Patent ID: 7805243

Claim:
A communications module, configured to be mounted to a handheld communications device and operative to interface with the handheld computing device, the communications module comprising: a global positioning system that determines the location of the module relative to a standard set of coordinates; and an L-band transceiver, operative to transmit data directly to a satellite relay, that broadcasts the determined location at a frequency within the L-band of the electromagnetic spectrum and receives location data for at least one other communications module; and an electrically conductive enclosure that substantially encompasses the L-band transceiver and comprises a conductive back plate configured such that at least a portion of the handheld computing device can be mechanically mounted to the conductive back plate, the electrically conductive enclosure being operative to facilitate the dissipation of heat produced by the L-band transceiver and to shield the L-band transceiver from electromagnetic interference, such that the communications module can be connected to the handheld computing device and removed from the handheld computing device without substantial invasion of the handheld computing device.