Dynamic regrouping in a trunked radio communications system

• US 5,117,501 A
• Filed: 08/08/1988
• Issued: 05/26/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company, Pine Valley Investments, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Childress, Jeffrey S., Hattey, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAILE, ANDREW I
• Application Number:
  US07/229,814
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 455/33-34, 455/11-12, 455/17, 455/56, 455/51, 455/54, 379/57-59, 379/63, 379/60, 340/825.01, 340/825.05, 340/825.52, 340/825.44, 370/95.1, 370/110.1, 375/114, 375/107, 375/108
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

In a trunked radio frequency communications system, a dynamic regrouping scheme includes an effective user interface, automatic support of multi-site systems, the capability to program individual radio transceivers with multiple new groups dynamically, a fast rate of reconfiguration, instantaneous switch over to prevent radios from residing in immature groups, and a satisfactory mode of operation should the site controller (or site controllers in non-fault tolerant systems) fail. Some of the dynamic regrouping features includes unlimited prestored plans and source and destination groups per plan, regrouping at the plan or destination group level, an advanced user interface, automatic support of multiple sites, fast regrouping at the rate of over 30 radios per second while reducing loading on the system control channel, and fast activation/deactivation. Each plan can be immediately activated or deactivated and users are effectively regrouped together. An alternate control channel is used to regroup transceivers to avoid undue main control channel loading and to increase rate of regrouping.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically regrouping radio transceivers in a trunked radio communications system comprising:

establishing at least one alternate control channel in addition to a main control channel and transmitting regrouping control messages over said alternate control channel; and

subsequently transmitting regrouping control messages on said main control channel directed to individual radio transceivers to be regrouped which fail to receive said regrouping control messages transmitted over said alternate control channel.

2. A method of dynamically regrouping radio transceivers in a trunked radio communications system of the type having a digital control channel, said method comprising:

temporarily establishing at least one digital control channel for communicating regrouping control messages simultaneously to a number of transceivers in excess of a predetermined number; and

if the number of transceivers to be regrouped is less than said predetermined number, instead communicating said regrouping control messages over said first-mentioned control channel.

3. A method of dynamically regrouping radio transceivers in a trunked radio communications system of the type having digital control channel, said method comprising:

temporarily establishing and maintaining a first alternate control channel for communication of regrouping control messages to a first group of transceivers; and

substantially simultaneously temporarily establishing and maintaining a further alternate control channel for communication of regrouping control messages to a further group of transceivers.

4. A method of dynamically regrouping RF transceivers in a trunked radio repeater system including the steps of:

(1) transmitting a dynamic regroup control message over a digital RF control channel, said regroup message identifying an existing transceiver group;

(2) temporarily establishing an alternate digital RF control channel;

(3) in response to said regroup control message, retuning said existing transceiver group to said alternate control channel; and

(4) communicating further dynamic regroup control messages to said transceiver group over said alternate control channel.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein said communicating step (4) includes:

transmitting further dynamic regroup control messages over said alternate control channel directed to individual transceivers in said group; and

transmitting acknowledgement messages from said individual transceivers over said alternate control channel in response to said further dynamic regroup control messages.

6. A method as in claim 4 wherein said communicating step (4) comprises transmitting said further dynamic regroup control messages to only some but not all of the transceivers in said group over said alternate control channel.

7. A method of dynamically regrouping RF transceivers in a trunked radio repeater system including at least one group of RF transceivers, including the steps of:

(1) selecting a subset of said group of RF transceivers;

(2) transmitting a dynamic regroup control message over a digital RF control channel, said regroup message identifying said transceivers group;

(3) temporarily establishing an alternate digital RF control channel;

4) in response to said regroup control message, monitoring said alternate control channel with the transceiver group;

(5) transmitting at least one further dynamic regroup control message directed to said selected subset of RF transceivers over said alternate control channel;

(6) transmitting acknowledgement messages from said selected RF transceiver subset over said alternate control channel in response to said further dynamic regroup control message;

(7) receiving said transmitted acknowledgement messages;

(8) comparing the transceivers selected by said selecting step (1) with the transceivers transmitting acknowledgement messages in said transmitting step (6) in response to said received acknowledgement messages;

(9) conditioning the transmission of a dynamic regroup activation message over said first-mentioned control channel on the results of said comparing step (8);

(10) subsequent to said monitoring step (4), monitoring said first-mentioned control channel with said transceiver group; and

(11) monitoring a further communications channel with said subset of transceivers in response to transmission of said dynamic regroup activation message.

8. A method of dynamically regrouping radio transceivers in a trunked radio communications system comprising:

(1) selecting at least one predefined RF transceiver source group;

(2) displaying a listing of the transceivers within said selected source group;

(3) selecting a subset of said listed transceivers;

(4) transmitting a first dynamic regroup message directed to all of said transceivers within said source group

(5) monitoring an alternate control channel with said transceivers within said source group in response to said first dynamic regroup message; and

(5) transmitting a further dynamic regroup message over said alternate control channel only to said selected subset of transceivers.

9. A method of dynamically regrouping radio transceivers in a trunked radio communications system comprising:

(1) selecting a dynamic regroup plan;

(2) displaying a listing of source groups and a further listing of destination groups associated with said selected plan;

(3) selecting a listed source group and a listed destination group;

(4) displaying a listing of RF transceivers included within said selected source group;

(5) selecting RF transceivers from said display listing; and

(6) dynamically regrouping said selected transceivers into said selected destination group.

10. A method of dynamically regrouping radio transceivers in a trunked radio communications system comprising:

receiving a dynamic regroup control message over a first digital RF control channel;

monitoring an alternate digital RF control channel in response to receipt of said dynamic regroup control message;

receiving a further dynamic regroup control message over said alternate control channel, said further message specifying a regroup plan and a regroup identification;

transmitting an acknowledgement message over said alternate control channel in response to receipt of said further message;

again monitoring said first control channel and receiving a dynamic regroup activate message over said first control channel, said activate message specifying said regroup plan;

activating said regroup identification in response to said activate message; and

subsequent to said activating step, reacting to call messages transmitted over said first control channel specifying said regroup identification.

11. A method of dynamically regrouping radio transceivers in a trunked radio communications system comprising:

(a) transmitting a dynamic regroup message to a plurality of radio transceivers, said message specifying a regroup identification;

(b) storing said regroup identification within said plurality of radio transceivers but inhibiting said transceivers from sending or receiving calls using said stored regroup identification;

(c) transmitting a further bit map message specifying activation of said stored regroup identification; and

(d) enabling said transceivers to send and receive calls using said stored regroup identification only in response to receipt of said further bit map message.

30. The method of claim 11 wherein said method further includes the steps of:

transmitting a dynamic regroup acknowledgement message in response to said dynamic regroup message transmitted by said transmitting step (a), and

conditioning performance of said transmitting step (c) on receipt of said acknowledgement message from at least one of certain predefined critical ones of said plurality of radio transceivers, and a certain percentage of said plurality of radio transceivers.

12. A method of dynamic regrouping in a trunked radio communications systems comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a dynamic regroup message specifying a regroup identification;

(b) storing said regroup identification within a non-volatile memory device;

(c) initially inhibiting sending or receiving calls using said stored regroup identification;

(c) receiving a further bit map message specifying activation of said stored regroup identification; and

(d) enabling sending and receiving of calls using said stored regroup identification only in response to receipt of said further bit map message.

13. A method of deactivating a dynamic regrouping in a trunked radio communications system comprising:

(a) transmitting a call message specifying a regroup to a plurality of dynamically regrouped radio transceivers;

(b) monitoring an alternate control channel in response to said call message;

(c) transmitting cancel regroup messages individually to each of said plurality of transceivers over said alternate control channel;

(d) canceling said dynamic regrouping individually at each of said plurality of transceivers in response to said cancel regroup messages; and

(e) alternatively, canceling said dynamic regrouping message at each of said plurality of transceivers in response to a bit map message transmitted over a main control channel different from said alternate control channel.

14. A trunked radio communications system including dynamic regrouping capability comprising;

means for establishing an alternate control channel in addition to a main control channel and transmitting regrouping control messages over said alternate control channel; and

means for subsequently transmitting regrouping control messages on said main control channel directed to individual radio transceivers to be regrouped which fail to receive said regrouping control messages transmitted over said alternate control channel.

15. Apparatus for dynamically regrouping radio transceivers in a trunked radio communications system of the type having a digital control channel, said apparatus comprising:

means for temporarily establishing a further digital control channel for communicating regrouping control messages simultaneously to a number of transceivers in excess of a predetermined number; and

means for determining if the number of transceivers to be regrouped is less than said predetermined number and for instead communicating said regrouping control messages over said first-mentioned control channel in response to such determination.

16. Apparatus for dynamically regrouping radio transceivers in a trunked radio communications system of the type having digital control channel comprising:

means for temporarily establishing and maintaining a first alternate control channel for communication of regrouping control messages to a first group of transceivers; and

means for substantially simultaneously temporarily establishing and maintaining a further alternate control channel for communication of regrouping control messages to a further group of transceivers.

17. A trunked radio repeater system including:

means for transmitting a dynamic regroup control message over a digital RF control channel, said regroup message identifying an existing transceiver group;

means for temporarily establishing an alternate digital RF control channel;

means for returning said existing transceiver group to said alternate control channel in response to said regroup control message; and

means connected to said establishing means for communicating further dynamic regroup control messages to said transceiver group over said alternate control channel.

18. A method as in claim 17 wherein said communicating means includes:

means for transmitting further dynamic regroup control messages over said alternate control channel directed to individual transceivers in said group; and

means for transmitting acknowledgement messages from said individual transceivers over said alternate control channel in response to said further dynamic regroup control messages.

19. A system as in claim 17 wherein said communicating means comprises means for transmitting said further dynamic regroup control messages to only some but not all of the transceivers in said group over said alternate control channel.

20. A system for dynamically regrouping RF transceivers in a trunked radio communications arrangement including at least one group of RF transceivers, including:

means for selecting a subset of said group of RF transceivers;

means for transmitting a dynamic regroup control message over a digital RF control channel, said regroup message identifying said transceiver group;

means for temporarily establishing an alternate digital RF control channel;

means responsive to said regroup control message for monitoring said alternate control channel with the transceiver group;

means for transmitting at least one further dynamic regroup control message directed to said selected subset of RF transceivers over said alternate control channel;

means for transmitting acknowledgement messages from said selected RF transceiver subset over said alternate control channel in response to said further dynamic regroup control message;

means for receiving said transmitted acknowledgement messages;

means for comparing the transceivers selected by said selecting means with the transceivers transmitting acknowledgement messages to said receiving means in response to said received acknowledgement messages;

means for transmitting a dynamic regroup activation message over said first-mentioned control channel and for conditioning said transmission on the results of said comparing means,

wherein each of said transceivers in said group includes means for monitoring said first-mentioned control channel, and said subset of transceivers includes means for monitoring a further communications channel in response to transmission of said dynamic regroup activation message.

21. An arrangement for dynamically regrouping radio transceivers in a trunked radio communications system comprising:

means for selecting at least one predefined RF transceiver source group;

means for displaying a listing of the transceivers within said selected source group;

means for selecting a subset of said listed transceivers;

means for transmitting a first dynamic regroup message directed to all of said transceivers within said source group

means for monitoring an alternate control channel with said transceivers within said source group in response to said first dynamic regroup message; and

means for transmitting a further dynamic regroup message over said alternate control channel only to said selected subset of transceivers.

22. Equipment for dynamically regrouping radio transceivers in a trunked radio communications system comprising:

means for selecting a dynamic regroup plan;

means for displaying a listing of source groups and a further listing of destination groups associated with said selected plan;

means for selecting a listed source group and a listed destination group;

means for displaying a listing of RF transceivers included within said selected source group;

means for selecting RF transceivers from said displayed listing; and

means for initiating dynamically regrouping of said selected transceivers into said selected destination group.

23. A radio transceiver of the type that operates in a trunked radio communications system, said transceiver comprising:

means for receiving a dynamic regroup control message over a first digital RF control channel and for monitoring an alternate digital RF control channel in response to receipt of said special group message;

said receiving means also for receiving a further dynamic regroup control message over said alternate control channel, said further message specifying a regroup plan and a regroup identification;

means connected to said receiving means for transmitting an acknowledgement message over said alternate control channel in response to receipt of said further message;

said receiving means also for monitoring said first control channel and receiving a dynamic regroup activate message over said first control channel, said activate message specifying said regroup plan;

means for activating said regroup identification in response to said activate message; and

means for reacting to call messages transmitted over said first control channel specifying said regroup identification.

24. A digital mobile radio communications system comprising;

transmitting means for transmitting a dynamic regroup message to a plurality of radio transceivers, said message specifying a regroup identification;

means within each of said plurality of radio transceiver for storing said regroup identification but inhibiting said transceivers from sending or receiving calls using said stored regroup identification;

further transmitting means for transmitting a further bit map message specifying activation of said stored regroup identification; and

means within each of said transceivers for enabling said transceivers to send and receive calls using said stored regroup identification only in response to receipt of said further bit map message.

25. A digital mobile radio transceiver comprising;

means for receiving a dynamic regroup message specifying a regroup identification;

non-volatile memory means connected to said receiving means for storing said received regroup identification;

radio frequency transmitting means connected to said non-volatile memory means for sending signals associated with groups having identifications stored in said non-volatile memory means; and

said receiving means for receiving a further bit map message specifying activation of said stored regroup identification; and

control means connected to said non-volatile memory means and to said transmitting means for initially inhibiting sending calls using said stored regroup identification and for enabling sending of calls using said stored regroup identification only in response to receipt of said further bit map message.

26. A trunked radio communications system comprising:

means for transmitting a call message specifying a regroup to a plurality of dynamically regrouped radio transceivers;

means for monitoring an alternate control channel in response to said call message;

means for transmitting cancel regroup messages individually to each of said plurality of transceivers over said alternate control channel;

means for canceling said dynamic regrouping individually at each of said plurality of transceivers in response to said cancel regroup messages; and

alternatively canceling means for canceling said dynamic regrouping message at each of said plurality of transceivers in response to a bit map message transmitted over a main control channel different from said alternate control channel.

27. A method of dynamically regrouping digital radio transceivers comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a predefined source group comprising plural mobile radio transceivers from a plurality of such source groups;

(b) defining a destination group comprising selected ones of said plural transceivers of said source group;

(c) repeating said steps (a) and (b) so as to define a plurality of destination groups within a single dynamic regroup plan; and

(d) simultaneously automatically dynamically regrouping one of;

(i) substantially all of said mobile transceivers defined within said plan, or (ii) substantially all of said mobile transceivers defined within a destination group defined by said step (b).

28. A method as in claim 27 wherein said regrouping step (d) comprises the steps of:

d1) selecting said plan;

(d2) transmitting a group call message to each of said selected source groups; and

(d3) transmitting a dynamic regroup message to each of said selected transceivers within each of said destination groups.

29. A method as in claim 27 wherein said regrouping step (d) comprises:

(d1) selecting one of said destination groups defined by said step (b);

(d2) transmitting a group call message to each of said source groups selected by said selecting step (a) in defining said one destination group; and

(d3) transmitting a dynamic regroup message to each of said selected transceivers within said one selected destination group.