     Singling out a single electronic communications device  12  that may be connected to the signal protocol assembly  18  in  FIG. 3 , the method  50  receives digital, audio and command signals at  60 . These signals are converted through the USB port  28  into a proprietary format at  62 . This step may be done by the microprocessor  20  or the laptop computer  16 . The converted audio stream is identified to be associated with a virtual network ID at  64  which allows it to be associated with a particular talk group or network ID at  64  (the virtual network ID is assigned at step  52 , discussed above). Likewise, once a network ID identifies the particular electronic communications device  12  that is connected to the signal protocol assembly  18 , the network ID is designated at  66 . The signals received from the network ID or talk group are then converted to a USB format for the signal protocol assembly at  68 . Once converted, the digital audio and command signals are transmitted to the electronic communications device  12  at  70 .  
         [0026]     By use of the signal protocol assembly  18 , an efficient and lightweight ability to create a network of devices including a plurality of different formats and protocols may be created allowing every participant in the network to communicate with the plurality of different electronic communication devices  12 . Such a system as described above is highly mobile allowing networks to be created very quickly in any environment in which a laptop computer  16  can operate.  
         [0027]     The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.  
         [0028]     Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.