Radio frequency multicasting

• US 8,233,422 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• 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:
  US12/698,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20100135197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 370/312, 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 multicast site architecture for communicating land mobile radio (LMR) content, said multicast site architecture comprising:

a plurality of communication sites; and

an LMR over Internet Protocol (IP) interface associated with at least one communication site of said plurality of communication sites, said LMR over IP interface configured to;

transmit call control and signaling information to a plurality of LMR units using at least one control multicast IP address,

assign a different traffic multicast IP address to each of a plurality of talkgroups for communicating LMR content between LMR units of said plurality of LMR units which subscribe to at least one of said plurality of talkgroups,

identify at least one talkgroup of said plurality of talkgroups having an active communication within said at least one communication site,

determine if an LMR unit, which is not currently participating in said active communication, is a subscriber to said at least one talkgroup,

identify a traffic multicast IP address that is assigned to said at least one talkgroup, and

communicate said traffic multicast IP address to said LMR unit only if it is determined that said LMR unit is a subscriber to said talkgroup.

2. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 1, wherein said LMR over IP interface is further configured to assign an individual IP address to each LMR unit of said plurality of LMR units.

3. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 2, wherein said LMR over IP interface is further configured to determine if said LMR unit is a subscriber to said at least one talkgroup based on said individual IP address of said LMR unit.

4. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 3, wherein said LMR over IP interface is further configured to communicate to said LMR unit said traffic multicast IP address that is assigned to said identified talkgroup.

5. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 4, wherein said traffic multicast IP address assigned to said identified talkgroup is different for at least two of said plurality of communication sites.

6. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 4, wherein said plurality of communication sites are configured to communicate said LMR content to said LMR units which subscribe to said identified talkgroup using said traffic multicast IP address assigned to said identified talkgroup.

7. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 6, wherein said plurality of communication sites are further configured to communicate said LMR content to said LMR units which subscribe to said identified talkgroup over a single radio frequency.

8. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 1, wherein said LMR content is formatted in accordance with a Project 25 format, a terrestrial trunked radio format, an enhanced digital access communications system format or an Opensky format.

9. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 1, wherein said LMR content is IP encapsulated with an IP protocol header.

10. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 9, wherein said IP protocol header comprises at least one of said traffic multicast IP addresses.

11. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 1, wherein said LMR over IP interface is further configured to encapsulate said LMR content in an IP wrapper formatted and addressed to said plurality of LMR units using at least one of said traffic multicast IP addresses.

12. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control and signaling information identifies said at least one talkgroup and at least one traffic multicast IP address of said traffic multicast IP addresses that is assigned to said at least one talkgroup.

13. A multicast site architecture in accordance with claim 12, wherein said control and signaling information further comprises call priority information, timing information, frequency information and channel information.