System and method for managing communications

• US 9,848,311 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2015
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catalyst Communications Technologies
• Original Assignee: Catalyst Communications Technologies
• Inventors: Grier, Robin W., Schools, John M., Carlund, Darren R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Tan H
• Application Number:
  US14/814,595
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 455 7, 455 131, 455521, 455520, 455515, 455516, 455423, 4554561, 4554041, 4554261, 455518, 455519, 455403, 455563, 455 111, 455405, 370316, 370259, 370392, 370401, 370254, 370431, 370464, 34053918, 340531, 34053913, 3405392, 3405721, 382115, 705 712, 705 8, 705 1, 705 9, 705204, 705325, 704246, 25055948
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems
• 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

A system for managing communications is described, where embodiments comprise a mobile radio control station component capable of supporting multiple frequency bands and a computing device. The computing device comprises a processor, a computer-readable memory, and a set of computer-executable instructions. The set of computer-executable instructions are configured to provide a vehicular repeater, a local repeater, an Interoperability Gateway, a call recorder, and a graphical user interface. The computing device is in operable communication with the mobile radio control station component. A method of establishing an advanced audio patch between multiple radios is also described.

Claims

1. A system for managing radio communications comprising:

a push-to-talk voice mobile radio control station component capable of supporting multiple frequency bands and multiple radio technologies;

a computing device comprising;

a processor;

a computer-readable memory;

a set of computer-executable instructions configured to provide the following features to the push-to-talk voice mobile radio control station component;

a vehicular repeater capable of boosting a low power transmission by repeating it at a higher power and back to a main communications system,

a local repeater capable of boosting a low power transmission by repeating it at a higher power to push-to-talk portable field radios,

an Interoperability Gateway capable of providing interoperability between two different, otherwise incompatible communication systems, and

a graphical user interface capable of enabling a user to reconfigure multiple multi-band, multi-protocol mobile radios, and establish a software-based patch between them;

wherein the computing device is in operable communication with the push-to-talk mobile radio control station component providing for direct voice and data communication between the push-to-talk voice mobile radio control station and the push-to-talk portable field radios through the computer-executable instructions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of both remote and local radio dispatch capability and is field deployable for incidents.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of providing enhanced graphics and control for the management of radio voice communications across multiple frequency bands for a multitude of communications systems using a single mobile radio.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises an IP network interface and the system is capable of operation in stand-alone mode or linked back to an agency'"'"'s main radio system and to other radio channels as needed using the Project 25 standard known as the Console Subsystem Interface (CSSI).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of extending network coverage of an existing centralized communications system to areas previously not covered.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of using a single mobile radio to allow an Incident Commander to coordinate personnel from disparate units that are using incompatible and different communication devices.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises an IP network interface and the system is capable of providing a communications link between field personnel and a main communications system using the Digital Mobile Radio Standard known as the Application Interface Standard (AIS).

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of routing local communications to a main radio system, thereby allowing an incident to be managed by a main dispatch center.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of creating network coverage via a data connection, wired or wireless, in an area that does not otherwise have coverage such that the system becomes a node on a main communication system'"'"'s network, thereby allowing an incident to be managed by a main dispatch center.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system (using a single mobile radio) is capable of allowing a user to scan and patch between 800 MHz, 700 MHz, UHF, VHF, and Low Band.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of allowing a plurality of multi-band radios to be controlled from a single computing device and patched in any combination for multi-protocol platforms chosen from Project 25 (P25), EDACS, DMR, Opensky, SmartNet, MDC1200, Broadband cellular PTT, and Conventional transmissions.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of dynamically managing the flow of audio between routed or patched devices so syllables are not lost due to the main communications system not being ready for reception.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of passing digital audio without converting that audio to an analog format.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of recording voices locally for one week from four different multi-band radios.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of linking two mobile radios together to patch talk around traffic to a local trunked radio system.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of managing a chronological list of call data and recorded audio for both talk around and trunked calls.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of receiving a message from the trunked system indicating when a call has been assigned to a channel and hence it is safe to transmit and buffer the audio until the message is received and then transmitted to the trunked system.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of managing communications in one or more modes selected from the group consisting of Vehicular Repeater Mode, Incident Command Mode, Network Extender Mode, Orphaned Site Mode, Switch Simulator Mode, and Site Replacement Mode by selecting a preconfigured configuration file from the graphical user interface.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of controlling a plurality of multi-band radios from multiple, networked computing devices and patching them in any combination for multi-protocol platforms chosen from Project 25 (P25), EDACS, DMR, Opensky, SmartNet, MDC1200, Broadband Cellular Push-To-Talk (PTT), and Conventional transmissions.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile radio control station component is a single mobile radio that can be instantly switched between any of hundreds of channels on the VHF, UHF, 700 MHz, and 800 MHz bands.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a respond feature whereby with a single user button press the system is reconfigured as necessary to communicate back to one or more desired user(s).

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of routing a user ID and emergency status of a conventional radio back to a main communications system.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of uploading locally recorded audio sessions to a main communications system when network connectivity is established with the main communications system.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of displaying a chronological list of voice and text message transmissions from multiple push-to-talk radios and the personnel using them.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of storing a chronological list of voice and text message transmissions and later transferring information from multiple push-to-talk radios and the personnel using them.

26. The system of claim 1, where using software the configuration and operation of the device in a plurality of modes such as Vehicular Repeater Mode, Incident Command Mode, Network Extender Mode, Orphaned Site Mode, Switch Simulator Mode, and Site Replacement Mode is simplified so that a lay person can make use of its powerful capabilities quickly while under stress.