US5235631A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Trunked talk-group assignment method
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1989-07-31
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Granted: 1993-08-10
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Expires: 2009-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A trunked communication system having reassignable talk-groups. By having the talk-groups reassignable, the trunked communication system can accommodate a large number of user groups without adding to the control resource traffic congestion.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary W. Grube
- 👤 David J. Ness-Cohn
- 👤 Ted A. Kozlowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/04; H04W84/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
In a trunked communication system having, at least, a plurality of subscriber units, a limited number of communication resources, a communication resource controller, a predetermined number of assignable talk groups, and substantially more user groups than the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, wherein the communication resource controller allocates the limited number of communication resources among at least one of the plurality of subscriber units when the at least one of the plurality of subscriber units is affiliated with one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, a method for affiliating a subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units to one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, the method comprises the steps of: a) transmitting, by a subscriber unit, a user group assignment request that includes a selected user group of the user groups; b) determining whether the selected user group is actively assigned to one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups; c) when the selected user group is not actively assigned to one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, determining whether at least one of the predetermined number of assignable talks groups is not actively assigned to a user group to produce at least one available talk; d) when the at least one available talk group exists, temporarily assigning the selected user group to one of the at least one available talk group to produce an assigned talk group; and e) temporarily affiliating the subscriber unit to the assigned talk group.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
In a trunked communication system having, at least, a plurality of subscriber units, a limited number of communication resources, a communication resource controller, a predetermined number of assignable talk groups, and substantially more user groups than the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, wherein the communication resource controller allocates the limited number of communication resources among at least one of the plurality of subscriber units when the at least one of the plurality of subscriber units is affiliated with one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, a method for affiliating a subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units to one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, the method comprises the steps of: a) transmitting, by a subscriber unit, a user group assignment request that includes a selected user group of the user groups; b) determining whether the selected user group is actively assigned to one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups; c) when the selected user group is not actively assigned to one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, determining whether at least one of the predetermined number of assignable talks groups is not actively assigned to a user group to produce at least one available talk; d) when the at least one available talk group exists, temporarily assigning the selected user group to one of the at least one available talk group to produce an assigned talk group; and e) temporarily affiliating the subscriber unit to the assigned talk group.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises verifying the user-group affiliation request and sending a user-group affiliation rejection message when the user-group affiliation request is invalid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of: f) sending, by the subscriber unit, a communication resource access request; g) verifying the communication resource access request; h) allocating one of the limited number of communication resources to the subscriber unit when at least one of the limited number of communication resources is available; and i) sending a busy message when all of the limited number of communication resources are allocated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 wherein step (g) further comprises sending a communication resource access rejection message when the communication resource access request is invalid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of erasing the assignment of the assigned talk group to the selected user group when the user group is inactive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the erasing step further comprises the sub steps of: 1) determining whether the user group has been active within a predetermined period of time; 2) requesting, after the predetermined period of time has elapsed, an acknowledgement that the user group is still needed; and 3) maintaining the assignment of the assigned talk group to the selected user group when the predetermined period of time has not elapsed or when at least one of the plurality of subscriber units has acknowledged that the user group is still needed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the erasing step further comprises the substeps of: 1) determining whether any of the plurality of subscriber units are affiliated with the assigned talk group; and 2) erasing the assignment of the assigned talk group to the selected user group when no subscriber units are affiliated with the assigned talk group, and maintaining the assignment of the assigned talk group to the selected user groups when at least one subscriber unit is affiliated with the assigned talk group.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a trunked communication system having, at least, a plurality of subscriber units, a limited number of communication resources, a communication resource controller, a predetermined number of assignable talk groups, and substantially more user groups than the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, wherein the communication resource controller allocates the limited number of communication resources among at least one of the plurality of subscriber units when the at least one of the plurality of subscriber units is affiliated with one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, a method for a subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units to affiliate with one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, the method comprises the steps of: a) transmitting, by a subscriber unit, a user group assignment request that includes a selected user group of the user groups; b) receiving notification that the selected user group has been assigned to a talk group; and c) transmitting an acknowledgement that indicates that the assigned user group is still needed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a trunked communication system having, at least, a plurality of subscriber units, a limited number of communication resources, a communication resource controller, a predetermined number of assignable talk groups, and substantially more user groups than the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, wherein the communication resource controller allocates the limited number of communication resources among at least one of the plurality of subscriber units when the at least one of the plurality of subscriber units is affiliated with one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, a method for a subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units to affiliate with one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, the method comprises the steps of: a) transmitting, by a subscriber unit, a user group assignment request that includes a selected user group of the user groups; b) receiving notification that the selected user group has been assigned to a talk group; and c) transmitting an acknowledgement that indicates that the assigned user group is still needed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 wherein step (c) further comprises transmitting a communication resource access request.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 9 further comprises receiving access to one of the limited number of communication resources when the communication resource access request is valid and at least one of the communication resources is available.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
242 words
In a trunked communication system having, at least, a plurality of subscriber units, a limited number of communication resources, a communication resource controller, a predetermined number of assignable talk groups, and substantially more user groups than the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, wherein the communication resource controller allocates the limited number of communication resources among at least one of the plurality of subscriber units only when the at least one of the plurality of subscriber units is affiliated with one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, a method for the communication resource controller to affiliate a subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units to one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, the method comprises the steps of: a) receiving a user group assignment request that includes a selected user group; b) determining whether the selected user group is actively assigned to one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups; c) when the selected user group is not actively assigned to one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, determining whether at least one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups is not available to produce at least one available talk group; d) when the at least one available talk group exists, assigning the selected user group to one of the at least one available talk group to produce an assigned talk group; and e) affiliating the subscriber unit to the assigned talk group.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
242 words
In a trunked communication system having, at least, a plurality of subscriber units, a limited number of communication resources, a communication resource controller, a predetermined number of assignable talk groups, and substantially more user groups than the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, wherein the communication resource controller allocates the limited number of communication resources among at least one of the plurality of subscriber units only when the at least one of the plurality of subscriber units is affiliated with one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, a method for the communication resource controller to affiliate a subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units to one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, the method comprises the steps of: a) receiving a user group assignment request that includes a selected user group; b) determining whether the selected user group is actively assigned to one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups; c) when the selected user group is not actively assigned to one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups, determining whether at least one of the predetermined number of assignable talk groups is not available to produce at least one available talk group; d) when the at least one available talk group exists, assigning the selected user group to one of the at least one available talk group to produce an assigned talk group; and e) affiliating the subscriber unit to the assigned talk group.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11 wherein step (a) further comprises verifying that the user-group affiliation request is valid and sending a rejection message when the user-group affiliation request is invalid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 wherein step (c) further comprises sending a rejection message when all of the predetermined number of talk-groups are actively assigned.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11 further comprises erasing the assignment of the talk-group to the user-group when a predetermined period of time elapses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 11 wherein step (d) further comprises erasing the assignment of the talk-group to the user-group when none of the plurality of subscriber units are affiliated with the talk-group.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-09 | 1997-02-08 | 1997-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-02-08 | 2001-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-09 | 2005-02-08 | 2005-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |