Abstract: Method and apparatus for emergency communications using dual satellite communication systems for redundancy and a means of providing additional information to rescue services support emergency response. The system combines the Cospas-Sarsat emergency system for 406 beacons with a secondary means of distress alerting over a commercial satellite system as well as permitting the government agencies responsible for emergency services to directly interface with the person in distress to know about his/her location and to communicate with him or her to resolve the emergency in the best possible way.

Abstract: A dual-satellite emergency locator beacon and method for programming and updating such emergency locator beacons over the air. The system uses a second commercial satellite as the carrier for the data back to the beacon together with the means of coupling these parts together. The system can be manually updated or can be part of a registration system that gets automatically updated. In a second embodiment a method and apparatus for implementing emergency locator beacon registration is provided. The system provides data concerning the user into a backend service which can be utilized to provide all necessary information needed to register the emergency beacon.

Abstract: A dual-satellite emergency locator beacon including a first satellite communications transmitter, a second satellite communications transmitter, a first microprocessor and a second microprocessor. The first microprocessor controls the first transmitter and the second microprocessor controls the second transmitter. The first transmitter is configured to communicate over a first satellite communications system, such as the Cospas-Sarsat 406 MHz system, and the second transmitter is configured to communicate over a second satellite communications system, such as a commercial satellite communications system. The beacon includes a shared section comprising an antenna system comprising a first and second antenna, the first for the 406 Mhz transmitter and the second for the commercial satellite transmitter. The first and second microprocessors of the beacon are interconnected to permit data transfer between the two sections of the beacon.

Abstract: An emergency locator beacon device that includes sending a test signal from a first satellite transmitter of the device to a Cospas-Sarsat emergency monitoring service; receiving from a beacon testing service a test confirmation signal corresponding to the test signal, the confirmation signal being received on a second satellite receiver of the beacon; wherein the emergency monitoring service and the beacon testing service are in communication over the Internet. The first satellite transmitter comprises a 406 MHz emergency transmitter configured to communicate with a Cospas-Sarsat satellite system. The second satellite receiver comprises a SEND receiver configured to communicate with a commercial satellite system. The emergency monitoring service is in communication with a rescue coordination center and the rescue coordination center is further in communication with the beacon testing service by way of the Internet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for emergency communications using dual satellite communication systems for redundancy and a means of providing additional information to rescue services support emergency response. The system combines the Cospas-Sarsat emergency system for 406 beacons with a secondary means of distress alerting over a commercial satellite system as well as permitting the government agencies responsible for emergency services to directly interface with the person in distress to know about his/her location and to communicate with him or her to resolve the emergency in the best possible way.

Abstract: An emergency locating communications device that includes an emergency locator beacon that transmits emergency signals at 406 MHz and a SEND commercial satellite transmitter and receiver is provided. The communications device can be identified for both 406 MHz originator and SEND capable emergency locator device to an emergency services provider by sending a first message to the emergency services provider including a unique identity number of the 406 MHz transmitter of the device and. sending a second message to the emergency services providing including an International Mobile Equipment Identity number of the SEND transmitter of the device. The second message further includes at least a portion of the unique identity number of the 406 MHz transmitter of said device such that the emergency services provider can process the first and second messages to identify both the 406 MHz transmitter and the SEND transmitter of said emergency locator device.

Abstract: A dual-satellite emergency locator beacon and method for programming and updating such emergency locator beacons over the air. The system uses a second commercial satellite as the carrier for the data back to the beacon together with the means of coupling these parts together. The system can be manually updated or can be part of a registration system that gets automatically updated. In a second embodiment a method and apparatus for implementing emergency locator beacon registration is provided. The system provides data concerning the user into a backend service which can be utilized to provide all necessary information needed to register the emergency beacon.

Abstract: A circuit substrate, which supports optically and electrically conveyed signals, and method for forming the same are provided. The circuit substrate includes a substrate upon which one or more electrically conductive traces are formed, where the electrically conductive traces have areas of isolation between adjacent ones of the electrically conductive traces. The circuit substrate further includes one or more optical waveguides, where the one or more optical waveguides are in the same plane as the one or more electrically conductive traces. The optical waveguides are formed using an optically transmissive material, which is deposited in the areas of isolation between the electrical traces.

Abstract: A circuit substrate, which supports optically and electrically conveyed signals, and method for forming the same are provided. The circuit substrate includes a substrate upon which one or more electrically conductive traces are formed, where the electrically conductive traces have areas of isolation between adjacent ones of the electrically conductive traces. The circuit substrate further includes one or more optical waveguides, where the one or more optical waveguides are in the same plane as the one or more electrically conductive traces. The optical waveguides are formed using an optically transmissive material, which is deposited in the areas of isolation between the electrical traces.

Abstract: Negative surface relief diffractive optical elements (218) are supported or formed at interior surfaces of injection molding molds (200, 916, 1002) for wireless communication device housing parts (502). Such injection molding molds are used to making housing parts that include integrally molded surface relief diffractive optical elements (504) e.g., holograms. Such diffractive optical elements can be used to convey information or for decorative effects. The negative surface relief holograms can be mechanically mounted or formed on the interior surfaces by exposing a resist on the interior surfaces to a holographic light field or a succession of laser interference patterns, and there after developing and using the resist as an etch mask.