Patent Publication Number: US-2022214143-A1

Title: System and method for networking firearm-mounted devices

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/578,504, filed Sep. 23, 2019, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NETWORKING FIREARM-MOUNTED DEVICES, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/980,512, filed on May 15, 2018, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NETWORKING FIREARM-MOUNTED DEVICES, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/506,533, filed May 15, 2017, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NETWORKING FIREARM-MOUNTED DEVICES, AND VIDEO CAPTURE AND TRANSMISSION FROM A FIREARM, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. To the extent appropriate a claim of priority is made to each of the above-disclosed applications. 
    
    
     INTRODUCTION 
     Electronic devices such as lights, cameras, laser range finders, infrared sensors, displays, and radios are often added to firearms to improve the situational awareness of the firearm user. However, these electronic firearm devices generally cannot interoperate and communicate with one another. Hence, there is a need for a secure and reliable communication system and method that allows electronic firearm devices to communicate with one another and to external devices for improving a firearm user&#39;s situational awareness. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure relates generally to a system for networking firearm-mounted devices to one another and to an external device. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to video capture and transmission from a firearm. 
     In one aspect, the disclosed technology relates to an electronic system for a firearm. The electronic system includes a power source; one or more electrical conductors connected to receive power from the power source; and a plurality of electronic devices connected to the one or more electrical conductors. Each electronic device includes an electrical input configured to receive power from the one or more electrical conductors; and a communication device configured for data communication across the one or more electrical conductors. 
     In some examples, the electronic system further includes a controller node powered by the power source and configured to control the plurality of electronic devices. In some examples, the controller node is configured to communicate data from the plurality of electronic devices to a portable electronic device. In some examples, the power source comprises AA batteries. In some examples, the electronic system is included in a firearm. 
     In another aspect, the disclosed technology relates an intelligent rail system for a firearm. The intelligent rail system includes a power source; one or more electrical conductors electrically connected to receive power from the power source, at least part of the one or more electrical conductors being arranged on a rail; and a plurality of electronic devices, at least one electronic device is mounted to the rail. Each electronic device has an electrical input configured to receive power from the one or more electrical conductors to power the electronic device; and a communication device for data communication across the one or more electrical conductors. 
     In some examples, the intelligent rail system further includes a controller node powered by the power source and configured to communicate data across the one or more electrical conductors. In some examples, the controller node includes user adjustable switches. In some examples, the controller node is configured to transmit data from the plurality of devices to an external device. In some examples, the external device is a portable electronic device. In some examples, the controller node is configured to control power supply to the electronic devices. In some examples, the power source comprises AA batteries. In some examples, the intelligent rail system is included in a firearm. 
     In another aspect, the disclosed technology relates to a method of communicating between electronic devices connected to a firearm. The method includes: powering a plurality of electronic devices connected to a firearm from a single power source through one or more electrical conductors; and communicating data between the plurality of electronic devices across the one or more electrical conductors. 
     In some examples, the method further includes communicating data from the one or more electrical conductors to an external device. In some examples, the data communicated to the external device comprises a video stream captured from a video camera connected to the firearm. 
     In some examples, the method further includes embedding data from a first electronic device into a data stream of second electronic device. In some examples, the method further includes encapsulating the data in a packet structure of a communication protocol. 
     A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The aspects can relate to individual features and to combination of features. 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 broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings are not to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a firearm with a power distribution system. 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed side view of the firearm with the power distribution system. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a power source for the power distribution system. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the power source for the power distribution system. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of an interconnection of a power rail connector to an intelligent rail in the power distribution system of the firearm. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the power rail connector. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the power rail connector. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a handguard structure including the intelligent rail. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the handguard structure including the intelligent rail. 
         FIG. 10  is an end view of the handguard structure including the intelligent rail. 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of a printed circuit board of the intelligent rail. 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a printed circuit board of the intelligent rail. 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded isometric view of a printed circuit board. 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded view of an electrical interconnection for the intelligent rail. 
         FIG. 15  is an assembled view of an electrical interconnection for the intelligent rail. 
         FIG. 16  is a bottom isometric view of an electronic firearm device. 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic firearm device connected to the intelligent rail. 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram that illustrates a secure and reliable packet based communication system. 
         FIG. 19  is schematic diagram that illustrates an external communication interface. 
         FIG. 20  is schematic diagram that illustrates the intelligent rail and electronic firearm devices connected thereto. 
         FIG. 21  is a schematic illustration of a packet structure of a communication protocol. 
         FIG. 22  is an isometric view of a camera node. 
         FIG. 23  is an isometric view of a controller node. 
         FIG. 24  is a side view of a firearm with the intelligent rail and electronic firearm devices mounted thereto. 
         FIG. 25  is a side view of a firearm with the intelligent rail and electronic firearm devices mounted thereto. 
         FIG. 26  is a side view of a firearm with the intelligent rail and electronic firearm devices mounted thereto. 
         FIG. 27  is a side view of a firearm with the intelligent rail and electronic firearm devices mounted thereto. 
         FIG. 28  illustrates a method of communicating between electronic devices connected to a firearm. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a firearm  1  with a power distribution system  101 .  FIG. 2  is a detailed side view of the firearm  1  with the power distribution system  101 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the firearm  1  includes a buttstock  21 , a handguard  23 , an upper receiver  27 , a lower receiver  29 , a barrel  31 , a muzzle  33 , a grip  35 , and a front sight  37 . While a military-style firearm is described herein, the power distribution system  101  can be added to a firearm, such as the firearm  1 , as described herein as well as to other types of firearms, such as handguns, fixed-mount machine guns, bolt action rifles, etc. 
     The handguard  23  shrouds the barrel  31  of the firearm  1  to enable a user to grip the forward portion of the firearm  1 . The handguard  23  mitigates the possibility of burning the user&#39;s hand when firing the firearm  1 , while also providing adequate cooling for the barrel  31  of the firearm  1 . The handguard  23  partially shields the barrel  31  like traditional Picatinny Rail. 
     The power distribution system  101  includes a power source  103  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), a power connector  105 , an intelligent rail  107 , and one or more electronic firearm devices  300  (shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 ) configured for attachment to the intelligent rail  107 . 
     The handguard  23  and intelligent rail  107  are attached together to form a handguard structure which encircles the barrel  31  of the firearm  1 . As used throughout this disclosure, the term “handguard structure” represents the sections of the handguard  23  and the intelligent rail  107  which encircle the barrel  31  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The intelligent rail  107  in effect forms facets around the periphery of the resultant handguard structure. 
     In alternative examples, there is no requirement to include the handguard  23  as an integral component of the power distribution system  101 . As such, the handguard  23  is optional, and the intelligent rail  107  can be attached to the firearm  1  in some other manner, such as by being attached to a rail on the upper receiver  27 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show the power source  103  of the power distribution system  101 . In the example shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the power source  103  is mounted inside a cavity  34  of the buttstock  21 , and is a removable battery pack. In alternative examples, the power source  103  can be implemented in a number of assemblies and mounted on various portions of the firearm (such as in the handguard  23 , in a pistol grip, or in a remote power source, and the like). 
     The buttstock  21  includes a cam latch  32  for holding the power source  103 . The buttstock  21  allows the power source  103  to be installed and removed through the rear of the firearm  1 . The length of the buttstock  21  is adjustable such that the buttstock  21  can be extended in various multiple intermediate positions to provide an adjustable length of the firearm  1 . By moving the mass of the power source  103  to the rear on the firearm  1 , the time to bring the firearm  1  to point, and to “stop” the muzzle when a target is acquired, are reduced. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the power source  103  is electrically connected to the intelligent rail  107  via a wire routed inside a durable and impact resistant polymer shroud  108  that conforms to the lower receiver  29 . The shroud  108  is securely retained by a quick connect/disconnect pivot and takedown pin  111 . The wire in the shroud  108  runs from a power socket  115  at the power source  103  to a power rail connector  117  (shown in more detail in  FIGS. 5-7 ). This configuration provides an easy access for replacing or repairing the cable assembly of the power distribution system  101 , and eliminates snag hazards or interferences with the firearm&#39;s operation, and requires no modification of the lower receiver  29 . 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of an interconnection of the power rail connector  117  to the intelligent rail  107 .  FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the power rail connector  117 .  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the power rail connector  117 . As shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , the power rail connector  117  has a housing  119  and ruggedized power rail connector  121  where sealing integrity is maintained during exposure to adverse environmental conditions. The power rail connector  117  includes a metallic shell body, contact pin receptacle  123 , with a multi-finger spring contact  125  assembled into the contact pin receptacle  123 . The multi-finger spring contact  125  complies to variations in rail pin contacts  131  (shown in  FIG. 15 ) to ensure continuous current carrying capacity. The contact pin receptacle  123  includes a solder tail portion for soldering cable wires. A fastener  127  and retaining ring  129  can be used to secure the power rail connector  117  into the rail pin contacts  131  for supplying power to the intelligent rail  107 . 
     The intelligent rail  107  electrically interconnects the power source  103  with various electronic firearm devices that can be mounted onto the intelligent rail  107 . In some examples, the intelligent rail  107  can provide both mechanical support and electrical power to each firearm device. In these examples, the intelligent rail  107  can be attached to and be coextensive with the handguard  23  sections, such that the mounting of a power-consuming electronic firearm device on the intelligent rail  107  results in simultaneous mechanical and electrical interconnection. 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the handguard structure including the intelligent rail  107 .  FIG. 9  is a top view of the handguard structure including the intelligent rail  107 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the handguard structure includes a series of ridges with a T-shaped cross-section interspersed with flat “locking slots”. In this example, the handguard structure is a modified Picatinny Rail which has milling slots along the length of the mechanical accessory attachment points  23 R in the upper handguard section  23 U and the lower handguard section  23 L in order to install one or more power distribution printed circuit boards  60 - 1  . . .  60 - 4 . 
       FIG. 10  is an end view of the handguard structure including the intelligent rail  107 .  FIG. 10  shows the slots formed in the various facets F 1 -F 4  of the intelligent rail  107 . As with a Picatinny Rail, apertures  25  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) are provided along the length of the intelligent rail  107  to enable the barrel  31  of the firearm  1  to be cooled by air circulation from the ambient environment. Other intelligent rail configurations are possible, and the configuration shown in  FIGS. 8-10  is provided as one example of the power distribution system  101 . 
     One or more of the printed circuit boards  60 - 1  . . .  60 - 4  can be inserted into the respective slots formed in the intelligent rail  107 , such as on the corresponding facets F 1  . . . F 4  of the handguard  23 , thereby enabling power-consuming electronic firearm devices  300  to be attached to the handguard  23  via the intelligent rail  107  and to be powered by a corresponding printed circuit board  60 - 1  . . .  60 - 4  of the intelligent rail  107 . 
       FIG. 11  is a plan view of a printed circuit board  60 - 1  of the intelligent rail  107 .  FIG. 12  is an isometric view of another printed circuit board  60 - 2  of the intelligent rail  107 .  FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate the architecture of the printed circuit boards  60 - 1  and  60 - 2  where power is applied via the positive connector contact  61 P and the negative connector contact  61 N. Power is routed by electrical traces on the printed circuit boards  60 - 1  and  60 - 2 . The positive current from positive connector contact  61 P is routed to the center of the printed circuit board where it is switched via operation of a switch (such as the snap dome switch  64  shown in  FIG. 13 ) to contact  62 P- 5 , while the negative current from the negative connector contact  61 N is routed to a negative bus  62 N (shown in the printed circuit board  60 - 1  of  FIG. 11 ) or negative bus contact pads such as negative bus contact pads  62 N- 3 ,  62 B- 8  (shown in the printed circuit board  60 - 2  of  FIG. 12 ). In the example printed circuit boards  60 - 1 ,  60 - 2  depicted in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , notches  68  are points of attachment which can be used to secure the printed circuit boards  60 - 1 ,  60 - 2  in a corresponding slot of the intelligent rail  107  via a pin clip arrangement. 
     In the example printed circuit boards  60 - 1 ,  60 - 2  of  FIGS. 11 and 12 , there are thirteen positions where a power-consuming electronic firearm device can be attached to contact the power contacts of the intelligent rail  107 . For example, there are thirteen positive contacts  62 P- 1  to  62 P- 13 . Also, as described above, in some examples, a continuous negative bus  62 N is provided as the other power source connection (e.g.,  FIG. 11 ), and in other examples, negative power source connections are provided by individual negative bus contact pads  62 N- 1  to  62 N- 13  (e.g.,  FIG. 12 ). In other examples, there could be more than thirteen positions or fewer than thirteen positions where a power-consuming electronic firearm device can be attached to the intelligent rail  107 , and the number of attachment points may vary as needed or required. 
     The positive contacts  62 P- 1 ,  62 P- 5  and negative contacts  62 N- 3 ,  62 N- 8  can be continuously powered, such as in the case where only one set of contacts is provided. In other examples, the positive contacts  62 P- 1 ,  62 P- 5  and the negative contacts  62 N- 3 ,  62 N- 8  can be switch activated by snap dome switches  64  placed over the positive and negative contacts. 
     The snap dome switches  64  can each have a pair of conductive contacts which are normally in the open mode. When the cover of the metallic snap dome switch  64  is depressed via a projection on the exterior surface of the power-consuming electronic firearm device, the conductive contacts mate and provide an electrical connection. The snap dome switches  64  have a curved metal dome that spans the positive and negative contacts such that when depressed, the dome snaps downward to electrically bridge the contacts. The positive contacts  62 P and the negative contacts  62 N can both be implemented using a low reflectivity contact. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an exploded view of a power distribution printed circuit board assembly where a non-conductive layer  61  prevents the metal firearm rail from electrically shorting the power distribution printed circuit board  60 - 1 . Spacer layer  63  is a non-conductive element which holds the snap dome switches  64  in place so they do not move laterally during assembly. Snap dome switches  64  provide the electrical switching action to the mounted rail devices. Top cover layer  65  provides environmental protection to the printed circuit board  60 - 1  and the snap dome switches  64  when the aforementioned layers are assembled. 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  show the printed circuit boards  60 - 1  to  60 - 4  soldered to interconnected conductive busses  72 ,  74 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the power rail connector  117  can be pressed into rail pin contacts  131  in the conductive buses  72 ,  74 . Retaining clips  71  made from a resilient metallic spring material are anchored on an upper rail connector  75 , and are used to securely hold the upper rail connector  75  together with a lower rail connector  76 . 
       FIG. 16  is a bottom isometric view of an electronic firearm device  300 . The electronic firearm device  300  has a rail grabber  301 , spring contacts  302 , spring plungers  303 , and face seals  304 . The spring plungers  303  depress the snap dome switches  64 , the spring contacts  302  provide electrical contact with the fixed electrical bus contacts  62 N and  62 P on the intelligent rail  107 , and the face seals  304  provide environmental protection. 
       FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic firearm device  300  connected to the intelligent rail  107 . The electronic firearm device  300  can be mechanically attached to the intelligent rail  107  via a screw clamp  306  as shown. As described above, the electronic firearm device  300  includes a pair of spring contacts  302  which contact corresponding low reflectivity contacts  62 N and  62 P mounted on the printed circuit board  60 - 3 . Similarly, the electronic firearm device  300  has a spring plunger  303  which contacts a corresponding snap dome switch  64  mounted on printed circuit board  60 - 3 . 
     A challenge of mounting the electronic firearm device  300  to the intelligent rail  107  is that it may not readily interoperate with other electronic firearm devices on the intelligent rail  107 , which may use different communication protocols. Thus, the following describes a secure and reliable packet based communication system and method for electronic firearm devices, such as the electronic firearm device  300 , and including but not limited to video cameras, lights, laser range finders, radios, night vision products, displays, and computers to communicate with each other and to communicate with external devices when mounted to a firearm. 
     The communication protocol makes use of the intelligent rail  107  described above, which supplies power from power source  103  to the electronic firearm devices. Because of the shared physical power connection in the intelligent rail  107 , data can be shared reliably and securely between the electronic firearm devices. The communication method allows the firearm-mounted devices to interoperate, and through encrypted RF, communicate to remote devices. The medium of the intelligent rail  107  can be used to share data such as commands and controls, configurations, software updates, and sensor data, and also provides for remote operation. In one embodiment, a through-scope video camera communicates over the intelligent rail  107  to a controller module  400 . The controller module  400  then uses a communication means, such as Wi-Fi, to communicate a live video stream to an external device  401 , such as a smart phone. 
       FIG. 18  shows an architecture of the intelligent rail  107  that allows data to be transferred between electronic firearm devices mounted to the intelligent rail  107 .  FIG. 19  shows an external communication interface for the intelligent rail  107 . In some embodiments the intelligent rail  107  superimposes (sums) two voltages including the static voltage that provides the power for powering the electronic firearm devices mounted to the intelligent rail  107 , and a second dynamic, time-varying voltage that encodes and transfers data between the electronic firearm devices. In some examples, the (nominally) static voltage for power is coupled from the power source to nodes (i.e., electronic firearm devices), such as via one or more or a series of conductors or inductors. Further, in some examples, the dynamic (signal) voltage is coupled from node to node via a series of capacitors. The ability to transfer data on the intelligent rail  107  facilitates the networking of the electronic firearm devices, including interoperation of video capture and transmission devices. 
       FIG. 20  shows a topology of the intelligent rail  107  and the electronic firearm devices  300  connected thereto. As described above, the power source  103  provides power to the electronic firearm devices  300  via the power distribution system  101 . The electrical interconnection for each electronic firearm device  300  on the intelligent rail  107  is also used as the communication medium between each of the electronic firearm devices  300 . 
     The communication protocol provides for full support of industry standard TCP/IP, UDP/IP, and ICWIP/IP packet based communication protocols. The packet transmissions are “reliable” in that cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is used, and a sending device receives an acknowledgement packet from a receiving device. Packet retries are also supported. In one example, streaming video is supported using UDP/IP and the “sliding window protocol.” Communications are secure using encryption and the network is scalable and extensible. 
       FIG. 21  shows the packet structure  403  of the communication protocol. The IP packets are encapsulated with a preamble (used to recover timing information) and a start byte for synchronization. Node address, packet length, and cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bytes are added to ensure reliable transmission. 
     The packet flow is as follows: industry standard IP packets are placed in a transmitter of a communication module of an electronic firearm device  300  by a microcontroller in the electronic firearm device  300 . The communication module comprises a receiver and a transmitter. In one example, the receiver and the transmitter of the communication module are first in, first out (FIFO) components. The packet is then encapsulated with a preamble, start byte, node destination address, packet length, and CRC bytes. This forms a packet for communication between the electronic firearm devices  300  on the intelligent rail  107 . The packet is then converted from bytes to bits, modulation encoded, and then broadcast over the intelligent rail  107  to all electronic firearm devices  300  connected thereto. In one embodiment, Manchester encoding is used as the modulation scheme. 
     The received packets are demodulated by each electronic firearm device  300  on the intelligent rail  107 . Next, an electronic firearm device  300  determines if its address matches the destination address in the packet. If there is an address match, the electronic firearm device  300  converts the packet from bits to bytes, de-encapsulates the packet&#39;s header and CRC. The bytes are loaded into the receiver of the communication module of the electronic firearm device  300 , and the device&#39;s microcontroller is notified. In one example embodiment, the packets are modulated and demodulated by each electronic firearm device  300  according to time-domain multiplexing techniques, but other methods such as frequency-division multiplexing and code division multiplexing or some combination of all the above may be employed. 
     Communication between electronic firearm devices  300  from different manufactures is accomplished by an established protocol standard. In one embodiment, JSON messages are used as the standard communication protocol between the electronic firearm devices. Where the firearm&#39;s communication channel is found to be unreliable or noisy, the packet encapsulation can be extended to include forward error correction (FEC), Viterbi decoding, and ECC. This communication method leverages industry standard Ethernet stack, supports collision detection with retransmission of packet, and provides timing recovery from packet data. 
     In one example, the communication method described above can be used for video collection and transmission by a video capture and transmission devices that are mounted to a firearm. By communicating on the intelligent rail  107 , multiple video capture and transmission devices may be coordinated to deliver a multitude of video streams or to aggregate supplementary data into the video stream and/or to permit coordinated command and control of the video capture and transmission devices. 
     The intelligent rail  107  permits the use of video capture and transmission devices that can transmit video data externally. For example, this could be of particular value for the collection of and dissemination of video data from armed services or law enforcement. As an example, armed services or law enforcement may seek to gather reconnaissance data for various reasons such as for conducting operations, tactics, and/or combat. 
     Likewise, video data may be useful for historic records of events. A forward soldier or officer has a privileged position to witness vital information, and the ability to convey that information from his or her environment would provide a wealth of knowledge to peers and commanders. At the same time, the soldier or officer in the field of operation should not be unduly burdened with heavy and/or bulky video equipment. Thus, fitting on a firearm small, lightweight devices of video capture and transmission that are configured to communicate with an external device would provide significant advantages. 
     The intelligent rail  107  is a medium for digital data exchange between electronic firearm devices as well as a power supply for each device. This reduces the weight and bulk of each video capture and transmission device because each device does not need to have its own power source. The video data is digitized so that it may be compressed and exchanged efficiently with other devices on the intelligent rail  107  and externally to devices separate from the firearm via standardized networking protocols. Furthermore, digitization permits encryption of the data. 
     Use of the intelligent rail  107  further permits integration of command and control of the video capture and transmission devices by other devices operated by the firearm user, or even by remote operators such as those located at central command or headquarters. 
       FIG. 22  depicts a camera node  500 . The camera node  500  includes a lens and integrated image sensor  503 , and microprocessors  502  which convert digital video data captured from the lens and integrated image sensor  503  into compressed digital data. The compressed digital data can be used for networked video streams, and in one example, the camera node  500  uses an H.264 for the encoder and MPEG-TS packetization. 
     A microcontroller and analog interface  501  transfers the compressed data from the camera node  500  to the intelligent rail  107 , and transfers data from the intelligent rail  107  to the camera node  500  to control the operation of the camera node  500 . The camera node  500  connects to the intelligent rail  107  physically using mechanical and electrical contacts  504 . 
     Multiple camera nodes may be connected to the intelligent rail  107 . For example, multiple camera nodes may be used to capture visible light, or infrared light for night vision. The multiple camera nodes may be positioned to aim along the rail of the firearm. Also, by the use of lenses, a camera node may capture an image directly from of the scope of the firearm. 
       FIG. 23  depicts a controller node  600 . The controller node  600  has operator buttons  604  and circuits  603  typical of the other electronic firearm devices connected to the intelligent rail  107 , such as a microcontroller to operate the controller node  600  and an analog interface to the intelligent rail  107 . The controller node  600  also includes mechanical and electrical interfaces  601  to mechanically and electrically connect the controller node  600  to the intelligent rail  107 . The controller node  600  includes an RF (radio frequency) interface  602  which has an antenna and an RF transceiver. The RF interface  602  permits the transfer of data on and off the intelligent rail  107  with external networks. In one example, WiFi is used as an external network for transferring data from the intelligent rail  107  to an external device, such as a smartphone device. 
     The operation of the camera node  500  and the controller node  600  makes use of the communication protocol described above which utilizes packet transmissions. When power is applied to the intelligent rail  107 , electronic firearm devices connected to the intelligent rail  107 , including the camera node  500  and the controller node  600 , establish network communications amongst themselves. Thus, when a firearm is configured with the intelligent rail  107 , one or more camera nodes  500  and the controller node  600  can be operated by a user as follows. 
     The user can manipulate the operator buttons  604  to select which camera nodes  500  to activate. When activated, the one or more camera nodes  500  capture video data from the lens and integrated image sensor  503 . Each of the one more camera nodes  500  convert the video data to digital video data, compress the digital video data according to industry-standard CODEC&#39;s, and encapsulate the digital video data into network packets. In one example, each of the one or more camera nodes  500  uses an H.264 for the encoder and MPEG-TS packetization. 
     The network packets are then transferred to the intelligent rail  107  via the network protocol described above. While the digital video data is being generated, other nodes (i.e., devices) on the intelligent rail  107  may be collecting other types of data, such as position of the user, the bearing of the firearm, range to target, timestamps, etc. This data can be sent from the collecting node (i.e., the device that captures this data) to the camera node  500  or to the controller node  600 , where the data may be inserted into the video data stream. 
     In one example, Key-Length-Value (KLV) is used to embed the data from a collecting node into the video data stream. The data may be encrypted at the camera node  500 , or the data may be encrypted at the controller node  600 . In one example, encryption is done on the WiFi link using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Finally, the video data can be transferred from the intelligent rail  107  of the firearm through an RF interface on the controller node  600  so that the data can be sent to an external device, such as a smartphone device. 
       FIGS. 24-27  show example implementations of the intelligent rail  107  on a firearm  700 . In these examples, the firearm  700  is a carbine assault rifle, however, as discussed above, the intelligent rail  107  is not limited to rifles, and can be implemented on a variety of firearms including handguns.  FIG. 24  shows the firearm  700  equipped with a 3-button control pad  701 , a master on/off switch  702 , and a battery pack  703  which is used in this example as the power source for powering an intelligent rail  107 . 
       FIG. 25  shows close-up views of the 3-button control pad  701  and the master on/off switch  702 . The 3-button control pad  701  can be used by the firearm user to activate the one or more electronic devices mounted to the firearm  700  as well as to send data from the one or more electronic devices to an external device such as a smartphone device. The master on/off switch  702  is for turning on or off the intelligent rail  107 , and hence, turning on or off the electronic devices mounted to the firearm  700 . 
       FIG. 26  shows multiple electronic firearm devices can be mounted to the intelligent rail  107  on the firearm  700  having an adjustable buttstock  721 . For example, electronic firearm devices such as a through-scope camera  705 , an optic riflescope  707  such as an M150 ACOG 4×32, an aiming &amp; range-finding laser  709 , a white light  711 , a wide-angle camera  713 , etc. can be mounted to the intelligent rail  107  on the firearm  700 . 
       FIG. 27  shows close-up views of the through-scope camera  705 , the optic riflescope  707 , the aiming &amp; range-finding laser  709 , the white light  711 , and the wide-angle camera  713 . The electronic firearm devices shown in  FIGS. 26 and 27  are just some examples of the devices that can be mounted to the firearm  700  and it is intended that many more types of electronic firearm devices can be mounted to the intelligent rail  107  of the firearm  700 . 
       FIG. 28  illustrates a method  500  of communicating between electronic devices connected to a firearm. The method  500  includes a step  502  of powering a plurality of electronic devices connected to a firearm from a single power source through one or more electrical conductors. The method  500  further includes a step  504  of communicating data between the plurality of electronic devices across the one or more electrical conductors. 
     In some examples, the method  500  further includes communicating data from the one or more electrical conductors to an external device. In some examples, the data communicated to the external device is a video stream captured from a video camera connected to the firearm. 
     In some examples, the method  500  further includes embedding data from a first electronic device into a data stream of second electronic device. In some examples, the method  500  includes encapsulating the data in a packet structure of a communication protocol. 
     The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and application illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following claims.