Method for a communication unit to participate in multiple calls

• US 5,473,605 A
• Filed: 02/28/1995
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grube, Gary W., Naddell, Marc C., Bunkenburg, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLUM, RUSSELL
• Application Number:
  US08/396,404
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• Field of Search: 370/62, 370/95.1, 370/95.3, 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 379/62, 379/63, 379/158, 379/202, 379/204, 379/205, 455/15, 455/17, 455/33.1, 455/34.1, 455/49.1, 455/53.1, 455/54.1, 455/54.2, 455/57.1, 455/58.2, 340/825.47
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

While participating in a group call on a first wireless communication resource 114, senior members 104-107 of a communication group 108 can initiate a semi-private call. A central controller 110 allocates a second wireless communication resource 115 for the semi-private call. Furthermore, executive members 106-107 can initiate an executive call to be established on a third wireless communication resource 116. Executive members can participate in the executive call, the semi-private call, and the group call, whereas senior members can participate in the semi-private call and the group call. Junior members 101-103, normally allowed to participate only in the group call, can be selected by senior members to temporarily participate in the group call and the semi-private call.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system that includes a plurality of communication units arranged into at least one communication group, a plurality of wireless communication resources, and a central controller that allocates the plurality of wireless communication resources among the plurality of communication units, a method for senior members of the at least one communication group to participate in a group call for the at least one communication group and a semi-private call simultaneously, the method comprising the steps of:

a) participating in the group call on a first wireless communication resource of the plurality of wireless communication resources, the first wireless communication resource comprising a first time slot on a radio frequency carrier;

b) initiating, by a senior member of the senior members, the semi-private call for at least one other senior member of the senior members; and

c) participating, by the senior member and the at least one other senior member, in the semi-private call and the group call when the semi-private call has been established on a second wireless communication resource of the plurality of wireless communication resources, the second wireless communication resource comprising a second time slot on the radio frequency carrier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

d) initiating, by an executive member of the senior members, an executive call for at least one other executive member of the senior members; and

e) participating, by the executive member and the at least one other executive member, in the executive call, the semi-private call, and the group call when the executive call has been established on a third wireless communication resource of the plurality of wireless communication resources, the third wireless communication resource comprising a third time slot on the radio frequency carrier.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

d) selecting, by the senior member, a junior member of the at least one communication group to participate in the semi-private call, to produce a selected junior member; and

e) transmitting, by the senior member, an identification of the selected junior member and a promotion request to the central controller.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

d) selecting, by the at least one other senior member, a junior member of the at least one communication group to participate in the semi-private call, to produce a selected junior member; and

e) transmitting, by the at least one other senior member, an identification of the selected junior member and a promotion request to the central controller.

5. In a wireless communication system that includes a plurality of communication units arranged into at least one communication group, a plurality of wireless communication resources, and a central controller that allocates the plurality of wireless communication resources among the plurality of communication units, a method for the central controller to establish a group call for the at least one communication group and a semi-private call for senior members of the at least one communication group simultaneously, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a group call request from a communication unit of the at least one communication group;

b) establishing the group call on a first wireless communication resource of the plurality of wireless communication resources, the first wireless communication resource comprising a first time slot on a radio frequency carrier;

c) receiving a semi-private call request from a senior member of the senior members; and

d) establishing a semi-private call on a second wireless communication resource of the plurality of wireless communication resources, the second wireless communication resource comprising a second time slot on the radio frequency carrier.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

e) receiving, from an executive member of the senior members, an executive call request for at least one other executive member of the senior members; and

f) establishing an executive call on a third wireless communication resource of the plurality of wireless communication resources, the third wireless communication resource comprising a second time slot on the radio frequency carrier.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

e) receiving an identification of a selected junior member of the at least one communication group and a promotion request from the senior member; and

f) transmitting, by the central controller, a promotion instruction to the selected junior member.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

e) receiving an identification of a selected junior member of the at least one communication group and a promotion request from the at least one other senior member; and

f) transmitting, by the central controller, a promotion instruction to the selected junior member.

9. In a wireless communication system that includes a plurality of communication units arranged into at least one communication group, a plurality of wireless communication resources, and a central controller that allocates the plurality of wireless communication resources among the plurality of communication units, a method for senior members of the at least one communication group to participate in a group call for the at least one communication group and a semi-private call simultaneously, the method comprising the steps of:

a) establishing, by the central controller, the group call on a first wireless communication resource of the plurality of wireless communication resources, the first wireless communication resource comprising a first time slot on a radio frequency carrier;

b) participating, by the senior members and junior members of the at least one communication group, in the group call;

c) initiating, by a senior member of the senior members, a semi-private call for at least one other senior member of the senior members;

d) establishing, by the central controller, the semi-private call on a second wireless communication resource of the plurality of wireless communication resources, the second wireless communication resource comprising a second time slot on the radio frequency carrier; and

e) participating, by the senior member and the at least one other senior member, in the semi-private call and the group call.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

f) initiating, by an executive member of the senior members, an executive call for at least one other executive member of the senior members;

g) establishing, by the central controller, the executive call on a third wireless communication resource of the plurality of wireless communication resources, the third wireless communication resource comprising a third time slot on the radio frequency carrier; and

h) participating, by the executive member and the at least one other executive member, in the executive call, the semi-private call, and the group call.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

f) selecting, by the senior member, a junior member to participate in the semi-private call, to produce a selected junior member;

g) transmitting, by the senior member, an identification of the selected junior member and a promotion request to the central controller;

h) transmitting, by the central controller, a promotion instruction to the selected junior member; and

i) upon receiving the promotion instruction, participating, by the selected junior member in the group call and the semi-private call.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

f) selecting, by the at least one other senior member, a junior member to participate in the semi-private call, to produce a selected junior member;

g) transmitting, by the at least one other senior member, an identification of the selected junior member and a promotion request to the central controller;

h) transmitting, by the central controller, a promotion instruction to the selected junior member; and

i) upon receiving the promotion instruction, participating, by the selected junior member in the group call and the semi-private call.