US 12,221,192 B1
Networked communication rescue buoys
William Erwin, Oakwood, OH (US); Hayk Azatyan, Springfield, OH (US); Anthony Ligouri, Bellbrook, OH (US); Travis Rennich, Kettering, OH (US); David Shald, Dayton, OH (US); and Adam Warren, Fairborn, OH (US)
Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed by Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed on Jan. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/575,675.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/141,716, filed on Jan. 26, 2021.
Int. Cl. B63B 22/00 (2006.01); B63B 45/00 (2006.01); H04W 4/14 (2009.01); H04W 84/18 (2009.01)
CPC B63B 22/00 (2013.01) [B63B 45/00 (2013.01); H04W 4/14 (2013.01); B63B 2201/02 (2013.01); B63B 2203/02 (2013.01); H04W 84/18 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rescue buoy comprising:
a housing having an interior space, an interior surface, and an exterior surface;
a buoy communication device associated with the housing, said buoy communication device being configured for sending a signal to at least one of another buoy and a base station, and receiving a signal from a remote source, wherein the remote source comprises at least one of: another buoy, a base station, and a personal communication device, and wherein the buoy communication device is configured to send and receive text messages to and from a personal communication device, and to send and receive text messages to and from one or more of: another buoy or a base station; and
a remotely activatable device associated with said housing that is activatable by said buoy when a signal is received by said buoy communication device from a remote source, said activatable device comprising at least one of: a signaling device, or an assistance device that is deployable by said buoy; and
a power source electrically connected to said buoy communication device to power said buoy communication device and activate said activatable device.