Patent ID: 8842663

Claim:
A system for enabling interoperability among various kinds of communications equipment, networks, and information transmission formats in a tactical environment, comprising: a multi-message translator (MMT) constructed and arranged for translating a source text message having a first set of word fields defined according to a source message format, into a sink message having a second set of word fields defined according to a sink message format; a voice bridging gateway (VBG) constructed and arranged for bridging multiple voice communication networks having associated transmission protocols that are incompatible with one another; a personal networking node (PNN) server connected with at least one of the MMT and the VBG, wherein the PNN server is configured to link with a remote client and to communicate text or voice tactical information to and from the device, and the tactical information is routed through one or both of the MMT and the VBG; and a handheld device that forms the remote client, and the handheld device comprises: a programmable processor for controlling modules and components of the client, wherein the processor is programmed and configured according to a mobile or an embedded operating system and has GPS functionality; a viewing screen; a network interface; a communications module coupled to the network interface and configured to establish a communication link with the PNN server; a knowledge management (KM) module coupled to the network interface and to the communications module, wherein the KM module is configured to receive alerts originating from the server and from the communications module of the device; a map application coupled to the KM module and to the viewing screen, wherein the application is configured to display a number of menu options for selection by the user; a communications interface coupled between the communications module and the map application, wherein the communications interface is operative to (i) initiate communications with the server through the communications module, (ii) handle a flow of information or data to be communicated to the server from the map application in response to a menu option selected by the user, and (iii) receive alerts sent to the device from the server, through the KM module of the radio; and a presence and user location module coupled between the communications module and the map application, wherein the location module is operative to (i) send data corresponding to a location of the user and locations of targets identified by the user via the map application, to the communications module for forwarding to the server, and (ii) provide data originating from the server and corresponding to locations of other device users, the presence or availability of the other users to exchange text or voice messages with the user, and targets identified by the other users, to the map application in the device.