FI ELD OF TH E INVENTION

This invention relates to a portable control centre and more specifically, but not exclusively, to a portable control centre for use by a dispatcher. BACKGROUND TO TH E INVENTION

Control centres, or in some cases control rooms or operations rooms, are facilities used in many fields and industries where central command, coordination and/or control is required. An example of where control centres are useful is large industrial facilities such as factories or power plants, where the monitoring and control of the facil ity is conducted from a central control room which is staffed by appropriately skilled personnel. Security forces will also use a form of control centre (more typically referred to as a tactical operations centre) from which to coordinate forces from a central point where information is analysed, decisions are made, and orders given to personnel in the field.

Temporary control centres may be erected, when necessary, for example in the case of a natural disaster or hostage situation. One of the problems of such temporary control centres is that all equipment which is necessary for full operation of thereof as well as the temporary physical structure which will house the control centre must be transported to the relevant location. In addition, any communications links will have to be established once the structure and equipment has been set up. This is not only cumbersome, but also time consuming which may be particularlydisadvantageous in emergency situations.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a portable commend centre which, at least partially, alleviates some of the problems associated with the prior art or provides a useful alternative thereto. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a portable command centre comprising:

- a housing;

- a power source within the housing; - at least one computing node which is powered by the power source; the computing node includes at least one processor with associated memory which executes software which provide control centre functions;

- the computing node being associated with a movable part of the housing which is movable between an active position, wherein the computing node is exposed, and an inactive position, wherein the node is hidden.

The portable control centre may include multiple computing nodes, each providing different control centre functions.

The movable part of the housing may include two panels which pivot away from the housing. The first panel may pivot from a horizontal position to an upright position. The second panel may pivot from a vertical position to a horizontal position.

The computing node may include an associated monitor. Each computing node may connect to the monitor wherein screen area of the monitor is shared between the computing nodes.

The housing may form an internal void between the panels. The monitor may be mounted to a movable support which is movable within the void such that the monitor may be moved from a hidden position, wherein the monitor is located in the void, to an exposed position where the support and monitor extends beyond the void and housing such that the monitor is supported external to the housing.

The support may include a pivot such that the monitor may pivot relative to the housing and support.

The second panel may include integrated input devices. The integrated input devices may include a keyboard and trackpad. The housing may include a stationary third panel. The second panel covers the third panel when in the inactive position. The third panel may include peripherals such as a power switch and a loudspeaker.

The portable control centre may include a foldable chair. The foldable chair is removably securable to the housing. The housing may include securing means for releasably securing the folding chair to the housing. The housing may include integrated wheels and a handle.

The housing may include integrated supports extending from the housing such that, when the housing is in an upright position, the housing is supported on the wheels and supports and maintained in the upright position. The housing may include secondary supports extending from the housing such that, when the housing is in a horizontal position, the housing is supported on the wheels and the secondary supports.

The housing may include one or more compartments. The compartments may have movable panels covering the compartments. The movable panels may be hinged panels.

The compartments may house control centre equipment. The equipment may include a base radio.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic upper front perspective view of a portable control centre with panels in an inactive position;

Figure 2 is a schematic upper rear perspective view of the portable control centre of figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic upper perspective view of a portable control centre with panels in the active position and a monitor in an exposed position;

Figure 4 is a schematic upper rear perspective view of the portable control centre of figure 3 with a folding chair removed from a housing of the portable control centre; Figure 5 is a schematic upper front perspective view of the portable control centre of figure 3 with the folding chair removed and placed in front of the portable control centre; and

Figure 6 is a schematic upper perspective view of the portable control centre of figure 3 with the compartment panels in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the drawings in which like features are indicated by like numerals, a portable control centre is generally indicated by reference numeral 1.

The portable control centre 1 includes a housing 2 which, due to the portable nature of the portable control centre 1, will typically be manufactured from a reasonably lightweight material such as injection moulded plastic. The housing may be manufactured as a unitary construction or assembled from moulded parts. The housing 2 includes wheels 3 at a rear side thereof and supports 4 (also referred to as bumpers) extending downward from its front side. The supports 4 at the front are shaped and sized to correspond to the wheels at the rear in order to support and maintain the housing 2 in an upright position (as shown in the figures). The housing 2 also includes a handle 5 extending between two secondary supports 6. The secondary supports 6 (or bumpers) also correspond to the size of the wheels 3 in order to support and maintain the housing 2 in a horizontal position (not shown). By making use of the handle 5 and wheels 3, the portable control centre may be moved and manoeuvred by a single person with relative ease and placed at any desired position by setting it down in the upright position on the supports 4.

The portable control centre 1 includes a power source (not shown) which is located within the housing 2. The power source will typically be in the form of a rechargeable battery with associated charging circuitry (to recharge the battery) and an inverter to power external components. The portable control centre 1 also includes at least one, preferably a plurality, of computing nodes (not shown) which are powered by the power source. Each computing node includes at least one processor (or CPU) with associated memory which executes instructions (software) which provides control centre functions. The applicants envisage the software running on the computing nodes will primarily be used by law enforcement to assist with the duties of a dispatcher. In this case the software will typically receive and display various video and voice feeds from field officers, for example, body worn cameras, stationary cameras mounted on tripods at areas of interest, video feeds from sniper cameras, and communication radios of officers in the field and at headquarters. Further, location and tracking services relating to the positions and movement of field officers may also be received and displayed. The computing nodes will also include various forms of wireless communication (such as UHF, satellite, and other forms of encrypted digital communication) in order to receive the aforementioned information and signals.

The lower front side of the housing 2 includes two compartments which are covered by panels 19. The panels pivot at a lower side thereof and expose the compartments (as seen in figure 6) and may be used to house external equipment (such as radios) which may also be powered by the power source.

The portable control centre 1 includes a monitor 7 in the form of a high-resolution display which is associated with one or more of the computing nodes. Typically, the computing nodes will connect to the monitor 7 simultaneously and areas of the display will be allocated to each computing node. This allows an operator of the portable control centre 1 to view information from two or more computing nodes simultaneously. The display 7 is hidden within the housing 2 when the portable operations centre 1 is being transported or moved by an operator and exposed when the portable control centre 1 is used by an operator. In order to achieve this, the housing includes a movable part which includes a first panel 8, located on an upper side of the housing 2, and second panel 9, which is located on a front side of the housing 2. The first panel 8 includes a locking mechanism 10 for securing the first 8 and second panel 9 in an inactive position (shown in figures 1 and 2) wherein the portable command centre 1 is inactive and may be transported. The panels are movable from the inactive position to an active position (shown in figures 3 to 5) which is achieved by first unlocking the first panel 8 and moving it from a horizontal position (aligned to the upper side of the housing 2) to an upright position by pivoting the panel 8 about a pivot located at the rear side of the panel 8. Thereafter, the second panel 9 may be pivoted about its lower side to a horizontal position. Moving the second panel 9 to the active position exposes a stationary panel 11 and controls for the computing nodes which are integrated into an inner side of the second panel 9. The controls include a keyboard 12 and a trackpad 13 for interacting and controlling the software running on the computing nodes. The stationary panel 11 includes peripherals such as a power switch 16 and a loudspeaker 17.

Once the panels are in the active position, a void which houses the display 7 is exposed. The display 7 is mounted on supports 14 through a pivot 15. The pivot 15 allows the display 7 to be rotated about the pivot which will allow an operator to adjust the display appropriate to the operator's viewing position. The supports 14 are movable upward and downward within the void and to extend beyond the void such that the display may extend beyond the housing and be secured in a position external thereto (as shown in figures 3 to 6). On a rear side of the housing 2, the portable operation centre 1 includes a folding chair

18 which is removable securable to the housing 2. For this purpose, the housing 2 includes securing means which secure the folding chair 18 to the housing 2 such that the portable control centre 1 including the secured chair 18 may be transported.

In use, an operator will transport and move the portable control centre 1 using the wheels 3 and handle 5 to a desired position. The folding chair 18 may be released from the housing 2, unfolded, and placed in front of the portable control centre 1. The operator will unlock panel 8 using a key for the locking mechanism 10 and move the first panel to an upright position. The second panel 9 may then be moved to the active position which exposes the stationary panel 11. The display 7 may be extracted from within the housing 2 into a suitable position outside the housing 2 and the operator may press the power switch 16 to power up the computing nodes, monitor 7, and all peripherals from the power source.

It is envisaged that the invention will provide a portable control centre which is easily movable and manoeuvrable by a single person and can be set up for use and be operationally ready within minutes. The invention is not limited to the precise details as described herein. For example, instead of having a single display which is shared with multiple computing nodes, multiple screens may be used. Further, instead of having pivoting panels which cover the compartments, drawers may be used.