Trunking radio system with frequency diversity
First Claim
1. A trunking radio system comprising a central station and at least one remote unit for communication with the central station over a plural number of frequency-divided radio channels, wherein the central station comprises:
- a transmitter for transmitting a plurality of signals to different remote units on different channels;
a trunking controller coupled to the transmitter for allocating channels to said different remote units and for signalling to a remote unit via the transmitter to access a channel, said trunking controller having traffic monitoring means for monitoring at a given time the number of channels allocated, said trunking controller being responsive to the traffic monitoring means to signal to the remote unit via the transmitter to access at least two channels when the number of channels allocated is less than the plural number of radio channels; and
diversity means responsive to the traffic monitoring means, for receiving signals from the remote unit over said at least two channels; and
the remote unit comprises;
a receiver for receiving signalling from the central station, anddiversity transmitting means responsive to said signalling for transmitting a signal over said at least two channels.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a trunking radio system (FIG. 1) having a central station and at least one remote station for communication with the central station over a number of frequency-divided radio channels. The central station has a transmitter (10) for transmitting a number of signals to different remote units on different channels and a trunking controller (12) for allocating channels to different remote units. The trunking controller monitors the excess number of channels over the number of channels allocated to remote units. The central controller signals to a remote unit to allocate a channel to the remote unit when there is at least one excess channel. Signals received from the remote unit over the at least two channels are diversity combined (21). The remote unit has a receiver for receiving signalling from the central station and a diversity transmitter (34, 35, 39) responsive to the signalling for transmitting a signal over the at least two channels. The invention also relates to a central station and a remote unit per se.
56 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A trunking radio system comprising a central station and at least one remote unit for communication with the central station over a plural number of frequency-divided radio channels, wherein the central station comprises:
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a transmitter for transmitting a plurality of signals to different remote units on different channels; a trunking controller coupled to the transmitter for allocating channels to said different remote units and for signalling to a remote unit via the transmitter to access a channel, said trunking controller having traffic monitoring means for monitoring at a given time the number of channels allocated, said trunking controller being responsive to the traffic monitoring means to signal to the remote unit via the transmitter to access at least two channels when the number of channels allocated is less than the plural number of radio channels; and diversity means responsive to the traffic monitoring means, for receiving signals from the remote unit over said at least two channels; and
the remote unit comprises;a receiver for receiving signalling from the central station, and diversity transmitting means responsive to said signalling for transmitting a signal over said at least two channels.
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2. In a trunking radio system comprising a central station and at least one remote unit for communication with the central station over a plural number of frequency-divided radio channels, the central station comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting a plurality of signals to different remote units on different channels; a trunking controller for allocating channels to different remote units and for signalling to a remote unit via the transmitter to access a channel to the remote unit, said trunking controller having traffic monitoring means for monitoring at a given time the number of channels allocated; said trunking controller being responsive to the traffic monitoring means to signal to the remote unit via the transmitter to access at least two channels when the number of channels allocated is less than the plural number of frequency-divided radio channels; and diversity means responsive to the traffic monitoring means, for receiving signals from the remote unit over said at least two channels. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a trunking radio system comprising a central station and at least one remote unit for communication with the central station over a plurality of frequency-divided radio channels, a remote unit comprising:
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processing means for signalling to the central station a request for allocation of at least two channels for transmission, for receiving a channel grant command arranged as one of a first format and a second format, the first format containing one channel identifier and the second format containing two channel identifiers, and for decoding the channel grant command and determining in which of the two formats the command is arranged; and transmit means responsive to the processing means for transmitting on a single channel if the channel grant command contains only one channel identifier; and
said transmitting means including a diversity transmitting means for transmitting the same signal on two channels if the channel grant command contains two channel identifiers.
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8. A method of operating a trunking radio system having a central station and at least one remote unit for communication with the central station over a plural number of frequency-divided radio channels, the method comprising the steps of:
- at the central station;
transmitting a plurality of signals to different remote units on different channels; allocating channels to said different remote units; monitoring at a given time the number of channels allocated; identifying that the number of channels allocated is less than the plural number of radio channels; signalling to a remote unit to access at least two channels when the number of channels allocated is less than the plural number of radio channels; receiving signals from the remote unit over said at least two channels; and diversity combining the signals received over the at least two channels; and
at the remote unit;receiving signalling from the central station to access at least two channels; and transmitting a signal over said at least two channels.
- at the central station;
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9. A method of operation of a central station of a trunking radio system having a central station and at least one remote unit for communication with the central station over a plural number of frequency-divided radio channels, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a plurality of signals to different remote units on different channels; allocating channels to different remote units; monitoring at a given time the number of channels allocated; identifying when there is no available channel; and when there are at least two channels available; signalling to a remote unit to access at least two channels; receiving signals from the remote unit over said at least two channels; and diversity combining the signals received over the at least two channels. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. In a trunking radio system having a central station and at least one remote unit for communication with the central station over a plurality of frequency-divided radio channels, a method of operation of a remote unit comprising the steps of:
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signalling to the central station a request for allocation of at least two channels for transmission; receiving a channel grant command arranged as one of first and second formats, the first format containing one channel identifier and the second format containing two channel identifiers; decoding the channel grant command and determining in which of the two formats the command is arranged; transmitting a signal intended for the central station on a single channel if the channel grant command contains only the one channel identifier; and transmitting the signal intended for the central station on two channels if the channel grant command contains the two channel identifiers. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification