Patent ID: 8139624

Claim:
A military radio node for communicating with multiple ad hoc communication networks, the node comprising: a first antenna configured to communicate in a first frequency band associated with a first ad hoc communication network, the first frequency band being one of a Satcom band, a UHF band, or an HF band, the first frequency band being for reach back communications; a second antenna configured to communicate in a second frequency band associated with a second ad hoc communication network, the second frequency band being one of a Satcom band, or a VHF band, the second frequency band being for local situational awareness; a transceiver coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna and configured to transmit and receive messages in the first frequency band for reach back communications and messages in the second frequency band for situational awareness; and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver and configured to implement an access protocol having a time slot section, the access protocol configured to switch communications in the time slot section between the first frequency band and the second frequency band.