Switch-to-talk functionality for multivoice two-way radios

• US 8,681,663 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dominant Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dominant Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Fraser, Ronald Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CUNNINGHAM, KEVIN M
• Application Number:
  US13/961,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20130329608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 230 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/175 using interference effects; Masking sound
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3026 Feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3055 Transfer function of the acoustic system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/26 combined with the use of different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/02 for preventing acoustic reaction , i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/453
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A multivoice radio system allows users to speak and listen, at the same time, to others using multivoice radios without using a base station. Several embodiments of the present invention are directed toward combining a multivoice radio with push-to-talk (PTT), long-range radio. Other embodiments combine two or more multivoice systems and/or use an extender to increase a distance that multivoice radios can communicate with each other. Combining multivoice systems, in some embodiments, creates a voice and/or data mesh network. Switch-to-talk (STT) functionality can be added to systems to increase a number of users and promote radio discipline. Additionally, a combined in-ear microphone and speaker is disclosed. Further embodiments are directed to combining duplex radios, such as mobile phones, to multivoice systems, and/or PTT systems.

Claims

1. A wireless-conferencing radio system implementing time division multiple access (TDMA), the wireless-conferencing radio system comprising:

a master radio configured to;

assign the master radio to a first transmission slot of a plurality of transmission slots, for transmitting audio communication during the first transmission slot, wherein the plurality of transmission slots are subdivisions of a segment of time used in implementing the TDMA protocol in the wireless-conferencing radio system;

assign a first slave radio to a second transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots, for transmitting audio communication during the second transmission slot; and

assign, in response to a second slave radio operating in a transmit mode, the second slave radio to a third transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots, for transmitting audio communication during the third transmission slot;

the first slave radio configured to receive an assignment from the master radio to transmit during the second transmission slot; and

the second slave radio configured to;

operate in a listen mode, wherein operating in the listen mode comprises the second slave radio being configured to;

receive, directly, wireless communication from the master radio during the first transmission slot;

receive, directly, wireless communication from the first slave radio during the second transmission slot; and

not receiving an assignment to transmit audio communication on any transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots, even though the second slave radio is operable and there is an un-assigned transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots; and

operate in the transmit mode, wherein operating in the transmit mode comprises the second slave radio being configured to;

receive, directly, wireless communication from the master radio during the first transmission slot;

receive, directly, wireless communication from the first slave radio during the second transmission slot; and

receive an assignment from the master radio to transmit audio communication during the third transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots;

receive an indication from an end user of the second slave radio to switch from the listen mode to the transmit mode or from the transmit mode to the listen mode; and

switch from the listen mode to the transmit mode or from the transmit mode to the listen mode.

2. The wireless-conferencing radio system as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication from the end user of the second slave radio is received because the end user of the second slave radio activates a switch on the radio.

3. The wireless-conferencing radio system as recited in claim 2, wherein the second slave radio is further configured to:

limit the second slave radio from transmitting audio communication when a button on the second slave radio is not activated, wherein the button is different from the switch; and

allow the second slave radio to transmit audio communication during the third transmission slot when the button is activated.

4. The wireless-conferencing radio system as recited in claim 1, wherein when the second slave radio operates in the transmit mode, the second slave radio is configured to transmit audio communication to the master radio and to the first slave radio during the third transmission slot.

5. The wireless-conferencing radio system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first slave radio is further configured to receive the assignment from the master radio to transmit during the second transmission slot after a switch on the first slave radio is activated, and

previous to activation of the switch on the first slave radio, the first slave radio was in a second listen mode comprising the first slave radio being configured to;

receive wireless communication from the master radio during the first transmission slot; and

not receive an assignment to transmit audio communication on any transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots.

6. The wireless-conferencing radio system as recited in claim 1, wherein the master radio, the first slave radio, and the second slave radio implement at least one protocol selected from the group consisting of:

frequency hopping,

spread spectrum,

direct sequence spread spectrum,

ultra wideband,

frequency division multiple access,

packet mode multiple access, and

space division multiple access.

7. A method for operating a first radio, the method comprising:

operating the first radio in a first mode, wherein operating the first radio in the first mode comprises;

operating the first radio in a time-division multiplexed radio system;

receiving wireless communication directly from a second radio during a first transmission slot of a plurality of transmission slots, wherein a segment of time is subdivided into the plurality of transmission slots as part of the time-division multiplexed radio system;

receiving wireless communication directly from a third radio during a second transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots; and

the first radio not being assigned to a transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots for transmitting audio communication, even though the first radio is operable and there is an un-assigned transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots, wherein the first radio does not transmit audio communication;

operating the first radio in a second mode, wherein operating the first radio in the second mode comprises;

operating the first radio in the time-division multiplexed radio system;

receiving wireless communication directly from the second radio during the first transmission slot,

receiving wireless communication directly from the third radio during the second transmission slot, and

the first radio being assigned to a third transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots for transmitting audio communication; and

receiving an indication from a switch activated by a user of the first radio to switch from operating in the first mode to operating in the second mode or from operating in the second mode to operating in the first mode.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the switch is a wireless switch.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the first radio is assigned to the third transmission slot by the second radio.

10. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the method further comprises receiving an indication from the second radio and the first radio switches from operating in the second mode to operating in the first mode.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the first radio operating in the second mode comprises transmitting audio communication to the first radio and to the second radio during the third transmission slot.

12. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the first radio operating in the first mode comprises transmitting non-audio data to the second radio.

13. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the switch is a microphone being plugged or unplugged from the first radio.

14. A radio comprising:

a receiver, wherein;

the receiver is configured to receive, directly, wireless communication from a second radio and a third radio using a time-division multiple access protocol;

the second radio transmits to the receiver during a first transmission slot of a plurality of transmission slots, wherein the plurality of transmission slots is used to implement the time-division multiple access protocol between the first radio, the second radio, and the third radio;

the third radio transmits to the receiver during a second transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots, and

the plurality of transmission slots are subdivisions of a segment of time;

a transmitter for transmitting wireless communication;

circuitry configured to operate the radio in at least two modes, a first mode and a second mode, wherein;

the radio operating in the first mode is not assigned to a transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots for transmitting audio communication, even though the radio is operable and there is an un-assigned transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots, and

the radio operating in the second mode is assigned to a third transmission slot of the plurality of transmission slots for transmitting audio communication; and

.

a switch that allows a user of the radio to select operating the radio in the first mode or the second mode.

15. The radio as recited in claim 14, the radio further comprising a headset and the switch is located on the headset.

17. The radio as recited in claim 14, wherein the radio, when operating in the second mode, transmits audio communication to the second radio and to the third radio during the third transmission slot.

18. The radio as recited in claim 14, wherein the circuitry comprises a processor.

19. The radio as recited in in claim 14, the radio further comprising a connection to a microphone, wherein in response to the microphone being unplugged from the radio or turned off, the radio is switched from operating in the second mode to operating in the first mode.

20. The radio as recited in as recited in claim 14, wherein the radio implements at least one protocol selected from the group consisting of:

frequency hopping,

spread spectrum,

direct sequence spread spectrum,

ultra wideband,

frequency division multiple access,

packet mode multiple access, and

space division multiple access.

16. The radio as recited in 14, the radio further comprising a push-to-talk button.