RESOLVING POTENTIAL CONFLICTS IN INTEROPERABILITY COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20080242247A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STA Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Shmuel, Barave, Amit Prakash
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/187.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation

Abstract

A communication device and computerized method to address conflicts in Virtual Talk Groups is provided. The method may comprise accessing a database to monitor resources in a plurality of Virtual Talk Groups (VTG) to detect if there is at least a potential conflict of the resources. When the potential conflict is detected, the method comprises identifying at least one resource which is contributing to the potential conflict, and initiating automatically an electronic communication to identify the potential conflict. In response to the electronic communication, a new VTG may be initiated and terminals of administrators associated with the conflicting resource may be assigned to the new VTG. Each administrator may administer an associated VTG.

Claims

1. A computerized method comprising:

accessing a database to monitor resources in a plurality of Virtual Talk Groups (VTG) to detect if there is at least a potential conflict of the resources;

when the potential conflict is detected,

identifying at least one resource which is contributing to the potential conflict; and

initiating automatically an electronic communication to identify the potential conflict.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to the electronic communication:

initiating a new VTG; and

assigning terminals of administrators associated with the conflicting resource to the new VTG, each administrator administering an associated VTG.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising communicating a notification of the nature of the potential conflict via the new VTG to the administrators.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the resources are network device resources.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device resources are databases resources or router configuration resources.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a rule associated with the potential conflict; and

automatically resolving the potential conflict based on the identified rule.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring reconfiguration of the resources; and

initiating the electronic communication when resources are reconfigured before a predetermined time period has lapsed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein monitoring reconfiguration of the resources comprises maintaining a log of modifications made to allocation of the resources, the logs being to identify the at least one resource contributing to the potential conflict.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the VTGs comprise resources associated with a particular operation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating automatically an electronic communication comprises initiating the electronic communication without human intervention.

11. A communication device comprising:

a monitor module to monitor resources in a plurality of Virtual Talk Groups (VTG) to detect if there is at least a potential conflict of the resources;

an identification module to identify at least one resource contributing to the potential conflict; and

a communication module to initiate automatically an electronic communication to identify the potential conflict.

12. The communication device of claim 11, further comprising a configuration module to:

initiate a new VTG; and

assign terminals of administrators associated with the conflicting resource to the new VTG, each administrator administering an associated VTG.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate a notification of the new VTG to the terminals to notify the administrators of the existence of the potential conflict.

14. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the resources are network device resources.

15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the network device resources are databases resources or router configuration resources.

16. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the configuration module is arranged to:

identify a rule associated with the potential conflict; and

automatically resolve the potential conflict based on the identified rule.

17. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the monitor module monitors reconfiguration of the resources, the device further comprising a timer to time when a predetermined time period has lapsed, the electronic communication being initiated only when resources are reconfigured before the predetermined time period has lapsed.

18. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the monitor module is configured to maintain a log of modifications made to allocation of the resources, the logs being to identify the at least one resource contributing to the potential conflict.

19. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the VTGs comprise resources associated with a particular operation.

20. An apparatus which comprises:

means for accessing a database to monitor resources in a plurality of Virtual Talk Groups (VTG) to detect if there is at least a potential conflict of the resources;

means for identifying at least one resource which is contributing to the potential conflict; and

means for initiating automatically an electronic communication to identify the potential conflict.