Radio communication system for providing both voice and data communication services over radio communication channels and a method for use in a radio communication system

• US 20080176557A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saab AB
• Original Assignee: Saab AB
• Inventors: Sjostrom, Christer, Hellstrom, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,494,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/425
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A radio communication system including a system computer connected to a radio communication device including a radio communication antenna and an audio management system via a data bus. The audio management system is connected to a user communication device. The system computer is arranged to switch between a data communication service and a voice communication service upon receiving a signal from the radio communication device indicating that a carrier on a predetermined fixed frequency has been detected or has ceased to be detected by said radio communication device, or from the audio management system indicating that a request for a predetermined fixed frequency voice communication service has been detected or has ceased to be detected by said audio management system.

Claims

1. A radio communication system, comprising:

a system computer;

a radio communication device comprising a radio communication antenna;

an audio management system;

a user communication device connected to the audio management system; and

a data bus connecting the system computer, the radio communication device and the audio management system;

wherein said system computer is arranged to switch between a data communication service and a voice communication service upon receiving a signal from the radio communication device indicating that a carrier on a predetermined fixed frequency has been detected or has ceased to be detected by said radio communication device, or from the audio management system indicating that a request for a predetermined fixed frequency voice communication service has been detected or has ceased to be detected by said audio management system.

2. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein said data communication service is the normal operational mode.

3. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein said radio communication device continuously monitors said predetermined fixed frequency in order to detect or cease to detect a carrier on said predetermined fixed frequency.

4. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined fixed frequency is a hailing frequency.

5. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein said system computer in response to said switching between data and voice communication services, is arranged to control said audio management system to establish or terminate an audio connection between said radio communication device and said user communication device.

6. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein said system computer in response to said switching between data and voice communication services, is arranged to control said audio management system to establish or terminate a PTT-connection between said radio communication device and a PTT-device comprised in said user communication device.

7. The radio communication system according to claim 6, wherein said PTT-device is arranged to transmit a signal to said audio management system indicating a request for a predetermined fixed frequency voice communication service when activated.

8. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein said audio management system is arranged to generate and send a waiting tone to a listening device comprised in said user communication system.

9. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein said audio management system is arranged with a separate audio connection to said radio communication device.

10. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein said user communication device further comprises a microphone.

11. A method for use in a radio communication system comprising a system computer connected to a radio communication device provided with comprising a radio communication antenna and an audio management system via a data bus, said audio management system being connected to a user communication device, the method comprising:

receiving, from the radio communication device, a signal in said system computer indicating that a carrier on a fixed frequency has been detected by said radio communication device, or, from the audio management system, a signal in said system computer indicating that a request for a predetermined fixed frequency voice communication service has been detected by said audio management system; and

switching to a voice communication service by said system computer in response to receiving one of said signals.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

switching to a normal operational mode when said signals have not been detected for a predetermined time interval.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said normal operational mode is a data communication service.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

monitoring continuously said predetermined fixed frequency.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

having said predetermined fixed frequency being a hailing frequency.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

establishing or terminating an audio connection between said radio communication device and said user communication device.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

establishing or terminating a PTT-connection between said radio communication device and a PTT-device comprised in said user communication device.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting a signal to said audio management system indicating a request for a predetermined fixed frequency voice communication service when activating said PTT-device comprised in said user communication device.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

generating and sending a waiting tone to a listening device comprised in said user communication system.

20. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

computer program instructions recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a processor for carrying out a method for use in a radio communication system comprising a system computer connected to a radio communication device comprising a radio communication antenna and an audio management system via a data bus, said audio management system being connected to a user communication device, the method comprising;

receiving, from the radio communication device, a signal in said system computer indicating that a carrier on a fixed frequency has been detected by said radio communication device, or, from the audio management system, a signal in said system computer indicating that a request for a predetermined fixed frequency voice communication service has been detected by said audio management system; and

switching to a voice communication service by said system computer in response to receiving one of said signals.

21. (canceled)