Abstract: A device for bridging communications between radios on a tactical network and telephones on a public cellular network. A dock region of the device housing receives and engages a given telephone that operates on the second network. A processing core of the device has (a) a core engine for receiving and transmitting first radio frequency (RF) signals on the first network, (b) digital signal processing stages for (i) translating first information modulated on the first RF signals into a format compatible with telephones on the second network, and producing corresponding translated first information, and (ii) translating second information demodulated by the given telephone from second RF signals on the second network into a format compatible with radios on the first network, and modulating the translated second information on the first RF signals transmitted by the core engine. An adapter provides an interface between the processing core and the given telephone.

Abstract: A system for enabling interoperability among various kinds of communications equipment and information transmission formats on the battlefield or during tactical missions. The system includes a multi-message translator (MMT) 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. The system also includes a voice bridging gateway (VBG) for bridging multiple voice communication networks having associated transmission protocols that are incompatible with one another. Dismounted soldiers obtain location based services including geo-referenced maps, and tactical communications including voice and text messaging, using smart phones or other lightweight COTS client devices that link through a personal networking node (PNN) server to one or both of the MMT and the VBG.

Abstract: Each of a number of gateway network radios operates with a transmission protocol of an associated one of plural incompatible communication networks. Each network radio has an audio terminal for producing first audio signals detected from transmissions of user radios in its associated network, and a microphone terminal for receiving second audio signals for transmission to the user radios. A voice bridging gateway server has multiple ports each corresponding to one of the networks for coupling to the network radio associated with the one network. Each port receives the first audio signals from the audio terminal of the associated network radio, and produces the second audio signals for applying to the microphone terminal of the network radio. The server implements a private branch exchange application whereby user radios in a given communication network can be voice bridged with user radios in a selected one or more of the other networks.

Abstract: A device for bridging communications between radios on a tactical network and telephones on a public cellular network. A dock region of the device housing receives and engages a given telephone that operates on the second network. A processing core of the device has (a) a core engine for receiving and transmitting first radio frequency (RF) signals on the first network, (b) digital signal processing stages for (i) translating first information modulated on the first RF signals into a format compatible with telephones on the second network, and producing corresponding translated first information, and (ii) translating second information demodulated by the given telephone from second RF signals on the second network into a format compatible with radios on the first network, and modulating the translated second information on the first RF signals transmitted by the core engine. An adapter provides an interface between the processing core and the given telephone.

Abstract: A tactical network includes a radio that provides communications and situational awareness for a given user. The radio includes a screen, a communications module for linking the user with a network server, a knowledge management (KM) module for receiving alerts from the server and the communications module, and a map application that displays menu options for the user and receives the alerts from the server through the KM module. A communications interface initiates communications with the network server through the communications module, and sends information to the server from the map application. A user location module sends data corresponding to the user's location and targets identified by the user to the communications module for forwarding to the network server, and provides data originating from the server to the map application to show the locations of other radio users, their availability to exchange messages, and any targets they identify.

Abstract: A method of bridging radio communication networks having incompatible transmission protocols. Network radios each configured for the protocol of an associated network are provided. An audio terminal of each radio outputs analog audio signals that the radio detects over its network, and a microphone terminal of the radio inputs analog audio signals for transmission over the network. The signals from the audio terminal of a given network radio are converted into digital audio signals and input to a selected port of a server that implements a PBX application for bridging the networks selectively with one another. The digital audio signals input to the selected port are converted into corresponding analog audio signals and applied to the microphone terminal of each network radio with which the given network radio is to be bridged. Telephone devices having access to a PSTN can also be bridged with a network by the PBX application.

Abstract: A system for enabling interoperability among various kinds of communications equipment and information transmission formats on the battlefield or during tactical missions. The system includes a multi-message translator (MMT) 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. The system also includes a voice bridging gateway (VBG) for bridging multiple voice communication networks having associated transmission protocols that are incompatible with one another. Dismounted soldiers obtain location based services including geo-referenced maps, and tactical communications including voice and text messaging, using smart phones or other lightweight COTS client devices that link through a personal networking node (PNN) server to one or both of the MMT and the VBG.

Abstract: A radio that provides communications and tactical situational awareness includes a screen, a communications module for establishing a link with a server, a knowledge management (KM) module for receiving alerts from the server and the communications module, and a map application that displays associated menu options on the screen for selection by the user. A communications interface operates to (i) initiate communications with the server through the communications module, (ii) handle information to be communicated to the server from the map application, and (iii) receive alerts from the server through the KM module. A user location module operates to (i) send data corresponding to the user's location and identified targets to the communications module for forwarding to the server, and (ii) provide data from the server corresponding to locations of other radio users, their availability to exchange messages and any targets they identify, to the map application in the radio.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the timing of control bursts in a wireless communications network maps the timing of control bursts on a multiframe by multiframe basis. In one implementation, a method of controlling base station transmissions in a wireless network in accordance with a multi-frame timing structure is provided. The method is defined as a succession of y frames, each frame including a succession of x time-slots, and includes allocating a frame/time-slot number pair to set the timing of a first-type control burst for a first multi-frame, and changing at least one of the (i) frame number and (ii) frame number and time-slot number of the frame/time-slot number pair for a second multi-frame so that the timing of the first-type control burst is different during the second multi-frame relative to the first multi-frame.