Communication system with improved resource assignment

• US 5,218,354 A
• Filed: 03/28/1991
• Issued: 06/08/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hess, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Magistre, Dervis
• Application Number:
  US07/676,598
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 340/826, 455/34.1, 455/34.2, 455/11.1, 455/54.1, 455/53.1, 455/54.2, 455/62, 455/63, 379/62, 379/63, 379/58
• US Class Current: 455/513
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

A trunked communication system wherein some of the communication resources are preassigned for exclusive use only by a predetermined group, such as a public safety agency. In addition, to assure optimal assignment of communication resources, communication resource assignments are made pursuant to a methodology that minimizes usurpation of unused resource capabilities.

Claims

1. In a communication system having a resource controller for controlling allocation of a plurality of communication resources amongst a plurality of communication units, wherein at least one of the communication resources supports more than one communication capability, a method of assigning a communication resource to a communication unit, comprising the steps of:

A) receiving a communication from a communication unit, which communication includes an indication of communication resource capability needs;

B) determining which of the communication resources has sufficient capabilities to support the indicated communication resource capability needs, to thereby form a group of candidate communication resources;

C) selecting whichever of the candidate communication resources will result in minimized usurpation of unused communication capabilities.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication resource supports at least both dispatch communication service and telephone interconnect service.

3. In a communication system having a resource controller for controlling allocation of a plurality of radio frequency communication resources amongst a plurality of radio frequency communication units, wherein a plurality of the radio frequency communication resources each support more than one communication capability, a method of assigning a communication resource to a communication unit, comprising the steps of:

A) receiving a communication from a radio frequency communication unit, which communication includes an indication of radio frequency communication resource capability needs;

B) when no radio frequency communication resources are currently available to support the indicated radio frequency communication resource capability needs, declining to provide the radio frequency communication unit with a radio frequency communication resource;

C) when at least one radio frequency communication resource is currently available to support the indicated radio frequency communication resource capability needs, determining which of the radio frequency communication resources has sufficient capabilities to support the indicated radio frequency communication resource capability needs, to thereby form a group of candidate radio frequency communication resources;

D) selecting whichever of the candidate radio frequency communication resources will result in minimized usurpation of unused communication capabilities.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of selecting whichever of the candidate radio frequency communication resources will result in minimized usurpation of unused communication capabilites includes the steps of:

D1) providing each of the candidate radio frequency communication resources with a weight factor related, at least in part, to particular communication capabilities supported by each of the candidate radio frequency communication resources; and

D2) selecting a particular candidate radio frequency communication resource as a function of the weight factors.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of providing each of the candidate radio frequency communication resources with a weight factor related, at least in part, to particular communication capabilities supported by each of the candidate radio frequency communication resources includes the steps of:

D1a) assigning each communication capability an associated predetermined weight value;

D1b) for each candidate radio frequency communication resource, combining the weight values that represent each of the communication capabilites supported by each candidate radio frequency communication resource.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the weight value assigned to dispatch communication capabilities is lower, respectively, than the weight value assigned to telephone interconnect capabilities.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the weight value assigned to dispatch communication capabilities is lower, respectively, than the weight value assigned to encrypted communication capabilities.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the weight value assigned to dispatch communication capabilities is lower, respectively, than the weight value assigned to data messaging capabilities.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the weight value assigned to dispatch communication capabilities is lower, respectively, than the weight value assigned to telephone interconnect, encrypted communication, and data messaging capabilities.

10. In a radio frequency communication system having a resource controller for controlling allocation of a plurality of radio frequency communication resources amongst a plurality of radio frequency communication units, wherein a plurality of the radio frequency communication resources each support more than one communication capability from the group of communication capabilities comprising:

dispatch communications;

telephone interconnect;

encrypted communications;

data messaging;

a method of assigning a radio frequency communication resource to a radio frequency communication unit, comprising the steps of;

A) receiving a communication from a radio frequency communication unit, which communication includes an indication of radio frequency communication resource capability needs;

B) when no radio frequency communication resources are currently available to support the indicated radio frequency communication resource capability needs, declining to provide the radio frequency communication unit with a radio frequency communication resource;

C) when at least one radio frequency communication resource is currently available to support the indicated radio frequency communication resource capability needs, determining which of the radio frequency communication resources has sufficient capabilities to support the indicated radio frequency communication resource capability needs, to thereby form a group of candidate radio frequency communication resources;

D) providing each of the candidate radio frequency communication resources with a weight factor related, at least in part, to the particular communication capabilities supported by each of the candidate radio frequency communication resources, by;

i) assigning each communication capability an associated predetermined weight value, wherein the weight value assigned to dispatch communication capabilities is lower, respectively, than the weight value assigned to telephone interconnect, encrypted communication, and data messaging capabilities; and

ii) for each candidate radio frequency communication resource, combining the weight values that represent each of the communication capabilities supported by each candidate radio frequency communication resource; and

E) selecting a particular candidate radio frequency communication resource as a function of the weight factors to thereby minimize usurpation of unused communication capabilities.