Mobile radio communications system with join feature

Claim 2

In a trunking radio transceiver of the type which operates on a plurality of channels, the improvement comprising: means for controlling said transceiver to (1) transmit, on a non-used channel X, a request to join ongoing transceiver communications being conducted over a further channel Y, (2) thereafter leave said channel X and scan said plural channels, and (3) thereafter tune to said channel Y in response to signalling transmitted to said transceiver so as to permit transceiver participation in said ongoing transceiver communications thereon.

Claim 11

A method as in claim 5 further including the steps, performed after said transmitting step (6), of: (a) scanning said plural channels with said third transceiver and detecting said pre-assigned calling sequence transmitted by said re-transmitting step (7); (b) operating said third radio transceiver on said channel Y in response to said calling sequence detected by said scanning and detecting step (a), thereby permitting communications between said third radio transceiver and said first and second transceivers over said channel Y.

Claim 12

In a radio communications system including (a) a radio repeater having plural communications channels C1-CN and (b) plural radio transceiver each capable of communications via any of said communications channels, a method for permitting communications between radio transceivers over one of said communications channels comprising the steps of: (1) scanning said communications channels C1-CN with each of a plurality of radio transceivers; (2) transmitting call signalling over a selected channel CK of said communications channels C1-CN with said radio repeater; (3) receiving said call signalling transmitted by said transmitting step (2) with said plurality of radio transceivers; (4) permitting communications over said repeater channel CK between said plurality of transceivers; (5) transmitting call signalling from a further radio transceiver over another selected channel CL different from said channel CK; (6) deciding in response to said signalling transmitted by said transmitting step (5) whether said further radio transceiver should join the communications permitted over said repeater channel CK by said permitting step (4); and (7) if said further radio transceiver should join said communications over said channel CK, performing the following steps: (a) scanning said communications channels C1-CN with said further radio transceiver, (b) transmitting call signalling with said radio repeater over said communications channel CK while said further radio transceiver is scanning said communications channels, (c) operating said further radio transceiver on said communications channel CK in response to said call signalling transmitting by such transmitting step (b), and (d) thereafter permitting communications over said repeater channel CK between said plurality of transceivers and said further transceiver.

Claim 13

In a radio communications system including (a) a radio repeater having plural communications channels C1-CN and (b) plural radio transceiver each capable of communications via any of said communications channels, a method for permitting communications between radio transceivers over one of said communications channels comprising the steps of: (1) scanning said communications channels C1-CN with each of a plurality of radio transceivers; (2) transmitting call signalling over a selected channel CK of said communications channels C1-CN with said radio repeater; (3) receiving said call signalling transmitted by said transmitting step (2) with said plurality of radio transceivers; (4) permitting communications over said repeater channel CK between said plurality of transceivers; (5) transmitting call signalling from a further radio transceiver over another selected channel CL different from said channel CK; (6) deciding in response to said signalling transmitted by said transmitting step (5) whether said further radio transceiver should join the communications permitted over said repeater channel CK by said permitting step (4); and (7) if said further radio transceiver should join said communications over said channel CK, performing the following steps: (a) scanning said communications channels C1-CN with said further radio transceiver, (b) transmitting call signalling with said radio repeater over said communications channel CK while said further radio transceiver is scanning said communications channels, (c) operating said further radio transceiver on said communications channel CK in response to said call signalling transmitting by such transmitting step (b), and (d) thereafter permitting communications over said repeater channel CK between said plurality of transceivers and said further transceiver.

Claim 16

The method of claim 8 in which said trunking radio transceiver was originally operating on channel C2, lost communication thereon, and reaquires said lost communication.

Claim 17

The method of claim 9 in which said trunking radio transceiver was originally communicating with a telephone interconnect network over channel C2.

Claim 18

The method of claim 8 in which said trunking radio transceiver acquires communication over channel C2 with a further transceiver originally operating on channel C2.

Claim 19

A method as in claim 8 further including the step of transmitting signals on said further channel C2 with a further radio transceiver in response to said signals transmitted by said transmitting step (2).