Methods for coordinating wireless coverage between different wireless networks for members of a communication group

• US 8,977,310 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Logalbo, Robert D., Anderson, Jeffrey S., Hiben, Bradley M., McDonald, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US12/982,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20120172083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 455/518, 455/519, 455/552.1, 455/445, 455/433, 455/90.2, 455450-453, 455/560, 455/414.3, 455/428, 455/507, 455/432.1, 455/412.1, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 4554351-4353, 455440-444, 370/335, 370/342, 370/441, 370/401, 370/352, 370/355, 370/466
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0009 for a plurality of users or terminals, e.g. group communication or moving wireless networks user group management H04W4/08; processing of subscriber group data H04W8/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data

Abstract

A method for coordinating wireless coverage between a first wireless network and a second wireless network for a communication device, wherein the communication device performs the method, which includes: detecting wireless coverage by the first wireless network; affiliating to a communication group to become a member of the communication group; receiving, from an infrastructure device coupled to the first wireless network, a set of channels on the second wireless network for the communication group, wherein the set of channels is determined based on the location of members of the communication group; detecting a loss of coverage in the first wireless network of at least one member of the communication group; and, responsive to detecting the loss of coverage, switching to a channel in the set of channels on the second wireless network for communications for the communication group.

Claims

1. A method for coordinating wireless coverage between a first wireless network and a second wireless network for members of a communication group, wherein a communication protocol implemented by the second wireless network is different from a communication protocol implemented by the second wireless network, the method comprising:

an infrastructure device coupled to the first wireless network performing;

determining that a first communication device has joined as a first member of the communication group and is engaged in a group communication over the first wireless newtwork;

determining a first set of channels on the second wireless network for the communication group, wherein the first set of channels is determined based on the location of members of the communication group;

determining a first priority channel in the first set of channels;

sending the first set of channels including the first priority channel to the first communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first priority channel is determined based on size of the coverage area of the channels in the first set.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first priority channel is a channel in the first set of channels having a smallest coverage area in which at least a majority of the members of the communication group are located.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the infrastructure device performing

determining and sending to a second member of the communication group a second set of channels on the second wireless network for the communication group, wherein the second set of channels includes a second priority channel;

changing the second priority channel to the first priority channel based at least on the locations of the first communication device and the second member of the communication group;

sending the first priority channel to the second communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a first channel in the first set of channels is the same channel as is included in a second set of channels for a second member of the communication group, based on the location of the first communication device and the location of a second member of the communication group.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a first channel in the first set of channels has a coverage area wherein the only member of the communication group that is located in the coverage area is the first communication device, wherein the first channel is a least loaded channel in the second wireless network having the same coverage area as the first channel and that includes the first communication device in its coverage area.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the infrastructure device performing

detecting a trigger event;

performing a channel load optimization process that results in a change of a channel included in a current set of channels on the second wireless network for at least one member in the communication group;

generating an updated set of channels for the at least one member in the communication group based on the change of the channel;

communicating the updated set of channels to the at least one member in the communication group.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the trigger event comprises at least one of:

a change in membership of the communication group or of another communication group;

a change in location of a member of the communication group or of a member of another communication group.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that at least a member of the communication group is only within coverage of the second wireless network;

notifying the other members of the communication group to transition from the first wireless network to the second wireless network for communications for the communication group.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

determining that at least a majority of the members of the communication group are within the coverage of the first wireless network;

notifying the members of the communication group to transition back to the first wireless network for the communications for the communication group.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that a second communication device has left the communication group;

updating the set of channels based on the location of the remaining members of the communication group;

sending the updated set of channels to at least the first communication device.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining an updated priority channel in the updated set of channels;

sending the updated priority channel to at least the first communication device.