Method and apparatus for communicating in a dispatch communication system
First Claim
1. A method for communicating in a dispatch communication system that includes a plurality of base sites and a system controller, wherein each base site of the plurality of base sites provides communication service to a respective service coverage area of a plurality of service coverage areas and wherein the system controller controls allocation of radio communication resources to groups of communication units as individual communication units of the groups travel throughout the plurality of service coverage areas, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) establishing a dispatch communication between a first group of communication units;
b) determining a first length of time since establishment of the dispatch communication;
c) determining whether an event indicative of call reassignment has occurred;
d) when the event indicative of call reassignment has occurred, determining, based on the first length of time, a second length of time commencing at a time of the event for maintaining allocation of a radio communication resource assigned to the dispatch communication;
e) determining whether call reassignment has occurred within the second length of time; and
f) when call reassignment has not occurred within the second length of time, terminating the dispatch communication.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispatch communication system (100) that includes a system controller (101), multiple base sites (103-105), and a group of communication units (107-111) employs a method and apparatus for communicating therein. A system device (either the system controller or a communication unit) establishes a dispatch communication between the group of communication units. Once the communication is established, the system device starts a timer and continuously determines a first length of time (call time) since establishment of the communication. The system device also determines whether an event indicative of call reassignment has occurred during the communication. When such an event has occurred, the system device determines a second length of time (hang time) based on the call time, wherein the hang time commences upon the occurrence of the event. Upon determining the hang time, the system device further determines whether call reassignment has occurred within the hang time. When call reassignment has not occurred within the hang time, the system device terminates the call.
133 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for communicating in a dispatch communication system that includes a plurality of base sites and a system controller, wherein each base site of the plurality of base sites provides communication service to a respective service coverage area of a plurality of service coverage areas and wherein the system controller controls allocation of radio communication resources to groups of communication units as individual communication units of the groups travel throughout the plurality of service coverage areas, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) establishing a dispatch communication between a first group of communication units; b) determining a first length of time since establishment of the dispatch communication; c) determining whether an event indicative of call reassignment has occurred; d) when the event indicative of call reassignment has occurred, determining, based on the first length of time, a second length of time commencing at a time of the event for maintaining allocation of a radio communication resource assigned to the dispatch communication; e) determining whether call reassignment has occurred within the second length of time; and f) when call reassignment has not occurred within the second length of time, terminating the dispatch communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system controller that allocates radio communication resources in support of dispatch communications among a group of communication units as individual communication units of the group travel throughout a plurality of service coverage areas of a dispatch communication system, the system controller comprising:
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a signaling interface coupled to a plurality of base sites that provide communication service to the plurality of service coverage areas; and a memory device, coupled to the signaling interface, having stored therein a computer program that, when executed, performs the following functions; establishes a dispatch communication between the group of communication units; determines a first length of time since establishment of the dispatch communication; determines whether an event indicative of call reassignment has occurred; when the event indicative of call reassignment has occurred, determines, based on the first length of time, a second length of time commencing at a time of the event for maintaining allocation of a radio communication resource assigned to the dispatch communication; determines whether call reassignment has occurred within the second length of time; and when call reassignment has not occurred within the second length of time, terminates the dispatch communication.
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10. A communication unit in a dispatch communication system, the communication unit being one member of a group of communication units that travel throughout a plurality of service coverage areas of the dispatch communication system, the communication unit comprising:
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a transmitter that transmits radio communication resource requests and voice information to at least one base site of a plurality of base sites that provide communication service to the plurality of service coverage areas; a receiver that receives radio communication resource allocations and voice information from the at least one base site; and a memory device, coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, having stored therein a computer program that, when executed, performs the following functions; establishes a dispatch communication between the group of communication units; determines a first length of time since establishment of the dispatch communication; determines whether an event indicative of call reassignment has occurred; when the event indicative of call reassignment has occurred, determines, based on the first length of time, a second length of time commencing at a time of the event for maintaining allocation of a radio communication resource assigned to the dispatch communication; determines whether call reassignment has occurred within the second length of time; and when call reassignment has not occurred within the second length of time, terminates the dispatch communication.
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Specification