Methods and systems for adding a mobile radio to a talkgroup

• US 9,544,743 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2015
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Szyszka, Grzegorz, Szychowski, Michal, Wawrowski, Mariusz R
• Primary Examiner(s): REGO, DOMINIC E
• Application Number:
  US14/882,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20160105778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 455517-520, 455/553.1, 455/90.2, 455/78, 455/79, 455/500, 455/426.1, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/416, 455/420, 370/352, 370/389, 370/338, 370/328
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

At least one embodiment takes the form of a process carried out by a first radio-network switching system (RNSS). The first RNSS maintains a talkgroup of mobile radios that includes a first mobile radio. The first RNSS receives an add-mobile-radio request from the first mobile radio and responsively sends an add-mobile-radio response to the first mobile radio. The add-mobile-radio response includes an add-mobile-radio authentication token. The first RNSS receives, from a second mobile radio, an add-mobile-radio authentication message that identifies the second mobile radio and that includes the add-mobile-radio authentication token. In response to receiving the add-mobile-radio authentication message from the second mobile radio, the first RNSS adds the identified second mobile radio to the talkgroup.

Claims

1. A first mobile radio that is a member of a talkgroup, the first mobile radio comprising:

a first wireless communication interface;

a second short-range communication interface;

a processor; and

data storage containing instructions executable by the processor for causing the first mobile radio to carry out a set of functions, the set of functions comprising;

detecting an add-mobile-radio trigger;

in response to detecting the add-mobile radio trigger, generating an add-mobile-radio request and sending the add-mobile-radio request to a first radio-network switching system over the first wireless communication interface;

subsequent to transmitting the add-mobile-radio request to the first radio-network switching system, receiving an add-mobile-radio response from the first radio-network switching system over the first wireless communication interface, the add-mobile-radio response including an add-mobile-radio authentication token;

providing the add-mobile-radio authentication token to a second mobile radio over the second short-range communication interface; and

subsequent to providing the add-mobile-radio authentication token to the second mobile radio, communicating with the second mobile radio via the talkgroup.

2. The mobile of claim 1, wherein the second mobile radio receives the add-mobile-radio authentication token from the first mobile radio.

3. The mobile of claim 1, wherein the second mobile radio receives the add-mobile-radio authentication token from the first mobile radio via a short-range communication protocol and while in close proximity to the first mobile radio.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the short-range communication protocol comprises near-field communication (NFC).

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the short-range communication protocol comprises Bluetooth communication or direct-mode land mobile radio (LMR) communication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the add-mobile-radio trigger comprises detecting selection, via a user interface, of an add-mobile-radio command.