Method for utilizing a control channel for both data and voice

• US 5,235,598 A
• Filed: 01/30/1992
• Issued: 08/10/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sasuta, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US07/828,326
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 370/94.1, 370/60, 370/110.1, 379/58, 379/59, 340/825.03, 340/825.04, 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/34.1, 455/34.2, 455/34.3, 455/34.4
• US Class Current: 370/327
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/125 One of the channel pulses or the synchronisation pulse is also used for transmitting monitoring or supervisory signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

In a trunking communication system that is equipped to utilize the control channel as both a voice and control channel, a communication unit can transmit control data to the communication resource allocator in the following manner. Once a voice channel is selected as a voice/control channel, a communication resource allocator transmits the selection to the plurality of communication units. Thus, when the control channel is functioning as a voice channel, the communication unit can transmit a control request to the communication resource allocator via the voice/control channel.

Claims

1. In a trunking communication system that comprises a plurality of communication units, a limited number of communication resources that are transceived via a predetermined number of repeaters, and a communication resource allocator that allocates the limited number of communication resources among the plurality of communication units, wherein one of the communication resources functions as a control channel and the remaining communication resources function as voice channels, and wherein, from time to time, the control channel is used as a voice channel, a method for the trunking communication system to allow a communication unit of the plurality of communication units to transmit control channel information to the communication resource allocator when the control channel is functioning as a voice channel, the method comprises the steps of:

a) selecting at least one of the limited number of communication resources to receive voice data and at least a limited set of control data to produce a voice/control channel;

b) transmitting the selection of the voice/control channel to the plurality of communication units;

c) when the control channel is functioning as a voice channel, transmitting a control request of the at least a limited set of control data to the communication resource allocator by a communication unit via the voice/control channel and

d) when the control channel is functioning as a voice channel, transmitting, by the communication resource allocator, a permission message to the plurality of communication units which indicates when the communication unit has allocated transmission time of a control request.

2. In a trunking communication system that comprises a plurality of communication units, a limited number of communication resources that are transceived via a predetermined number of repeaters, and a communication resource allocator that allocates the limited number of communication resources among the plurality of communication units, wherein one of the communication resources functions as a control channel and the remaining communication resources function as voice channels, and wherein, from time to time, the control channel is used as a voice channel, a method for a communication unit of the plurality of communication units to transmit control channel information to the communication resource allocator when the control channel is functioning as a voice channel, the method comprises the steps of:

a) receiving information pertaining to a selection of at least one voice/control channel which includes a limited set of control data that the communication resource allocator will receive when the control channel is functioning as a voice channel;

b) storing the information pertaining to the selection of the at least one selected voice/control channel and the limited set of control data;

c) when the control channel is functioning as a voice channel, transmitting a control request of the limited set of control data to the communication resource allocator via the at least one voice/control channel; and

d) when the control channel is no longer functioning as a voice channel, receiving information that the control channel is functioning as a control channel.

3. In a trunking communication system that comprises a plurality of communication units, a limited number of communication resources that are transceived via a predetermined number of repeaters, and a communication resource allocator that allocates the limited number of communication resources among the plurality of communication units, wherein one of the communication resources functions as a control channel and the remaining communication resources function as voice channels, and wherein, from time to time, the control channel is used as a voice channel, a method for a communication unit of the plurality of communication units to transmit control channel information to the communication resource allocator when the control channel is functioning as a voice channel, the method comprises the steps of:

a) receiving information pertaining to a selection of at least one voice/control channel which includes a limited set of control data that the communication resource allocator will receive when the control channel is functioning as a voice channel;

b) storing the information pertaining to the selection of the at least one selected voice/control channel and the limited set of control data;

c) when the control channel is functioning as a voice channel, transmitting a control request of the limited set of control data to the communication resource allocator via the at least one voice/control channel; and

d) when the control channel is functioning as a voice channel, receiving from the communication resource allocator, a permission message which indicates when the communication unit has allocated transmission time of a control request.