Abstract: A communication terminal for addressed messaging within an Automated Identification System (AIS) arrangement includes a user interface and an Aid to Navigation (AtoN) transponder. The user interface facilitates the addressed messaging, which includes one or more of: chat messaging addressed between the communication terminal and a participant terminal of the AIS arrangement, automatic position messaging addressed from the communication terminal to a monitoring terminal of the AIS arrangement, or situational report messaging addressed from the communication terminal to a situational awareness terminal of the AIS arrangement. The AtoN transponder of the communication terminal of the AIS arrangement is coupled to the user interface for transmitting and receiving that achieves the addressed messaging. For the situational report messaging, the situational awareness terminal reformats and exchanges the addressed messaging with a web-based situational awareness tool via the internet.

Abstract: An Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder and method for transmitting vessel AIS data can include an onboard processor and database, a VHF AIS transceiver and cellular modem connected to the processor, and a navigation sub-system for providing position inputs to the processor. The processor can include written instructions for transmitting only single sentence AIS messages when the transponder is within RsAIS of a satellite but outside range RtAIS of a terrestrial AIS base station, and switching to the base station when the vessel is within RtAIS but outside of cellular modem range, Rcell. While transmitting to the AIS satellite or AIS base station, portions of the vessel AIS are recorded to the database as historical data. Once within Rcell, the transponder can switch to transmission via cellular modem to an AIS architecture server. Historical data can also be downloaded to complete and update the vessel AIS data profile within AIS.

Abstract: A system comprising a radar subsystem including a radar transmitter and a radar receiver, and an encoder subsystem including a computer connected to a transmitter and two antennas. The computer is configured to encode and transmit a custom payload AIS Type 8 message. A second computer connected to a receiver and antenna receives the message. The custom payload AIS Type 8 message contains target longitude, latitude fields, range, and bearing fields. A method for transmitting and receiving the radar track of a target ship including: receiving the radar signal at the own ship; encoding the target ship longitude, latitude, speed, and course into a custom payload AIS Type 8 message; transmitting the custom message to a receiver ship; decoding and displaying the target ship longitude, latitude, course, and speed at the receiver ship.

Abstract: A system comprising a radar subsystem including a radar transmitter and a radar receiver, and an encoder subsystem including a computer connected to a transmitter and two antennas. The computer is configured to encode and transmit a custom payload AIS Type 8 message. A second computer connected to a receiver and antenna receives the message. The custom payload AIS Type 8 message contains target longitude, latitude fields, range, and bearing fields. A method for transmitting and receiving the radar track of a target ship including: receiving the radar signal at the own ship; encoding the target ship longitude, latitude, speed, and course into a custom payload AIS Type 8 message; transmitting the custom message to a receiver ship; decoding and displaying the target ship longitude, latitude, course, and speed at the receiver ship.

Abstract: An Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder and method for transmitting vessel AIS data can include an onboard processor and database, a VHF AIS transceiver and cellular modem connected to the processor, and a navigation sub-system for providing position inputs to the processor. The processor can include written instructions for transmitting only single sentence AIS messages when the transponder is within RsAIS of a satellite but outside range RtAIS of a terrestrial AIS base station, and switching to the base station when the vessel is within RtAIS but outside of cellular modem range, Rcell. While transmitting to the AIS satellite or AIS base station, portions of the vessel AIS are recorded to the database as historical data. Once within Rcell, the transponder can switch to transmission via cellular modem to an AIS architecture server. Historical data can also be downloaded to complete and update the vessel AIS data profile within AIS.