Multiple channel communications system

• US 20050192022A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trapeze Its USA LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Krueger, David C., Bueter, Michael A., Coil, Jeffrey D., Minnick, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,336,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/453
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A multi-channel communications system for communications between a mobile units and dispatch agencies through tower sites under control of a multi-channel communication controller. The method of communications used is time division multiple access with provisions for alternate methods. The mobile units and dispatch agencies have forms of identifications to route messages between the mobile units and dispatch agencies according to the forms of identification. The forms of identification are resolved from one form to another to operate with the alternate methods of communications. The mobile units are handed off from one communications channel to another by the multi-channel controller as channel loading conditions exceed a predetermined limit. Mobile units change tower sites as the geographic coverage of a tower site changes. Mobile units determine distance to a tower site by computing distance to a tower site by using GPS position information of the mobile unit and the known locations of the tower sites to compute signal strength.

Claims

1-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A method of controlling a multi-channel communications system comprising the steps of:

analyzing messages from mobile units and dispatch agencies;

resolving an identifier on the messages;

routing the messages to the mobile units from a responsible dispatch agency and from the mobile units to the responsible agency according to the resolved identifier;

adding the mobile units to communications channels as the mobile units begin communicating through a communications channel and removing mobile units by either one of time out of a multi-channel controller message timer or by direction of the responsible dispatch agency; and

balancing loading on the communications channel said balancing performed by handing off the mobile unit to another communications channel as channel geographic coverage, loading conditions, and performance conditions change.

40. The method of controlling a multi-channel communications system as recited in claim 39 further comprising the step of:

monitoring the geographical location of each mobile unit, the load of each communications channel, and the performance of each communications channel.

41. The method of controlling a multi-channel communications system as recited in claim 39 further comprising the step of:

monitoring the geographical location of each mobile unit, the load of each communications channel, and the performance of each communications channel.