Abstract:
A networked battle system includes a communication network, a first rifle and a sensor pack attached to the rifle that includes a sensor for determining a bearing of the first rifle, a sensor for an accelerometer and a rate gyroscope. The system also includes a communication element coupled to the rifle allowing the sensor pack to provide sensor information to the communication network, a battle management system in communication with the first rifle through the communication network that receives the sensor information from the sensor pack updates a battle plan based on the sensor information to form an updated battle plan and a heads up display unit at least in operative communication with the communication network and the communication element and that displays the updated battle plan to a user.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/166,427 filed on May 26, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
         [0002]    Reference is also made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/517,334 filed on Oct. 17, 2014 and U.S. patent application Ser. 14/381,542 filed on Sep. 9, 2014, the contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
         [0003]    Reference is also made to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/976,157, filed Apr. 7, 2014 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/003,006, filed May 26, 2014, the contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
         [0004]    Reference is also made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/476,210, filed Sep. 3, 2014 the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/481,542, filed Sep. 9, 2014 the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
         [0005]    Reference is also made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/968,882 filed Aug. 16, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/684,062, filed Aug. 16, 2012, the contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
         [0006]    Reference is also made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/956,582 filed Aug. 1, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/684,062, filed Aug. 16, 2012, the contents each of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
         [0007]    Reference is also made to the following applications, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/688,256 filed Jan. 15, 2010; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/372,825 filed Feb. 14, 2012; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/443,085 filed Feb. 15, 2011; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/528,728 filed Aug. 29, 2011, the contents each of which are also incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0008]    Embodiments of the invention relate generally to systems and methods of providing information between one or more different battlefield participants. 
         [0009]    Communication of information between different battlefield participants (e.g., soldiers) may improve battle results. Further, the more information communicated, the more the improvement. 
         [0010]    During battle several different components may be used. These include, for example, rifles, scopes, grenade launchers and communication devices. Some of these components may provide for different views and angles of attack in a battlefield situation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In one embodiment, a weapon is disclosed that provides information regarding its position and orientation to a central location that can interpret and display this information. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, a networked battle system is disclosed. The system includes a communication network, a first rifle and a sensor pack attached to the rifle that includes a sensor for determining a bearing of the first rifle, a sensor for an accelerometer and a rate gyroscope. The system also includes a communication element coupled to the rifle allowing the sensor pack to provide sensor information to the communication network, a battle management system in communication with the first rifle through the communication network that receives the sensor information from the sensor pack updates a battle plan based on the sensor information to form an updated battle plan and a heads up display unit at least in operative communication with the communication network and the communication element and that displays the updated battle plan to a user. 
         [0013]    Other aspects and features of embodiments of the invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of firearm embodied as a rifle according to one embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows an example of a rail configuration according to one embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is high-level system diagram illustrating a network formed that includes a firearm and a heads-up display; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an example of display screen of an accessory that may be coupled to a firearm; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating different possible communication paths in a firearm; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a dataflow diagram illustrating data transfer from rifle accessories to a central location and back; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative example of a scope; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  illustrates multiple battlefield devices networked together; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is an example of a display; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of a system and how information may be transferred. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The term “firearm” as used herein, refers at least to a rifle, machine gun, weapon, and pistol and may be automatic, semi-automatic or otherwise. Other examples of a firearm includes a grenade launcher, mortar launcher or the like. A power or non-powered rail on a firearm may have certain accessories attached to it. The accessories include, for example, telescopic sights, tactical sights, laser sighting modules, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), bearing sensors, inclination sensors, laser distance measuring devices, accelerometers, microphones, video cameras, cameras and night vision scopes. This list is not meant to be exclusive, merely an example of accessories that may utilize a rail. Any of the devices (e.g., rifles, firearms, spotter scopes, etc.) disclosed herein may be referred to from time to time as a battlefield device. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a rifle, weapon, firearm, (automatic, semi-automatic or otherwise)  10  is illustrated. Rifle, weapon, firearm, etc.  10  has a plurality of rails  12 . In one embodiment, rails  12  may be anyone of a MIL-STD-1913 rail, Weaver rail, NATO STANAG 4694 accessory rail or equivalents thereof. Rails  12  are configured to allow a plurality of accessories  14  to the rifle  10 . Rails  12  are mounted at the 12 o&#39;clock, 3 o&#39;clock, 6 o&#39;clock and 9 o&#39;clock positions with respect to a longitudinal or firing axis of the rifle and/or a barrel  16  of the rifle  10 . 
         [0027]    Accessories  14  may be any one of: cameras, telescopic sights, tactical sights, laser sighting modules, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and night vision scopes or any type of sensor. The aforementioned accessories are merely an example of contemplated accessories for use with rifle or firearm  10 . A specific example of an attached accessory is shown as personal data assistant (PDA)  140  or cellular telephone in  FIG. 1 . This PDA  140  may have a screen to display information (e.g., maps, target locations, video or other visual information) and receive information from a user (e.g., a touch screen or other input devices). In one embodiment, accessories  14  are items that may require a source of power and/or may require data communication with another component of the rifle or firearm  10  or a system in which rifle or firearm  10  is employed. Of course, one or more of the accessories may have its own power supply and may be able to communicate data independent of the firearm. 
         [0028]    A portion of a powering rail configured as a MIL-STD-1913 rail is shown generally as  12 . Rail  12  is a MIL-STD-1913 rail, such as a Weaver rail, NATO STANAG 4694 accessory rail or the like. Sliding over rail  12  is a powered or powering rail  18 . 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , rail  12  has a plurality of rail slots  20  and rail ribs  22 , which are utilized in receiving an accessory of another rail such as powering rail  18 . Powering rail  18  comprises a plurality of rail slots  24  and rail ribs  22  in a configuration that allows for the mating of accessories with powering rail  18 . 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, powering rail  18  is mounted to rail  12  via a cross pin  28  or other device received within a pin hole  30  of powering rail  18 . The pin hole  30  accepts the cross pin  28  so that the pin  28  locks and secures the rails  12  and  18  together. Although  FIG. 1  illustrates rail  18  secured to a top rail  12  of an upper receiver  31  of rifle or firearm  10  rail  18  can also be secured in additional locations such as the 3, 6 and 9 o&#39;clock rail  12  locations. Still further, rail  18  may be secured to anyone or any combination of the 3, 6 and 9 o&#39;clock rail  12  locations. In addition and in one alternative embodiment, powering rail  18  may be formed into anyone of rails  12  such that a separate rail  18  is not necessary. In other words and in this embodiment, the rail  12  is now the networked power and/or data transmitting rail. 
         [0031]    As discussed further below, the rail  18 / 12  may also provide a path for transferring data from any or all of the accessories  14  to one or more processors carried in the firearm  10 . Such processors may be located, for example, in the rail  18 / 12  or the pistol grip  212  or both. Also, the accessories themselves may have the ability to receive information back from the processors and transmit to a location removed from the firearm  10 . For instance, information from sensors on the firearm  10  may be routed to the processors and then provided to the PDA  140  for transmission to an external location. This communication to the PDA  140  may be through a rail, via a direct connection or wirelessly. As discussed further below, the information from the processor may also or instead be provided to a heads up display unit. In one embodiment, the heads up display unit described below may include some or all of the functionality of the PDA  140  and, as such, may perform some of the functions of the PDA  140  or may entirely replace the PDA  140 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a schematic illustration of a system  130 , using various embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. As illustrated, a firearm  10  includes a barrel  1  and has a plurality of powering rails  18  (e.g., 3 o&#39;clock, 6 o&#39;clock, 9 o&#39;clock and 12 o&#39;clock locations with respect to a longitudinal axis of the firearm  10  are provided, of course, any other locations are also contemplated). The powering rails  18  are attached, in one embodiment, to rail  12 . As discussed above, the power rails  18  may be omitted in some instances 
         [0033]    Each of the powering rails  18  may be configured to transmit power to an associated accessory  14  via conductive couplings. The same or different couplings may also allow for the transmission of data though the rails  18  to/from the accessories. The couplings can be any type of coupling including, for example, inductive couplings and/or galvanic couplings including direct contact between two conductive materials. It shall be understood, however, that the ability to transmit power is not required. In such a case, rails  18 / 12  may only be utilized to transmit data between the accessories  14  and the microprocessors  42 / 52  as described below. Also, the rails  18 / 12  may allow for direct transmission of data between accessories  14 . 
         [0034]    In one embodiment, one of data or power is transmitted via inductive couplings and the other of data or power is transmitted via galvanic couplings. More detailed description of the powering rails  18  and the manner in which power/data may be transferred is described in one or more the patents/patent applications mentioned above. 
         [0035]    Each of the rails  18  are also configured to communicate with a rail master control unit or processor  42  via a data bus, which in turn allows all of the accessories  14  to communicate information to other processors in the firearm. For example, the firearm  10  may further include a processor  51  disposed in the grip  212  ( FIG. 1 ) of the firearm. As discussed more fully below, the processor  51  may serve as the master control unit. In one embodiment, the processor  42  may be omitted. 
         [0036]    To the extent that the processor  42  is included, it may be referred to as a bus processor herein and it controls access to the data bus formed by the powering rails to allow for the processor  51  to communicate information to and from the accessories  14 . The bus processor  42  may be located in either the upper or lower receiver of the firearm  10  or may be disposed in/on rails  12  or power rails  18 . 
         [0037]    As illustrated, processor  51  is coupled via communication link  133  to a communication device  132 . The communication device  132  may be part of the processor  51  in one embodiment or may be worn, for example, in backpack or vest. While illustrated external to the firearm  10 , it shall be understood that the communication device may be carried on it. Regardless of its location, the communication device  132  allows the processor  51  to communicate with other devices  136 / 200  in the system as more fully described below. The communication link  133  may be wired or wireless or a combination thereof. The communication device  132  may communicate in any known manner including, but not limited to, rf communications, cellular communications, Bluetooth, and ZigBee and the communication path is generally shown as passing through a communication network  131 . In some cases, the communication device  132  may be shown as a radio but such is not limited. The communication network  131  can be any type of now known or later created network and may include one or more additional processors for routing or storing the information. 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, the PDA  140  may also be able to provide information to and receive information from the communication network  131 . For instance, accessories  14  in the form of sensors may provide information to the processor ( 42  or  51  or both) and receive information back from the processor and transmit it off the rifle  10  to the communication network  131 . In one embodiment, the communication from the PDA  140  is direct to the communication network  131  via path  141  and in another embodiment, the PDA  140  communicates with the communication device  132  (path  142 ) which in turn provides communication to the communication network  131 . It shall be further understood that any of the processors  51 / 42  or the PDA  140  may operate as a server in communication with each other or external server. For instance, the PDA  140  may operate as a server that connects the processors  42 / 51  to a battle management system. As a server, the PDA  140  may also be able to process map or coordinate date received from an external source such as a battle management system. The same may be true of the tablet  200  discussed below. In addition, while the sensors/accessories  14  are shown as connected to rails, it shall be understood these elements can be integral or embedded in the upper receiver (or any other portion) of a firearm. 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, the communication device  132  may also provide for communication to an element worn by a soldier such as a heads up display unit  160 . As illustrated the heads up display unit  160  is in the form of glasses. It shall be understand that this is not limiting and any type of heads up display may be used. For instance, the heads up display unit  160  may be in the form of a helmet or goggles. Regardless of the form, the heads up display unit  160  may display any information described herein. For instance, the heads up display unit  160  may display information regarding a map received from an external location (as described both above and below) and overlay information onto that map. 
         [0040]    As illustrated, the heads up display unit  160  receives information from the communications device  132 . This information may include, for example, information from sensors located on the rails  18  that is processed by the processor  51 . The data may then be transmitted wirelessly from the communications device  132  to the heads up display unit  160  via path  172 . In another embodiment, the heads up display unit  160  may receive the information from the PDA  140  through a wireless connection such as Bluetooth. This is illustrated by dashed communication path  175 . In one embodiment, the system may include both the PDA  140  and the heads up display unit  160 . In another embodiment, the functions of the PDA  140  may all be performed by the heads up display unit  160 . Also, it shall be understood that heads up display unit  160  may connect directly to the network  131  as indicated by communication path  175 . 
         [0041]    It shall be further understood that any of the processors  51 / 42  or the heads up display unit  160  may operate as a server in communication with each other or an external server. For instance, the heads up display unit  160  may operate as a server that connects the processors  42 / 51  to a battle management system. As a server, the heads up display unit  160  may also be able to process map or coordinate date received from an external source such as a battle management system. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  provides for many example communication paths. Other possible communication paths are shown below. All possible paths are contemplated herein regardless of whether the PDA  140  or the heads up display unit  160  (or both) are utilized. 
         [0043]    In one non-limiting embodiment the observer system is a spotter scope  136  that may be able to determine the location of a potential target. This may include determining the location of the scope  136  and the distance/direction to the target for instance, by combining a GPS location of the scope  136  with distance from a laser range finder and means for determining pointing direction as discussed below this information may then be transferred from the scope  136  to the firearm  10  and then routed through the rails and a location of the target displayed on a map shown on an accessory  14  such as a PDA  140 . In this embodiment, firearm  10  of the system  130  is a sniper rifle, which is networked or communicates with scope  136  through the communication network  131 . In one embodiment, the communication between the firearm and the scope  136  (or the tablet  200  discussed below) may be direct point-to-point contact. It shall be understood that one or more of the accessories  14  may also communicate directly to the communication network  131  in any known manner including, but not limited to, rf communications, cellular communications, Bluetooth, and ZigBee and these communication devices may be any one of accessories  14  or peripheral device  132  which may be worn by an operator of one of the components. In one embodiment, the communication network is a wireless LAN network. The communication devices also being networked or in communication with other devices coupled to the powered rail(s)  18 . Although only two items (e.g., firearm  10  and scope  136 ) are illustrated it is understood that numerous items (e.g., more than two) may be networked to communicate with each other. For example, multiple firearms  10 , scope  136  and numerous other devices or items may be networked through system  130  and data can be exchanged between any of the items through the communication network  131 . Each item may target, identify, or exchange data (either unique to that item or common between items) with respect to multiple targets, locations, persons, or other items. 
         [0044]    Another example of a scope  136  is illustrated as scope in  FIG. 7 . In this embodiment, the scope  136  may have a device  138  that communicates with an associated accessory  14  or device  138 / 200  illustrated in at least  FIG. 1 . For example, devices  138  and  140  may be GPS, laser range finder, PDA or targeting devices capable of communicating (e.g., wireless or otherwise) with each other and thus exchanging data and information. 
         [0045]    The system illustrated in  FIG. 3  shows a version of the system  130  capable of communication with and/or part of a battlefield management system (BMS) illustrated as tablet computer  200 . Of course, the BMS could be implanted on other types of devices. Further, it shall be understood that the PDA  140  and/or the heads up display unit  160  could be part of the system. In general, a battlefield management system is a system that integrates information acquired from multiple inputs and can be used coordinate movement/actions of multiple actors (e.g., soldiers). 
         [0046]    As illustrated, one of the accessories  14  is coupled to an adapter  205  that allows it to communicate with the rail  12 . The adapter  205  could condition power into a form desired by the accessory. For example, the adapter  205  could be utilized to convert power into a form or particular pin layout used by a PDA  140  or scope  136 . Further, the adapter could include formatting logic to convert PDA or scope data into a form conductive for transmission through the rail  18 . For example, parallel data could be converted into serial format. 
         [0047]    In one embodiment, the system  130  includes a sensor  220  capable of determining a bearing of firearm  10 . Such a sensor may be a compass or part of a GPS device or other device. In one embodiment, the angular (bearing, pitch and roll) information may be determined from sensors contained in PDA  140 . In other embodiments, the angular sensors may be formed by one or more rotationally sensitive sensors such as inclinometers, rate gyros, accelerometers and magnometer mounted on the firearm  10 . In one embodiment the firearm  10  includes at least one set of angular sensors  222  to determine the inclination, roll and bearing with respect to the horizontal axis of the firearm  10 . The processor  51  may combine the data from the sensors (e.g.,  220 ,  222 ) as well as information from another accessory  14  on the firearm  10  and then cause it to be transmitted via communication device  132  to the battle management system  200  or any other scope  136  or another firearm  10 . It shall be understood that any of the capabilities disclosed herein with respect to the rifle  10  may be applicable to the scope  136  or any other device included in system  130 . 
         [0048]    In one embodiment, the processor  51  collects data from the accessories  14  (herein, accessories will also include any sensor on the firearm) in either a polled or interrupt method via the data bus. The data bus can be either wired or wireless interfaces. The processor  51  may utilize a real time clock to routinely interrogate accessories  14  at a predetermined schedule. During these predetermined intervals the processor  51  reads the data and stores it into memory. In one embodiment, the data is tagged with a real time clock stamp to facilitate data processing. In one embodiment, one or more of the accessories  14  are interrupt driven. In such a case, an event causes the accessory  14  to send an interrupt to the processor  51  which, in turn, causes the processor  51  to collect data from the accessory  14 . 
         [0049]    Regardless of how collected, the data is transmitted from communication device  132  to the tablet  200 , the scope  136  or both. Further, either of scope  136  or the tablet  200  can send information back to the firearm  10 . 
         [0050]    In operation, processor  51  draws power from the power supply  84  and may discover connected accessories  14 . In one embodiment, the discovery may include verifying that the accessory  14  is operable. In the case that the accessory  14  is a sensor, the processor  51  may configure the sensor based on its location on the firearm and function. The sensors can be navigation, acoustic or optical devices. The sensors all communicate to the processor via the data bus and report sensor data and status. The navigation sensors could be individual or integrated into a single package, and are GPS (military or commercial), accelerometer, rate gyro, magnometer (compass) or gyro scope and may sense and report in all three axial planes (x, y &amp; z). The acoustic sensor may provide an acoustic signature of the environment around the firearm as well as of the firearm itself. The optical sensor may capture the optical spectrum in front of the weapon. The optical spectrum could be the visual, infrared, thermal, Short Wave Length, Medium Wave Length and Long Wave Length, etc. 
         [0051]    It shall be understood that the format of the data stored/transmitted by the processor  51  can be varied and adapted to meet any preferred receiving performance. Further, while there are several different accessories  14  disclosed above, it shall be understood that the processor  51  may include the ability to synthesize the data from these accessories before transmitting the data. For example, if a camera is used to form a digital image of a target, the time and the position and orientation of the rifle  10  can be attached to that image before it is transmitted. Further, in some cases, the rifle  10  may include a video camera attached as an accessory. In such a case, the data (e.g., images or video) could be streamed in real-time with time/position data appended thereto or sent in periodic or interrupt driven intervals. 
         [0052]    In some cases, the processor  51  may include the ability to process the data collected from the accessories  14 . For example, the processor  51  may include instructions that allow it to perform ballistics calculations, target range and angular offset calculation, and target tracking. Further, based on collected data, the number of shots taken, remaining ammunition, firearm performance and maintenance determinations and other firearm related calculations may be made. In one embodiment, the accessories  14 /processor  51  monitor the internal ballistic life cycle and internal mechanisms of the firearm  10 . As a firearm&#39;s mechanisms wear or become fouled, previously recorded events can be compared to determine the percentage of difference. Dependent on the parameter be monitored, such comparisons may determine the usefulness of the firearm. 
         [0053]    Either in real time or at a prior time, map information related to an area in which the firearm  10  is, or in the future may be, located is provided to one or more of: microprocessor  42 / 51 , PDA  140 , heads up display unit  160 , and tablet  200 . The map information may be in the form of an overhead aerial view in one embodiment and may be received from any source including, but not limited to reconnaissance information taken by satellite or other overhead device such as a drone. Of course, publicly available maps could be used in one embodiment. Based on a GPS location of the firearm  10 , a portion of the map may be selected. Given the bearing of the firearm  10 , a view of the map in the region in front of the firearm  10  may be selected and displayed on the PDA  140  or heads up display unit  160 , or both. Further, with the information the location of “friendlies” can be displayed on the maps as the tablet  200  includes information from all of the weapons in the system  130  and can place indicators on the map at those locations. Further, as an example, the location of a hostile party may be added to the map based, for example, the location of a friendly and a distance measured to the hostile by a laser range finder. 
         [0054]    In one embodiment, the firearm  10  includes an inclinometer as one of the accessories  14 . Assuming that ballistic information is known about a projectile (e.g., a bullet or grenade) that the firearm  10  (or an attachment thereto) fires, a projected impact point on the map be displayed. 
         [0055]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , an example of a display  201  of PDA  140  is illustrated. Such a display can also or instead by shown on heads up display unit  160 . The bearing information (shown by compass  203 ) described above can be used to position a possible impact location  202  of the projectile in along the y axis. Similarly, information from an angular sensors and the ballistic information can be used to determine how far the projectile will travel and the, thus, determines the location of the impact location  202 . As the firearm as raised upward, the impact location  202  translates up on the map  201 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 5  schematically illustrates one embodiment of communication between various components on a firearm  10  as disclosed herein. The particular arrangement, however, may be varied in other embodiments. In this embodiment, the firearm  10  includes at least one rail  18  onto which several accessories  14  are coupled. The system includes three different communication channels shown as a low speed channel  502 , a medium speed channel  504  and a high speed channel  506 . The low speed channel  502  extends from and allows communication between the master processor  76  and any of the accessories  14 . The low speed channel  502  can be driven by a low speed transmitter/receiver  510  in processor  51  that includes selection logic  512  for selecting which of the accessories  14  to route the communication to. 
         [0057]    Each accessory  14  includes low speed decoding/encoding logic  514  to receive and decode information received over the low speed channel  502 . Of course, the low speed decoding/encoding logic  514  can also include the ability to transmit information from the accessories  14  as described above. 
         [0058]    In one embodiment, the low speed channel  502  carries data at or about 100 kB/s. Of course, other speeds could be used. The low speed channel  502  passes through a coupling  520 . The coupling  520  could be galvanic or via inductive coil pairs. In one embodiment, the inductive coil pair could be replaced include a two or more core portions about which the coil pair is wound. In another embodiment, the cores can be omitted and the inductive coil pair can be implemented as an air core transformer. As illustrated, the couplings  520  are contained within the powering rail  18 . Of course, one or more of the portions of the coupling can be displaced from the rail  18 . 
         [0059]    The medium speed channel  504  is connected to couplings  520  and shares them with low speed channel  502 . For clarity, branches of the medium speed channel  504  as illustrated in dashed lines. As one of ordinary skill will realize, data can be transferred on both the low speed channel  502  and the medium speed channel at the same time. The medium speed channel  504  is used to transmit data between the accessories  14 . 
         [0060]    Both the low and medium speed channels  502 ,  504  can also be used to transmit data to or receive data from an accessory (e.g. a tether) not physically attached to the rail  18  as illustrated by element  540 . The connection between the processor  51  can be either direct or through an optional inductive coil pair  520 ′. In one embodiment, the optional inductive coil pair  520 ′ couples power or data or both to processor  51  which may be located in or near a handle portion (e.g., pistol grip) of a firearm. 
         [0061]    To allow for communication between accessories  14  over the medium speed channel  504 , the processor  51  can include routing logic  522  that couples signals from one accessory to another based on information either received on the medium speed channel  504 . Of course, in the case where two accessories coupled to the rail  18  are communicating via the medium speed channel  502 , the signal can be boosted or otherwise powered to ensure is can drive couplings  520  between the accessories. 
         [0062]    In another example, the accessory that is transmitting the data first utilizes the low speed channel  502  to cause the processor  51  sets the routing logic  522  to couple the medium speed channel  504  to the desired receiving accessory. Of course, the processor  51  itself (or an element coupled to it) can be used to separate low and medium speed communications from one another and provide them to either the low speed transmitter/receiver  510  or the routing logic  522 , respectively. In one embodiment, the medium speed channel  504  carries data at 10 MB/s. 
         [0063]      FIG. 5  also illustrates a high speed channel  506 . In one embodiment, the high speed channel  506  is formed by an optical data line and runs along at least a portion of the length of the rail  18 . For clarity, however, the high speed channel  506  is illustrated separated from the rail  18 . Accessories  14  can include optical transmitter/receivers  542  for providing signals to and receiving signals from the high speed channel  506 . In one embodiment, a high speed signal controller  532  is provided to control data flow along the high speed channel  506 . It shall be understood that the high speed signal controller  532  can be located in any location and may be provided, for example, as part of the processor  51 . In one embodiment, the high speed signal controller  532  is an optical signal controller such as, for example, an optical router. 
         [0064]      FIG. 6  shows a dataflow of information as it may be transferred according to one embodiment. Accessory data  1200   a,    1200   b  and  1200   c  is representative of data that may be transferred to or from accessories coupled to a rail system  1202  coupled to a firearm. The rail system  1202  may be formed as herein described. Of course other rail systems capable of supporting one or more accessories on a firearm may be utilized. The rail system  1202  may provide power to the accessories in one embodiment but that is not required. The rail system  18  may also provide a physical conduit for transmitting data to and from the accessories. As mentioned above and as more fully discussed below, the data  1200   a - 1200   c  passes through a coupling  520  that provides for inductive or galvanic transfer of the data from the accessory to the communication pathway (e.g., bus)  1204  provided by the rail system  1202 . Of course, other energy transfer methods such as capacitive coupling or wireless communication could be utilized. Processor  42  controls communication over the bus  1204  and as such may be referred to as a bus processor in one embodiment. The bus processor  42  may be located in the rail system  1202  itself or in the upper or lower receiver of a firearm. The bus processor may be able to determine, in one embodiment, when an accessory is coupled to the rail system  1202 . It should be noted that another processor (e.g. processor  51 ) may perform the bus control functions in one embodiment and, in such and embodiment, the bus processor  42  may be omitted. 
         [0065]    The bus processor can allow, for example, for first accessory data  1200   a  to be transferred to the processor  51  first, followed by data  1200   b  and then  1200   c  in one embodiment. Of course, any ordering a data can be provided for. The data reaches processor  51  and then transformed into an output data set  1200   d.  In one embodiment, the output data set is a compilation of portions of the data  1200   a - c . Output data set  1200   d  could also include additional information such as a time stamp. For example, assume data  1200   a  is GPS data from a GPS device coupled to the rail system  1200 , data  1200   b  is bearing information and data  1200   c  is a target distance value. This data could be combined and time stamped to provide an accurate time sensitive location of a potential target. Data  1200   d  may also include manipulated data as well. 
         [0066]    The processor  51  may include or be in communication with a wireless or wired communication device (e.g., communication device  132  described above). This allows for data  1200   d  to be transmitted to another location such as, for example, a PDA  140  or directly to network  131  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0067]    Regardless, in one embodiment, data  1200   d  is provided to computing device  200  (e.g., a battle management system). Data  1200   d  may be transmitted off of the rifle  10  in any manner including through one of the accessories (e.g., PDA  140 ). 
         [0068]    Computing device  200  may also receive data from other battlefield devices (e.g., other rail systems) as generally indicated by data  1200   n.  The computing device takes some or all of the data that it has received and may, in one embodiment create mission data  1200   e.  This data is then transferred to processor  51  and subsequently provided to one or more of the accessories. An example (following from above) includes mission data  1200   e  that includes a map showing all of the targets identified by any of the rifles and data  1200   e  could be sent to any or all of the rifles that are connected to a particular network. The format and content of the each of the different data elements shown in  FIG. 6  may be platform agnostic in one embodiment so that the system  1202  may integrated into any preexisting or later developed battle management system. 
         [0069]    The skilled artisan will realize that any number of rifles  10 , spotter scopes  136 , tablets  200  and the like may communicate with one another as shown in  FIG. 8 , other battlefield devices may also be included an indicated by reference numeral  201 . For instance, grenade launchers, mortar launchers or any other element used to determine information or launch a projectile could communicate through network  131 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 9  shows an example of an image that may be displayed on one or both of the PDA  140  and the heads up display unit  160 . The display includes a map  901  that may be stored on the display device (the term display device will be used herein to refer to either or both the PDA  140  and the heads up display unit  160 . In one embodiment, the particular map that is shown if based on the weapon position  902  and the bearing  903  of the weapon. The position may be known, for example, based on GPS positions determined by sensor on the weapon or the soldier and the bearing may be determined by the bearing sensor as described above. In one embodiment, the image may include a photo  904  or other identifier of the target. Based on information either previously known or later acquired (e.g., from another weapon or element in the system), the location of the target  905  may also be shown by a target indicator  906 . Other display elements may include, for example, a weapon pointing angle  907 , a range/distance key  908  and a menu option  908 . As the skilled artisan will understand, the display device may include input elements that allow for selection or entering of information into them. This information may be used to mark a target location, for example. 
         [0071]      FIG. 10  shows one embodiment of a communication arrangement according to one embodiment. Certain elements may be removed in some embodiments. For example, the scope camera could be removed and only one of the phone/goggle may be included. 
         [0072]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application.