Multi-mode communications system
First Claim
1. A communications device, comprising:
- a local radio system comprising a portable radio and a mobile radio which has a longer range capability as compared to said portable radio, said portable radio configured to operate in accordance with a plurality of communication modes and support wireless communications with a distant radio device both directly and through said mobile radio;
a switch element communicatively coupled to said portable radio and configured to selectively cause the portable radio to transmit when the switch element is actuated;
a control element for detecting one or more actuations of said switch element and configured to select a one of said plurality of communications modes based on a sequence of said actuations of said switch element detected by said control element during a pre-defined time interval and to cause a wireless transmission from said portable radio to said mobile radio according to said one of said plurality of communications modes.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications device includes a first radio (106, 300) configured to support wireless communications with a second radio (104) using a plurality of communications modes. The device includes a switch element (118, 326) configured to cause the first radio to transmit when actuated. The device also includes a control element (306, 324) for detecting one or more actuations of the switch element and configured to select a one of the plurality of communications modes based on a sequence of the actuations of the switch element detected by the control element during a pre-defined time interval and to cause a wireless transmission from the first radio to the second radio according to the one of the plurality of communications modes.
47 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A communications device, comprising:
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a local radio system comprising a portable radio and a mobile radio which has a longer range capability as compared to said portable radio, said portable radio configured to operate in accordance with a plurality of communication modes and support wireless communications with a distant radio device both directly and through said mobile radio; a switch element communicatively coupled to said portable radio and configured to selectively cause the portable radio to transmit when the switch element is actuated; a control element for detecting one or more actuations of said switch element and configured to select a one of said plurality of communications modes based on a sequence of said actuations of said switch element detected by said control element during a pre-defined time interval and to cause a wireless transmission from said portable radio to said mobile radio according to said one of said plurality of communications modes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating a communications device comprising a portable radio which is part of a local radio system including a mobile radio, said mobile radio having a longer range capability as compared to said portable radio, and said portable radio configured to support wireless communications with a distant radio device using a plurality of communications modes responsive to actuation of a switch element communicatively coupled to said portable radio, the method comprising:
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detecting one or more actuations of said switch element during a pre-defined time interval; selecting a one of said plurality of communications modes based on a sequence of said actuations of said switch element during said pre-defined time interval; and using said selected one of said plurality of communication modes to communicate with said distant radio device; wherein said plurality of communication modes include communicating directly from said portable radio to said distant radio device and communicating indirectly from said portable radio to said distant radio device using an intermediate wireless transmission involving said mobile radio. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A wireless communications system, comprising:
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a local radio system comprising a portable radio device and a mobile radio device which has a longer range communication capability as compared to said portable radio device, wherein said portable radio device is configured to support long-range wireless communications with a distant radio device both directly and indirectly through said mobile radio device by using short-range wireless communications with said mobile radio device, and said mobile radio device is configured to support said long-range wireless communications with said distant radio and said short-range wireless communications with said portable radio device, wherein a transmit power of said mobile radio device during said long-range communications is greater than a transmit power of said portable radio device during said long-range communications, and wherein said portable radio device comprises a switch element configured to cause the portable radio device to transmit when actuated and a control element for detecting one or more actuations of said switch element and configured to select a one of said plurality of communications modes based on a sequence of said actuations of said switch element detected by said control element during a pre-defined time interval and to cause a wireless transmission from said portable radio to said mobile radio according to said one of said plurality of communications modes. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification