US5857144A — In-band vehicular repeater for trunked radio syst…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 102 words

A wireless communication system for a trunked system, comprising: a base site station; one or more vehicular repeaters; and one or more mobile radios for direct communication with said base site station in a communication band, or for indirect communication with said base site station via said one or more vehicular repeaters in said same communication band; wherein said one or more vehicular repeaters communicate with said one or more mobile radios using at least one radio communication channel which operates alternatively in a control channel mode and in an assigned channel mode, with an idle mode being the control channel mode.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 102 words

A wireless communication system for a trunked system, comprising: a base site station; one or more vehicular repeaters; and one or more mobile radios for direct communication with said base site station in a communication band, or for indirect communication with said base site station via said one or more vehicular repeaters in said same communication band; wherein said one or more vehicular repeaters communicate with said one or more mobile radios using at least one radio communication channel which operates alternatively in a control channel mode and in an assigned channel mode, with an idle mode being the control channel mode.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 104 words

A wireless communication system for a trunked system, comprising: a base site station; one or more vehicular repeaters; and one or more mobile radios for direct communication with said base site station in a communication band, or for indirect communication with said base site station via said one or more vehicular repeaters in said same communication band, wherein at least one of said one or more vehicular repeaters comprises: a first operational radio for communicating with said base site station; an in-band vehicular repeater module, connected to said first operational radio, for communicating with at least one of said one or more mobile radios.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 104 words

A wireless communication system for a trunked system, comprising: a base site station; one or more vehicular repeaters; and one or more mobile radios for direct communication with said base site station in a communication band, or for indirect communication with said base site station via said one or more vehicular repeaters in said same communication band, wherein at least one of said one or more vehicular repeaters comprises: a first operational radio for communicating with said base site station; an in-band vehicular repeater module, connected to said first operational radio, for communicating with at least one of said one or more mobile radios.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 64 words

The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein said repeater module comprises: a transmitter section for forwarding a message received from said base site station to said at least one of said one or more mobile radios; and a first receiver section for forwarding a message received from said at least one of said one or more mobile radios to said base site station.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The wireless communication system of claim 3, wherein said repeater module comprises: a second receiver section with padded input for receiving input from only nearby radio communication sources.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 35 words

The wireless communication system of claim 4, wherein said first transmitter section and said second receiver section are provided by a second radio, and wherein said first receiver section is provided by a third radio.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

The wireless communication system of claim 4, wherein said first transmitter section and said first and second receiver sections are provided by one duplexed radio system.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 64 words

A vehicular repeater system for providing communication with a base site station in the same wireless communication band in which it communicates with one or more mobile radios, comprising: a first operational radio for communicating with said base site station; an in-band vehicular repeater module, connected to said first operational radio, for communicating with at least one of said one or more mobile radios.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 64 words

A vehicular repeater system for providing communication with a base site station in the same wireless communication band in which it communicates with one or more mobile radios, comprising: a first operational radio for communicating with said base site station; an in-band vehicular repeater module, connected to said first operational radio, for communicating with at least one of said one or more mobile radios.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 47 words

The repeater of claim 7, wherein said vehicular repeater communicates with said one or more mobile radios using at least one radio communication channel which operates alternatively in a control channel mode and in an assigned channel mode, with an idle mode being the control channel mode.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 62 words

The repeater of claim 7, wherein said repeater module comprises: a transmitter section for forwarding a message received from said base site station to said at least one of said one or more mobile radios; and a first receiver section for forwarding a message received from said at least one of said one or more mobile radios to said base site station.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The repeater of claim 9, wherein said repeater module comprises: a second receiver section with padded input for receiving input from only proximate radio communication sources.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

The repeater of claim 10, wherein said first transmitter section and said second receiver section are provided by a second radio, and wherein said first receiver section is provided by a third radio.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

The repeater of claim 10, wherein said first transmitter section and said first and second receiver sections are provided by one duplexed radio system.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

The repeater of claim 10, further including a memory storing a list identifying the mobile radios associated with said repeater, and the groups to which each of said associated mobile radios belong.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 102 words

A method for communicating radio messages in a system comprising at least a portable radio unit, a repeater unit, and a base station, comprising the steps of: communicating messages directly between said portable unit and said base station if said base station is available, wherein said communication with said base base station employs a prescribed communication frequency band; and communicating messages between said portable unit and said repeater unit if said base station in not available, wherein said communication with said repeater unit employs said same prescribed communication frequency band employed by said portable unit in communicating directly with said base station.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 102 words

A method for communicating radio messages in a system comprising at least a portable radio unit, a repeater unit, and a base station, comprising the steps of: communicating messages directly between said portable unit and said base station if said base station is available, wherein said communication with said base base station employs a prescribed communication frequency band; and communicating messages between said portable unit and said repeater unit if said base station in not available, wherein said communication with said repeater unit employs said same prescribed communication frequency band employed by said portable unit in communicating directly with said base station.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method for communicating radio messages according to claim 14, further wherein said communication with said base station and said communication with said repeater unit employ compatible digital message protocol.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 14, wherein said step of communicating messages between said portable unit and said repeater unit comprises first establishing a repeater communication channel such that said channel does not interfere with other nearby repeater communication channels currently in use by other repeaters.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 178 words

A method for communicating radio messages in a system comprising at least a portable radio unit, a repeater unit, and a base site, comprising the steps of: inquiring, by said portable unit, the availability of a control channel associated with said base site; if said control channel associated with said base site is available then: locking onto, by said portable unit, said control channel associated with said base site; and transmitting or receiving a message on said control channel associated with said base site by converting said control channel associated with said base site to a working channel; and if said control channel associated with said base site is not available then: inquiring, by said portable unit, the availability of a control channel associated with said repeater unit; locking onto, by said portable unit, said control channel associated with said repeater unit if said repeater control channel is available; and transmitting or receiving a message on said control channel associated with said repeater unit by converting said control channel associated with said repeater unit to a working channel.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 178 words

A method for communicating radio messages in a system comprising at least a portable radio unit, a repeater unit, and a base site, comprising the steps of: inquiring, by said portable unit, the availability of a control channel associated with said base site; if said control channel associated with said base site is available then: locking onto, by said portable unit, said control channel associated with said base site; and transmitting or receiving a message on said control channel associated with said base site by converting said control channel associated with said base site to a working channel; and if said control channel associated with said base site is not available then: inquiring, by said portable unit, the availability of a control channel associated with said repeater unit; locking onto, by said portable unit, said control channel associated with said repeater unit if said repeater control channel is available; and transmitting or receiving a message on said control channel associated with said repeater unit by converting said control channel associated with said repeater unit to a working channel.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 131 words

A method for communicating radio messages in a system comprising at least a portable radio unit, a repeater unit, and a base site, comprising the steps of: transmitting, by said portable radio unit, a message to said repeater unit, said message informing said repeater unit of the identity of said portable radio unit, and the identity of a group of portable radio units to which said portable unit belongs; storing indicia at said repeater unit representative of said identity of said portable radio unit and the identity of said group; monitoring, by said repeater unit, a control channel for messages addressed to said portable unit by making reference to said indicia; and upon determining that a message is addressed to said portable unit, allowing said portable unit to receive said message.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 131 words

A method for communicating radio messages in a system comprising at least a portable radio unit, a repeater unit, and a base site, comprising the steps of: transmitting, by said portable radio unit, a message to said repeater unit, said message informing said repeater unit of the identity of said portable radio unit, and the identity of a group of portable radio units to which said portable unit belongs; storing indicia at said repeater unit representative of said identity of said portable radio unit and the identity of said group; monitoring, by said repeater unit, a control channel for messages addressed to said portable unit by making reference to said indicia; and upon determining that a message is addressed to said portable unit, allowing said portable unit to receive said message.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: deleting said indicia representative of said identity of said portable radio unit and the identity of said portable radio's group when said portable unit disassociates itself with said repeater unit.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: deleting said indicia representative of said identity of said portable radio unit and the identity of said portable radio's group after a prescribed amount of time.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: requesting said portable radio to repeat said transmitting step after a prescribed amount of time.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 85 words

A vehicular repeater for providing communication with a base site station in the same wireless communication band in which it communicates with one or more mobile radios, comprising: a first operational radio for communicating with said base site station; an in-band vehicular repeater module, connected to said first operational radio, for communicating with at least one of said one or more mobile radios; a receiver with attenuated input for receiving input from proximate radio communication sources to determine the presence of other nearby vehicular repeaters.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 85 words

A vehicular repeater for providing communication with a base site station in the same wireless communication band in which it communicates with one or more mobile radios, comprising: a first operational radio for communicating with said base site station; an in-band vehicular repeater module, connected to said first operational radio, for communicating with at least one of said one or more mobile radios; a receiver with attenuated input for receiving input from proximate radio communication sources to determine the presence of other nearby vehicular repeaters.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-01-04	2002-07-06	2003-01-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-01-04	2006-07-06	2007-01-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-01-04	2010-07-06	2011-01-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

In-band vehicular repeater for trunked radio system

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag