Radio frequency multicasting

• US 7,839,811 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eagle Technology, LLC (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pine Valley Investments, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martinez, Dennis Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/711,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20080205321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 370/312, 370/310, 370/328, 370/338, 455/518, 455/519, 455/90.2, 455/73
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5069 for group communication, multicast communication or broadcast communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A method for radio frequency multicasting and a multicast site architecture are provided. The method includes assigning a different traffic multicast Internet Protocol (IP) address to each of a plurality of groups of LMR users and encapsulating the LMR content within IP packets. The method further includes transmitting the IP packets to one of the plurality of groups of LMR users using at least one of the assigned traffic multicast IP addresses.

Claims

1. A method for communicating land mobile radio (LMR) content, the method comprising:

assigning a different traffic multicast Internet Protocol (IP) address to each of a plurality of talk groups;

identifying at least one talk group of said plurality of talk groups having an active communication within a communication site;

determining if an LMR unit, which is not currently participating in the active communication, is a subscriber to said identified talk group;

identifying a traffic multicast IP address that is assigned to said identified talk group;

communicating said traffic multicast IP address to said LMR unit only if it is determined that said LMR unit is a subscriber to said identified talk group;

encapsulating the LMR content within IP packets; and

transmitting the IP packets to or from said LMR unit and at least two other LMR units that are participating in said active communication using said traffic multicast IP address.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising assigning an individual IP address to each of a plurality of LMR units.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising assigning a control multicast IP address for communicating control information to a plurality of LMR units.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the control information includes the traffic multicast IP address.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plurality of talk groups comprises at least one of a police department talk group and a fire department talk group.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the IP packets via a single radio transmission frequency.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein assigned traffic multicast IP addresses are the same for each of a plurality of communication sites.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein assigned traffic multicast IP addresses are different for each of a plurality of communication sites.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transmitting comprises using a cellular IP network to communicate the LMR content.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transmitting comprises using a cellular system to communicate the LMR content.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the encapsulating comprises encapsulating the LMR content based on the traffic multicast IP address.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the traffic multicast IP addresses are assigned within at least one of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system, an Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) system, an Evolution-Date Optimized (EV-DO) system and a combination thereof.

13. A method for providing land mobile radio (LMR) radio frequency (RF) communication, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one control stream to detect a particular control multicast Internet Protocol (IP) address, the control stream comprising call control and signaling information;

identifying, at a controller of a communication site, at least one talkgroup of a plurality of talkgroups having an active communication within said communication site;

determining, at said controller, if an LMR unit, which is not currently participating in said active communication, is a subscriber to said talkgroup;

identifying, at said controller, a traffic multicast IP address that is assigned to said talkgroup;

communicating said traffic multicast IP address from said controller to said LMR unit only if it is determined that said LMR unit is a subscriber to said talkgroup;

communicating encapsulated LMR content between said LMR unit and at least two other LMR units that are participating in said active communication using said traffic multicast IP address.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the LMR content is communicated as Push-To-Talk (PTT) Voice over IP (VoIP) data streams.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising assigning individual IP addresses to each of a plurality of LMR units.

16. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising configuring the LMR units to scan for the control multicast IP address.