Radio frequency multicasting

• US 20080205321A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eagle Technology, LLC (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: M/A Com, Inc. (MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martinez, Dennis Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,839,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5069 for group communication, multicast communication or broadcast communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A method for radio frequency multicasting and a multicast site architecture are provided. The method includes assigning a different traffic multicast Internet Protocol (IP) address to each of a plurality of groups of LMR users and encapsulating the LMR content within IP packets. The method further includes transmitting the IP packets to one of the plurality of groups of LMR users using at least one of the assigned traffic multicast IP addresses.

Claims

1. A method for communicating land mobile radio (LMR) content, the method comprising:

assigning a different traffic multicast Internet Protocol (IP) address to each of a plurality of groups of LMR users;

encapsulating the LMR content within IP packets; and

transmitting the IP packets to one of the plurality of groups of LMR users using at least one of the assigned traffic multicast IP addresses.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising assigning an individual IP address to each of a plurality of LMR units.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising assigning a control multicast IP address for communicating control information to a plurality of LMR units.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the control information includes the traffic multicast IP addresses for active communications.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plurality of groups of users comprises at least one of talk groups and workgroups.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plurality of groups of users comprises at least one of a police department talk group and a fire department talk group.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 further wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the IP packets via a single radio transmission frequency.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein assigned traffic multicast IP addresses are the same for each communication site.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein assigned traffic multicast IP addresses are different for each communication site.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising determining whether an LMR unit is a subscriber to one of the plurality of groups of LMR users and communicating the assigned traffic multicast IP address of the group to the LMR unit if the LMR unit is a subscriber.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transmitting comprises using a cellular IP network to communicate the LMR content.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transmitting comprises using a cellular system to communicate the LMR content.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the encapsulating comprises encapsulating the LMR content based on the assigned traffic multicast IP address.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the traffic multicast IP addresses are assigned within at least one of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system, an Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) system, an Evolution-Date Optimized (EV-DO) system and a combination thereof.

15. A method for providing land mobile radio (LMR) radio frequency (RF) communication, the method comprising:

defining a control plane using at least one control multicast Internet Protocol (IP) address, the control plane communicating call control and signaling information to a plurality of LMR units; and

defining a traffic plane using at least one traffic multicast IP address, the traffic plane communicating encapsulated LMR content to at least one of the plurality of LMR units associated with a group of LMR users.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein the traffic plane communicates LMR content configured as Push-To-Talk (PTT) Voice over IP (VoIP) data streams.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising assigning individual IP addresses to each of the plurality of LMR units.

18. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising configuring the plurality of LMR units to scan for the control multicast IP address.

19. A multicast site architecture for communicating land mobile radio (LMR) content, the multicast site architecture comprising:

a plurality of communication sites; and

an LMR over Internet Protocol (IP) interface associated with at least one of the plurality of communication sites, the LMR over IP interface configured to transmit call control and signaling information to a plurality of LMR units using at least one control multicast IP address and to assign at least one traffic multicast IP address to communicate LMR content between a group of LMR users.

20. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 19 wherein each of the plurality of LMR units is assigned an individual IP address.