US-12621643-B1 - Communications system for disaster conditions

US12621643B1US 12621643 B1US12621643 B1US 12621643B1US-12621643-B1

Abstract

A communications system including a first unit having a first body configured to be securely fixed with respect to the ground; and a second unit having a second body configured to be removably physically attached against the first body of the first unit. The first unit is configured to be in electrical communication with the second unit when the second body of the second unit is physically attached against the first body of the first unit; and the second body of the second unit is configured to physically detach from the first body of the first unit when a surrounding water level reaches a predetermined elevation and float in the surrounding water proximate to the first unit.

Inventors

Joshua Darius Smith
Justin Royell Nash

Assignees

UIPCO, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230731

Claims (18)

1 . A communications system, comprising: a first unit having a first body configured to be fixed with respect to the ground; and a second unit having a second body configured to be removably physically attached against the first body of the first unit; wherein the first unit is configured to be in electrical communication with the second unit when the second body of the second unit is physically attached against the first body of the first unit; and wherein the second body of the second unit is configured to physically detach from the first body of the first unit when a surrounding water level reaches a predetermined elevation and float in the water surrounding the first unit; wherein the electrical communication is provided by an electrical tether; and wherein the electrical tether includes a magnetic connector that readily decouples when the second unit physically detaches from the first unit and moves away from the first unit.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further including a mechanical tether extending between the first unit and the second unit such that the second unit floats in proximity to the first unit when the second body of the second unit is physically detached from the second body of the first unit.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first unit is a mobile switching center (MSC).
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first unit is configured to be mounted to the top of a utility pole.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second unit includes at least one solar power cell configured to harvest energy in order to maintain operation of predetermined functions of the second unit when the second unit is electrically decoupled from the first unit.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second unit is at least one of vibration resistant and fire resistant.
7 . A communications system, comprising: a first unit having a first body configured to be fixed with respect to the ground; and a second unit having a second body configured to be removably physically attached to the first unit; wherein the first unit is configured to be in electrical communication with the second unit when the second body of the second unit is physically attached against the first body of the first unit; and wherein the second body of the second unit is configured to physically detach from the first body of the first unit and electrically decouple from the first unit, while remaining mechanically tethered to the first unit; the second unit including a controller comprising a device processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions, executable by the processor, for performing the following functions: operating in a full power mode when the second unit is electrically coupled to, and powered by, the first unit; and operating in a low power mode when the second unit is electrically decoupled from the first unit.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein, when in high power mode, the second unit is configured to collect and store rich data.
9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein, when in low power mode, the second unit is configured to conserve battery power and maximize run time.
10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein, when in low power mode, the second unit is configured to prevent or block the handling of video and photographic data, while allowing the handling of text and audio data.
11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein, when in low power mode, the second unit is configured to act as a Wi-Fi hotspot or micro cell tower and facilitate communications between one or more users within communication range with the system and one or more parties outside of communication range with the system location.
12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein, when in low power mode, the second unit is configured to act as a mesh node and connect to nearby emergency communications devices or satellites to act as a bridge or gateway between one or more users within communication range with the system and one or more parties outside of communication range with the system location.
13 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the second unit is configured to store updated emergency information to be accessed once the second unit electrically decouples from the first unit.
14 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the second unit is configured to receive text messages from local users and store the messages in a cache to be sent once an external connection with one or more parties outside of communication range with the location of the system is restored.
15 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the second unit is configured to provide an automated emergency call service.
16 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the second unit is configured to restrict access to system communications to first responder personnel.
17 . A communications system, comprising: a first unit having a first body configured to be fixed with respect to the ground; and a second unit having a second body configured to be removably physically attached to the first unit; wherein the first unit is configured to be in electrical communication with the second unit when the second body of the second unit is physically attached against the first body of the first unit; and wherein the second body of the second unit is configured to detect a loss of electrical power from the first unit; the second unit including a controller comprising a device processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions, executable by the processor, for performing the following functions: determining whether disaster conditions are predicted in proximity to the system; and activating one or more modified modes of operation of the second unit if a predicted duration of the disaster conditions exceeds a predetermined threshold.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein activating one or more modified modes of operation of the second unit includes one of the following: restricting data transmissions; blocking photo and video data; reducing internet bandwidth; restricting access to first responders; providing a dedicated system of communication between first responders and persons within communication range of the system; and collecting data regarding household occupancy within communication range of the system.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to a communications system and, more particularly, a communication system configured for sustained operation during disaster conditions. BACKGROUND Various types of catastrophic events lead to disaster conditions that often result in a loss of operation for infrastructure such as electrical power and communications systems. The systems are disabled by numerous aspects of the catastrophic events, including, for example, flooding, winds, earthquake vibrations, etc. Communications are among the most significant aspects of disaster response and, therefore, communications systems are desired to be one of, if not, the first systems reestablished following the onset of disaster conditions. The sooner communications can be established following a catastrophe, the better, and thus, it is desirable to maintain some level of communication during a catastrophe and throughout the disaster conditions that follow. The present disclosure addresses one or more of the issues discussed above. SUMMARY The disclosed invention generally relates to a system that provides emergency communications after a catastrophe. The system is designed to operate after significant infrastructure systems, such as electricity and communications, has been destroyed by the catastrophe. Physically, the system is designed to run indefinitely without an external power supply. In order to do so, the system can include a large battery and a solar power array. Components of the system are also designed to survive catastrophic events. Accordingly, the device may be shock proof, waterproof, fire resistant, and buoyant. In some versions, the surviving device can be tethered (mechanically and electrically) to communications infrastructure, like an MSC (Mobile Switching Center) and receive power and exchange data prior to the catastrophic event. In some embodiments, the device can withstand flooding by automatically detaching mechanically from the MSC and floating like a buoy while remaining mechanically tethered to the MSC. In operation, the surviving device may be designed to provide emergency communication services when all other forms of communications are unavailable due to the catastrophic event. The device can have a high power mode when the device is connected to the MSC prior to the catastrophe, and a low power mode that is implemented when power and communications are no longer available as a result of the catastrophe. In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a communications system, comprising: a first unit having a first body configured to be securely fixed with respect to the ground; and a second unit having a second body configured to be removably physically attached against the first body of the first unit. The first unit is configured to be in electrical communication with the second unit when the second body of the second unit is physically attached against the first body of the first unit; and the second body of the second unit is configured to physically detach from the first body of the first unit when a surrounding water level reaches a predetermined elevation and float in the surrounding water proximate to the first unit. In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a communications system, comprising: a first unit having a first body configured to be securely fixed with respect to the ground; and a second unit having a second body configured to be removably physically attached to the first unit. The first unit is configured to be in electrical communication with the second unit when the second body of the second unit is physically attached against the first body of the first unit; and the second body of the second unit is configured to physically detach from the first body of the first unit and electrically decouple from the first unit, while remaining mechanically tethered to the first unit. In addition, the second unit may include a controller comprising a device processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions, executable by the processor, for performing the following functions: operating in a full power mode when the second unit is electrically coupled to, and powered by, the first unit; and operating in a low power mode when the second unit is electrically decoupled from the first unit. In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a communications system including a first unit having a first body configured to be securely fixed with respect to the ground; and a second unit having a second body configured to be removably physically attached to the first unit. The first unit may be configured to be in electrical communication with the second unit when the second body of the second unit is physically attached against the first body of the first unit, and the second body of the second unit may be configured to detect a loss of electrical power from the first unit. In addition, the second unit may inclu