Automatic sequential search for a radio relay network
First Claim
1. In a system having a number of basic units and a number of retransmission units, each of which has access to at least one other of the retransmission units, the method of establishing a connection between a calling and a called basic unit which comprises:
- transmitting a service request from the calling basic unit to a first retransmission unit so that said latter unit will initiate a search for the called basic unit, transmitting from the first retransmission unit a local command that the desired basic unit respond if it is in receiving range of the local command, transmitting from the first retransmission unit, in the event that the desired basic unit does not respond, a request to a second one of the retransmission units that a second local search for the desired basic unit be initiated, transmitting from the second retransmission unit a second local command that the desired basic communication respond if it is in receiving distance thereof, establishing, in the event that the desired basic unit responds to the second local command a connection between the calling and the desired basic communication units including both the first and the second retransmission units.
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Abstract
This invention involves the implementation of a mobile, automatic range extension network for a communication system, such as may be used by a field army. Range extension techniques related to this invention are those necessary for the acceptance and routing of calls within the system, with the placement of such calls being accomplished in accordance with a novel automatic sequential search technique. The routing information required for conducting this search is derived from normal equipment operation, and significantly, range extension calls are placed without the aid of area codes. Automaticity of operation permits the range extension equipment to adapt to its geographical environment, and automatically up-dates its routing information to take into consideration physical changes, thus permitting frequent movements of centrals to take place within the telephone system without disrupting communications.
48 Citations
39 Claims
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1. In a system having a number of basic units and a number of retransmission units, each of which has access to at least one other of the retransmission units, the method of establishing a connection between a calling and a called basic unit which comprises:
- transmitting a service request from the calling basic unit to a first retransmission unit so that said latter unit will initiate a search for the called basic unit, transmitting from the first retransmission unit a local command that the desired basic unit respond if it is in receiving range of the local command, transmitting from the first retransmission unit, in the event that the desired basic unit does not respond, a request to a second one of the retransmission units that a second local search for the desired basic unit be initiated, transmitting from the second retransmission unit a second local command that the desired basic communication respond if it is in receiving distance thereof, establishing, in the event that the desired basic unit responds to the second local command a connection between the calling and the desired basic communication units including both the first and the second retransmission units.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a communication system including a number of retransmission units and communication channels therebetween, the method of providing for the discovery by a retransmission unit added to the system of the entire network configuration which comprises:
- providing the new retransmission unit with the addresses of all other retransmission units and the identity of the channels by which the retransmission units may be reached, selecting an available communication channel by the new retransmission unit, sending an interrogation over the available channel, to the address of one of the existing retransmission units, storing in the new retransmission unit information indicative of the receipt or non-receipt over the available channel of a reply from the retransmission unit whose address was interrogated, transmitting over the available channel an interrogation to the address of each of the remaining retransmission units in turn, storing at the new retransmission unit, information indicative of the receipt or non-receipt of a reply over the available channel from each of the retransmission units interrogated.
- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A communication system including a number of mobile basic communication units, a number of local communication channels, a number of retransmission units and a number of retransmission communication channels, each basic unit being in communication with one of the retransmission units for range extension purposes, and each retransmission unit having access to at least one other retransmission unit, each retransmission unit comprising:
- means providing two-way communication between the retransmission unit and its associated basic communication units, despite lack of knowledge as to their geographical positions, means providing two-way communication between the retransmission unit and at least one other retransmission unit, means responsive to a request for service from a calling basic communication unit to the first retransmission unit, which latter unit causes the generation in the second retransmission unit of a signal representing the address of a desired basic communication unit, despite lack of knowledge as to its geographical positions, and control means to establish communication with each accessible retransmission unit in turn and to transmit the address of the desired basic communication unit thereto.
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15. A retransmission unit for a communication system including a number of mobile basic communication units, and a number of retransmission units, each basic unit being in two way communication with one of the retransmission units where requiring range extension service, and each retransmission unit having access to at least one other retransmission unit, comprising:
- means responsive to a request for range extension service from a calling basic communication unit, means to initiate a search for a called user by the generation of a signal representing the address of his basic communication unit;
means to conduct a sequential search for such called user without the aid of area code or directional information supplied by the calling user, control means to successively establish communication with each accessible retransmission unit in turn to transmit the address of the desired basic communication unit thereto; and
means responsive to the receipt of an address from one of such other retransmission units to transmit a message to the address received. - View Dependent Claims (16)
- means responsive to a request for range extension service from a calling basic communication unit, means to initiate a search for a called user by the generation of a signal representing the address of his basic communication unit;
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17. A communication system including a number of basic communication units, a number of local communication channels, a number of retransmission units, and a number of retransmission communication channels, each basic unit being in communication with one of the retransmission units and each retransmission unit having access to at least one other retransmission unit, each retransmission unit comprising;
- means responsive to a request from a calling basic communication unit to generate a signal representing the address of a desired basic communication unit, means to conduct a sequential search for such desired basic communication unit without the aid of area code or directional information supplied by the calling unit, and control means to establish communication with each accessible retransmission unit in turn for transmitting thereto the address of the desired basic communication unit; and
means at the called retransmission unit, responsive to the address of the called basic communication unit, to transmit a message to the address of the desired basic communication unit. - View Dependent Claims (18)
- means responsive to a request from a calling basic communication unit to generate a signal representing the address of a desired basic communication unit, means to conduct a sequential search for such desired basic communication unit without the aid of area code or directional information supplied by the calling unit, and control means to establish communication with each accessible retransmission unit in turn for transmitting thereto the address of the desired basic communication unit; and
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19. A communication system including a number of mobile basic communication units and a number of retransmission units, each basic unit being in communication with one of the retransmission units over a local communication channel, and each retransmission unit having access to at least one other retransmission unit over one of a number of retransmission communication channels, each retransmission unit comprising:
- control means operative during an orientation procedure to establish communication with each accessible retransmission unit;
memory means to adapt to the network configuration of the system in terms of learning the addresses of all retransmission units and the channels by which access to each retransmission unit may be achieved;
means to learn and establish in the memory means, at the time of entry of the retransmission unit into the system, the address of each of the other retransmission units and the identity of all retransmission communication channels;
means connected to the control means to select in turn each retransmission channel and to initiate the transmission thereover of successive interrogation messages to the address of each retransmission unit; and
means responsive to the receipt of a reply to an interrogation message to store in the memory means an indication of the accessibility of a retransmission unit over a particular channel. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- control means operative during an orientation procedure to establish communication with each accessible retransmission unit;
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21. A communication system including a number of mobile basic communication units and a number of retransmission units, each basic communication unit being in communication with one of the retransmission units, and each of the retransmission units having access to at least one other retransmission unit, the retransmission units comprising:
- supervisory receiver means for accepting requests for range extension service from a calling basic communication unit;
local message channel receivers for communication between a basic communication unit and the retransmission unit;
a supervisory transmitter circuit for sending messages from the retransmission unit to the basic communication units associated therewith;
a number of local message channel transmitters for communication between the retransmission unit and the associated basic communication units;
local call processing means connected to the supervisory receiving and transmitting means and to the local message channel receivers and transmitters for the processing of calls between the retransmission unit and the associated basic communication units;
retransmission receiver circuit means for receiving messages from another retransmission unit;
retransmission transmitter circuit means for transmitting messages to another retransmission unit;
coupling means for interconnecting local message channel receivers with retransmission transmitters and local message channel transmitters with retransmission receivers;
a retransmission call processor connected to the retransmission receiver circuit and the retransmission transmitter circuit for controlling communication between retransmission units; and
automatic sequential search control means connected to the local call processor and to the retransmission call processor for establishing communication with each of the other retransmission units in succession, one retransmission unit being contacted at a time. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
- supervisory receiver means for accepting requests for range extension service from a calling basic communication unit;
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24. A communication system including a number of mobile basic communication units and a number of retransmission units, comprising:
- local communication means providing two way communication between the retransmission unit and a number of associated basic communication units;
means for receiving messages from another retransmission unit;
means for transmitting messages to another retransmission unit;
coupling means for interconnecting the local communication means with the receiver means and the transmitter means;
a retransmission call processor connected to the receiver means and the transmitter means for controlling communication between retransmission units; and
automatic sequential search control means connected to the local communication means and to the retransmission call processor for establishing communication with each of the retransmission units singly in succession. - View Dependent Claims (25)
- local communication means providing two way communication between the retransmission unit and a number of associated basic communication units;
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26. A communication system including a number of mobile basic communication units and a number of retransmission units, comprising:
- local communication means including a supervisory receiver circuit for accepting service requests from a calling basic communication unit, local message channel receivers for communication between a basic communication unit and the retransmission unit;
a supervisory transmitter circuit for sending messages from the retransmission unit to the basic communication units associated therewith;
a number of local message channel transmitters for communication between the retransmission units and the associated basic communication units;
remote communication means providing two way communication between the retransmission unit and at least one other retransmission unit;
coupling means for interconnecting the local communication means and the remote communication means to provide two way communication between a basic communication unit and another basic communication unit associated with a different retransmission unit; and
automatic sequential search control means connected to the local and to the remote communication means for establishing communication with each of the other retransmission singly, in succession. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
- local communication means including a supervisory receiver circuit for accepting service requests from a calling basic communication unit, local message channel receivers for communication between a basic communication unit and the retransmission unit;
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34. A communication system including a number of mobile basic communication units and a number of retransmission units, the retransmission units comprising:
- local communication means providing two way communication between the retransmission unit and a number of associated basic communication units;
remote communication means providing two way communication between the retransmission unit and at least one other retransmission unit over one or more preassigned channels;
coupling means including local and retransmission coupling matrices for interconnecting the local communication means and the remote communication means;
automatic sequential search control means connected to the local communication means and to the retransmission call processor for establishing communication with each of the other retransmission units singly in succession without the aid of area code information supplied by a calling user;
a network memory connected to the automatic sequential search control unit to store the addresses of all the retransmission units in the system and a retransmitted call memory connected to the retransmission call processor including means for storing the identity of each of the preassigned channels and the addresses of the retransmission units accessible over each channel. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
- local communication means providing two way communication between the retransmission unit and a number of associated basic communication units;
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37. A communication system including a number of basic communication units and a number of retransmission units, the retransmission unit comprising:
- local communication means providing two way communication between the retransmission unit and a number of associated basic communication units;
remote communication means providing two way communication between the retransmission unit and at least one other retransmission unit;
means responsive to a request from a calling basic communication unit to cause the originating retransmission unit to generate a signal representing the address of a desired basic communication unit;
memory means associated with the remote communication means;
control means to select from the memory means the address of a first accessible retransmission unit and to transmit to the selected address an interrogation message comprising the address of the desired basic communication unit;
means at each retransmission unit to search for the transmitted address and to return to the calling retransmission unit an indication of the availability of the desired basic communication unit; and
means responsive to the failure of the called retransmission unit to indicate the availability of the desired basic communication unit thereat, to cause the remote communication means to select from the memory means, the address of each remaining accessible retransmission unit, and to transmit the interrogation message to each retransmission unit in succession until a reply indicating the availability of the desired basic communication unit is received, or until all the accessible retransmission units have been contacted. - View Dependent Claims (38)
- local communication means providing two way communication between the retransmission unit and a number of associated basic communication units;
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39. A communication system including a number of mobile basic communication units, and a number of retransmission units, each basic unit being in communication with one of the retransmission units when requiring range extension, and each retransmission unit having access to at least one other retransmission unit, each retransmission unit comprising:
- means responsive to a request for range extension service from a calling basic communication unit, such means including means for initiating a search for a desired other user of the communication system by generating a signal representing the address of his basic communication unit; and
means for conducting first a search of the local area, and then a search of adjacent distant areas, latter search being conducted without aid of area code or directional information from the calling user, latter means including means to transmit such address signal to each accessible retransmission unit in turn.
- means responsive to a request for range extension service from a calling basic communication unit, such means including means for initiating a search for a desired other user of the communication system by generating a signal representing the address of his basic communication unit; and
Specification