Patent ID: 8270325

Claim:
A mobile, integrated communications system for establishing a self-supported broadband communications network, the system comprising: a ruggedized, self-contained housing having an interior area; a plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components disposed in the interior area of the housing and coupled together to provide the communications network, the housing and the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components therein being carriable a unit by a person; a software management subsystem operatively coupled to the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components; a network connection subsystem defined by at least a first portion of the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components and the software management subsystem and configured to establish access to the broadband communications network; a connection subsystem defined by at least a second portion of the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components and that provides a user with a connection to the communications network via the network connection subsystem; and a support member removeably disposed in the interior area of the housing, selected components of the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components being carried by the support member, the support member and the selected components thereon being removable from the housing as a unit; wherein the network connection subsystem is configured to establish access to a second network, and the connection subsystem is configured to allow the user to access the second network connection subsystem; and wherein the housing, the software management subsystem, the network connection subsystem and the connection subsystem are configured to be transported to a first location and deployed a first time to establish the broadband network at the first location, and transported by the person to a second location different from the first location and deployed a second time after the first time to establish the broadband network at the second location.