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 8,494,573 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saab AB
• Original Assignee: Saab AB
• Inventors: Hellstrm, Peter, Sjstrm, Christer
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHARU, MANPREET S
• Application Number:
  US12/000,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20080176557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,049 Days
• Field of Search: 455/108, 455/46, 455/47, 455/156.1, 455/550.1, 455/435.1, 370/348, 370/395.2, 370/33, 370/352
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• 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 the 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 the audio management system.

Claims

1. A radio communication system, comprising:

a system computer;

a radio communication device comprising a radio communication antenna, a voice communication service comprising a voice communication channel and a data communication service;

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

2. 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.

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

4. 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.

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

6. The radio communication system according to claim 5, 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.

7. 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 communication system.

8. 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.

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

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

operating the radio communication system in a normal operational mode of data communication utilizing the data communication service;

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 the radio communication device from the normal operational mode to the voice communication service through the voice communication channel on the predetermined fixed frequency by said system computer in response to receiving one of said signals and from said voice communication service on a predetermined frequency to said normal operational mode upon receiving a signal from the radio communication device indicating that a carrier on a predetermined fixed frequency has ceased to be detected by said radio communication device or a signal from the audio management system indicating that a request for a predetermined fixed frequency voice communication service has ceased to be detected by said audio management system.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

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

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

monitoring continuously said predetermined fixed frequency.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

having said predetermined fixed frequency being a hailing frequency.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

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

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

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

16. The method according to claim 15, 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.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

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

18. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory 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, a voice communication service comprising a voice communication channel and a data communication service, and an audio management system via a data bus, said audio management system being connected to a user communication device, the method comprising;

operating the radio communication system in a normal operational mode of data communication utilizing the data communication service;

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 the radio communication device from the normal operational mode to the voice communication service through the voice communication channel on the predetermined fixed frequency by said system computer in response to receiving one of said signals and from said voice communication service on a predetermined frequency to said normal operational mode upon receiving a signal from the radio communication device indicating that a carrier on a predetermined fixed frequency has ceased to be detected by said radio communication device or a signal from the audio management system indicating that a request for a predetermined fixed frequency voice communication service has ceased to be detected by said audio management system.