Methods for implementing a talkgroup call with competing sources in a multicast IP network

• US 6,298,058 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Korus, Michael, McDonald, Daniel J., Maher, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US09/459,288
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 370/390, 370/274, 370/277, 370/279, 370/293, 370/299, 370/312, 370/310, 370/313, 370/327, 370/328, 370/329, 370/341, 370/349, 370/389, 370/432, 455/416, 455/422, 455/428, 455/500, 455/503, 455/518, 455/519, 455/524, 455/526
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

Methods for implementing talkgroup calls in an IP multicast network among competing sources, including console dispatch takeover of an active call from a subscriber, subscriber unit attempted takeover of an active call from a console, and operation of communication devices in different receive modes. In the takeover or attempted takeover situation, the methods allow for a first group of participating devices (e.g., consoles) to hear both competing sources, and for a second group of participating devices (e.g., base site repeaters) to hear only the higher priority source. The methods allow for different dekeying sequences between the competing sources after the takeover or attempted takeover, as appropriate, such that participating devices will hear the remaining source. Where multiple payloads are addressed to the same multicast group address, an exclusive receive mode enables a group of communication devices (e.g., base site repeaters) having joined the address to exclusively receive a selected one of the payloads.

Claims

1. In a communication system including a plurality of communication devices participating in an active talkgroup call, the active talkgroup call defining a first payload transmitted from a first communication device to one or more network devices and addressed to a first payload multicast group address, the communication devices having joined the first payload multicast group address to receive the first payload from the one or more network devices, a method comprising:

receiving, from a second communication device, a request to transmit during the active talkgroup call;

identifying a second payload multicast group address to be used for distributing payload from the second communication device during the active talkgroup call, the payload from the second communication device defining a second payload;

leaving, by a first group of the communication devices, the first payload multicast group address;

joining, by the first group of the communication devices and a second group of communication devices, the second payload multicast group address;

sending, from the second communication device to the one or more network devices, the second payload addressed to the second payload multicast group address; and

sending the second payload from the one or more network devices to the first and second group of communication devices joined to the second payload multicast group address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second payloads are selected from the group consisting of an audio payload, a data payload, a video payload, and a multimedia payload.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication devices participating in the active talkgroup call are selected from the group consisting of a portable wireless communication device, mobile wireless communication device, wireline communication device, wireless console, wireline console, repeater, site controller, comparator, telephone interconnect device, internet protocol telephony device, call logger, scanner and gateway.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second communication devices are selected from the group consisting of a portable wireless communication device, mobile wireless communication device, wireline communication device, wireless console, wireline console, repeater, site controller, comparator, telephone interconnect device and internet protocol telephony device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device has a lower transmit priority than the second communication device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first communication device comprises a subscriber unit and the second communication device comprises a console.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first group of communication devices comprises one or more repeaters and the second group of communication devices comprises one or more consoles.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device dekeys before the second communication device, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller, that the first communication device has dekeyed;

sending, by the controller to the second group of communication devices, respective messages indicating that the first communication device has dekeyed; and

leaving, by the second group of communication devices, the first payload multicast group address, the first and second group of communication devices remaining joined to the second payload multicast group address to receive the second payload from the second communication device.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

determining, by a controller, that the second communication device has dekeyed;

sending, by the controller to the first and second group of communication devices joined to the second payload multicast group address, respective messages indicating that the second communication device has dekeyed; and

leaving, by the first and second group of communication devices, the second payload multicast group address.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication device dekeys before the first communication device, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller, that the second communication device has dekeyed;

sending, by the controller to the first and second group of communication devices joined to the second payload multicast group address, respective messages indicating that the second communication device has dekeyed;

leaving, by the first and second group of communication devices, the second payload multicast group address;

joining, by the first group of communication devices, the first payload multicast group address, the first and second group of communication devices thereby being joined to the first payload multicast group address to receive the first payload from the first communication device.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

determining, by a controller, that the first communication device has dekeyed;

sending, by the controller to the first and second group of communication devices joined to the first payload multicast group address, respective messages indicating that the first communication device has dekeyed; and

leaving, by the first and second group of communication devices, the first payload multicast group address.

12. In a communication system including a plurality of communication devices participating in an active talkgroup call, the active talkgroup call defining a first payload transmitted from a first communication device to one or more network devices and addressed to a first payload multicast group address, a method comprising:

joining, by a first and second group of the communication devices, the first payload multicast group address;

receiving, from a second communication device, a request to transmit during the active talkgroup call;

identifying a second payload multicast group address to be used for distributing payload from the second communication device during the active talkgroup call, the payload from the second communication device defining a second payload;

joining, by the second group of communication devices, the second payload multicast group address

sending, from the second communication device to the one or more network devices, the second payload addressed to the second payload multicast group address; and

sending the second payload from the one or more network devices to the second group of communication devices joined to the second payload multicast group address.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the communication devices participating in the active talkgroup call are selected from the group consisting of a portable wireless communication device, mobile wireless communication device, wireline communication device, wireless console, wireline console, repeater, site controller, comparator, telephone interconnect device, internet protocol telephony device, call logger, scanner and gateway.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second communication devices are selected from the group consisting of a portable wireless communication device, mobile wireless communication device, wireline communication device, wireless console, wireline console, repeater, site controller, comparator, telephone interconnect device and internet protocol telephony device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first communication device has a higher transmit priority than the second communication device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first communication device comprises a console and the second communication device comprises a subscriber unit.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the first group of communication devices comprises one or more repeaters and the second group of communication devices comprises one or more consoles.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the second communication device dekeys before the first communication device, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller, that the second communication device has dekeyed;

sending, by the controller to the second group of communication devices joined to the second payload multicast group address, respective messages indicating that the second communication device has dekeyed; and

leaving, by the second group of communication devices, the second payload multicast group address, the first and second group of communication devices remaining joined to the first payload multicast group address to receive the first payload from the first communication device.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

determining, by a controller, that the first communication device has dekeyed;

sending, by the controller to the first and second group of communication devices joined to the first payload multicast group address, respective messages indicating that the first communication device has dekeyed; and

leaving, by the first and second group of communication devices, the first payload multicast group address.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the first communication device dekeys before the second communication device, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller, that the first communication device has dekeyed;

sending, by the controller to the first and second group of communication devices joined to the first payload multicast group address, respective messages indicating that the first communication device has dekeyed;

leaving, by the first and second group of communication devices, the first payload multicast group address;

joining, by the first group of communication devices, the second payload multicast group address, the first and second group of communication devices thereby being joined to the second payload multicast group address to receive the second payload from the second communication device.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

determining, by a controller, that the second communication device has dekeyed;

sending, by the controller to the first and second group of communication devices joined to the second payload multicast group address, respective messages indicating that the second communication device has dekeyed; and

leaving, by the first and second group of communication devices, the second payload multicast group address.

22. A method comprising the steps of:

simultaneously sending multiple payloads to one or more network devices from multiple sources, the multiple payloads being addressed to a first payload multicast group address;

assigning, by a controller, a communication device having joined the first payload multicast group address to enter an exclusive receive mode;

sending, from the communication device to the one or more network devices, respective messages requesting operation in the exclusive receive mode; and

sending, from the one or more network devices to the communication device having requested operation in the exclusive receive mode, only a selected one of the multiple payloads.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of assigning comprises:

identifying, by the controller, the selected one of the multiple payloads that is to be received in the exclusive receive mode;

sending, from a controller to the communication device, a message instructing the communication device to enter the exclusive receive mode, the message identifying the selected one of the multiple payloads that is to be received in the exclusive receive mode.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

sending, from the controller to the communication device, a message indicating that a communication device associated with the selected one of the multiple payloads has dekeyed;

sending, from the communication device to the one or more network devices, respective messages requesting to discontinue operation in the exclusive receive mode; and

sending, from the one or more network devices to the communication device having requested to discontinue operation in the exclusive receive mode, a remaining one or more of the multiple payloads.