Communication system of multi-channel access

• US 5,835,845 A
• Filed: 01/29/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Fukushima, Takao, Maeda, Ichiro, Niki, Atsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Chris
• Application Number:
  US08/593,709
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/7, 348/10, 348/11, 348/12, 348/13, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 455/500, 455/507, 455/517, 455/518, 455/519
• US Class Current: 725/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A method and system for supervising communications a multi-channel access communication system having a plurality of terminals connected to a plurality of communication channels. The terminals are classified into a plurality of groups each including at least one terminal. When a group calls another group, it is checked by referring to a management table if there is any terminal in communications in the called group. If there is a terminal in communications, the call is invalidated.

Claims

1. A multi-channel access communication system for communicating between a plurality of terminals through a transmission medium and a base station, comprising:

a plurality of said terminals classified into a plurality of groups, in which at least one terminal belongs to both a first group and a second group,

wherein said transmission medium transmits control signals and information signals between said terminals, and

wherein said base station comprises;

a memory which stores communication status data of said terminals in each of said groups, and

line control means for providing a group call function for calling all terminals belonging in each group and invalidating a group call request from a terminal in a third group to said second group in accordance with said communication status data of said memory when said one terminal belonging to said first group and said second group is in a communication state with any other terminal.

2. A multi-channel access communication system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission medium is one of a coaxial cable line for transmitting a high frequency electric signal and an optical cable line for transmitting a high frequency optical signal.

3. A multi-channel access communication system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission medium is a radio wave transmission line.

4. A multi-channel access communication system according to claim 1, wherein said memory has stored therein a table, in which said communication status data of said terminals are stored.

5. A method of calling a terminal of a multi-channel access communication system having a plurality of terminals connected to communication channels and classified into a plurality of groups, in which at least one terminal belongs to at least two groups, said method comprising the steps of:

calling one of the groups;

judging whether said one terminal is included in communications in the called group; and

issuing a notice of an invalid call, when said one terminal is included in the communications,

wherein said judging step comprises the steps of;

identifying the called group,

identifying another group having an overlapped terminal belonging also to the called group by referring to a group management table,

judging if the other group having the overlapped terminal is in communications, and

if the other group is in communications, indicating that a terminal is in communications.

6. A method of calling a terminal of a multi-channel access communication system having a plurality of terminals connected to communication channels and classified into a plurality of groups, in which at least one terminal belongs to at least two groups, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a group call request from a terminal to one of the groups;

identifying the called group;

identifying another group having an overlapped terminal belonging to the called group by referring to a group management table;

judging whether said another group having the overlapped terminal is in communications; and

when said another group is in communications, issuing an notice of an invalid group call request.