摘要:
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 reconfiguration, 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 destination group level, an advanced user interface, automatic support of multiple 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.
摘要:
A digital radio communications transceiver programming apparatus and method are used to load personality defining information in a non-volatile EEPROM memory within a portable or mobile digital radio transceiver. A user interface defines display formats organized in a hierarchial tree structure with more general tasks nearer the "root" of the structure and more specific tasks existing at the "leaf" portions of the structure. The tasks are organized in a hierarchial fashion to simplify operation. Pop-up display formats filling only a portion of the display are used to display help text and for specific user selection tasks. Help text is provided on a field level and on a display format level. Error and range checking are also provided on a field-by-field basis. A changing prompt is displayed on a field-by-field basis to guide the user in filling in input fields, and different operative function key assignments are made on a display format basis.
摘要:
A digitally trunked radio repeater system provides substantial improvements in timeliness of channel acquisition and channel drop, and in reliability of critical control signalling. The system uses a much higher digital signalling rate than is typically found in prior art systems, and uses a control channel to convey digital channel request and assignment messages between the central site and mobile transceivers. The mobile radio transceivers transmit channel requests on the control channel (if no response is received, the mobile retries during a retry time window which increases in duration in dependence on the number of retries). The mobile transceiver switches to a working channel in response to an assignment message received on the control channel. Subaudible digital signals transmitted on the control channel and on active working channels allow late entry, shifting to higher priority calls, and other advanced functions. Message and transmission trunking capabilities are both present so as to maximize working channel usage without compromising channel access for high priority communications. During transmission trunking, called and calling transceivers return to the control channel after each transmission (and called transceivers may be inhibited from transmitting) but grant higher priority to calls from the other transceivers being communicated with to ensure continuity over an entire conversation. Additional functions and fault tolerant features further increase the versatility and reliability of the system.
摘要:
A single channel autonomous trunking ("SCAT") RF repeater transmits and receives on a single duplex RF channel. The repeater operates alternately in a control channel mode and in an assigned channel mode. Digital control channel signalling results in temporary assignment of the single channel for assigned channel signalling (e.g., mobile generated messages). A holdover time period following reversion of the channel to control channel signalling minimizes collisions and permits priority to be given to emergency communications. Low speed data subaudible digital signalling may be used to provide late entry capabilities.
摘要:
A site architecture for a trunked radio frequency communications system provides better fault tolerance capabilities than are available from architectures including redundant hardware. During normal system operations, a primary site controller performs most or all system control functions while signal processing functions are performed in a distributed manner by trunking cards associated with individual repeater channel receivers and transmitters. In the event the site controller fails, the trunking cards also begin performing trunking and other control functions. The trunking cards cease attempting to communicate with the failed site controller, and begin communicating directly with one another via a high speed backup serial link. Through the distributed processing routines performed by the various trunking cards and interaction between the trunking cards over the backup serial link, trunking and other capabilities are maintained even though the primary site controller has failed (although advanced features such as call logging and the like are lost). Because trunking capability is maintained, failure of the primary site controller has little or no effect on ongoing communications and is virtually transparent to mobile unit operators.
摘要:
A site architecture for a trunked radio frequency communications system provides better fault tolerance capabilities than are available from architectures including redundant hardware. During normal system operations, a primary site controller performs most or all system control functions while signal processing functions are performed in a distributed manner by trunking cards associated with individual repeater channel receivers and transmitters. In the event the site controller fails, the trunking cards also begin performing trunking and other control functions. The trunking cards cease attempting to communicate with the failed site controller, and begin communicating directly with one another via a high speed backup serial link. Through the distributed processing routines performed by the various trunking cards and interaction between the trunking cards over the backup serial link, trunking and other capabilities are maintained even though the primary site controller has failed (although advanced features such as call logging and the like are lost). Because trunking capability is maintained, failure of the primary site controller has little or no effect on ongoing communications and is virtually transparent to mobile unit operators.
摘要:
A digitally trunked radio repeater system provides substantial improvements in timeliness of channel acquisition and channel drop, and in reliability of critical control signalling. The system uses a much higher digital signalling rate than is typically found in prior art systems, and uses a control channel to convey digital channel request and assignment messages between the central site and mobile transceivers. The mobile radio transceivers transmit channel requests on the control channel (if no response is received, the mobile retries during a retry time window which increases in duration in dependence on the number of retries). The mobile transceiver switches to a working channel in response to an assignement message received on the control channel. Subaudible digital signals transmitted on the control channel and on active working channels allow late entry, shifting to higher priority calls, and other advanced functions. Message and transmission trunking capabilities are both present so as to maximize working channel usage without compromising channel access for high priority communciations. During transmission trunking, called and calling transceivers return to the control channel after each transmission (and called transceivers may be inhibited from transmitting) but grant higher priority to calls from the other transceivers being communciated with to ensure continuity over an entire conversation. Additional functions and fault tolerant features further increase the versatility and reliability of the system.
摘要:
"Dispatch overdialing" permits radio transceivers already communicating via a repeater with other transceivers in a trunked radio communications system to call additional radio transceivers onto the communications channel in use. A radio transceiver in a first group may "dispatch overdial" another radio transceiver in a different group by transmitting a dispatch overdial begin signal to the repeater. The repeater mutes all audio communications on the channel, and the radio transceiver then transmits a sequence of identifying signals which are identical to those used to establish communications initially. The radio transceiver then transmits a further sequence of identifying signals which identify a further radio transceiver (or group of transceivers) to be called onto the channel. If the first sequence of identifying signals matches the signals which were used to establish communications initially, the repeater initiates handshake signalling to call the further transceiver(s) onto the channel. If the first sequence of identifying signals doesn't match the previously-received signals, handshake signalling is inhibited and audio muting ceases after the receipt of the further sequence of identifying signals.
摘要:
A fleet vehicle navigation system for supplying driver specific information to the driver of a fleet vehicle includes a computing system, a short-range radio transceiver and at least one fleet vehicle. Once a driver is assigned to a fleet vehicle, driver specific information may be communicated between the computing system and fleet vehicle. Communication of driver specific information is triggered by the entry of the assigned fleet vehicle into a communication zone of the short-range radio transceiver. Driver specific information includes intended destinations of the driver, travel plans, vehicle settings and vehicle operational data.
摘要:
An improved trunked radio repeater system and method providing an alternative communication mechanism for contacting a dispatcher within the system when the user's assigned group is busy. Using a priority call button on a hand-held radio unit, a user may indicate their desire to prioritize their call in a non-emergency manner and forward a message to their group's dispatcher otherwise occupied by routine group activity.