METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING LOCATIONS OF COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN A SIMULCAST NETWORK

• US 20130244712A1
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Kuzio, Piotr, Dworakowski, Waldemar K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,191,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/509
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• 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 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for identifying locations of communication devices in a simulcast network. A comparator sends a location request to communication devices in a simulcast network. The location request includes timeslot assignments for each talk group in the simulcast network. The comparator receives responses from the communication devices. Each response is received in a timeslot assigned to a talk group. The comparator assigns network resources to talk groups in the simulcast network based at least in part on the received responses.

Claims

1. A method for identifying locations of communication devices in a simulcast network, comprising:

sending, by a comparator, a location request to communication devices in a simulcast network, wherein the location request includes timeslot assignments for each talk group in the simulcast network;

receiving, by the comparator, responses from the communication devices, each response being received in a timeslot assigned to a talk group; and

assigning, by the comparator, network resources to talk groups in the simulcast network based at least in part on the received responses.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the talk group is at least one of a voice talk group, a data talk group or a combination talk group.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending comprises sending a network access code for each talk group in the location request and a single block control channel message to base radios for further transmission to the communication devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending comprises sending the location request two or more times within a predefined time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending comprises sending a present request in the location request to selected talk groups.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving comprises receiving a present signal from communication devices in each selected talk group, wherein each present signal is received in a timeslot associated with the selected talk group.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving responses from communication devices associated with each talk group when a signal strength indicator from the communication devices is above a predefined threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving a short symbol stream from each communication device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving responses from the communication devices at close to the same time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning comprises using the responses to determine whether one or more base radios are being used by the communication devices in an assigned talk group.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a network coverage area for the simulcast network is divided into sub-sites, wherein one or more of each sub-site is assigned to a talk group.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending, by the comparator, status symbols to base radios in sub-sites bordering the one or more sub-sites assigned to the talk group.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the status symbols are further transmitted to communication devices entering the bordering sub-sites.

14. A comparator configured to identify locations of communication devices in a simulcast network, comprising:

a transmitting component configured to transmit, a location request to communication devices in a simulcast network, wherein the location request includes timeslot assignments for each talk group in the simulcast network;

a receiving component configured to receive responses from the communication devices, each response being received in a timeslot assigned to a talk group; and

a processing component configured to assign network resources to talk groups in the simulcast network based at least in part on the received responses.

15. The comparator of claim 14, wherein the transmitting component is configured to send a network access code for each talk group in the location request.

16. The comparator of claim 14, wherein the transmitting component is configured to send a single block control channel message to base radios for further transmission to the communication devices.

17. The comparator of claim 14, wherein the transmitting component is configured to send a present request in the location request to selected talk groups and wherein the receiving component is configured to receive a present signal from communication devices in each selected talk group, wherein each present signal is received in a timeslot associated with the selected talk group.

18. The comparator of claim 14, wherein the receiving component is configured to receive responses from communication devices associated with each talk group when a signal strength indicator from the communication devices is above a predefined threshold.

19. The comparator of claim 14, wherein the processing component is configured to use the responses to determine whether one or more base radios are being used by the communication devices in an assigned talk group.

20. The comparator of claim 14, wherein the transmitting component is configured to transmit status symbols to base radios in sub-sites bordering one or more sub-sites assigned to the talk group.