Vehicular repeater system and method therefor
First Claim
1. A method for a vehicular repeater system, comprising the steps of:
- operating a plurality of vehicular repeaters in a common communication environment according to a particular priority scheme that designates a priority vehicular repeater and a non-priority vehicular repeater from among the plurality of vehicular repeaters;
at the non-priority vehicular repeater;
determining that an emergency alarm was submitted for retransmission by the priority vehicular repeater;
monitoring for a particular time period to detect an alarm acknowledgment indicating that the emergency alarm was processed by the priority vehicular repeater, which alarm acknowledgment is distinct from a retransmission of the emergency alarm; and
modifying the particular priority scheme when no alarm acknowledgment is detected by the non-priority vehicular repeater within the particular time period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a communication environment (140) having multiple vehicular repeater systems (110, 120) operating according to a priority scheme designating primary responsibility for retransmitting signals, a vehicular repeater system (120) supports automatic transitioning from a non-priority mode to a priority mode (410, 420). The vehicular repeater system (120), when operating in a non-priority mode, detects that a communication signal was submitted for retransmission by a priority vehicular repeater system (440), and monitors for a particular time period to detect an acknowledgment signal (450). When no acknowledgment signal is detected within the particular period, the priority scheme is modified, preferably such that the non-priority vehicular repeater assumes priority repeater status (460). In another aspect of the invention, the non-priority vehicular repeater system detects when the priority vehicular repeater system is unavailable, non-functional, or operating in a reduced functionality mode, and as a result assumes priority status (610, 620, 630).
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for a vehicular repeater system, comprising the steps of:
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operating a plurality of vehicular repeaters in a common communication environment according to a particular priority scheme that designates a priority vehicular repeater and a non-priority vehicular repeater from among the plurality of vehicular repeaters; at the non-priority vehicular repeater; determining that an emergency alarm was submitted for retransmission by the priority vehicular repeater; monitoring for a particular time period to detect an alarm acknowledgment indicating that the emergency alarm was processed by the priority vehicular repeater, which alarm acknowledgment is distinct from a retransmission of the emergency alarm; and modifying the particular priority scheme when no alarm acknowledgment is detected by the non-priority vehicular repeater within the particular time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a communication environment having a communication device and a plurality of vehicular repeaters within communication range thereof, including a first vehicular repeater having priority repeater status that signifies primary responsibility for repeating communications from the communication device, and a second vehicular repeater selectively adaptable to function with priority repeater status, a method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting, by the communication device, a communication signal; at the second vehicular repeater; detecting transmission of the communication signal; monitoring to detect an acknowledgment generated by the first vehicular repeater, which acknowledgment is distinct from a retransmission of the communication signal; and assuming priority repeater status when the acknowledgment is not detected within a predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A communication system, comprising:
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a portable radio that selectively transmits radio signals, including an emergency alarm signal; a first vehicular repeater system, comprising; a first vehicular repeater adaptable to receive radio signals transmitted by the portable radio; a first mobile radio, coupled to the first vehicular repeater, and adaptable to retransmit signals received by the first vehicular repeater; wherein the first vehicular repeater has priority repeater status that signifies primary responsibility for repeating the radio signals transmitted by the portable radio, and wherein the first vehicular repeater is adaptable to transmit an alarm acknowledgment when an emergency alarm signal is transmitted by the portable radio; a second vehicular repeater system, comprising; a second vehicular repeater; a second mobile radio, coupled to the second vehicular repeater, and responsive to retransmit signals received by the second vehicular repeater; and wherein the second vehicular repeater system is adaptable to retransmit the emergency alarm signal and to assume priority repeater status when the portable radio transmits an emergency alarm signal and no alarm acknowledgment is transmitted by the first vehicular repeater. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. In a communication environment having a communication device and a plurality of vehicular repeaters within communication range thereof, including a first vehicular repeater having priority repeater status that signifies primary responsibility for repeating communications from the communication device, and a second vehicular repeater selectively adaptable to function with priority repeater status, a method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting, by the communication device, a communication signal; at the second vehicular repeater; detecting transmission of the communication signal; determining whether the first vehicular repeater is operating in a reduced functionality mode that prevents retransmission of the communication signal; and assuming priority repeater status when the first vehicular repeater is operating in the reduced functionality mode wherein the step of determining comprises the step of monitoring to detect an acknowledgment generated by the first vehicular repeater in response to the communication signal, and determining that the first vehicular repeater is operating in a reduced functionality mode when no acknowledgment is detected within a predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for a repeater system, comprising the steps of:
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operating a plurality of repeaters according to a particular priority scheme that designates a priority repeater and a non-priority repeater from among the plurality of repeaters; at the non-priority repeater; determining that an emergency alarm was submitted for retransmission by the priority repeater; monitoring for a particular time period to detect an alarm acknowledgment indicating that the emergency alarm was processed by the priority repeater, which alarm acknowledgment is distinct from a retransmission of the emergency alarm; and modifying the particular priority scheme when no alarm acknowledgment is detected by the non-priority repeater within the particular time period.
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22. In a communication environment having a communication device and a plurality of repeaters within communication range thereof, including a first repeater having priority repeater status that signifies primary responsibility for repeating communications from the communication device, and a second repeater selectively adaptable to function with priority repeater status, a method responsive to a communication signal transmitted by the communication device, the method comprising the steps of:
at the second repeater; detecting transmission of the communication signal; monitoring to detect an acknowledgment, distinct from a retransmission of the communication signal, which acknowledgment is generated by the first repeater; and assuming priority repeater status when the acknowledgment is not detected within a predetermined time period.
Specification