Database management system having first and second databases for automatically modifying storage structure of second database when storage structure of first database is modified

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein the first data base comprises a substantially non-temporary data base.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, wherein the first data base resides in EEPROM.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2, wherein the first data base is not altered during ordinary operation and use of the first data base.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, wherein the second data base comprises a substantially temporary data base.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5, wherein the second data base resides in EEPROM.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5, wherein the second data base is altered, from time to time, during ordinary operation and use of the second data base.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1, wherein: the first data base comprises a substantially non-temporary data base; and the second data base comprises a substantially temporary data base.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8, wherein: the first data base is not altered during ordinary operation and use of the first data base; the second data base is altered, from time to time, during ordinary operation and use of the second data base.

Claim 11

An operator interface for use in interfacing a communications console to a radio communication system network that is comprised of at least a first and second radio communication system, the communications console being a part of the first radio communication system, the operator interface comprising: first data base means having a data storage structure directly related to characteristics of operating parameter for the first communication system and for storing, on a substantially non-temporary basis, a first set of information relating to operating parameter characteristic values for the first radio communication system wherein the data storage structure of the first data base means can be modified by changing the operating parameter characteristics when the operating parameter characteristic values for the first communication system are modified due to an environmental change in the first communication system and said operating parameter characteristic value modification cannot be readily accommodated by a current data storage structure of the first data base means; second data base means having a data storage structure directly related to characteristics of operating parameters for the second communication system and for storing, on a substantially temporary basis: a second set of information comprising at least part of the first set of information; and a third set of information relating to operating parameter characteristic values for at least the second radio communication system; data base management means operably coupled to the first data base means and the second data base means, for automatically modifying the data storage structure of the second data base by changing the operating parameter characteristics whenever any of the following occur: the data storage structure of the first data base is modified; and new operating parameter characteristic values must be added to the second data base, the new operating parameter characteristic values not being readily accommodated by a current data storage structure of the second data base.

Claim 12

An operator interface for use in interfacing a communications console to a radio communication system network that is comprised of at least a first and second radio communication system, the communications console being a part of the first radio communication system, the operator interface comprising: first data base means having a data storage structure directly related to characteristics of operating parameter for the first communication system and for storing, on a substantially non-temporary basis, a first set of information relating to operating parameter characteristic values for the first radio communication system wherein the data storage structure of the first data base means can be modified by changing the operating parameter characteristics when the operating parameter characteristic values for the first communication system are modified due to an environmental change in the first communication system and said operating parameter characteristic value modification cannot be readily accommodated by a current data storage structure of the first data base means; second data base means having a data storage structure directly related to characteristics of operating parameters for the second communication system and for storing, on a substantially temporary basis: a second set of information comprising at least part of the first set of information; and a third set of information relating to operating parameter characteristic values for at least the second radio communication system; data base management means operably coupled to the first data base means and the second data base means, for automatically modifying the data storage structure of the second data base by changing the operating parameter characteristics whenever any of the following occur: the data storage structure of the first data base is modified; and new operating parameter characteristic values must be added to the second data base, the new operating parameter characteristic values not being readily accommodated by a current data storage structure of the second data base.

Claim 13

A communication system network comprising a processing multiplexer, at least one communications console, an operator interface, and a plurality of communication systems, wherein each of the communication systems comprises: a plurality of signal sources, wherein at least some of the signal sources produce signals and wherein designated signal sources of the plurality of signal sources produce, at least, communication system configuration data; and a plurality of signal destinations; wherein the processing multiplexer comprises: a plurality of communication ports; signal database means for storing information pertaining to the signals produced by the at least some of the signal sources of each of the plurality of communications systems; system data database means for storing information pertaining to the communication system configuration data produced by the designated signal sources of each of the plurality of communication systems; and processing means, operably coupled to the signal database means and the system data database means, for processing, at least part of, the information pertaining to the signals stored in the signal database means based on, at least in part, the information pertaining to the communication system configuration data stored in the system data database means to produced processed signals; wherein a communication system of the plurality of communication systems is operably coupled to the processing multiplexer via at least one of the communication ports; wherein the communications console is a part of a particular one of the communication systems; and wherein the operator interface is operably coupled to the particular one of the communication systems and at least one other of the communication systems, and where the operator interface comprises: first data base means having a data storage structure directly related to characteristics of operating parameters for the particular one of the communication systems for storing, on a substantially non-temporary basis, a first set of information relating to operating parameter characteristic values for the particular one of the communication systems wherein the data storage structure of the first data base means can be modified by changing the operating parameter characteristics when the operating parameter characteristic values for the particular one of the communication systems are modified due to an environmental change in the particular one of the communication systems and said operating parameter characteristic value modification cannot be readily accommodated by a current data storage structure of the first data base means; second data base means having a data storage structure directly related to characteristics of operating parameters for at least one radio communication system other than the particular one of the communication for storing, on a substantially temporary basis: a second set of information comprising at least part of the first set of information; and a third set of information relating to operating parameter characteristic values for communication systems other than the particular one of the communication systems; data base management means operably coupled to the first data base means and the second data base means, for automatically modifying the data storage structure of the second data base means by changing the operating parameter Characteristics whenever any of the following occur: the data storage structure of the first data base means is modified; and new operating parameter characteristic values must be added to the second data base means, which new operating parameter characteristic values cannot be readily accommodated by a current data storage structure of the second data base means.

Claim 14

A communication system network comprising a processing multiplexer, at least one communications console, an operator interface, and a plurality of communication systems, wherein each of the communication systems comprises: a plurality of signal sources, wherein at least some of the signal sources produce signals and wherein designated signal sources of the plurality of signal sources produce, at least, communication system configuration data; and a plurality of signal destinations; wherein the processing multiplexer comprises: a plurality of communication ports; signal database means for storing information pertaining to the signals produced by the at least some of the signal sources of each of the plurality of communications systems; system data database means for storing information pertaining to the communication system configuration data produced by the designated signal sources of each of the plurality of communication systems; and processing means, operably coupled to the signal database means and the system data database means, for processing, at least part of, the information pertaining to the signals stored in the signal database means based on, at least in part, the information pertaining to the communication system configuration data stored in the system data database means to produced processed signals; wherein a communication system of the plurality of communication systems is operably coupled to the processing multiplexer via at least one of the communication ports; wherein the communications console is a part of a particular one of the communication systems; and wherein the operator interface is operably coupled to the particular one of the communication systems and at least one other of the communication systems, and where the operator interface comprises: first data base means having a data storage structure directly related to characteristics of operating parameters for the particular one of the communication systems for storing, on a substantially non-temporary basis, a first set of information relating to operating parameter characteristic values for the particular one of the communication systems wherein the data storage structure of the first data base means can be modified by changing the operating parameter characteristics when the operating parameter characteristic values for the particular one of the communication systems are modified due to an environmental change in the particular one of the communication systems and said operating parameter characteristic value modification cannot be readily accommodated by a current data storage structure of the first data base means; second data base means having a data storage structure directly related to characteristics of operating parameters for at least one radio communication system other than the particular one of the communication for storing, on a substantially temporary basis: a second set of information comprising at least part of the first set of information; and a third set of information relating to operating parameter characteristic values for communication systems other than the particular one of the communication systems; data base management means operably coupled to the first data base means and the second data base means, for automatically modifying the data storage structure of the second data base means by changing the operating parameter Characteristics whenever any of the following occur: the data storage structure of the first data base means is modified; and new operating parameter characteristic values must be added to the second data base means, which new operating parameter characteristic values cannot be readily accommodated by a current data storage structure of the second data base means.