[19]
`United States Patent
`[11] Patent Number:
`5, 1 17,501
`May 26, 1992
`Childress et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`|l||||||l||||||||||||l||l|l||l||llllllllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllllllllll
`U50051 mom
`
`I54] DYNAMIC REGROUPING IN A TRUNKED
`RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors:
`
`Jeffrey S. Chlldress; David L Hattey,
`both of Lynchburg, Va.
`
`[73] Assignee: General Electric Company,
`Lynchburg. Va.
`
`[211 Appl. No: 229,314
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Aug. 8, 1983
`
`Int. Cl.5 ............................................... H043 7/15
`[51]
`[52] us. C]. ..................................... ass/11.1; 455/17;
`4155/34.}; 455/561; 379/63
`[58] Field of Search .................................... 455/33-34,
`455/11—12. 17. 56, 51. 54; 379/57—59. 63. 60;
`Mil/825.01, 525.05. 325.52. 825.44; 370/931,
`110.1; 375/114, 107, 108
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`455/38
`3.292.178 12/1966 Magnuslti
`379/63
`3.458.664
`7/1969 Adlhoeh et a1.
`
`379/63
`3.571.519
`3/197] Tsimbidis
`
`370/13
`3.696.210 10/ 1972 Peterson el al.
`. 364/715,]!
`3,801,956 4/1974 Braun et al.
`
`3.898.390 8/1975 Wells et a1.
`379/59
`
`.
`3.906.166 9/1975 Cooper et al.
`379/60
`
`.. 379/63
`3.936.616 2/1976 DiGianfilippo
`
`3.970.801
`7/1976 Ross et al.
`379/63
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`61-102836(A)
`woe-101537
`
`1/1936 Japan .
`5/198? PCT Int'l Appt.
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Federal Information Processing Standards. Pub. No. 46.
`Data Encryption Standard. US Dept of Comm. NTIS.
`(5285 Port Royal Rd. Springfield. Va 22161 "Voice
`and Data Transmission". Arrendondo, Teggeler and
`Smith. Bell Systems Technology Journal. vol. 58. No. 1,
`Jan. 1978. pp. 97—1221
`,
`“AmeriCorn's Network Switch", product brochure.
`
`Jan. 26, 1938. AmeriCom Corporation. Atlanta. Geor-
`gia 30341}.
`bro—
`“AmeriCom's Network Supervisor", product
`chures. Jan. 26. 1988, AmeriCorn Corporation. Atlanta.
`Georgia 3034-0.
`.
`“Motorola Announces the Syntor X 9000B Mobile
`Radio for SMARTNET Systemsg" Motorola,
`inc,
`Shaumburg, I] 60196; press release of Aug. 6. 1987: and
`Motorola introduces SMARTNET MOSTAR Mobile
`Radio for Trunketl and Conventional 800 MHz Sys-
`tems. press release of Jun. 27, 1986.
`Press Release dated Jun. 14. 1988 by Motorola. Inc.
`entitled “406-420 MHz 'Secure' SMARTNET Systems
`Trunked Communications for Federal Government
`Users".
`
`Primary Examiner—Reinhard J. Eisenzopf
`Assistant Examiner—Andrew Faile
`Attorney, Agent, ar Firm—Nixon & Vanderhye
`
`ABSTRACT
`{57}
`In a trunked radio frequency communications system. a
`dynamic regrouping scheme includes an effective user
`interface. automatic support of multi-site systems, the
`capability to program individual radio transceivers with
`multiple new groups dynamically, a fast rate of recon-
`figuration, instantaneous switch over to prevent radios
`from residing in immature groups, and a satisfactory
`mode of operation should the site controller (or site
`controllers in non-fault tolerant systems) fail. Some of
`the dynamic regrouping features includes unlimited
`prestored plans and source and destination groups per
`plan. regrouping at the plan or destinatitin group level.
`an advanced user interface. automatic support of multi-
`ple sites. fast regrouping at the rate of over 30 radios per
`second while reducing loading on the system control
`channel. and fast activation/deactivation. Each plan
`can be immediately activated or deactivated and users
`are effectively regrouped together. An alternate control
`channel is used to regroup transceivers to avoid undue
`main control channel loading and to increase rate of
`regrouping.
`
`30 Claims. 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`EXHIBIT
`
`Ex. 1016
`
`Page 1 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 1 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`5,117,501
`
`Page 2
`
`1.1.5. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`455/51
`4.001.693
`1/1977 Slackhouse at a].
`379/58
`4.010.327 3/1977 Kohl-incl: el al.
`..
`
`3/1977 Lynk. Jr. et a].
`._ 455/53
`4.012.597
`375/114
`5/1977 Slackhouse ..
`4.022.973
`
`375/114
`5/1977 Slackhouse ..
`4.027.243
`
`,, 379/53
`4,029,901
`6/1977 Campbell .
`
`4.128.740 12/1978 Graziano
`455/33
`
`4.131.849 12/1973 Freeburg El 8 .
`375/5
`
`5/1979 Gladden 131 a].
`4.152.647
`.
`.. 455/11
`.
`.. 370/77
`1/1980 Cannalte CI 31.
`4.134.118
`.. 455/49
`4.231.114 10/ 1980 Dulikjan
`
`.. 370/62
`4,267,593
`5/1981 Craiglow
`1/ 1932 KJoker 61a.
`.. 375/76
`4.309.772
`
`1/1982 Coambes et al
`371/391
`4.312.070
`1/1982 Pauller :1 a1.
`.. 375/96
`4.312.074
`
`3/1982 Milier ........
`.. 380/29
`4.322.576
`4.326.264 4/1982 Cohen :1 a1.
`.
`364/900
`
`7/1982 Predina et al.
`375/20
`4.339.823
`
`.. 455/17
`4,347,625
`8/1982 Williams
`4.360.927 11/1982 Bowen er a1.
`.. 455/ 17
`
`1/1983 Giallanza e: :11.
`340/325.“
`4.369.443
`4,382,298 5/1983 Evans
`371/6
`4,392,242
`7/1983 Kai
`.. 455/33
`4.400.585
`3/1933 Kamen e1 a1. .......... 379/63
`
`
`
`455/7
`4.409.687 10/1933 Berti E1 211.
`380/33
`4.418.425 11/1983 Fennel. Jr. et a]
`
`340/835152
`4.427.980
`1/1984 Fennel et :11.
`
`.
`4.430.742
`2/1984 Milleker et at.
`375/5
`.. 455/77
`4.430.755
`2/1934 Nadir at a].
`..
`4.433.256
`2/1984 Dolikian
`307/353
`
`4.434.323
`2/1934 LEV'me I31 .31.
`.. 380/43
`4.450.573
`5/1984 Noble .......
`375/104
`4.485.486 11/1984 Webb El a1.
`455/33
`
`4.517.561
`5/1985 Burk: el :11.
`SID/825.07
`
`4.534.061
`3/1985 Ulug ......
`455/17
`4.553.262 11/1985 Cos
`.. 455/15
`4,573,206 2/1936 Grave] at :11.
`455/34
`4.578.815 3/1986 Persinotti ..
`...... 455/15
`340/82507
`4.594.591 6/ 1936 Burke ........
`
`.. 455/33
`4.612.415
`9/1936 Zdunek et a].
`
`A. 455/17
`4,649,567
`3/1987 Childress
`4/1987 Childress el al.
`4.658.435
`455/]?
`
`7/1987 Childress e1 31.
`.. 455/17
`4.682.367
`..
`...... 370/97
`4.698.305 10/1987 Sasuta et 31.
`
`340/825404
`.
`4,716,407 12/1987 Borras el al.
`
`.. 379/60
`4.723.266
`2/1988 Perry ............
`4.817.190 3/ 1989 Comm: :1 a1.
`.. 455/17
`
`.. 455/33
`4.831.373
`5/1939 Hess
`
`.. 455/34
`4,337,858
`6/1989 Ablay :1 a].
`4,870,403 9/1989 Zdunck E1 8]. .......
`455/34
`
`Page 2 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 2 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 1992
`
`Sheet 1 of 12
`
`5,117,501
`
`
`
`DISPATCH
`
`D G g
`
`l
`
`_ _ ___F’_____ _J
`POLICE some a
`
` I
`
`SNOW VEHICLES
`
`CITY/STATE MUNICIPAL
`VEHICLES
`
`Page 3 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 3 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`US. Patent .
`
`May 26, 1992
`
`Sheet 2 of 12
`
`5,117,501
`
`m1.5Elm)
`
`
`
`mm...(mmux
`
`Page 4 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 4 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 26, 1992
`
`Sheet 3 of 12
`
`5,117,501
`
`2m...mxm
`
`mmed:3:
`
`u.5m200
`
`robinma.
`
`Eucal—
`
`uth.231
`
` Silo—hue
`_In2.6.35233«8%
`co.//58.1.1524.52:?Ng0.9;.fim.3285".
`
`11E320113.:
`
`
`
`
` .muzilou
`
`11
`
`I1
`
`:1
`
`
`
`1%1x...
`Mn.EOE
`
`9de
`
`Page 5 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 5 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 26, 1992
`
`Sheet 4 of 12
`
`5,117,501
`
`613A
`
`SIBN
`
`4l6
`
`600
`
`612
`
`CPU
`
`5553‘"
`
`EXFINOED
`SERIAL
`
`I! o
`
`6M
`
`PRINTER
`
`TOSITECONTROLLERS
`%606
`
`OPTIONAL
`
`OPTIONAL
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Page 6 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 6 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 1992
`
`Sheet 5 of 12
`
`5,117,501
`
`I402 (0)
`
`I402 { l )
`
`r402t2)
`
`1402(3)
`
`moan J
`
`M24
`
`#120“ I426
`
`I428
`
`I430
`
`1432
`
`5434
`
`I435
`
`l402tn)
`
`
`[422(0)
`
`l422( l 3
`
`1422(2)
`
`I422L3J
`
`I422 {4)
`
`N
`
`I422 (n)
`
`STATUS BLOCK
`
`FIG. 7
`
`M3“ 0)
`
`#136be
`
`u
`
`N u s
`
`E D m Hutu-cod. Fish!
`[436
`
`Page 7 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 7 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 1992
`
`Sheet 6 of 12
`
`5,117,501
`
`BITMAP
`HANDLING
`
`PROCESS an
`commune
`
`
`
`
`
`
` ACTIVATE!
`unaware
`nesnoup P
`
`
`
`
`(MAKE RESIDENT}
`
`CANCEL
`
`REGROUP
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`N
`
`PHASE I
`CANCEL
`
`PHASE II
`CANCEL
`
`HANDLING
`
`510 n
`
`HANDLING
`
`FIG. 3
`MAI N DYNAMIC
`REGROUP ROUTINE
`
`Page 8 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 8 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 1992
`
`Sheet 7 of 12
`
`5,117,501
`
`START
`
`506
`J
`
`Y
`
`514
` DON E
`WI T H A L L
`SOUR CE
`
`ROgPS
`
`N
`
`SELECT NEXT
`SOURCE GROUP
`
`IN PLAN
`
`R ETU RN
`
`5m
`
`520
`
`FIG. 9(PHASE I)
`.
`(SC)
`
`
`mafia“
`
`um‘rs In
`
`33535?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`A
`PROCESSED
` COMPL ETED
`THREE
`ALL UNITS IN
`
`PASSES
`SOURCE
`GROU P P
`.P
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SELECT NEXT
`
`UNIT FROM
`SE“ D
`TERMINATE
`MESSAGE
`SOURCE GROUP
`
`
`526
`
`UNIT
`
`ALREADY
`
`ACKNOWLEDGE!)
`p
`
`N
`
`SEND"DR"
`COMMAND ON
`ALTERNATE
`
`CONTROL CHANNEL
`
`530
`
`Page 9 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`
`
`
`
`ISSUE"DR"
`CHANNEL
`ASSIGNMENT
`FOR SOURCE
`GROU P
`
`Page 9 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`US. Patent _
`
`May 26, 1992
`
`Sheet 3 of 12
`
`5,117,501
`
` *on“CI-IA~ NEL
`
`
`ASSIGNMENT
`
`
`LOAD
`SYNTHESIZER
`WITH
`APPROPRIATE
`FREQUENCY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ATTAIN SYNCH
`
`ON ALTERNATE
`CONTROL
`
`CHANNEL
`
`702
`
`704
`
`7:05
`
`708
`
`Fla lo (MOBILE)
`
`
`
`DECODE NEXT
`SLOT OF
`SIGNALLING
`
`TO RADIo's
`ID I"
`
`
`
`STORE REGROUP
`
`IN EEROM'
`
`(GROUP, KNOB
`SETTING. PLAN
`
`NUMBER, TYPE]
`
`TRANSMIT
`
`
`ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
`TO SITE
`
`
`
`RETURN TO
`
`
`MONITOR MAIN
`
`CON TROL
`C HANNEL
`
`
`
`RETURN
`
`Page 10 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 10 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 1992
`
`Sheet 9 of 12
`
`5,117,501
`
`DONE lWITH PHASE 2
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. l2 (6A)
`
`
`
`P
`
`PHASE 2 REGROUP
`
`ANY
`
`
`UNITS
`
`TO R EGROU P
`
`
`
`
`SELECT NEXT
`UNIT
`
`534
`
`UNIT
`
`ALREADY
`
`ACKNOWLEDGEI
`
`
`536
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SEND "DR"
`COMMAND 0N
`CONTROL
`
`CHANNEL
`
`
`533
`
`BOI
`
`ACKNOWLEDGE
`FROM RADIO
`
`
`
`FIND UNIT IN
`REGROUP'
`OUEUE
`
`802
`
`FIG. ll ( PHASE 11) (SB)
`
`
`
`
`MARK UNIT AN '
`ACKNOWLEDGED
`
`DONE WITH
`ACKNOWLEDGE
`
`804
`
`
`
`
`Page 11 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 11 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 1992
`
`Sheet 10 of 12
`
`5,117,501
`
`
` ‘DR‘BITMAP
`
`
`MESSAGE ON
`CONTROL CHANNEL
`
`
`PURSE PLAN'S
`RESIDENT
`
`RETAIN PLANS
`
`REGROUP FROM
`REGROUP m
`BIT SET FOR
`
`MEMORY
`MEMORY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ACTIVE
`DISPLAY
`
`
`
`HIDE REGROUP
`BIT SET FOR
`REGROUP TO
`
`
`
`FROM USER BI
`PLAN IN
`USER AND
`
`
`
`DISALLOW USE
`ALLOW USE
`
`
`
`MEgORY
`
`
`
`DONE WITH BITMAF'
`
`
`
`FIG. I4
`
`(BITMAP HANDLING)
`
`Page 12 0f58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 12 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 1992
`
`Sheet 11 of 12
`
`5,117,501
`
`FOUND “AA“
`
`LOOKING FOR
`'AA' HEX
`
`
`
`
`LOOKING FOR
`
`MESSAGE ID
`
`BYTE
`
`INVALID MESSAGE ID
`
`INVALID
`
`
`CHECKSUM
`
`
`
`LOOKING FOR
`MESSAGE
`
`DATA BYTES
`
`LOOKING FOR
`C HECKSUM
`
`FIG. 15
`
`Page 13 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 13 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 26, 1992
`
`Sheet 12 of 12
`
`5,117,501
`
`902
`
`
`
`REGRO UP
`BUFFER REOUE ST
`
`90"
`
`SEND SITE
`
`COMMAND TO
`UPDATE
`
`BUFFER
`
`
`
`
`906
`
`INITIATE
`REGROUP REQUEST
`PROCESS
`
`REQUEST
`STATUS
`
`908
`
`SID
`
`REPEAT
`FOR
`MULTIPLE
`SITES
`
`“DR"COMMAND 0N
`CONTROL CHANNEL
`
`
`comma:
`
`
`TD RADIO' 3
`no?
`
`
`STORE REGROUP
`
`IN EEROM
`
`
`{snoop KNOB
`
`
`SETI'IDI‘G. PLAN
`
`NUMBER.TYPEI
`
`TRANSMIT
`
`
`ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
`
`T0 SITE
`
`
`
`
`
`DONE W ITH COMMAND
`
`FIG. I3(MOBILE)(a)
`
`9I2
`
`RESOLVE UNITS
`
`
`FROM
`DIFFERENT
`
`
`SITES
`
`
`SEND DELETE
`
`
`MESSAGES
`
`TO SITES
`
`
`
`RETURN
`
`FIG. l6
`
`Page 14 0f58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`Page 14 of 58
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1016
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,117,501
`
`2
`JAPAN 61-102836(A) Ishikawa (May 1936)
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,292,178, Magnuski (1966)
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,458,664, Adlhoch et al (1969)
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,571,519, Tsimbidis (1971)
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,210, Peterson et al (1972)
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,906,166, Cooper et al (i975)
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,616, DiGianfilippo (1976)
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,301, Ross et a1 (1976)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,693, Stackhouse et al (1977)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,327, Kobrinetz et 31(1977)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,597, Lynk, Jr. et a1 (1977)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,973, Steakhouse et al (1977)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,243, Stackhouse et al (1977)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,901, Campbell (1977)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,740, Graziano (1978)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,849, Freeburg et al (1978)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,118, Cannalte et a1 (1980)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,114, Dolikian (1980)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,772, Kloker et al (1982)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,070, Coombes et ai (1982)
`U.S. l3at. No. 4,312,074, Pautler et a1 (1982)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,264, Cohen et al (1932)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,823, Predina et al (1982)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,625, Williams (1932)
`U S. Pat. No. 4,360,927, Bowen et a1 (1982)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,585, Kamert et al (1982)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,687, Berti et al (1983)
`US. Pat. No. 4,430,742, Milleker et a1 (1984)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,755, Nadir et a1 (1984)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,256, Dolikian (1984)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,573, Noble (1984)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,486, Webb et al (1984)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,815, Pcrsinotti (1985)
`There are many actual and potential applications for
`trunked radio repeater systems. However, one of the
`more important applications
`is
`for public service
`trunked (PST) systems. For example. one metropolitan
`area may advantageously use a single system of trunked
`radio repeaters to provide efficient radio communica-
`tions between individual radio units within many differ-
`ent agencies. As is well-known to those familiar with
`trunking theory, a relatively small number of radio
`repeaters can efficiently service all of the needs of a
`public service organization within a given geographic
`area if they are trunked (i.e., shared on an ”as-needed"
`basis between all potential units).
`Before modern trunked radio repeater systems were
`developed, mobile radio transceivers were provided
`with crystal controlled frequency synthesizers provid-
`ing a limited number of fitted transmit/receive channels
`— and the various channels were assigned for use by
`different “groups" of radio transceivers. Referring to
`FIG. I, for example, fixed channels might be assigned as
`follows:
`channel A to police squad A,
`channel B to police squad B,
`channel C to rescue squad/paramedics,
`channel D to snow removal equipment,
`channel E to municipal vehicles,
`channel F to fire squad A, and
`channel G to fire squad B.
`Every mobile transCeiver in a group was typically capa-
`ble of communicating with other members of its group
`and with a central dispatcher) over its assigned commu-
`nications channel. In addition, several additional chan-
`nels were typically provided for “crosssgroup” commu—
`nications. For example, an additional channel H might
`be used to permit members of police squad A and police
`
`DYNAMIC REGROUPING IN A TRUNKED RADIO
`COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
`
`CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is related to commonly assigned U.S.
`patent applicatitm Ser. No. 035,663 new U.S. Pat. No.
`4,903,321 filed on Aug. 14, 1987 entitled “Radio Trunk-
`ing Fault Detection System”. This application is also
`related to the following commonly-assigned U.S. patent
`applications all filed on Jun. 3, 1987: application Set.
`No. 056,922 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,302 of Childress et
`al entitled ”Trunked Radio Repeater System“; Applica-
`tion Ser. No. 057,046 of Childress et al entitled "Faiisoft
`Architecture for Public Trunking System“; Application
`Ser. No. 056,924 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,292 of Chil-
`dress entitled “Adaptive Limiter/Detector Which
`Changes Time Constant Upon Detection of Dotting
`Pattern“; Application Ser. No. 056,923 now U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,905,234 of Childress et a] entitled "Apparatus and
`Method for Transmitting Digital Data Over a Radio
`Communications Channel“. This application is also
`related to the following commonly-assigned copending
`applications filed on Aug. 14, 1987.- Application Serial
`No. 085,572 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,731 of Nazarenlto
`et a1 entitled “Prooessor-to-Processor Communications
`Protocol for a Public Service Trunking System"; Appli-
`cation Ser. No. 085,490 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,262 of
`Dissosway et a1 entitled “Mobile Radio Interface"; and
`_ application Ser. No. 085,491 of-Cole et is] entitled "A
`Method for Infrequent Radio Users to Simply Obtain
`Emergency Assistance“. This application is also related
`to U.S. application Ser. No. 181,441 filed Oct. 7, 1987,
`1988 entitled "Signalling Protocol for a Trunked Radio
`Repeater System“. The disclosures of each of those
`related copending patent applications are incorporated
`by reference herein.
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention is generally directed to the art of
`trunked radio repeater systems. It is more particularly
`directed to a trunked radio repeater system arrange-
`ment and method which permits individual and groups
`of mobile radio units to be dynamically regrouped to
`allow communications between units which cannot
`normally communicate with one another.
`BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`Radio repeater trunking (time sharing of a single
`ropeater communications channel among many users) is
`well-known. Early trunking systems used analog con-
`trol signals while some more recent systems have uti-
`lized digital control signals. Control signals have been
`utilized on a dedicated control channel and/or on dif-
`ferent ones of the working channels for various differ-
`ent reasons and effects. A non-exhaustive but somewhat
`representative sampling of publications and patents
`describing typical prior art trunked radio repeater sys-
`tems is identified below:
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,390, Wells et al (1975)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,242, Kai (1983)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,061, Ulug (1985)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,567, Childress (1987)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,435, Childress et a1 (1987)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,407, Barras et a1 (1987)
`
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`squad B to communicate with one another — while still
`permitting squad A to use its privately and exclusively
`assigned channel A to communicate with other mem-
`bers of squad A without disturbing members of squad B.
`Similarly, an additional channel I might be provided for
`communications between fire squads A and B and the
`rescue squad; and a further channel J might be provided
`for communications between members of police squad
`A and/or B. the rescue squad, and members of one or
`both fire squads.
`This type of arrangement. although certainly provid-
`ing private and reliable communications, had some se—
`vere disadvantages. One disadvantage was that
`the
`“cross-group" channels. were usually under-utilized
`(since most routine communications take place within a l5
`group). but often became extremely cangested during
`disasters or emergencies requiring coordination be-
`tween members of different groups. Moreover. "cross-
`group“ communications typically required some degree
`of advanced cooperation on the part of each and every 20
`member involved (e.g.. each user had to properly-
`switeh his transceiver to the “cross-group” channel or
`be sure his "scanning" type transceiver was enabled to
`monitor that "cross-group" channel}. Suppose, for ex-
`ample, that a police officer in police squad A wished to 25
`communicate with a rescue vehicle in the rescue squad.
`The police officer could switch his transceiver to com-
`munications channel J and call the rescue vehicle he
`wished to communicate with — but there was no guar-
`antee that the specific rescue vehicle he was trying to 30
`reach would in fact be monitoring channel J (since the
`rescue vehicle driver would first have to change his
`channel selector to channel I as well). Central dispatch-
`ers often had the burden of manually directing the vari-
`ous different personnel
`to cross-group channels, and 35
`much time was wasted coordinating such efforts when
`emergency or disaster situations made time of the es-
`sence.
`In contrast to the old crystal controlled fixed fre-
`quency systems, prior art trunked radio repeater sys- 40
`tems rely upon preprogrammed group identifications
`rather than preset operating frequencies to provide the
`communications partitioning shown in FIG. 1. Trunked
`radio communications systems assign communications
`channels on an "as needed" basis for the exclusive use of 45
`calling mobile units requesting communications and to
`the group of mobile units being called. It is possible to
`provide much additional flexibility by pro-program-
`ming mobile units in advance with several different
`group identifications (thus making a given mobile unit a 50
`“member" of several different groups of transceivers).
`Since the number of groups the system can support is
`limited only by the RF signalling protocol providing
`identification of groups (and the programming capabili-
`ties of the mobile transceivers), it is possible to provide 55
`an almost arbitrarily large number of different logical
`groupings oftransceivers — for example. the assignee's
`signalling protocol disclosed in U.S. application Ser.
`No. 056,922 to Childress et a] entitled “Trunked Radio
`Repeater System" filed Jun. 3, 1987 and U5. applica- 60
`tion Ser. No. 181.441 to Childress entitled "Trunked
`Radio Repeater System" filed Oct. 7. [987 prow'des for
`individual identification of each and every mobile trans-
`ceiver in the field and supports over 4000 different
`groups.
`This trunked arrangement provides for much addi-
`tional flexibility. For example, referring again to FIG. I,
`a first groLIp might be formed by all members of police
`
`4
`squad A; a second group might consists of all members
`of police squad A and B; a third group might consist of
`a subset of police squad A (e.g.. certain detectives and a
`supervisor); a fourth group might consist of all police
`supervisors from squads A and B; and a fifth group
`might consist of all members of police squad A and all
`members of the rescue squad.
`Even though all groups are in effect “reusing" the
`same communications channels in this trunked radio
`system, the trunking is mostly transparent to individual
`users. That is, when a police officer in police squad A
`switches his “channel" (actually group) selector switch
`to correspond to the first group and actuates his “push-
`to-talk" microphone switch to make a call, his trans-
`ceiver and all other active transceivers of police squad
`A are automatically controlled to switch to a free
`"working" channel temporarily dedicated to their use
`— and significantly, no other mobile transceivers are
`permitted to monitor or participate in the communica-
`tions over this channel. This privacy feature afforded by
`trunlted communications systems is important for pro-
`viding each group of users with efficient, reliable com-
`munications. is critical for certain sensitive communica-
`tions services (e. g.. the police narcotics and detective
`squads) and is also critical for preventing interference
`from other users (cg, the driver of a snow removal
`vehicle cannot interfere with communications between
`members of police squad A no matter what the snow
`truck driver does with his transceiver). Thus.
`in this
`respect the trunked system behaves from a user's view
`point like the prior systems in which each service had a
`channel dedicated to its exclusive use — while provid-
`ing the radio spectrum and cost economy derived from
`channel and repeater sharing.
`In a trunlted environment. compartmentalizing radio
`transceivers into groups is essential to effective, reliable.
`private communications.
`In the past, however. such
`compartmentalization resulted in serious inflexibility
`when special situations arose. In most prior systems, all
`groupings of radio transceivers had to be defined be-
`forehand (e.g.. by hardwiring or preprogramtning at the
`time the transceivers were issued to users and placed in
`the field). For example, when a police officer in squad A
`was issued his radio transceiver, the transceiver would
`typically be preprogrammed to respond to calls for
`certain groups and to never respond calls for other
`groups. A disaster situation (plane crash, major fire.
`landslide. earthquake. etc.) or a Special event (e.g.,
`county fair. parade and the like) might require this po—
`lice officer to communicate with other users be nor-
`mally does not communicate with. For example. those
`assigned to crowd control at a special event such as a
`parade might include a squad A police officer. a rescue
`squad vehicle. several municipal vehicles. and an officer
`from police squad B. It would be highly desirable to
`permit these different users to communicate with one
`another over their own communications channel for the
`duration of the Special event without disturbing or in-
`terfering with communications of the rest of the two
`police squads, the rescue squad and the municipal vehi-
`cles.
`Prior trunked repeater systems sometimes provided
`the capability of combining several groups together into
`a large group via a multiple group call -— so that all
`members of. for example. police squad A.
`the rescue
`squad, all municipal vehicles and all members of police
`squad B could be collected onto a single communica-
`tions channel
`in response to a single (typically dis-
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`5
`patcher initiated) “multiple group call". The problem
`with this approach is that it involves too many radio
`users to be effective (i.e., many more than are needed
`for the necessary communications) w and more seri-
`ously. may draw users not involved in the necessary
`communications away from other radio calls important
`to them. The only really effective way in the past to
`accomplish the desired result was extremely inconve-
`nient and costly — issuing each of the users a “floater"
`transceiver Specially programmed for a spare group
`(and making sure they each returned their transceiver at
`the end of the special event).
`The concept of "dynamic regrouping" in a trunked
`radio system is generally known. Dynamic regrouping
`allows a system Operator to program customized group
`identifications into radio transceivers in the field from
`the central system facility at will — and dynamically
`form special groups for special purposes. Disasters such
`as plane crashes, severe storms, major fires, landslides
`and earthquakes as well as special events are all exam-
`ples where the ability to quickly reconfigure radios
`could be a valuable tool to the public safety officer. As
`an example, personnel involved in handling the crisis of
`a plane crash might include certain police officers, cer-
`tain rescue vehicles, certain municipal vehicles and
`certain fire vehicles. it would be highly advantageous
`to provide some way to reconfigure the fixed, compart-
`mentalized groups of transceivers normally provided by
`a trunked system to dynamically form Special groups
`consisting only of these involved radio units —-— while
`preserving the units’ existing group classifications (and
`thus,
`in some cases, their capability to make routine
`calls) and also without disrupting any other communi-
`cations taking place on the system.
`The need for dynamic regrouping typically arises
`when dispatchers and field personnel are under tremen-
`dous pressure to perform under unpredictable condi-
`tions. The trucked communication system should help
`alleviate confusion rather than contribute to it —— so that
`if dynamic regrouping is to implemented at all. it must
`occur rapidly and predictably and in a fashion that can
`be monitored and controlled by any supervisor. It is
`especially important that activating a dynamically cre-
`ated group (“regroup“) does not interfere with any
`ongoing radio communications in the field. Unfortu-
`nately, existing techniques for implementing dynamic
`regroupt'ng have not met these demanding requirements
`and have therefore caused dynamic regrouping to re-
`main in the realm of merely a great idea that cannot be
`practically implemented in the form of a usable tool.
`Motorola, Inc. of Shaumburg, 11]., has developed a
`so-called "SMARTNET" trucked radio communica-
`tions system which offers a limited dynamic regrouping
`capability. The optional dynamic regrouping capability
`provided in this 800 MHz trunked system allows the
`dispatcher to reassign radios into new talk groups with-
`out any mobile operator involvement to provide com-
`munications flexibility during emergency situations.
`Motorola’s subscriber dynamic regrouping communica—
`tions system is described in W0 PCT Patent Publica~
`tion No. 870153? published Mar. 12. 1987 entitled
`“Method For Dynamically Regrouping Subscribers On
`A Communications System", and in press releases dated
`Aug. 6. 1937 and Jun. 27. 1986.
`Briefly, the Motorola scheme provides for download—
`ing a single dynamic reprogramming instruction to
`specified individual radio transceivers in the field via
`digital messages transmitted over the control channel to
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`each of the transceivers individually. Upon receipt of
`the reprogramming message, the individual transceivers
`acknowledge the message, store the downloaded dy-
`namic regroup identifier in an internal memory, and
`switch to a dynamic regroup mode in which they trans-
`mit and receive using the dynamic group instead of their
`old group(s).
`In another mode, a “group“ dynamic
`regroup message is transmitted to an entire group of
`transceivers at a time in order to increase regrouping
`speed. The receiving transceivers begin using an alter-
`nate. fixed “dynamic code" previously programmed at
`time of manufacture and/or “personality PROM" pro-
`gramming. The units continue to use this “dynamic
`code“ until dynamic regrouping messages cease being
`periodically transmitted over the control channel.
`AmeriCom Corp. of Atlanta, Ga, has advertised an
`RF communications system featuring “over-the-air"
`reprogramming to add channels and reprogram mobiles
`without expensive ROM changes." This feature is de-
`scribed as providing more re5ponsive service by dynam-
`ically reprogramming mobiles in order to lower service
`costs and permit real time "over-the-air” reprogram—
`ming of radio configurations and permissions.
`The following issued U.S. Patents may also be gener-
`ally relevant to the concept of dynamic regrouping:
`US. Pat. No. 4,594,591 to Burke
`1.3.5. Pat. No. 4,517,561 to Burke et 3.1
`11.5. Pat. No. 4,152,641 to Gladden et a]
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,415 to Zdurtek et al
`US. Pat. No. 4,427,930 to Fennel et a]
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,262 to Coe
`Unfortunately, existing dynamic regrouping schemes
`(such as those described above) exhibit many practical
`problems when they are actually used in the real world.
`For example, existing techniques do not meet the de-
`manding requirements of rapid and predictable rc—
`grouping which can be monitored and controlled by
`any supervisor — and which does not interfere with
`ongoing radio communications in the field.
`The user interface has been one of the more widely
`and strongly criticized elements in existing dynamic
`regrouping schemes. Some criticize the user interface
`itself and others criticize the entire regrouping process
`because it is too confusing to be of any value. Existing
`dynamic rcgrouping schemes require a supervisor to
`specify “regroups” (new,
`‘ dynamically configured
`groups) from the "ground up" by keying in an identifi-
`cation for each and every individual radio transceiver
`to he placed in the regroup - a difficult task to perform
`under time pressures of an emergency. Because dy-
`namic regrouping changes the way the communications
`system operates on a very fundamental user level, for
`any practice] and useful dynamic regrouping scheme
`the supervisor and the system dispatchers must be capa—
`ble of: (a) accurately tracking — on an interactive basis
`— what radios are in what groups, (b) quickly assessing
`whether the regrouping process is proceeding in a suit-
`able fashion or should instead be aborted or altered, and
`(c) easily altering regroup plans during activation 0r
`after they have been activated in response to changes in
`conditions and personnel. System supervisors and dis-
`patchers must also be able to effectively handle and
`control communications during the regrouping process
`which, once initiated, causes entire groups to become
`fragmented and undefined until the process is complete.
`Existing dynamic regrouping systems simply do not
`meet these needs.
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`Additional complexity arises from the fact that most
`modern trunked communications systems serve a stiff-
`ciently large geographical service area to require multi-
`ple repeater sites — and it is not possible to determine
`which users are being served by which sites at the time
`dynamic regrouping is activated. Existing dynamic
`regrouping systems provide no quick and efficient way
`to set up and execute dynamic regr0uping plans having
`no conflicting regrouping requests relative to any of the
`mobile transceiver involved. Very serious problems
`could also arise in existing systems if a site controller
`fails either while radios are being dynamically re-
`grouped or after they have been regrouped.
`Another serious inadequacy of prior dynamic re-
`grouping schemes is the lack of support otTered to field
`personnel. For example, the capability of placing only
`one dynamically configured group assignment
`in a
`transceiver at any time is generally insufficient. In an
`emergency. key personnel must be able to switch be-
`tween two or more of “regroups” — but if their radio
`t