US 6,204,844 B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`(12) United States Patent
`
`Fumarolo et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`U5006204844B1
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`DYNAMICALLY GROUPING
`COMMUNICATION UNITS IN A
`
`COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`5,966,443 * 10/1999 Gonzalez et al.
`...................... 380/21
`5,966,659 * 10/1999 McDonald et al.
`455/445
`
`6,016,478 *
`1/2000 Zhang et al. ................. 705/9
`
`.......
`6,072,490 *
`6/2000 Bates et al.
`345/347
`
`....................... 707/9
`6,105,027 *
`8/2000 Schneider et al.
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Arthur L. Fumarolo, Schaumburg;
`Brett A. Jackson, Arlington Heights,
`bOth Of IL (US)
`(73) Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US)
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`( * ) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/415,298
`.
`OCt- 8: 1999
`F1169:
`(22)
`Int. Cl.7 ...................................................... G09F 13/00
`(51)
`
`(52) US. Cl.
`............
`345/329; 345/349
`.
`
`(58) Fleld 0f SeargilS/356_357 329_33'"d”33315/§35§_::3’
`348—349, 326, 333; 707/9’ 10; 709/201,
`205
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,613,209 *
`3/1997 Peterson et al.
`.................... 455/34.1
`5,836,529 * 11/1998 Gibbs .................... 246/122
`
`. 395/200.48
`5,884,035 *
`3/1999 Butman et al
`6/1999 Bereiter ................................ 345/357
`5,909,217 *
`
`* cited b examiner
`y
`Primary Examiner—Steven Sax
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FWm—Val Jean Hillman
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`(101) employs a method and
`A display-based terminal
`apparatus for dynamically grouping communication units
`(105—113) operating in a communication system (100). The
`display-based terminal displays a map (300, 400) to a user
`of the terminal that indicates, among other things, locations
`of communication units in at least a portion of the commu-
`nication system. The tirminalll receives file usedr’s sillection 0%
`communication units rom t 6 map an an i enti cation 0
`at least one talkgroup With Which the selected units are to
`become members. The communication units may be
`selectedmdiVidually, as a group (e.g., usmg click and drag
`rectanglmg techniques), or both. After communication units
`have been selected from the map, the terminal automatically
`groups the selected units into the indicated talkgroup. If the
`terminal user deSires to ungroup a preViously grouped
`communication unit, the user selects the unit from the map
`and the terminal automatically removes the newly selected
`unit from the talkgroup
`
`‘
`
`31 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`MEMORY
`
`USER
`
`INPUT
`DEVICE
`
`
`WIRELESS
`
`INFRASTRUCTURE
`INTERFACE
`
`SELECTION
`
`
`121
`DEVICE
`
`127
`
`
` 12.1 10.3
`
`
`DISPLAY-BASED TERMINAL
`I01
`
`
`
`
`SYSTEM
`
`AVL
`SYSTEM
`
`911
`
`715
`
`117
`
`Google 1006
`US. Patent No. 9,445,251
`
`Google 1006
`U.S. Patent No. 9,445,251
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 0f 12
`
`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`’07
`
`108
`
`
`
`
`INPUT
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`INTERFACE
`
`
`
` WIRELESS
`
`INFRASTRUCTURE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`HI
`
`SELECTION
`DEVICE
`
`MEMORY
`
`127
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SYSTEM 101
`
`
`U3
`
`DISPLAY-BASED TERMINAL
`
`103
`
`AVL
`SYSTEM
`
`9"
`
`IE
`
`"7
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 0f 12
`
`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`INFRASTRUCTURE
`
`WIRELESS
`
`205
`
`USER
`
`INPUT
`
`DEVICE
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`TRANSCEIVER
`
`DISPLAY—BASED TERMINAL
`
`l'__— __—'|
`I
`xwmoows
`I
`L__PR90ES§0R_
`J
`1211
`
`AVL
`
`SYSTEM
`
`9H
`
`SYSTEM
`
`
`
`”5
`
`"7
`
`
`
`MAP
`INTERFACE
`
`
`
`2L3
`
`H7
`
`SELECTION
`DEVICE
`
`MEMORY
`
`Q7
`
`125
`
`201
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 0f 12
`
`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`F ——————————————————————— ‘I
`
`M)
`
`:
`I
`I
`
`\
`
`B
`AM [07
`,
`
`’08
`
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`3 0:7
`7
`
`:
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`I
`
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`FD ENG 6.
`,M
`Ad”
`[63/
`
`93$
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`$me
`
`1
`I
`II
`:
`I
`l
`I
`I
`L ______________ J\
`501
`
`
`
`EASY STREET
`TALKGROUP
`
`
`
`112
`
`[0
`
`\*\1'”’EP ENG 4
`
`TARGET TALKGROUP
`
`€306
`
`-CANCEL
`Im-
`- -
`
`TARGET
`
`°
`
`A I?»v‘
`
`TALKGROUP2
`
`3
`TALKGROUP N
`
`CANCEL
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 0f 12
`
`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`300
`_ Ir — Kufi _______
`I
`107
`
`
`
`‘
`
`PD CAR 10
`,
`.
`__________
`4
`
`
`
`g no
`
`.
`
`FD ENG 61
`.1‘0» '7‘?)/
`
`’06
`
`IFLAG STR
`
`ES
`\ \ngt’
`
`
`
`E
`
`70
`
`,
`
`FD ENG 4
`
`EAS
`
`STREET
`
`
`
`TARGET TALKGROUP
`
`405
`
`E407
`
`
`
`FILTERS
`
`409
`
`CANCEL
`
`TARGET TALKGROUP
`
`TALKGROUP 1
`ITALKGROUP 2 ///A
`3
`
`411
`
`4’3
`
`'I
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TALKGROUP N
`
`
`T -F—IL?ER_S _
`L_.__ _.l
`
`
` GROUP
`
`UNGROUP
`
`
`423
`425
`42’
`
`FIG. 4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 0f 12
`
`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`START
`
`501
`
`ggg
`
`DISPLAY MAP INDICATING LOCATIONS OF
`COMMUNICATION UNITS TO USER
`
`503
`
`RECEIVE USER'S SELECTION FROM MAP
`OF ONE OR MORE COMMUNICATION
`UNITS
`
`RECEIVE ID(S) 0F TALKCROUP(S) MITH
`WHICH SELECTED COMMUNICATION UNIT(S)
`IS/ARE To BECOME MEMBER(S)
`
`AUTOMATICALLY GROUP SELECTED
`COMMUNICATION UNIT(S)
`INTO INDICATED
`TALKCROUR(S)
`
`RECEIVE USER’S SELECTION FROM MAP OF
`ALREADY SELECTED COMMUNICATION
`UNIT(S)
`
`AUTOMATICALLY REMOVE RESELECTED
`COMMUNICATION UNIT(S) FROM
`PREVIOUSLY INDICATED TALKGROUP(S)
`
`05
`
`07
`
`509
`
`5n
`
`513
`
`m 515
`
`FIG. 5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 0f 12
`
`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`START
`
`601
`
`ggg
`
`DISPLAY MAP INDICATING LOCATIONS OF
`COMMUNICATION UNITS TO USER
`
`03
`
`'
`
`RECEIVE USER’S SELECTION FROM MAP
`OF ONE OR MORE COMMUNICATION
`UNITS
`
`RECEIVE ID(S) OF TALKGROUP(S) WITH
`WHICH SELECTED COMMUNICATION UNIT(S)
`IS/ARE TO BECOME MEMBER(S)
`
`AUTOMATICALLY REMOVE SELECTED
`COMMUNICATION UNIT(S) FROM INDICATED
`TALKCROUP(S)
`
`RECEIVE USERS SELECTION FROM MAP OF
`
`ALREADY SELECTED COMMUNICATION
`UNIT(S)
`
`AUTOMATICALLY GROUP RESELECTED
`COMMUNICATION UNIT(S)
`INTO
`PREVIOUSLY INDICATED TALKGROUP(S)
`
`05
`
`07
`
`.09
`
`6n
`
`6A3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`h4ar.20,2001
`
`Sheet7 0f12
`
`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`[TNT
`
`START
`
`701
`
`DISPLAY MAP INDICATING LOCATIONS OF
`COMMUNICATION UNITS T0 USER
`
`703
`
`RECEIVE INDICATION OF
`GEOGRAPHIC AREA 0N MAP
`
`705
`
`709
`
`707
`
`RECEIVE REQUEST FROM
`ER FOR LIST OF TALKGRO '
`
`NO
`
`
`
`RECEIVE TARCET
`TALKGROUP ID(S)
`FROM USER
`
`RETRIEVE LIST OF TALKGROUP IDS
`
`DISPLAY LIST OF TALKGROUP IDS T0 USER
`
`RECEIVE USERS SELECTION OF TARGET
`TALKGROUP ID(S) FROM DISPLAYED LIST OF
`TALKGROUP IDS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`AUTOMATICALLY REMOVE/ADD
`
`SELECTED COMMUNICATION UNIT(S)
`FROM/T0 PREVIOUSLY INDICATED
`TALKGROUP(S)
`
`
`
`AP EVENT OCCURRED ? m
`
`LOCATION EVENT
`0R USER EVENT 9
`
`
`
`
`
`LOCATION EVENT
`
`7w
`
`AUTOMATICALLY ACCESS
`COMMUNICATION CHANNEL
`
`RECEIVE USER’S SELECTION FROM
`MAP OF ALREADY SELECTED
`COMMUNICATION UNIT(s)
`
`
`
`
`
`SEND GROUP COMMAND OVER
`
`
`COMMUNICATION CHANNEL T0
`SELECTED COMMUNICATION UNIT(Si
`
`
`INSTRUCTING SELECTED COMMUNICAT ON
`
`UNIT‘S) TO RECONFIGURE INTO
`
`
`
`S LECTED TALKGROUP S
`
`7w
`
`FIG. 7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 8 0f 12
`
`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`START
`
`801
`
`§99
`
`DISPLAY MAP INDICATINC LOCATIONS OF
`COMMUNICATION UNITS T0 USER
`
`.03
`'
`
`RECEIVE INDICATION OF
`GEOGRAPHIC AREA ON MAP
`
`.05
`'
`
`
`
`807
`
`N0
`RECEIVE TARGET
`
`
`RECEIVE REQUEST FROM
`TALKGROUP 10(3)
`
`
`ER FOR LIST OF TALKGROU'
`FROM USER
`
`809
`
`
`YES
`
`RETRIEVE LIST OF TALKCROUP IDS
`
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE USER’S SELECTION OF TARGET
`TALKGROUP ID(S) FROM DISPLAYED LIST OF
`TALKGROUP IDS
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATION CHANNEL
`
`COMMUNICATION UNIT(S)
`
`S LECTED TALKCROUPS
`
`SEND UNCROUP COMMAND OVER
`comm/mo" CHANNEL T0
`SELECTED COMMUNICATION UNIT(S
`INSTRUCTING SELECTED COMMUNICATLON
`UNIT(Sg TO RECONFIGURE OUT OF
`
`AUTOMATICALLY REMOVE/ADD SELECTED
`COMMUNICATION UNIT(S) FROM/T0
`PREVIOUSLY INDICATED TALKGROUP(S)
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 9 0f 12
`
`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`901
`
`DISPLAY MAP INDICATING LOCATIONS OF
`COMMUNICATION UNITS T0 USER
`
`RECEIVE INDICATION OF ONE OR MORE
`GEOGRAPHIC AREAs ON MAP
`
`RECEIVE 10(3) 0F TARGET TALKGROUP(S)
`FROM USER
`
`903
`
`905
`
`
`
`
`AP EVENI OCCURRED ?
`
`"0
`
`399
`
`
`
`9” ENTEfi 0“
`AUTOMATICALLY GROUP
`
`
`
`
`
`AUTOMATICALLY REMOVE COMMUNICATION
`ONII FROM TARGET IALKCROUP(s)
`9’5
`
`
`
`
`YES
`
`EXIT
`
`915
`
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATION UNIT INTO
`IARCEI TALKGROUP(S)
`
`.j5771l1(:3¥.
`
`£2?
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 10 0f 12
`
`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`START
`
`1001
`
`10_00
`
`DISPLAY NAP INDICATING LOCATIONS OF
`COMMUNICATION UNITS T0 USER
`
`RECEIVE INDICATION OF ONE OR
`MORE CEOCRAPHIC AREAS ON NAP
`
`’003
`
`1005
`
`RECEIVE ID(S) 0F TARGET TALKGROUPS FROM USER
`
`1007
`
`1009
`
`
`
`RECEIVE FROM USER CRITERIA FOR INCLUDING
`COMMUNICATION UNITS IN TARGET TALKGROUP(S)
`
`
`AND CRITERIA FOR REMOVING COMMUNICATION
`
`
`UNITS FROM TARGET TALKGROUP(S)
`
`4 OCATION 0R USER EVEN FMI
`
`
`
`DO NOT
`
`?
`
`UNGROUP
`
`
`
`ENTER OR
`
`IN
`COMMUNICATION UNIT
`SATISFY REMOVAL CRITERIA
`?
`
`
`
`
` COMMUNICATION UNIT
`
`SATISFY INCLUSION CRITERI-
`?
`
`
`FROM TARGET TALKGROUP(S) AUTOMATICALLY GROUP
`
`COMMUNICATION UNIT
`INTO TARGET TALKGROUP(S)
`
`
`AUTOMATICALLY RENOVE
`CONNUNICAIION UNIT
`
`jE771T¢C3?.
`
`.Jltii
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 11 0f 12
`
`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`SIARI
`
`no;
`
`Iggy
`
`DISPLAY MAP INDICATING LOCATIONS 0F
`COMMUNICATION UNITS TO USER
`
`"03
`
`"05
`
`"07
`
`"09
`
`RECEIVE INOICAIION OF ONE OR MORE
`CEOCRAPHIC AREAS ON NAP
`
`RECEIVE ID(S) 0F TARGET TALKGROUP(S)
`FROM USER
`
`RECEIVE FROM USER CRITERIA FOR
`EXCLUDING COMMUNICATION UNITS FROM
`BEING REMOVED FROM TARGET TALKGROUP(S)
`
`
`
`
`
`OMMUNICATIO
`IN!
`UNIT GROUPED INTO
`
`
`
`TARGET TALKGROUP(S) BASED ON
`LOCATION WITHIN INDICATED
`
`
`GEOGRAPHIC AREA(S
`
`9
`
`NO
`
`m m
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATION
`
`INOICAIEO CEOCRAPHIC
`UNII EXII
`AREA(S) ?
`
`
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATION
`UNIT SATISFY UNGROUPING
`EXCLUSION CRITERIA
`YES
`
`
`?
`
`
`
`DO NOT
`UNGROUP
`
`1H9
`
`N0
`
`AUTOMATICALLY REMOVE COMMUNICATION
`UNIT FROM TARGET TALKGROUP(S)
`
`"21
`
`{IIIEIIIID 023
`
`.JE7IJIVIISF-
`
`.JZJZ
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 12 0f 12
`
`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`203
`A
`
`1205
`
`,207
`
`1209
`
`START
`
`207
`
`12—00
`
`DISPLAY MAP INDICATING LOCATIONS OF
`COMMUNICATION UNITS TO USER
`
`RECEIVE USERS SELECTION OF ONE OR MORE
`GEOGRAPHIC AREAS ON MAP
`
`RECEIVE 10(3) 0F TARGET TALKGROUP(S)
`FROM USER
`
`ACCEPT FROM USER CRITERIA FOR
`EXCLUDING COMMUNICATION UNITS FROM BEING
`GROUPED INTO TARGET IALKGROUP(S)
`
`V
`
`HIT
`
`COMMUNICATION
`UNIT ENTER GEOGRAPHIC
`
`
`REGIONS)
`
`
`
`YES
`
`STORE TALKGROUP ID OF COMMUNICATION
`UNIT’S CURRENT TALKGROUP
`
`1213
`
` COMMUNICATION
`N0
`UNIT MEET EXCLUSION
`
`CRITERIA
`9
`
`YES
`
`DO NOT GROUP
`
`12$
`
`AUTOMATICALLY GROUP COMMUNICATION my
`UNIT INTO TARGET TALKGROUP(s)
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATION
`UNIT EXIT INDICATED GEOGRAPHIC
`REGIONS ?
`
`
`
`YES
`FIG- 12
`AUTOMATICALLY REMOVE COMMUNICAT 0N UNIT FROM
`TARGET TALKGROUP(S) AND GROUP BACK INTO
`ORIGINAL TALKGROUP
`
`7223
`
`m 1225
`
`

`

`US 6,204,844 B1
`
`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`DYNAMICALLY GROUPING
`COMMUNICATION UNITS IN A
`COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to communication
`systems and, in particular to, dynamically grouping com-
`munication units in a communication system from a display-
`based terminal.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Dispatch communication systems are known to include a
`wireless infrastructure and a plurality of communication
`units, such as two-way radios. Some dispatch systems, such
`as those used for public safety, also include a dispatch
`console and a so-called “computer aided dispatch (CAD)
`system” that includes a display-based terminal to control
`communications between the communication units. The
`
`CAD terminal typically displays categorized tables of infor-
`mation to the terminal user (typically referred to as a
`“dispatcher” or “dispatch operator”). For example, the CAD
`terminal may display queues of currently pending incidents
`and/or a list of communication units that are currently
`available.
`In addition, some CAD terminals include an
`integrated mapping program that enables the CAD terminal
`to display locations of communication units on a map that
`represents a geographic area supported by the dispatch
`system. The locations of the communication units are typi-
`cally provided to the CAD system on a periodic basis by an
`automatic vehicle location (AVL) system that is coupled to
`the CAD system via a dedicated communication link.
`In addition to receiving communication unit
`location
`information,
`the CAD system may also receive incident
`information from a 911 system that is coupled to the CAD
`system. In such a case, the map displays the origination point
`of a 911 telephone call to the dispatcher as an icon on the
`map. By viewing communication unit location, communi-
`cation unit status, and incident location on the map,
`the
`dispatcher can quickly determine which communication unit
`users (e.g., policemen, firemen, paramedics, and so forth)
`would be in the best situation to respond to the incident. As
`an incident is attended to by users of the communication
`units, the status of the communication units associated with
`such users is updated either manually by the dispatcher or
`automatically by the CAD system responsive to messaging
`from the wireless infrastructure.
`In the latter case,
`the
`wireless infrastructure receives status updates over a wire-
`less communication channel from the communication units
`
`that are participating in the handling of the incident.
`Changes in communication unit status are typically indi-
`cated to the dispatcher by some type of visual change, such
`as a color change or icon update, to the participating unit’s
`representation on the map.
`A map display, with icons representing the incidents and
`the communication units with their current status, gives a
`dispatcher a powerful tool for quickly evaluating an emer-
`gency situation. By using standard graphical user interface
`(GUI) cursor interaction (e. g., “point and click” or “drag and
`drop”), the dispatcher can manipulate the screen icons to
`assign units to incidents. In some systems, the action of
`assigning communication units to incidents on the map
`automatically sends data to the assigned communication
`units (e.g.,
`if the units are equipped with mobile data
`terminals) to enable the communication unit users to imme-
`diately obtain critical information related to the incident,
`such as the incident location and other details.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`In many situations, the communication units assigned to
`handle an incident belong to different agencies, such as
`police, fire, ambulance, public works, and so forth. The
`communication units are, however, generally programmed
`to permit direct group communications only with other
`communication units from the same agency, and are not
`programmed to facilitate direct group communications
`between communication units of different agencies. To
`permit such inter-agency communications, dispatch systems
`generally provide for dynamic regrouping of communica-
`tion units into a common talkgroup, thereby enabling direct
`group communications between regrouped units. Dynamic
`regrouping is typically performed by a radio management
`program in the dispatch console or by a CAD program that
`interacts with the dispatch console via a defined interface,
`such as an application programming interface.
`In the case of a large emergency incident, many commu-
`nication units may arrive at and leave the scene of the
`emergency during the course of the emergency. Therefore,
`grouping and ungrouping of the units attending to the
`emergency is very important to enable the attending units to
`directly communicate while at the scene, but enable the units
`to communicate in their original talkgroups (e.g., with other
`units of their particular agency) after leaving the scene. In
`existing dispatch systems,
`the dispatcher or another
`individual, such as an emergency response supervisor, must
`manually group and ungroup units as they arrive at and leave
`the scene of the emergency incident using the aforemen-
`tioned radio management or CAD program. The CAD or
`radio management dynamic grouping program can be run
`from or displayed on the CAD terminal; however, such
`programs require the dispatcher to leave the map environ-
`ment to execute them, thereby losing the benefit of having
`a map display to view the system and, in particular, the
`geographic area near the emergency incident in the first
`place.
`Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus that
`allows a user of a display-based terminal, such as a CAD
`terminal, having an integrated mapping program to dynami-
`cally group and ungroup communication units from a single
`map environment.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a communication
`system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a communication
`system, less communication units, in accordance with an
`alternative embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary map displayed to a user of
`a display-based terminal in accordance with the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative exemplary map displayed
`to a user of a display-based terminal in accordance with the
`present invention.
`FIG. 5 illustrates a logic flow diagram of steps executed
`by a display-based terminal
`to dynamically group and
`ungroup communication units in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 6 illustrates a logic flow diagram of steps executed
`by a display-based terminal to dynamically ungroup and
`group communication units in accordance with another
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 illustrates a logic flow diagram of steps executed
`by a display-based terminal
`to dynamically group and
`
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`US 6,204,844 B1
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`ungroup communication units in accordance with yet
`another embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 8 illustrates a logic flow diagram of steps executed
`by a display-based terminal to dynamically ungroup and
`group communication units in accordance with yet another
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 9 illustrates a logic flow diagram of steps executed
`by a display-based terminal
`to dynamically group and
`ungroup communication units in accordance with yet
`another embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 10 illustrates a logic flow diagram of steps executed
`by a display-based terminal
`to dynamically group and
`ungroup communication units in accordance with yet
`another embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 11 illustrates a logic flow diagram of steps executed
`by a display-based terminal
`to dynamically group and
`ungroup communication units in accordance with yet
`another embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 12 illustrates a logic flow diagram of steps executed
`by a display-based terminal
`to dynamically group and
`ungroup communication units in accordance with yet
`another embodiment of the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Generally, the present invention encompasses a method
`and apparatus for dynamically grouping communication
`units in a communication system. A display-based terminal
`displays a map to a user of the terminal, wherein the map
`indicates locations of communication units in at least a
`
`portion of the communication system. The terminal receives
`the user’s selection of at least one communication unit from
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`the map and an identification of at least one talkgroup with
`which the selected communication unit or units are to
`become members. The selection of communication units
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`grouped or ungrouped and perform the regrouping. The
`present invention links the regrouping functionality directly
`into the map display to enable the terminal user to simply
`“point and click”, “click and drag”, or the equivalent to
`quickly regroup communication units being monitored by
`the terminal user as such regrouping may be necessary to
`accomplish system-related tasks, such as responding to
`emergency incidents.
`The present invention can be more fully understood with
`reference to FIGS. 1—12, in which like reference numerals
`designate like items. FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a
`communication system 100 in accordance with a preferred
`embodiment of the present invention. The communication
`system 100 includes a display-based terminal 101, a wireless
`infrastructure 103, which contains memory, and a plurality
`of communication units 105—113 that communicate with the
`wireless infrastructure 103 over one or more communication
`
`resources 114 (one shown). The communication system 100
`may be either a conventional system or a trunked system and
`each communication resource 114 may comprise a fre-
`quency carrier, one or more time slots of a frequency carrier,
`or an orthogonal code implemented by a respective fre-
`quency hopping pattern or by a pseudo-random noise
`sequence spread over a wide (e.g., 3 MHZ) bandwidth.
`The communication units 105—113 comprise two-way
`mobile radios, two-way portable radios, or two-way wireless
`data terminals. As depicted in FIG. 1, the communication
`units 105—113 preferably comprise a combination of mobile
`radios, portable radios, and wireless data terminals. The
`wireless infrastructure 103 supports the particular commu-
`nication system 100 and, therefore, comprises one or more
`base stations (e.g., in a conventional system) or one or more
`base stations and one or more system controllers (e.g., in a
`trunking system). The wireless infrastructure 103 is coupled
`to the display-based terminal 101 via one or more commu-
`nication links 116 (one shown), such as broadband leased
`telephone lines (e.g., T1 or T3 lines), standard telephone
`lines, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, or microwave links
`when the terminal 101 is located a substantial distance from
`the wireless infrastructure 103 or an R8232 cable or stan-
`
`dard telephone lines when the terminal 101 is collocated
`with the wireless infrastructure 103.
`
`In the preferred embodiment, the display-based terminal
`101 is a fixed computer-aided dispatch (CAD) terminal that
`is coupled to an automated vehicle location (AVL) system
`115 and an emergency 911 system 117. The AVL system 115
`and the 911 system 117 are well known; thus, no further
`discussion of them will be presented except to facilitate an
`understanding of the present invention. The display-based
`terminal 101 preferably includes a graphical user interface
`(GUI) 119, a processor 121, a memory 123, a user input
`device 125, a selection device 127, and an interface 129 to
`the wireless infrastructure 103. The interface 129 corre-
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`may be made by selecting the communication units
`individually, by selecting the communication units as a
`group (e.g., using “click and drag” or “drag and drop”
`rectangling techniques), by selecting one or more geo-
`graphic areas or regions on the map and thereby indirectly
`selecting communications units that are presently in or that
`enter the areas or regions, or by some combination of such
`selection techniques.
`After communication units have been selected for
`
`the terminal automatically groups the selected
`grouping,
`communication units into the indicated talkgroup or talk-
`groups. If, at some later time, the terminal user desires to
`ungroup the previously grouped communication units, the
`user selects the units to be ungrouped using any one or more
`of the above selection techniques and, upon such selection,
`the terminal automatically ungroups the newly selected
`units. The terminal user may further establish criteria for
`grouping and ungrouping communication units. For
`example, the terminal user may specify certain individual
`communication units that will remain dynamically grouped
`even if such communication units leave the geographic area
`used to indirectly select communication units for regroup-
`ing.
`By grouping and ungrouping communication units in this
`manner,
`the present
`invention incorporates the terminal
`user’s ability to dynamically regroup communication units
`directly into the map display,
`in contrast
`to prior art
`computer-aided dispatch (CAD) regrouping approaches that
`require the user to first determine from the map which
`communication units to regroup or ungroup and then use a
`separate regrouping program to actually select the units to be
`
`sponds to the particular type of communication link 116
`between the terminal 101 and the wireless infrastructure 103
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`and may comprise a radio frequency (RF) modem or a
`wireline modem to couple the processor 121 to the wireless
`infrastructure 103.
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`The GUI 119 is well known and, responsive to the
`processor 121, presents the user of the terminal 101 with a
`map display of locations of communication units 105—113 in
`at least a portion of the communication system 100. The
`processor 121 preferably comprises a microprocessor and a
`digital signal processor for controlling the various elements
`of the terminal 101 and for communicating with the wireless
`infrastructure 103. The user input device 125 preferably
`comprises a foot switch, a panel microphone, a push-to-talk
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`5
`
`(PTT) activator, a computer mouse, a keyboard, a touch-
`screen portion of the GUI 119, a voice activated device, a
`voice recognition device, or some combination thereof to
`enable the user of the terminal 101 to input user information
`for transmission to one or more of the communication units
`105—113. The memory 123 preferably comprises a combi-
`nation of random access memory (RAM), read only memory
`(ROM), programmable read only memory (PROM), and a
`floppy disk to store software algorithms and data used by the
`processor 121 during operation of the terminal 101. Finally,
`the selection device 127 preferably comprises a computer
`mouse or equivalent
`(e.g.,
`trackball or
`touchpad), a
`keyboard, a touchscreen portion of the GUI 119, a voice
`recognition device, a voice activated device or some com-
`bination thereof to enable the user of the terminal 101 to
`
`make selections from the map displayed on the GUI 119.
`In an alternative embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 2, the
`display-based terminal 201 is a remote terminal (e.g., a
`mobile dispatch or dummy terminal positioned in the geo-
`graphic area of an emergency) that is not coupled directly to
`the AVL system 115 and the 911 system 117.
`In this
`embodiment,
`the display-based terminal 201 includes a
`radio transceiver 207 coupled to the processor 121 and an
`antenna 209 coupled to the radio transceiver 207 to enable
`the terminal 201 to exchange information with the wireless
`infrastructure 203 via an RF channel 205. In addition, in this
`embodiment, the AVL system 115, the 911 system 117, and
`a map interface 213 are coupled to the wireless infrastruc-
`ture 203 either directly or indirectly, for example, via a
`processor, such as an X Windows processor 211 (shown in
`dash). In this embodiment, the terminal 201 receives com-
`munication unit location updates from the AVL system 115
`and emergency incident locations from the 911 system 117
`via the wireless infrastructure 203 over the RF channel 205.
`
`FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate exemplary maps 300, 400 dis-
`played to a user of the display-based terminal 101, 201 in
`accordance with the present invention. As shown in both
`FIGS., the map 300, 400 preferably depicts representations
`of the communication units 105—113 positioned on and off
`streets in a geographic area of the communication system
`100. In addition, the map 300,400 also preferably displays
`the identities of the users of the communication units
`
`105—113 (e.g., Fire Department Engine 4 (“FD ENG 4”),
`Fire Department Captain (“FD CPT”), Police Department
`Car 10 (“PD CAR 10”), Police Department Unit 6 (“PD
`UNIT 6”), Fire Department Engine 6 (“FD ENG 6”), Police
`Department Captain (“PD CPT”), and Ambulance
`(“AMB”)) and the names of the streets. Only some exem-
`plary street names and communication unit user identities
`are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 for the sake of clarity. The map
`300, 400 may further indicate (e. g., below the representation
`of the respective communication unit 105—113 or through
`the use of a color coding scheme for each communication
`unit representation) the status of each communication unit
`105—113 (e.g., active, inactive, off-duty, busy, assigned to an
`incident, and so forth).
`In addition,
`the map 300, 400
`preferably displays the location of an incident 302, 403
`which some of the communication units may be responding
`to if, for example, the communication system 100 is a city’s
`or a county’s emergency response system.
`Besides depicting the locations of the communication
`units 105—113, the location of an incident 302, and various
`information about the communication units 105—113 or their
`
`users, the map 300, 400 also preferably displays one or more
`of various means for the user of the display-based terminal
`101, 201 to select a talkgroup for dynamically regrouping at
`least some of the communication units 105—113. For
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`example, the map 300, 400 may include a virtual button 303
`that, when depressed or selected (as indicated by dashed box
`304) by placement of a cursor 311, 419 on top of a portion
`of the button 303 preferably using a computer mouse and
`depressing or “clicking” a physical button on the mouse,
`opens a window 305, 405 containing an entry field 306, 407
`in which the terminal user may enter the identification of a
`target talkgroup to be formed upon the dynamic regrouping.
`The window 305, 405 may further include “OK” and “CAN-
`CEL” buttons as shown to enable the user to confirm or
`cancel his or her entry and preferably close the window 305,
`405.
`
`Additionally or alternatively, depression or selection of
`the virtual button 303 may open a window 307, 411 that
`includes a list of possible target talkgroups from which the
`user may use the cursor 311, 419 under the control of a
`computer mouse, a keyboard, a voice recognition device or
`some other selection device 127 to select an identification of
`a talkgroup to be formed upon the dynamic regrouping. In
`such a case, depression of the virtual button 303 functions as
`a request
`to the terminal 101, 201 to retrieve a list of
`talkgroup identifications stored in the terminal’s memory
`123, in response to which, the terminal 101, 201 retrieves the
`list and displays it in the window 307, 411. Alternatively, the
`list of talkgroup identifications may be stored in and
`retrieved from memory within the wireless infrastructure
`103. Selection of a talkgroup identification from the list may
`be indicated by highlighting the selected talkgroup identi-
`fication 309, 413 as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, by changing
`the color of the text of the selected talkgroup identification
`309, 413, or by any other means. This window 307, 411 may
`also include “OK” and “CANCEL” buttons as shown to
`enable the user to confirm or cancel his or her selection and
`
`preferably close the window 307, 411.
`Besides providing means for enabling the terminal user to
`select one or more talkgroups for the regrouping, the termi-
`nal 101, 201 may also include means for the terminal user
`to enter or select criteria to limit which communication units
`
`are to be affected by the regrouping and how they are to be
`affected. For example, as depicted in FIG. 4, the map 300,
`400 may include a virtual button 409, 415 from which the
`user of the terminal 101, 201 can select filters to be checked
`and applied during the regrouping process. Thus, when the
`terminal user clicks on or otherwise selects button 415 (as
`indicated by dashed box 417), a window 421 preferably
`appears on the display that lists various criteria or that may
`include additional buttons 423, 425 to enable the terminal
`user to further select the application of the criteria (e.g.,
`grouping-related or ungrouping-related). For instance, selec-
`tion of the “GROUP” button 423 indicates to the terminal
`
`101, 201 that the subsequently entered or selected criteria
`applies to the communication units as they are being
`regrouped. By contrast, selection of the “UNGROUP” but-
`ton 425 indicates to the terminal 101, 201 that the subse-
`quently entered or selected criteria applies to the commu-
`nication units as they are being ungrouped after a
`regrouping. Selection of either the GROUP button 423 or the
`UNGROUP button 425 preferably opens another window
`(not shown) that is either similar to window 305, 405 in that
`it includes an entry field for entering filtering criteria or is
`similar to window 307, 411 in that it includes a list of
`filtering criteria. Similar types of criteria may be used in the
`grouping and ungrouping filters. Such criteria includes, but
`is not limited to, talkgroup identifications, individual com-
`munication unit identifications or aliases, and communica-
`tion unit statuses.
`
`Although the above discussion of the means for selecting
`or identifying talkgroups and filter criteria focused primarily
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`US 6,204,844 B1
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`7
`on virtual buttons that, when selected, opened various
`windows,
`the map 300, 400 may instead or in addition
`include one or more pull-down menus that include the list of
`talkgroups and/or the list of filtering criteria. Therefore, the
`terminal user may simply select an appropriately-labeled
`pull-down menu (e.g., at the top of the map 300, 400) to
`obtain entry windows, such as windows 305 and 405, or
`lists, such as lists 307 and 411.
`To select a communication unit or communication units
`
`105—113 to be dynamically regrouped, the user has a variety
`of options. For example, the u