Repeater assisted channel hopping system and method therefor
First Claim
1. A method, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a signaling channel to detect a request for repeater service from a communication device;
monitoring a reservation channel to determine when there exists a communication slot on an inbound channel hopping sequence, when the request for repeater service is detected;
executing a setup procedure with the communication device, when an open communication slot exists on the inbound channel hopping sequence;
receiving communications from the communication device within the open communication slot as the communication slot transitions across channels of the inbound channel hopping sequence; and
retransmitting the communications received from the communication device on a corresponding communication slot of an outbound channel hopping sequence.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radio communication system (100) includes a repeater (111) that operates with a transceiver (132) on a channel hopping sequence. The repeater receives a request for repeater service transmitted by the transceiver (410), and responds by obtaining a communication slot on the channel hopping sequence (420). The repeater then executes a call setup procedure with the transceiver and with other participants of a communicating group (430). Preferably, the call setup procedure provides the repeater with information on the suitability of the communication slot (440). The repeater then retransmits information received on an inbound channel on a corresponding outbound channel using the communication slot, as the slot transitions across the channel hopping sequence (460, 470).
150 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring a signaling channel to detect a request for repeater service from a communication device; monitoring a reservation channel to determine when there exists a communication slot on an inbound channel hopping sequence, when the request for repeater service is detected; executing a setup procedure with the communication device, when an open communication slot exists on the inbound channel hopping sequence; receiving communications from the communication device within the open communication slot as the communication slot transitions across channels of the inbound channel hopping sequence; and retransmitting the communications received from the communication device on a corresponding communication slot of an outbound channel hopping sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of employing a repeater in a channel hopping protocol to facilitate communication between first and second transceivers, the method comprising the steps of:
at the first transceiver; (a) monitoring a reservation channel for a particular duration to detect a reservation signal; (b) transmitting a request for repeater service to the repeater, when no reservation signal is detected within the particular duration; (c) receiving information transmitted by the repeater identifying a communication slot; (d) monitoring a reservation channel for a time duration corresponding the communication slot to detect a reservation signal; (e) transmitting information to the repeater indicating suitability of the communication slot, when no reservation signal is detected during the monitoring of step (d); and (f) communicating with the second transceiver via the repeater using the communication slot. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. In a system having first and second transceivers, and a repeater to facilitate communication therebetween, the system employing a channel hopping protocol including a channel hopping sequence having corresponding inbound and outbound channels, a method comprising the steps of:
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at the first transceiver; (a) obtaining a first communication slot on the channel hopping sequence; (b) transmitting a request for repeater service to the repeater within the first communication slot while operating on a first signaling channel of the channel hopping sequence; at the repeater; (c) receiving the request for repeater service from the first transceiver; (d) obtaining a second communication slot on the channel hopping sequence; (e) transmitting information on the second communication slot to the first transceiver; at the first transceiver; (f) receiving the information on the second communication slot from the repeater; (h) determining whether the second communication slot is suitable for communications; (i) confirming suitability of the second communication slot to the repeater; (j) communicating, using the second communication slot, particular information to the repeater for retransmission to the second transceiver; at the repeater using the second communication slot; (k) receiving the particular information for retransmission on an inbound channel; and (l) retransmitting the particular information on an outbound channel corresponding to the inbound channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A radio communication system, comprising:
a repeater site having a base transceiver operable to communicate according to a channel hopping protocol that defines an inbound channel hopping sequence and an outbound channel hopping sequence that comprise a plurality of inbound and outbound channels, respectively, including a reservation channel, and inbound and outbound signaling channels, wherein the base transceiver is responsive to a request for repeater service received on the inbound signaling channel to monitor the reservation channel for a communication slot, to transmit information on the communication slot, when detected, on the outbound signaling channel, and to retransmit, using the communication slot, communications received on an inbound channel on a corresponding outbound channel, while channel hopping according to the channel hopping protocol. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A radio communication system having a repeater that supports a channel hopping protocol that defines an inbound channel hopping sequence and an outbound channel hopping sequence that comprise a plurality of inbound and outbound channels, respectively, including a reservation channel, the system comprising:
a subscriber transceiver that receives repeater service from the repeater, the subscriber transceiver being operable to obtain a system acquisition slot on the inbound channel hopping sequence by monitoring the reservation channel, to transmit a request for repeater service to the repeater within the system acquisition slot and to receive in response information on a communication slot, the subscriber transceiver being responsive to information on the communication slot to determine suitability of the communication slot, and to confirm suitability of the communication slot to the repeater.
Specification