Motorola Corporation

Jeffrey J Blanchette

Karen A Brailean

Rod N Averbuch

Frank W Korinek

Timothy J Wilson

Kenneth J Crisler

Loren J Rittle

Timothy J Spets

David A Sticha

James C Tykal

J Chris Stanaway

Hillel A Meyers

Timothy J Groch

Michael J Batz

Laura L Slaninka

Dominic Lazara

Susanne L Dunsmore

Steven B Most

A radio frequency communication system includes a cell site (FIG.,), the cell site including an on-line controller (,), an off-line controller (,) and one or more peripheral units (,) arranged to support the on-line controller. The cell site is arranged to switch from the on-line controller to the off-line controller based upon a failure of the on-line controller or a failure of any peripheral unit of the one or more peripheral units arranged to support the on-line controller.

Method for switching cell site controllers

In a wireless communication system, session timers are separately maintained by a communication device (101) and a system controller (104). When a portion of outbound data is sent to a base station (102) for transmission to the communication device, the base station creates at least one transmission time stamp which is then sent to the system controller (203). If a session has not been previously established, the system controller uses the at least one transmission time stamp to establish a session and initiate a session timer (204). If a session has been previously established, the system controller uses the at least one transmission time stamp to determine whether to continue the current session timer (709). This applies to inbound data as well. Furthermore, session timers can also be synchronized to paging acknowledgments (305), channel information messages (503) or channel access messages (602). In this manner, session timers are more accurately synchronized.

Method for synchronizing a session timer

A communications system (100) has a TDMA signal (110) accessed by one or more mobile stations (104). The TDMA signal carries both circuit switched and packet data service. A packet channel is defined within a packet data frame (208) by assigning time slots not used by other services during the packet data frame to the packet channel. A packet data seed channel (204) is used to anchor the packet channel and steer a mobile station to the packet channel. In the packet data seed channel a dynamic allocation protocol (DCAP) slot (206) appears and carries the packet channel slot assignments for the next occurring packet data frame.

Method for accessing and providing access to a packet channel

The present invention addresses the need for an apparatus and method of determining the reliability of a first signal (e.g., 116) received by a given base site (e.g., 126) without requiring the reception of additional signals (e.g., 110 and 112) by the given base site (126). The present invention provides both a method and apparatus in which another base site (e.g., 122) receives the additional signals (110 and 112) required to determine the reliability of the first signal (116). Upon determining that the first signal (116) is unreliable, the other base site (122) notifies the given base site (126) that the first signal (116) is unreliable.

Communication system and method for determining a reliability of a signal

In a communication system, a method comprises the steps of receiving (401) at least one information bundle intended for subsequent outbound transmission, receiving (403) at least one reservation request that corresponds to at least one information bundle intended for subsequent inbound transmission, and selecting (407) from amongst the at least one information bundle and the at least one reservation request to provide at least one selected information bundle to be transmitted. At least a part of a communication resource is assigned (409) to support transmission of the at least one selected information bundle.

Method of communication resource assignment

A plurality of consoles (111-113) share use of a single landline (101) with minimal requirements for internal maintenance data signalling. As two or more consoles both share use of the link, a telephone interface (103) assigns one of the consoles to be responsible for maintenance signalling. If and when the assigned console concludes its communication needs or otherwise becomes unable to continue the maintenance signalling, the telephone interface will assign a new interested console to provide the maintenance signalling. This continues until no consoles remain having an interest in maintaining the communication link. In one embodiment, when the link is used by only a single console, a hold function can be accommodated. When two or more consoles are serviced, however, the hold function is not applied. Also, when the link has been placed on hold, any console can remove the hold condition.

Method for controlling allocation of a communication link

A console speaker assignment system that is self-prompting and which allows speaker assignment to be changed without interrupting the reception of audio signals or without interrupting normal console operation.

Assignable speakers for channels at a trunked console operator position

An improved communication control console center wherein the volume level for a selected communication resource will be set to a predetermined initial volume level, which level may be changed thereafter by appropriate adjustment of a multi-level switch.

Communication control console center with improved volume control

A radio communication system having the capability of providing acknowledgement messages to incoming messages while compensating for failed components that have the duty of acknowledging messages or redistributing the acknowledgment duties evenly among the components when there is a change in acknowledgment responsibilities. There is also disclosed a method for cooperatively reassigning certain tasks to certain users within a communication system.

Growing community of inventors

Palatine, IL, United States of America

Jeffrey J Blanchette