Self-contained portable broadband communications system
Systems and methods for establishing IT services in edge environments are described. A system of at least one embodiment comprises a transportable housing capable of being carried by personnel, a plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components contained in the housing and coupled together and configured to provide the broadband communications network, a management subsystem operatively coupled to the plurality of components, a network connection subsystem defined by at least a first portion of the plurality of components and configured to establish access to the broadband communications network, and a connection subsystem defined by at least a second portion of the plurality of components and that provides a user with a connection to the broadband communications network via the network connection subsystem.
1. A method of making a mobile, integrated communications system that creates a self-supported broadband communications network, the method comprising:
providing one or more support members;
coupling together a plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components, wherein the plurality of commercial off-the shelf components are carried by the one or more support members;
operatively coupling a management subsystem to the plurality of off-the-shelf components, wherein a first portion of the plurality of off-the-shelf components and the management subsystem are configured to establish the self-supported broadband communications network independent of a communications system external to the mobile, integrated communications system;
providing a connection subsystem defined by at least a second portion of the plurality of off-the-shelf components and configured to provide a user with a connection to the self-supported broadband communications network; and
providing a housing for receiving the plurality of off-the-shelf components and the one or more support members, wherein the one or more support members can be moved relative to the housing, and the housing is transportable with the plurality of off-the-shelf components and the support members as a unit.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more support members are removable from the housing, and the method further comprises:
removing a first support member carrying at least one commercial off-the-shelf component;
leaving a remaining plurality of off-the-shelf components in the housing and operationally coupled to at least one of the management subsystem and the connection subsystem;
replacing the first support member with a second support member carrying at least a second commercial off-the-shelf component;
identifying the second commercial off-the-shelf component with the management subsystem; and
coupling the second commercial off-the-shelf component to the remaining plurality of off-the-shelf components.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the management subsystem includes a first processor and at least one support member caries a second processor operably coupled to the first processor, the second support member has a third processor, and wherein coupling the second off-the-shelf component further comprises:
positioning the second support member in the third processor to the first processor when the second support member is in an installed position.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
operably coupling the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components to at least one mobile electrical power source using an interconnection subsystem in the housing.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
coupling a cooling system to the housing, wherein the cooling system is configured to direct airflow over at least a portion of the commercial off-the-shelf components.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the management subsystem includes one or more annunciators, and the method further comprises:
communicating selected information for one or more commercial off-the-shelf components to other commercial off-the-shelf components via the one or more annunciators.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the housing includes one or more rugged cases, the method further comprising:
coupling the plurality of rugged cases together, the rugged cases, the one or more support members, and the plurality of off-the-shelf components are configured to establish the self-supported broadband communications network.
8. A method of creating a mobile, self-contained communications network comprising:
providing a transportable housing containing one or more removable support members, a plurality of off-the-shelf components coupled together and carried by the one or more support members, a management subsystem operatively coupled to the plurality of off-the-shelf components and at least partially carried by the housing, wherein the plurality of off-the-shelf components and the management subsystem are configured to create the mobile, self-contained communications network;
establishing operational access to the self-contained communications network with a network connection subsystem independent of extraneous communication networks, wherein the self-contained network connection subsystem is defined by at least a first portion of the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components and the management subsystem; and
providing a user with connection to the self-contained communications network via the network connection subsystem with a connection subsystem defined by at least a second portion of the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
transporting the housing to a location;
deploying the housing;
powering on the plurality of off-the-shelf components; and
automatically generating the self-contained communications network independent of extraneous communication networks.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the location is a first location, and the method further comprises:
powering off the plurality of off-the-shelf components;
transporting the housing and the plurality of off-the-shelf components as a mobile unit to a second location; and
powering on the plurality of off-the-shelf components when the mobile unit is at the second location, wherein powering on the plurality of off-the-shelf components automatically generates the self-contained communications network independent of extraneous communication networks.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
removing at least a first support member from the housing, wherein the first support member carries at least a first commercial off-the-shelf component;
leaving a remaining plurality of off-the-shelf components carried by the one or more support members in the housing;
replacing the first support member with a second support member carrying at least a second commercial off-the-shelf component;
coupling the second commercial off-the-shelf component to the remaining plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components; and
identifying the second commercial off-the-shelf component with the management subsystem.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the housing carries an interconnection subsystem, a housing processor is coupled to the interconnection subsystem, a second processor is carried by at least one support member, and the method further comprises:
connecting the second processor to the interconnection subsystem to couple the second processor to at least one of a power source and the management subsystem.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
coupling an external device to the housing;
identifying the external device with the management subsystem; and
connecting the external device to at least one of the commercial off-the-shelf components.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
interfacing a phone with the self-contained communications network with the management subsystem to automatically determine the dialing protocol for the local area.
15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
cooling the commercial off-the-shelf components with a cooling system that directs air over the support members.
16. A method of using a mobile, integrated communications system, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of off-the-shelf components coupled together by an interconnection subsystem and configured to create a self-contained communications network , the plurality of off-the-shelf-components being carried by one or more support members, and a housing carrying the one or more support members;
deploying the housing in a first location;
establishing access to the self-contained communications network independent of extraneous communication networks at the first location;
connecting a first user to the self-contained communications network;
relocating the housing to a second location different than the first location;
establishing access to the self-contained communications network independent of extraneous communication networks in the second location; and
connecting a second user to the self-contained communications network when at the second location.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the one or more support members are a first support member, and the method further comprises:
removing the first support member; and
inserting a second support member including at least a second commercial off-the-shelf component, wherein inserting the second support member automatically couples the second commercial off-the-shelf component to the interconnection subsystem.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the one or more support members further comprises a cooling system that directs air over the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
connecting a computer to the self-contained communications network, wherein connecting the computer provides broadband service to the computer independent of extraneous communication networks.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein mobile, integrated communications system includes a management subsystem, and the method further comprises:
providing the plurality of commercial off-the-shelf components with configuration data from a source external to the mobile, integrated communications system via the management subsystem.