Method and apparatus for providing global communications interoperability

A method for use in an information transfer system having a plurality of interface units and a switch for selectively connecting multiple interface units in said plurality of interface units together to enable communications between said multiple interface units, wherein each of said plurality of interface units is operative for converting a signal between a unique signal format and a common signal format that is common to said plurality of interface units, wherein said unique signal format for each of said plurality of interface units is different from that of at least one other interface unit in said plurality of interface units, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a signal from a first external communications system, said signal having a first signal format;
• converting said signal from said first signal format to the common signal format in a first interface unit in the plurality of interface units;
• determining at least one second external communications system that is to communicate with said first external communications system, said at least one second external communications system supporting at least one second signal format that is different from the first signal format;
• selecting at least one second interface unit from said plurality of interface units based on said at least one second signal format;
• and
• establishing a connection between said first interface unit and said at least one second interface unit.

A communicator for use in communicating with multiple external communications systems utilizing different signal formats, comprising:

• a group of interface units including a plurality of wireless interface units each capable of converting a signal between a unique wireless signal format and a common signal format, wherein said unique wireless signal format for each of said plurality of wireless interface units is different from that of other wireless interface units in said plurality of wireless interface units and said common signal format is common to interface units in said group of interface units, wherein each of said plurality of wireless interface units is coupled to an antenna port for communication with an antenna;
• a data utilization device coupled to said group of interface units for utilizing signals having said common signal format;
• and
• a controller, coupled to said data utilization device, comprising:
• means for determining at least one external communications system with which to communicate,
• means for selecting at least one interface unit associated with said at least one external communications system, and
• means for controlling a transfer of signals between said data utilization device and said at least one interface unit during communication with said at least one external communications system, wherein said communicator can communicate with multiple external communications systems simultaneously.