An arrangement and method for connecting an ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network via a half-duplex communication link

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DESCRIPTION

Arrangement and procedure for connecting an ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network through a half-duplex communication link

Field of the invention

The invention relates generally to a method and a system for connecting an ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network via a half-duplex communication link. The invention further relates to a gateway device capable of connecting an ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network through a half-duplex communication link.

Background

A portable equipment, for example a handheld device or a portable device such as a breathing mask, can be equipped with or connected to a communication device in order to allow the user of the equipment to communicate with other people. The communication device typically comprises a microphone and an audio amplifier and / or a radio transceiver; furthermore, the communication device may comprise a display unit. For example, a firefighter wearing a breathing mask has to be able to communicate with other firefighters and with fire chiefs and / or images and videos can be broadcast between communication devices. Normally the communication can be voice, data and / or image / video communication. Furthermore, the data can be packet digitized audio, video and / or image. The members of an operational team such as firefighters constitute an ad-hoc communication group in which all members have to be able to communicate with all the other members of the operational team. Members of the operational team may use, for example, short-range radio transceivers for communication within the operational team. On the other hand, a member of an operational team has to be able to communicate with people outside of the operational team. For example, a firefighter may have a need to communicate with personnel located outside of the incident or operating area. Generally, such personnel may be located so far away from where the firefighters are operating that a permanent communication network, not an ad-hoc one, is generally necessary to provide communication connections between firefighters and personnel outside the fire area. incident or operation. The permanent communication network can be, for example, a mobile communication network or a fixed network.

Publication WO2006136992 discloses a method and apparatus for establishing a virtual ad-hoc network. First, under the assistance of a cellular mobile communication network, a plurality of enabled point-to-point communication devices perform multicast connectivity tests. Then, a group of communication devices that can communicate directly with each other is determined from the plurality of the communication devices according to the result of the multicast connectivity test, and the cellular mobile communication network allocates radio resources to the group of communication devices to perform virtual ad-hoc network communication. Next, the send orders for each communication device in the group of communication devices are determined based on the principle that only one communication device is allowed to use the radio resources to send data at a time. Finally, the communication devices are arranged to transfer data in the sending of the determined orders through the direct point-to-point links between them by using the same radio resources. The object of the solution described above that is disclosed in document WO2006136992 is to implement a system that is capable of providing an ad-hoc multicast network for applications similar to real-time communication between several people. There is, however, a need for further development for the connection of an ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network in a situation where a communication link between the permanent communication network and the ad hoc communication network -hoc is a half-duplex communication link and the ad-hoc communication network can be either a full-duplex or half-duplex communication network.

Publication US2007104121 presents a method for providing push-to-talk communication sessions. The method includes facilitating a push-to-talk communication session between a full-duplex endpoint simultaneously supporting two-way communication and a plurality of half-duplex endpoints. Communications are received from and transmitted to the full-duplex endpoint along a two-way communications path. The procedure includes blocking communications received from the full-duplex endpoint while one of the half-duplex endpoints has control in the communication session, ie a token. When the full-duplex endpoint, in turn, has control in the communication session, the procedure includes transmission to the half-duplex endpoints of communications received from the full-duplex endpoint. Each endpoint can be arranged to have a maximum time that the endpoint in question has the right, in turn, to maintain control in the communication session.

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Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention, a new system is provided for connecting an ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network through a half-duplex communication link. The system comprises:

- a communication device including a processor unit arranged to execute a routing protocol to include the communication device in the ad-hoc communication network, and

- a gateway device including a processor unit arranged to execute the routing protocol to include the gateway device in the ad-hoc communication network, the gateway device being capable of transmitting data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network through the half-duplex communication link and relaying data from the permanent communication network to the communication network ad-hoc over the half-duplex communication link, wherein the processor unit of the gateway device is arranged to establish the following operations in a predetermined order of mutual priority: relaying data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network via the semi-communication link -duplex and data transmission from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network through the half-duplex communication link.

The predetermined order of mutual priority facilitates the transfer of data over the half-duplex communication link between the permanent communication network and the ad-hoc communication network which can be either a full-duplex network or a half-duplex network. -duplex.

The routing protocol can be, for example, a unicast IP routing protocol or a multicast IP routing protocol (Internet Protocol). The permanent half-duplex communication network can be, for example, a half-duplex mobile communication network or a half-duplex fixed network.

The retransmission of data between the ad-hoc communication network and the permanent communication network may be the retransmission of protocol data units, for example, IP packets, as such, if both the permanent communication network and the communication network ad-hoc are capable of supporting protocol data units, or retransmission of the data may comprise converting the data to a format that is supported by a receiving communication network, for example digital-to-analog conversion or analog-to-digital conversion and / or digital encryption to a digital PCM (pulse code modulation) format. In other words, the retransmission of the data may comprise the conversion of the data format.

The communication device preferably comprises circuitry that is arranged to create data to be transmitted. Such circuitry may comprise, for example, an acoustic transducer (for example, a microphone), an analog-to-digital converter, an encoder, and a framer unit arranged to pack a digital data stream into protocol data units. successive. The circuit may further comprise, for example, a speaker element, a decoder, a modem, a telemetry data interface, a real-time video broadcast interface, and / or an encryption / decryption means. The physical implementation may comprise, for example, an external headset or other audio interface that allows hands-free operation for a user of the communication device.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a new gateway device is provided. The gateway device comprises a processor unit arranged to execute a routing protocol to include the gateway device in an ad-hoc communication network. The gateway device is capable of transmitting, through a semi-duplex communication link, the data from the ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network and retransmission, through the semi-duplex communication link. duplex, the data from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network. The processor unit is arranged to establish the following operations in a predetermined order of mutual priority: the transmission of data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network through the half-duplex communication link and transmission of permanent communication network data the ad-hoc communication network through the half-duplex communication link.

A gateway device according to an embodiment of the invention may further comprise an audio interface to allow communication through the ad-hoc communication network and / or through the permanent communication network.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a new method is provided for connecting an ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network via a half-duplex communication link. The procedure includes:

- execute a routing protocol on a communication device to include the communication device in the ad-hoc communication network, and

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- execute a routing protocol on a gateway device to include the gateway device in the ad-hoc communication network, the gateway device being capable of transmitting data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network through the half-duplex communication link and to transmit data from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network through the half-duplex communication link,

- establish the following operations in a predetermined order of mutual priority: the retransmission of data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network through the half-duplex communication link and the transmission of data from the permanent communication to the ad-hoc communication network through the half-duplex communication link.

A benefit provided by embodiments of the present invention compared to prior art solutions of the type described above is that the predetermined order of priority facilitates the transfer of data over a half-duplex communication link between the communication network. permanent communication and ad-hoc communication network which can be either a full duplex network or a half duplex network.

Various embodiments of the invention, as well as constructions and operating procedures, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments of the invention presented herein are not to be construed to limit the applicability of the appended claims. The verb understand is used in this document as an open limitation that does not exclude the existence of characteristics not mentioned as well. The features mentioned in the dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Brief description of the figures

The embodiments of the invention presented in the sense of examples and their advantages are explained in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a high-level diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the invention for connecting an ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network through a half-duplex communication link,

Figures 2a and 2b show exemplary connection topologies in an ad-hoc communication network that can be connected to a permanent communication network with a system according to an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 3 shows a block diagram of an example communication device that can be used in a system according to an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 4 shows a respiratory protection apparatus that can be used in a system according to an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 5 shows a respiratory protection apparatus that can be used in a system according to an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 6a shows a block diagram of a gateway device according to an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 6b shows an example gateway device according to one embodiment of the invention,

Figure 7 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention for connecting an ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network via a half-duplex communication link, and

Figure 8 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention for connecting an ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network via a half-duplex communication link.

Description of the achievements

Figure 1 shows a high-level diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the invention for connecting an ad-hoc communication network 101 to a permanent communication network 102 via a half-duplex communication link 140 The permanent communication network can be, for example, a mobile communication network, a fixed line network, or a combination of these. In the exemplary case shown in FIG. 1, the half-duplex communication link 140 is a half-duplex radio link, but the

ES 2 553 889 T3 half-duplex communication link could also be a half-duplex communication link over a copper cable or a half-duplex communication link over an optical fiber. The system comprises communication devices 103-106 and a gateway device 107. The gateway device can be in a half-duplex transmission mode or in a half-duplex listening mode with respect to the communication network. permanent. In the half-duplex transmission mode the gateway device is enabled to transmit data to the permanent communication network through the half-duplex communication link 140 and in the half-duplex listening mode the gateway device It is enabled to receive data from the permanent communication network through the half-duplex communication link.

Each communication device 103-106 comprises a processor unit that is arranged to execute a routing protocol to include the communication device in the ad-hoc communication network 101. The gateway device 107 comprises a processor unit that It is arranged to execute the routing protocol to include the gateway device in the ad-hoc communication network. The ad-hoc communication network can be either a full-duplex communication network or a half-duplex communication network. The routing protocol can be a unicast routing protocol or a multicast routing protocol. A unicast routing protocol can be, for example, an IP unicast routing protocol. Accordingly, a multicast routing protocol can be for example an IP multicast routing protocol. For example, RIP (Routing Information Protocol), OSPF (Free Open First Shortest Path), IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol), and PIM-SM (Independent Multicast Protocol - Sparse Mode) can be used to controlling unicast and / or multicast operations performed on communication devices 103-106 and gateway device 107.

The gateway device comprises a radio receiver that is arranged to receive data from the ad-hoc communication network and a radio receiver that is arranged to receive data from the permanent communication network through the semi-radio link. duplex 140. The gateway device comprises a radio transmitter that is arranged to transmit data to the ad-hoc communication network and a radio transmitter that is arranged to transmit data to the permanent communication network 102 via the semi radio link. -duplex 140. In the system shown in figure 1 the gateway device connected via the half-duplex radio link 140 to a base station 110 of a mobile communication network. The processor unit of the gateway device is arranged to establish the following operations in a predetermined order of mutual priority: the reinstallation data from the ad-hoc communication network 101 to the permanent communication network 102 and transmitting the communication data permanent communication network 102 to ad-hoc communication network 101. Retransmission of data may comprise conversion of the data format.

In a system according to an embodiment of the invention, the gateway device 107 is adapted to dynamically change, based on a predetermined rule, the order of mutual priority of the data of the retransmission from the communication network. ad-hoc to the permanent communication network and retransmission data from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network.

The relaying of data from the permanent communication network 102 to the ad-hoc communication network 101 can be given a better priority over the relaying of data from the ad-hoc communication network 101 to the permanent communication network. 102, for example, such that the processor unit of the gateway device is arranged:

- to switch the gateway device into half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where the gateway device receives the data from the permanent communication network,

- to keep the gateway device in half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network as long as the gateway device receives data from the permanent communication network despite the fact that the device gateway can simultaneously receive data also from ad-hoc communication network, and

- to switch the gateway device into half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where the gateway device receives data only from the ad-hoc communication network .

The relaying of data from the ad-hoc communication network 101 to the permanent communication network 102 can be given a higher priority over the relaying of data from the permanent communication network 102 to the ad-hoc communication network. 101, for example, such that the processor unit of the gateway device is arranged:

- to switch the gateway device into half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where the gateway device receives data from the ad-hoc communication network,

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- to keep the gateway device in the half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network as long as the gateway device receives data from the ad-hoc communication network despite the fact that the gateway device can simultaneously receive data also from the permanent communication network and

- to switch the gateway device into the half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where the gateway device receives data only from the permanent communication network.

In a system according to one embodiment of the invention, the gateway device 107 is arranged to send to the ad-hoc communication network an indicator of channel unavailability as a response to a situation where the The gateway device receives the data from the ad-hoc communication network and the gateway device is in half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network. On the basis of the channel unavailability indicator a user of a communication device 103-106 is able to know that, at the moment, it is not possible to transmit data to the permanent communication network. The gateway device 107 may further be arranged:

- to store an indicator of a transmission attempt in a buffer as a response to the situation where the gateway device receives the data from the ad-hoc communication network and the gateway device is in the half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network, and

- to send to the ad-hoc communication network a channel availability indicator in response to a situation where the buffer contains the transmission attempt indicator and the gateway device switches from listening mode half-duplex to half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network.

On the basis of the channel availability indicator a user of a communication device 103-106 is able to know that it is again possible to transmit data to the permanent communication network.

The gateway device can be further organized to set channel access priorities for communication devices attempting to access the permanent communication network. Channel access priorities can be adjusted, for example, based on the time order of channel access requests (first in, first out) or channel access priorities can be defined by communication device or communication devices. Channel access priorities can be given to communication devices, by drawing lots. Temporarily successive indicators of channel availability are sent to users of different communication devices in a time order determined by the channel access priorities of the respective communication devices.

In a system according to one embodiment of the invention, the gateway device 107 is arranged to buffer the data that is received from the ad-hoc communication network and directed to the permanent communication network in response to a situation. wherein the gateway device is in half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network, while receiving said data. The gateway device is preferably arranged to transmit the buffered data to the permanent communication network after the gateway device has switched to half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network.

In a system according to an embodiment of the invention, the gateway device 107 is arranged to transmit data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where said data is transported. in a protocol data unit, for example, an IP packet, an ATM cell, an Ethernet frame, or a frame repeat frame, which is provided with a predetermined protocol address, for example, with a default IP destination or multicast address (ATM = Asynchronous Transfer Mode). A communication device 103, 104, 105, or 106 comprises a control interface arranged to receive a predetermined control action and a processor unit arranged to provide the protocol data unit with the predetermined protocol address in response to the action. control, and otherwise, to provide the protocol data unit with another protocol address. Therefore, a user of the communication device can determine with the help of the predetermined control action mentioned above whether it is communicating only within the ad-hoc communication network 101 or through the permanent communication network 102. The interface Control of a communication device 103, 104, 105, or 106 may comprise a push button and pressing the push button may represent the predetermined control action. It is also possible that the control interface comprises a voice detector and a first predetermined voice command represents a beginning of the predetermined control action and a second predetermined voice command represents an end of the predetermined control action. The first predetermined voice command can be, for example, speaking the phrase: START OUTSIDE and the second predetermined voice command can be, for example, speaking the phrase: END EXTERNAL.

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In a system according to an embodiment of the invention, the routing protocol that is used for the control of the ad-hoc communication network 101 is a multicast routing protocol and the default protocol address that is used for transmission data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network is a first multicast address. The communication devices 103-106 are configured to be destinations for those protocol data units that are provided with a second multicast address and the gateway device 107 is configured to be a destination for those protocol data units that are provided with the first multicast address. In this case, a user of a communication device 103, 104, 105, or 106 transmits data to the users of any of the other communication devices or to a receiver that can be contacted through the permanent network 110. The protocol data units carrying the data received from the permanent communication network are preferably provided with the second multicast address, whereby the communication devices are configured to be destinations for these protocol data units. The gateway device can be configured to perform a possibly necessary protocol conversion between the ad-hoc communication network and the permanent communication network, and to provide the protocol data units that carry the data received from the communication network. permanent communication with the second multicast address.

Communication devices 103-106 and gateway device 107 can be configured to ignore the payload content of those protocol data units that are received at a communication device or gateway device, but for which the communication device or the gateway device is not configured to be a destination. A communication device or the gateway device can function as a relay device that is configured to send a received protocol data unit to another communication device or to the gateway device regardless of whether the communication device or the gateway device that is acting as the relay device is configured or not to be a destination of the protocol data unit received. In the exemplary situation shown in FIG. 1, the gateway device 107 is out of range of the communication devices 103 and 105. For example, a protocol data unit originated from the communication device. Communication 105 can be sent to the gateway device through the communication device 104.

In a system according to another embodiment of the invention where the routing protocol is a multicast routing protocol, the communication devices 103-106 are configured to be destinations for those protocol data units that are provided with the second multicast address and both the communication devices 103-106 and the gateway device 107 are configured to be destinations for those protocol data units that are provided with the first multicast address. In this case, a user of a data communication device 103, 104, 105, or 106 transmits either to the users of the other communication devices or both to the users of the other communication devices and to a receiver that can be contacted through the permanent network 110. The protocol data units that carry the data received from the permanent communication network are preferably provided with the second multicast address, whereby the communication devices are configured to be destinations for these protocol data units.

In a system according to an embodiment of the invention in which the routing protocol is a multicast routing protocol, the communication devices 103-106 are divided into two groups A and B. The communication devices 103-106 are configured to be destinations for those protocol data units that are provided with the second multicast address. The communication devices belonging to group A and the gateway device 107 are configured to be destinations for those protocol data units that are provided with the first multicast address. In this case, a user of a data communication device 103, 104, 105, or 106 transmits either to the users of the other communication devices 103-106 or to the users of other communication devices belonging to group A already a recipient that can be contacted through the permanent network 110. The protocol data units carrying the data received from the permanent communication network can be provided with the second multicast address or with the first multicast address. The communication devices 103-106 are configured to be destinations for the protocol data units that carry the data received from the permanent communication network and are provided with the second multicast address. The communication devices belonging to group A are configured to be destinations for the protocol data units that carry the data received from the permanent communication network and are provided with the first multicast address. In a system according to an embodiment of the invention, the gateway device 107 is arranged to determine, on the basis of received permanent communication network form data, whether a protocol data unit carrying the data before mentioned is provided with the first multicast address or with the second multicast address. Therefore, a person who is transmitting data to the ad-hoc communication network through the permanent communication network is able to determine whether the data is delivered to the users of all communication devices 103 to 106 or only to the users of the communication devices belonging to group A.

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Using different multicast addresses it is possible to arrange different multicast groups within the ad-hoc communication network. Different multicast groups can be mutually overlapping or non-overlapping. The control interface of a communication device has, however, to be capable of producing as many different control indications as there are different multicast addresses in use. When the number of different multicast addresses is two (the first multicast address and the second multicast address) a control indication of binary value is sufficient (a predetermined control action is effective or not effective).

In a system according to an embodiment of the invention, the routing protocol is a unicast routing protocol and the default protocol address that is used for data transmission from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network. is an address of the gateway device 107. A communication device 103, 104, 105, or 106 is arranged to send copies of the protocol data unit as successive transmissions to the other communication devices and to the gateway device a response to a predetermined control action, and on the other hand, to transmit the copies of the protocol data unit only to the other communication devices.

In a system according to an embodiment of the invention, the routing protocol is a unicast routing protocol and the default protocol address that is used for data transmission from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network. is an address of the gateway device 107. A communication device 103, 104, 105, or 106 is arranged to send copies of the protocol data unit as successive transmissions to those other communication devices that are selected by a user of the transmitting communication device and to the gate device. to link a response to the predetermined control action, and otherwise, to transmit the copies, from the protocol data unit only to the other selected communication devices. Thus, the user of the transmitting communication device can communicate, for example, only with another user, of a communication device, or only with / through the gateway device depending on the selections made by him / her.

In a system according to an embodiment of the invention, both a unicast routing protocol and a multicast routing protocol are used. For example, the multicast routing protocol can be used to control communication between the ad-hoc communication network 101 and the permanent communication network 102, and the unicast routing protocol can be used to control communication within the network. ad-hoc communication 101. The default protocol address that is used for data transmission from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network can be a default multicast address and other protocol addresses that are used can be addresses of the communication devices 103-106 and the 107 gateway device.

It should be noted that the principle described above for connecting the ad-hoc communication network 101 to the permanent communication network 102 can be applied with many different routing schemes and routing protocols and the routing schemes described above are presented only in the sense of examples.

In a system exemplifying according to one embodiment of the invention, the gateway device 107 may comprise an RSM (remote talking microphone) device 108 and a mobile phone 109 that are connected to each other. The RSM device includes the processor and receiver unit arranged to receive protocol data units from the ad-hoc communication network. The mobile phone includes the transmitter capable of relaying the data received from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network. The RSM device is connected to the mobile phone through a wired or wireless connection. The communication devices 103-106 and the RSM device include means for establishing a short range radio link network eg WLAN (wireless local area network) which is used in an ad-hoc mode. Communication devices 103-106 and RSM device 108 form an ad-hoc group. The parameters of the ad-hoc group can be pre-configured for the communication devices and for the RSM device or for example, an RFID (radio frequency identification) card can be used to change the parameters to those of the communication devices and for the RSM device. The network parameters can include such broadcast / multicast groupings that all communication devices and the gateway device can belong to the same network (subnet or channel, multicast group). The basic idea is that communication devices communicate with each other via broadcast / multicast, that is, each communication device is configured as a destination to a specific address for any protocol data unit.

In a system according to an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the communication devices 103-106 is integrated with a respiratory protection device, with a helmet, or with another portable or hand-held device.

Figures 2a and 2b show connection topologies exemplifying in an ad-hoc communication network that can be connected to a permanent communication network with a system according to an embodiment of the invention. In Figures 2a and 2b circles 203 to 206 represent communication devices and a square 207 represents the gateway device. The communication devices and the gateway device constitute an ad-hoc communication network 201 that is connected to a permanent network 202 through the

ES 2 553 889 T3 gateway device.

In the situation shown in FIG. 2a, each communication device 203-206 and the gateway device 207 are within range of every other communication device and the gateway device. In other words, there is a full mesh connection topology in the ad-hoc communication network 201. For example, if the communication device 203 transmits a protocol data unit, for example an IP packet, all other communication devices 204-206 and the gateway device 207 are capable of receiving that unit of protocol data. protocol. In this case, the routing and transmission of information, for example, the routing and forwarding of tables, maintained in the communication devices and in the gateway device indicates that there is no need to transmit a received protocol data unit further away from any communication device and from the gateway device.

In the situation shown in figure 2b, there is no full mesh connection topology in the ad-hoc communication network 201. In this case, the routing and transmission of information held in the communication devices and in the gateway device may indicate, for example, that a protocol data unit originating from the communication device 206 and received in communication device 204 will also be transmitted from communication device 204. The connection topology can change dynamically. Known dynamic routing protocols can be used to keep routing and transmission of information, for example, routing and forwarding tables, communication devices and the gateway device in contact with connection topology changes. . Any communication device can relay protocol data units received from a communication device or from the gateway device to other communication devices and to the gateway device depending on the snap-in topology of the network. ad hoc communication. Correspondingly, the gateway device can relay the protocol data units received from one communication device to other communication devices. The protocol data units that carry the data received from the permanent communication network 202 can be treated in the same way within the ad-hoc communication network 201.

Figure 3 shows a block diagram of an exemplary communication device 303 that may be used in a system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The communication device comprises a processor unit 311 that is arranged to execute a routing protocol to include the communication device in an ad-hoc communication network. The communication device comprises a control interface 312 that is arranged to receive a predetermined control action. The communication device comprises circuitry 313 which is arranged to create a protocol data unit 315. The circuitry 313 comprises means for converting a voice signal into successive protocol data unit payloads. These means may include a microphone 317, an analog-to-digital converter 318, an encoder 319, and a framer unit 320 arranged to packetize a digital data stream into successive protocol data units. Circuitry 313 may also comprise means for packetizing image, video, and / or some other type of data into successive protocol data units. The protocol data units can be, for example, IP (Internet Protocol) packets, frame relay frames, or Ethernet frames. The communication device comprises a radio transmitter which is arranged to transmit the protocol data unit to the ad-hoc communication network. The radio transmitter is a part of a 314 radio transceiver (transceiver) that is capable of both transmitting protocol data units from the ad-hoc communication network and receiving protocol data units from the communication network. ad hoc. The processor unit 311 is arranged to provide the protocol data unit 315 with a predetermined protocol address in response to the predetermined control action, and otherwise, to provide the protocol data unit with another protocol address. The communication device may further comprise means for the conversion of data performed by the protocol data units into a voice signal. These means may include, for example, a descreening unit 321 arranged to extract a digital stream of data from successive protocol data units, a decoder 322, a digital-to-analog converter 323, and a speaker element 324.

In a communication device according to one embodiment of the invention, the control interface 312 comprises a push button 316. Pushing the push button is arranged to represent the predetermined control action. Therefore, the protocol data unit 315 is provided with the predetermined protocol address if the push button is not pressed. Otherwise the protocol data unit 315 is provided with another protocol address.

In a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention, the control interface 312 comprises a voice detector 317. A first predetermined voice command is arranged to represent a beginning of the predetermined control action and a second voice command default is arranged to represent one end of the predetermined control action. Therefore, the protocol data unit 315 is provided with the predetermined protocol address if the last reception of the first predetermined voice command has not been followed by a reception of the second predetermined voice command. Otherwise the protocol data unit 315 is provided with another address.

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In a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention, the routing protocol is a unicast IP protocol (internet protocol), the protocol data unit is an IP packet, and a destination IP address (DA) of the IP packet is able to carry a value corresponding to the default protocol address.

In a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention, the routing protocol is an IP multicast protocol (internet protocol), the protocol data unit is an IP packet, and an IP multicast address (MA) of the IP packet is able to carry a value corresponding to the default protocol address.

A communication device according to an embodiment of the invention is arranged to support full duplex radio communication.

A communication device according to an embodiment of the invention is integrated with a respiratory protection apparatus.

A communication device according to an embodiment of the invention is integrated with a helmet.

A communication device according to an embodiment of the invention is integrated with a portable or handheld device.

Figure 4 shows a respiratory protection apparatus 430 that can be used in a system according to one embodiment of the invention. The respiratory protection apparatus comprises a respirator mask 431 having an eye shield and a filter element that is arranged to filter the air inhaled by a user of the respiratory protective apparatus. The respirator mask 431 is shown as a partial sectional view in Figure 4. The respiratory protection apparatus comprises a communication device 403 that includes a microphone 417, an earpiece 424, and a communication unit 425. The microphone and earpiece are connected to the communication unit 425 via wired links. Communication unit 425 comprises:

- a processor unit arranged to execute a routing protocol to include the communication device 403 in an ad-hoc communication network,

- a control interface arranged to receive a predetermined control action,

- a circuitry arranged to create a protocol data unit, and

- a transmitter arranged to transmit the protocol data unit to the ad-hoc communication network.

The processor unit is arranged to provide the protocol data unit with a predetermined protocol address in response to the predetermined control action and another way to provide the protocol data unit with another protocol address. The control interface may comprise, for example, a voice detector that is coupled to microphone 417. Therefore, a user of the respiratory protection apparatus can carry out the predetermined control action by a voice command.

In the respiratory protective apparatus shown in Figure 4 the communication unit 425 is physically integrated with the respirator 431. An alternative construction for a respiratory protective apparatus 530 is shown in Figure 5. A communication unit 525 preferably comprising similar means as the communication unit 425 shown in Figure 4 is connected to a respirator 531 via a wired link 552. The communication unit 525 can be worn, for example, on a strap 550 of a user of the respiratory protection apparatus 530. The wired link 552 and the respirator 531 have electrical connectors 551 that can be connected to each other. The breathing mask 531 comprises a microphone 517 and an earpiece 524.

Figure 6a shows a block diagram of a gateway device 607 according to one embodiment of the invention. The gateway device comprises a processor unit 611 that is arranged to execute a routing protocol to include the gateway device in an ad-hoc communication network. The gateway device is capable of transmitting, via a half-duplex communication link, the data from the ad-hoc communication network to a permanent data communication network and retransmitting it from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network. The permanent communication network can be, for example, a mobile communication network, a fixed line network, or a combination of these. The gateway device comprises a receiver 612 that is arranged to receive data from the ad-hoc communication network and a receiver 617 that is arranged to receive data from the permanent communication network through the half-duplex communication link. The gateway device comprises a transmitter 614 that is arranged to transmit data to the ad-hoc communication network and a transmitter 616 that is arranged to transmit data to the permanent communication network through the half-duplex communication link. The processor unit 611 is arranged to establish the following operations in a predetermined order of mutual priority: the transmission of data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network and the retransmission of data from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network.

ES 2 553 889 T3

In a gateway device according to an embodiment of the invention, the processor unit 611 is adapted to dynamically change, based on a predetermined rule, the order of mutual priority of the data of the retransmission from the network. of ad-hoc communication to the permanent communication network and retransmission data from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network.

In a gateway device according to one embodiment of the invention, the processor unit 611 is arranged to send to the ad-hoc communication network an indicator of channel unavailability as a response to a situation in the that the gateway device receives the data from the ad-hoc communication network and the gateway device is in a half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network.

In a gateway device according to one embodiment of the invention, the processor unit 611 is arranged to store data received from the ad-hoc communication network in a buffer 660 as a response to a situation where the Gateway device is in a half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network while receiving such data. The gateway device is preferably arranged to transmit the buffered data to the permanent communication network after the gateway device has switched to half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network.

In a gateway device according to one embodiment of the invention, the processor unit 611 is arranged:

- to store an indicator of a transmission attempt in the buffer 660 as a response to the situation where the gateway device receives the data from the ad-hoc communication network and the gateway device is in a half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network, and

- to send to the ad-hoc communication network an indicator of the availability of channels as a response to a situation where the buffer contains the indicator of the transmission attempt and the gate device is switched from the semi listening mode -duplex to half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network.

In a gateway device according to one embodiment of the invention, the processor unit 611 is arranged to set channel access priorities for the communication devices of the ad-hoc communication network that are attempting to access the communication network. permanent. Channel access priorities can be adjusted, for example based on the order of channel access requests (first in, first out) or channel access priorities can be defined per communication device or priorities Channel access can be given to communication devices by casting lots. Temporarily successive indicators of channel availability are sent to users of different communication devices in a time order determined by the channel access priorities of the respective communication devices.

The relaying of data from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network can be given a better priority over the relaying of data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network, for example, from such that the processor unit 611 is arranged:

- to switch the gateway device into a half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where the gateway device receives the data from the permanent communication network,

- to keep the gateway device in half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network as long as the gateway device receives data from the permanent communication network despite the fact that the device gateway can simultaneously receive data also from the ad-hoc communication network, and

- switching the gateway device into a half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where the gateway device receives data only from the ad-hoc communication network.

The relaying of data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network can be given a higher priority over the relaying of data from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network, for example , such that the processor unit 611 is arranged:

- switch the gateway device into a half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where the gateway device receives data from the ad-hoc communication network,

ES 2 553 889 T3

- keep the gateway device in the half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network as long as the gateway device receives data from the ad-hoc communication network despite the fact that the gateway device can simultaneously receive data also from permanent communication network and

- switching the gateway device into a half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where the gateway device receives data only from the permanent communication network.

In a gateway device according to one embodiment the processor unit 611 of the invention is arranged to transmit data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where said data is they carry in a protocol data unit that is provided with a predetermined protocol address.

In a gateway device according to one embodiment of the invention, the processor unit 611 is arranged to support an IP (internet protocol) multicast protocol and / or an IP unicast protocol.

A gateway device according to an embodiment of the invention is arranged to support full duplex communication within the ad-hoc communication network.

A gateway device according to claim an embodiment of the invention is capable of transmitting data to and from at least one of the following permanent communication networks: a mobile communication network and a fixed line network.

Figure 6b shows an example gateway device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The gateway device comprises an RSM device 630 (remote speaking microphone) and a mobile phone 631 which are connected to each other. The RSM device includes the processor unit 611 and the receiver 612. The mobile phone includes the transmitter 616 which is capable of transmitting the data carried by the protocol data unit of the permanent communication network. The RSM device is connected to the mobile phone through a wired or wireless connection.

Figure 7 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention for connecting an ad-hoc communication network via a half-duplex communication link to a permanent communication network, for example, a mobile communication network, a fixed line network, or a combination of these. A phase 701 comprises executing a routing protocol on a communication device and a gateway device to include the communication device and the gateway device in the ad-hoc communication network. The gateway device is capable of relaying data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network and of transmitting data from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network. A phase 702 comprises the establishment of the following operations a) and b) in a predetermined order of mutual priority: a) the retransmission of the data in the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network and b) the transmission of data from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the retransmission of data from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network can be given a higher priority over the retransmission of data from the ad hoc communication network. -hoc to the permanent communication network, for example, through:

- switching the gateway device into a half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where the gateway device receives the data from the permanent communication network,

- keeping the gateway device in half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network as long as the gateway device receives data from the permanent communication network despite the fact that the communication device gateway can simultaneously receive data also from ad-hoc communication network, and

- switching the gateway device into a half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where the gateway device receives data only from the ad-hoc communication network .

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the retransmission of data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network can be given a better priority with respect to the retransmission of data from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network, for example, through:

- switching the gateway device in the half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where the gateway device

ES 2 553 889 T3 receives data from the ad-hoc communication network,

- keeping the gateway device in the half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network as long as the gateway device receives data from the ad-hoc communication network despite the fact that the gateway device can simultaneously receive data also from permanent communication network, and

- switching the gateway device into the half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network in response to a situation where the gateway device receives data only from the permanent communication network.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the data received at the gateway device of the ad-hoc communication network and directed to the permanent communication network is stored in a buffer as a response to a situation wherein the gateway device is in half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network, while receiving said data. Intermediate data is preferably transmitted to the permanent communication network after the gateway device has switched to half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the retransmission of data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network takes place as a response to a situation in which said data carries in a data unit of protocol, for example an IP packet, which is provided with a predetermined protocol address. The protocol data unit may be provided with the predetermined protocol address eg in response to a predetermined control action received by the communication device, and otherwise the protocol data unit may be provided with another address protocol.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, a transmitter of a mobile phone is used for the transmission of data from the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network.

In a method according to one embodiment of the invention, the communication device is integrated with a respiratory protection device, a helmet, or other portable or handheld device.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, an IP multicast protocol and / or an IP unicast protocol (internet protocol) is / are used as the routing protocol.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the ad-hoc communication network is a full duplex communication network.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the permanent communication network comprises at least one of the following: a mobile communication network and a fixed network.

Figure 8 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention for connecting an ad-hoc communication network to a permanent communication network via a half-duplex communication link. A phase 801 comprises executing a routing protocol on a communication device and a gateway device to include the communication device and the gateway device in the ad-hoc communication network. A phase 802 comprises the establishment of the following operations a) and b) in a predetermined order of mutual priority: a) the retransmission of the data in the ad-hoc communication network to the permanent communication network and b) the transmission of data from the permanent communication network to the ad-hoc communication network. If the gateway device is in the half-duplex transmission mode with respect to the permanent communication network (an SI branch of a decision block 803), the data received at the gateway device and directed to the permanent communication network is transmitted to the permanent communication network, a phase 804. If the gateway device is in half-duplex listening mode with respect to the permanent communication network (a NO branch of decision block 803), an indicator of channel unavailability is sent from the communication device. gateway to the ad-hoc communication network, a stage 805. In a stage 806, an indication of a transmission attempt is stored in a buffer. With the help of the message intent indicator it is possible to send a notification (an indicator of channel availability) to the ad-hoc communication network after the gateway device has been switched from semi listening mode. -duplex to half-duplex transmission mode. On the basis of the channel availability indicator a user of the communication device is able to know that it is again possible to transmit data to the permanent communication network. In a selection phase 807 it is checked whether the gate device switches from half-duplex listening mode to half-duplex transmission mode. If the gateway device is switched from half-duplex listening mode to half-duplex transmission mode (the YES branch), the channel availability indicator is sent to the communication device, a phase 808.

Temporarily successive indicators of channel availability that are related to temporally successive changes from half-duplex listening mode to half-duplex transmission mode can be

ES 2 553 889 T3 send to the users of the different communication devices of the ad-hoc communication network according to the FIFO discipline (first in - first out). In other words, the user who has made an earlier attempt to transmit data to the permanent communication network will receive an earlier indicator of channel availability than a user who has made a later attempt to transmit data to the permanent communication network.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the temporarily successive channel availability indicators are sent to the users of different communication devices in a time order determined by channel access priorities of the communication devices, the priorities of Channel access are based on a predetermined rule or procedure. The channel access priorities can be based, for example, on the types of the communication devices and / or the profiles of the users of the communication devices or the channel access priorities can be given to the communication devices. communication, casting lots. The predetermined rule or procedure according to which channel access priorities are determined may be dynamically altered, for example on a case-by-case basis.

The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting. Therefore, the invention is not simply limited to the embodiments described above.