Delivering application store content from multiple event space networks

Abstract

A method for providing content to devices, the method comprising the steps of: Providing applications to devices at a public safety incident site as part of a first incident area network (IAN) deployed at a public safety incident site; storing an application for transmission to devices at the public safety incident site; Querying other IANs at the public safety incident site to determine a version of the application stored in other IANs; storing the versions of the application in a database; Receiving a request for the application from a device associated with the first IAN; Determining that another source for the application is a second IAN at the public safety incident location, wherein the determining is based on the second IAN having a higher version of the application stored in the second IAN; and Instructing the device to transfer to the second IAN to retrieve the application.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to Incident Area Networks (IANs), and more particularly to a method and apparatus for delivering content to devices from multiple application stores located in multiple IANs. Background of the invention

[0002] It is important that public safety personnel have adequate communications services (e.g., telephony, push-to-talk, data services, and the like) when responding to an incident. However, the reality of the dynamic and mobile nature of the profession is that in many cases, events occur outside the range or coverage of established radio access networks (RANs), or alternatively, the RAN lacks the capacity to handle all the services required during an incident. To enable the communications needs of emergency personnel, incident area networks (IANs) are often deployed using mobile base stations.

[0003] IANs are self-forming, temporary network infrastructures deployed to the scene of an incident to support personal and local communications between various public safety end users. Mobile devices on-site will associate with the IAN and receive services through the IAN. The IAN will have a unique system identification (SSID) known to the on-site communication devices.

[0004] As described above, IANs are self-spawning networks that revolutionize the way homeland security, law enforcement, and first responders establish field command and control by providing broadband data, video, and voice communications without the need to deploy fixed infrastructure. Public safety personnel are able to instantly deploy mobile broadband incident response networks wherever needed, creating a secure, mission-critical network for large and small-scale, single-agency and multi-agency incidents.

[0005] Part of the services provided by an IAN is to make the necessary applications and data available to users for download. Relevant data and applications are stored in a central repository within the IAN. This repository is sometimes referred to as an application store (or app store). For example, an app store within an IAN may contain content, such as a map of a building where an event is taking place. The map can be downloaded by devices associated with the IAN. Applications may also be provided by the IAN. Thus, the IAN can serve as an app store (or app marketplace), serving as a digital distribution platform for computer software (apps) and data, often in a mobile context. Apps provide a specific set of features.

[0006] During a large event, many autonomous IANs may be deployed on-site. Each IAN will bring its own app store. These IAN app stores may store different content, applications, and application versions. For example, a mapping application for a first IAN may include version 2 of the application, and the same mapping application from a second IAN may include an updated version 3 of the application. Similarly, the second IAN may include a map of a building on-site, while the first IAN may not have the map. It would be very useful if there were a method and apparatus for delivering content (applications and data) to devices from multiple application stores located in multiple IANs, so that each device can obtain an optimal version of an application and all available content located in any app store from the multiple IANs.It is already known from the prior art in the form of WO 2007 / 008572 A2 to carry out a network change depending on the content to be transmitted. Brief description of the different views of the drawings

[0007] The accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the several views, are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification together with the detailed description, serve to further illustrate embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages of such embodiments. Fig. 1 is a general operating environment for the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows an example communication system with multiple IANs deployed at an incident location. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a base station from Fig. 1, which is used to provide an app store to an IAN. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a base station from Fig. 1 shows.

[0008] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and / or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated compared to other elements to help enhance understanding of embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially viable embodiment are often not shown to provide a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It should further be noted that certain acts and / or steps may be described or illustrated in a particular order, while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity regarding the order is not actually required. Detailed description

[0009] To address the above need, a method and apparatus for coordinating applications between event area networks (IANs) are provided herein. During operation, an application server (serving as an app store within an IAN) monitors other IAN app stores located on-site (at an event). On-site app stores will share information about the content they can provide. When a connected radio requests specific content from an IAN, the application server will designate another app store to provide the content. The connected radio will be instructed to submit to the appropriate IAN app store to retrieve the content.

[0010] As described above, content includes any applications or data that a device can download from the app store. Determining another (e.g., a best) app store includes determining which app store has the latest version of a requested application. In another embodiment, determining another app store may include determining which app store has the requested application (not all app stores will have every requested application). In yet another embodiment, determining another app store may further include determining the IAN that provides the best quality of application data (bandwidth, speed, resolution, etc.).

[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, application data (e.g., maps provided to a mapping application, weather data provided to a weather application, etc.) may be provided by different IANs in different versions, even though the application software provided by the IANs is the same version. In this case, the best app store may be determined by the IAN providing the highest possible data quality, which is determined by resolution, bandwidth, data version, etc.

[0012] A best app store can also be determined by selecting an app store with the most cached data. For example, application data for an event location may be cached by a global database, and some of the cached data may vary between the app stores of the IANs. A best app store may be the app store located in the IAN that has the most cached data.

[0013] It should be noted that the IANs at a given event location will constantly change as IANs enter and exit the area. All IANs will periodically poll the event location to determine which IANs have entered the event location and obtain a directory of the content provided by the IANs entering the event location.

[0014] When an IAN leaves the incident scene or shuts down, it instructs all connected radios to handover to another IAN on site. Radios handing over to another IAN may need to change the version of their currently running applications to continue working with a particular IAN. For example, if a serving IAN leaves (or shuts down) an incident scene, all remaining IANs may have a lower version of a particular application. There may be no forward compatibility between different versions. For example, the data provided by an IAN may be incompatible with a particular version of the software running by a radio. In this case, the radios with the higher version must downgrade their versions before handing over to another IAN.

[0015] With this in mind, IANs shutting down or leaving an incident site will determine the applications they currently support with connected radios. The IAN will instruct each radio to transfer to the best IAN, determined as described above.

[0016] Now to come to the drawings where like numbers denote similar components, Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a general operating environment according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, Fig. 1 a typical incident location 100, where several authorities and several IANs are on site. As in Fig. 1, a plurality of public safety vehicles 104-105 and various personnel 109, 112 are in communication with a plurality of deployable base stations 110 and 111 (serving as base stations for an IAN). Base stations 110 and 111 may comprise any number of small, deployable base stations equipped to provide service to a small area, such as an incident scene. Such base stations 110 and 111 include, but are not limited to, a cell on wheels (COW), a system on wheels (SOW), or an aerial deployment of a base station as part of an IAN.

[0017] It should be noted that although only two public safety officers are shown, an average person will recognize that many more officers may be present. Although each public safety officer in Fig. 1 has only one associated device 108, 113, a person of ordinary skill in the art will additionally recognize that each officer may carry many associated devices, such as tablet computers, mobile phones, public safety radios, etc.

[0018] A typical installation of IANs, as in Fig. 1, may include a first plurality of devices associated with a first IAN (e.g., served by base station 110) and a second plurality of devices associated with a second IAN (e.g., served by base station 111). Each base station will provide a unique SSID and serve as an access point for its respective IAN. For example, police officer 109 may carry public safety radio 108 served by portable base station 110, while police officer 112 may carry public safety radio 113 served by portable base station 111. As described above, each IAN will have its own application store (not shown) from which devices may obtain content.In this particular illustration, the functionality of the app store described above is housed in each base station 110 and 111, although in alternative embodiments of the present invention, app stores may be placed on standalone servers.

[0019] As discussed above, at a large event location, many autonomous IANs may be deployed on-site. Each IAN will bring its own app store. These app stores can store different applications and application versions. For example, a mapping application for a first IAN may include version 2 of the application, and the mapping application for a second IAN may include version 3 of the application. Similarly, the second IAN may include a map of a building on-site, while the first IAN may not have the map. It will be very useful to have a process that provides all available applications to all users at the event, and these applications with a best-in-class version.

[0020] To solve this problem, the app stores in base stations 110 and 111 provide each other with information about what content they can currently make available to the devices. Each app store maintains a directory of all locally available content. When a connected radio requests specific content, the app store will determine the best app store to provide the content. The connected radio will be instructed to transfer to the appropriate app store to retrieve the content. Fig. 1 is considered as an example. Suppose radio 108 is connected to base station 110, which contains a first app store, and radio 113 is connected to base station 11, which contains a second app store. Suppose radio 108 has requested a map of a building from the first app store within base station 110. If the first app store "knows" that a higher version of the map is available in the second app store, base station 110 instructs radio 108 to handover to base station 111 and request the map again.

[0021] Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary communication system with multiple IANs 241-243 deployed at the incident location 200. The incident location 200 preferably comprises a geographical area near a particular public safety event (e.g., fire, crime, robbery, etc.). As shown in Fig. 2, one or more radio access networks (RANs) 202, a public safety core network 204, a dispatch center 214, and communication links 218, 224, and 232 are provided. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the IANs 241-243 have a plurality of connected devices (in Fig. 2 not shown), with communication links 232 (only one identified) formed using one of any protocols of the over-the-air communication system between IANs and RAN.

[0022] As explained above, each IAN 241-243 includes a deployable base station (in Fig. 2 not shown) and all necessary network infrastructure brought to the scene of an incident to support personal and local communications between various public safety end users. Mobile devices on-site are associated with the IAN and receive services through the IAN.

[0023] RAN 202 and IANs 241-241 include typical elements such as base stations, base station controllers (BSCs), routers, switches, and the like, arranged, interconnected, and programmed to provide wireless service in a manner known to those with appropriate capability.

[0024] The public safety core network 204 may include one or more packet-switched networks and / or one or more circuit-switched networks and generally provides all necessary computing and communication needs to one or more public safety agencies by carrying all necessary safety-related data and communications.

[0025] The IANs 241-243 are configured to enable wireless communication with the RAN 202 over the air interface, as is known to those in the relevant art. In addition, one or more IANs 241-243 are further configured to communicate with one or more local devices (not shown) via wired and / or wireless air communication links. As explained above, each IAN 241-243 includes an application server that serves as an app store. It should be noted that, each Fig. 2 can provide services for the entire event location or only a part of the event location.

[0026] Finally, the 214 dispatch center is part of a computer-based dispatch center staffed by an operator who performs the necessary dispatch operations. For example, the 214 dispatch center typically includes a graphical user interface that provides the dispatch operator with the necessary information about public safety officials.

[0027] Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a base station from Fig. 1, which is used to provide an app store to an IAN. As illustrated, base stations 110 and 111 may include a wide area network (WAN) transceiver 301 (e.g., a transceiver using a public safety communication system protocol), an IAN transceiver 302 (e.g., a short-range transceiver), logic circuitry 303, and a database 304. In other implementations, base stations 110 and 111 may include more, fewer, or different components.

[0028] The WAN transceiver 301 may include known long-range transceivers using any number of network system protocols. (As one skilled in the art will recognize, a transceiver includes both a transmitter and a receiver for sending and receiving data.) For example, the WAN transceiver 301 may be configured to use a next-generation cellular protocol operated by a wireless carrier or any public safety protocol such as an APCO 25 network or the FirstNet Broadband network.

[0029] The IAN transceiver 302 may be a known short-range transceiver (e.g., 30-foot range) using any number of network system protocols. For example, the IAN transceiver 302 may be configured to use the Bluetooth communication system protocol for a body area network or an 802.11 private network.

[0030] Database 304 includes memory used to store content provided as part of an application store. For example, database 304 may store applications, maps, schedules, and other content that can be requested for download by any connected device. As described above, database 304 also stores information regarding content stored by other base stations in the location. For example, in addition to storing its own content, database 304 contains a list of applications, their versions, and any other content stored in other databases on other base stations in the location.

[0031] The logic circuit 303 includes a digital signal processor (DSP), a general-purpose microprocessor, a programmable logic device, or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and is configured to provide application store services to connected devices.

[0032] Logic circuitry 303 will periodically instruct the IAN transceiver to poll the local IANs to retrieve a directory of the content stored at each IAN. This directory of contents for each IAN is stored in database 304. When the IAN transceiver receives a request for content from a connected device (radio), logic circuitry 303 analyzes database 304 to determine the best base station to provide the desired content. Logic circuitry 303 either forwards the contents of database 304 or instructs the requesting device to transfer to another IAN and request the content again.

[0033] Instructions to handover to another IAN may simply involve a message to a connected device that a better copy of the requested content is located at a particular IAN. The user of the connected device can choose to handover the connected device and request the content again, or alternatively, to refuse to handover and download the content from the IAN. For example, a message such as: "A better version of this software is available from the FIREGROUND IAN, do you still want the requested software?" If the device responds "yes," the IAN provides the requested content. However, if the device responds "no," the user must force a handover to another IAN and request the software again.

[0034] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, if the user answers "no", the device may be automatically transferred to the other IAN and the software is automatically deployed.

[0035] Against this background, Fig. 3 an access point 110, 111 as part of a self-forming, temporary network infrastructure brought to a public safety incident site to support personal and local communications between various public safety end users.The access point includes an IAN transceiver 302 configured to provide communication services at the public safety incident location, wherein the IAN transceiver 302 is also configured to notify other access points at the public safety incident location to determine information about applications and content stored at the other access points, wherein the other access points are part of other self-forming, temporary network infrastructures brought to the public safety incident location to support personal and local communications between other public safety end users, wherein the IAN transceiver is also configured to receive a request for specific content from a device associated with the first access point.

[0036] A database 304 is provided for storing information about applications and content stored on the other access points, and logic circuitry 303 is configured to access the database and determine that a best source for the content is a second IAN, the determination being made based on the information stored in the database. The IAN transceiver 302 is also configured to instruct the device to redirect to a second access point to retrieve the content. As discussed, the first access point and the second access point have different system identification SSIDs and an overlapping coverage area.

[0037] Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of an IAN from Fig. 1 shows. In particular, Fig. 4 for a first base station Fig. 1 illustrates the steps (not all necessary) for providing content to devices. The logical flow begins at step 401, where the first base station provides communication services at a public safety incident location as part of a first incident location area network (IAN) deployed at a public safety incident location. For example, base station 110 may provide services to radio device 108, such as data services, Internet services, email services, push-to-talk radio services, etc.

[0038] During operation, the first base station will query other IANs at the public safety incident site to determine information about applications and content stored on the other IANs (step 403). More specifically, the base station will notify other base stations of other IANs to determine what applications and content they have stored as part of their app store. This information is stored in an internal database (step 405). For example, the internal database may include an SSID for a particular base station along with all applications and data (content) available in that particular base station's app store. Version information may also be stored.

[0039] At step 407, a request for a particular application or content is received from a device associated with the first base station (associated with the first IAN). At step 409, the first base station determines that another source for the application or content is a second base station as part of a second IAN also located at the public safety incident site. The other source for the application may be a best source (e.g., a highest version) for the application. The determination of the other base station (best IAN) is based on the stored information. Finally, at step 411, the first base station instructs the device to handover to the second base station to retrieve the application or content. The second base station may update or downgrade the device's application or content.

[0040] As discussed, the step of instructing the device to handover to the second IAN may include notifying the device that a better version of the application or content resides in the second IAN. Alternatively, the step of instructing the device to handover to the second IAN may also include the step of initiating an autonomous handover of the device to the second IAN.

[0041] As explained above, the first IAN (and thus the first base station) and the second IAN (and thus the second base station) have different system identification SSIDs and overlapping coverage areas.

[0042] As explained above, the first base station may shut down or leave the event location. When this occurs, the first base station determines that it is shutting down or leaving and determines all devices currently served by the first base station. Current content and applications used by the devices are determined, and the devices are handed over to other IANs based on the application and content information stored in the other IANs.

[0043] It should be noted that the base stations are made of Fig. 1 can be considered as access points for their respective networks (IANs). If you imagine this, Fig.1, that communication services are provided by a first access point 110 relocated at a public safety incident site, wherein the first access point is configured as part of a self-forming, temporary network infrastructure brought to the public safety incident site to support personal and local communications between various public safety end users. The first access point 110 will query other access points at the public safety incident site to determine information about applications and content stored at the other access points, wherein the other access points are also configured as part of other self-forming, temporary network infrastructures brought to the public safety incident site to support personal and local communications between other public safety end users.

[0044] The first access point 10 will receive a request for specific content from a device associated with the first access point and determine that another source for the content (e.g., a best source) may be a second access point 111 at the public safety incident location, making the determination based on information about the applications and content stored at the other access points. As discussed, the first access point 110 instructs the device to handover to the second access point 111 to retrieve the content. The first access point and the second access point have different system identification (SSIDs) and overlapping coverage areas.

[0045] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present teachings.

[0046] Those skilled in the art will further recognize that references to specific implementation embodiments, such as "circuitry," can equally be made to either a general-purpose computing device (e.g., a CPU) or a specialized processing device (e.g., a DSP) that executes software instructions stored in non-transitory, computer-readable memories. It is also understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning attributed to such terms and expressions by those skilled in the art as set forth above, unless other specific meanings are indicated.

[0047] The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any conceivable element that results in any benefit, advantage, or solution occurring or becoming more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims, including any amendments made during the pendency of the present application, and all equivalents of such claims as published.

[0048] Furthermore, in this document, relational expressions such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like are intended to be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "has," "having," "include," "containing," "contain," "containing," or any variation thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or device comprising, having, including, or containing a list of elements may include not only such elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent in such processes, methods, articles, or devices. An element that continues with "comprises... a," "has...a", "includes... a", "contains... a", does not, without further qualification, exclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprise, have, include, or contain the element. The terms "a" and "an" are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms "substantially", "essentially", "approximately", "about", or any other version thereof have been defined as "being close to" as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment, the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1%, and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term "coupled", as used herein, is defined as "connected," although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically.A device or structure that is "configured" in a particular way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in at least one way not listed.

[0049] It is desired that some embodiments include one or more generic or specialized processors (or "processing devices"), such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, custom processors, and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuitry, implement some, most, or all of the functions of the method and / or apparatus described herein.Alternatively, some or all of the functions may be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) in which each function, or some combination of certain of the functions, is implemented as custom logic.

[0050] Furthermore, an embodiment may be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., including a processor) to perform a method described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and a flash memory.Furthermore, it is expected that a person skilled in the art, notwithstanding possible considerable effort and a wide range of design choices due, for example, to available time, current technology, and economic considerations, guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein, will readily be able to create such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.

[0051] The Summary of Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly appreciate the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the spirit or meaning of the claims. Additionally, it will be appreciated from the foregoing Detailed Description that various features in various embodiments are grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This method of disclosure should not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as will be apparent from the following claims, inventive subject matter resides in fewer than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as separately claimed subject matter.

Claims

A method for delivering content to devices, the method comprising the steps of: delivering applications to devices at a public safety incident location as part of a first incident area network (IAN) deployed at a public safety incident location; storing an application for transmission to devices at the public safety incident location; querying other IANs at the public safety incident location to determine a version of the application stored in other IANs; storing the versions of the application on a database; receiving a request for the application from a device associated with the first IAN; determining that another source for the application is a second IAN at the public safety incident location, the determining being based on the second IAN having a higher version of the application stored in the second IAN;andinstructing the device to transfer to the second IAN to retrieve the application.; The method of claim 1, wherein the step of instructing the device to transition to the second IAN comprises the step of notifying the device that a better version of the application resides in the second IAN. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of instructing the device to transition to the second IAN comprises the step of initiating an autonomous transition of the device to the second IAN. The method of claim 1, wherein the first IAN and the second IAN have different system identification SSIDs and overlapping coverage areas. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:determining that the first IAN is shutting down or leaving the public safety incident scene;determining all devices currently served by the first IAN;determining current content and applications used by all devices currently served by the first IAN; andinstructing all devices to transition to other IANs based on the information about applications and content stored in the other IANs. A first access point as part of a self-forming temporary network infrastructure brought to a public safety incident site to support personal and local communications between various public safety end users, the first access point comprising: an IAN transceiver configured to provide communication services at the public safety incident site, the IAN transceiver also configured to send a message to other access points at the public safety incident site to determine a version of an application stored in the other access points, the other access points being part of other self-forming temporary network infrastructures brought to the public safety incident site to support personal and local communications between various public safety end users,wherein the IAN transceiver is also configured to receive a request for the application from a device associated with the first access point; a database that stores information about versions of the application stored in the other access points; logic circuitry configured to access the database to determine that another source for the application is a second IAN, the determining being based on the version stored in the database; and wherein the IAN transceiver is also configured to instruct the device to handover to a second access point to retrieve the application; and wherein the first access point and the second access point have different system identification and an overlapping coverage area. The first access point of claim 6, wherein the IAN transceiver instructs the device to handover to the second access point by notifying the device that a better version of the application is located on the second access point. The first access point of claim 6, wherein the IAN transceiver instructs the device to handover to the second access point by instructing the device to handover to the second access point autonomously.

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