Dispatch system and method of assigning a shared channel to remote units
First Claim
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1. A dispatch system, comprising:
- a plurality of the remote units;
a dispatch station configure to assign to each of the remote units one plurality of available channels if a number of the available channels exceeds a number of the remote units, to assign one of a plurality of share channels and a unique control code to at least one of the remote units when the number of remote units exceeds the number of available channels and the at least one of the remote units is to be individually addressed by the dispatch station, and to assign a common one of the shared channels and a shared control code to each of the remote units in a group; and
a satellite for receiving data from the dispatch station and for broadcasting the data to the remote units.
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Abstract
A dispatch system (10) uses satellites (40) to broadcast simultaneously to an individual remote unit (30), to a select group of remote units (30) or to all the remote units (30). The dispatch system (10) may assign a remote unit (30) to a unique channel if there are enough available channels, or may assign the remote units (30) to a shared channel when the number of available channels is limited. The remote units (30) are given a unique control code or a shared control code. Based on the channel and the control code, the remote unit (30) will be able to listen to the broadcast or ignore it.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A dispatch system, comprising:
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a plurality of the remote units;
a dispatch station configure to assign to each of the remote units one plurality of available channels if a number of the available channels exceeds a number of the remote units, to assign one of a plurality of share channels and a unique control code to at least one of the remote units when the number of remote units exceeds the number of available channels and the at least one of the remote units is to be individually addressed by the dispatch station, and to assign a common one of the shared channels and a shared control code to each of the remote units in a group; and
a satellite for receiving data from the dispatch station and for broadcasting the data to the remote units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of communicating between a dispatch station and a plurality of remote units, comprising the steps of:
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a) assigning to each of the remote units one of a plurality of available channels if a number of the available channels exceeds a number of the remote units;
b) assigning one of a plurality of shared channels and a unique control code to at least one of the remote units if the number of remote units exceeds the number of available channels and the at least one of the remote units is to be individually addressed by the dispatch station;
c) assigning a common one of the shared channels and a shared control code to each of the remote units in a group;
d) broadcasting data to a satellite; and
e) broadcasting the data to the remote units from the satellite. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
each of the remote units requesting a connection;
the dispatch station acknowledging each of the remote units and granting the connection; and
establishing a connection between each of the remote units and the satellite and the dispatch station and the satellite.
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13. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:
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d) receiving the data over the shared channel; and
e) determining whether the data are addressed to a particular remote unit based on a control code.
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Specification