Ericsson Gmbh

Thomas A Przelomiec

Paul E Schmidt

Robert J Blaser

Alex Krister Raith

Thomas A Brown

Leo L Li

John R Lane

Brian D Justin

Seyed Tabaian

John R Rowland

A communications terminal, such as a wireless mobile terminal, is supplied with an indication of group call characteristics for incoming group calls so as to distinguish such calls from other types of incoming calls. A Group Call Server in charge of the group call may selectively augment the calling party number field of the paging message with one or more indicator &ldquo;flag characters,&rdquo; indicating one or more characteristics of the group call, such as call type, call subtype, or priority level. The communications terminal receives the group call paging message and selects the appropriate response to the paging message based on the flag characters. The communications terminal preferably examines the calling party field of the paging message and notes the presence of the flag characters. When the flag characters are present, the communications terminal parses out the flag characters and calling party ID. Based on the flag characters, the communications terminal determines the proper response to the paging message. This response may include, for instance, controlling the man-machine interface of the communications terminal and determining whether or not to automatically answer the call. For instance, the communications terminal may automatically answer group calls of certain kind(s) and require manual intervention of the user prior to answering the paging call for other kind(s). Thus, the communications terminals receiving the augmented paging message will base their response, such as whether to auto-answer or not, on the group call characteristics indicated in the paging message.

Controlling communications terminal response to group call page based on group call characteristics

A method of establishing a group call in a wireless communications system includes a group call server supplying mobile terminals of a certain type with an indication of call type, and optionally other information, for group calls so as to distinguish such calls from other types of calls. The group call server in charge of the group call may selectively augment the calling party number field of the outgoing paging message with one or more indicator flags when the targeted mobile terminal is adapted to receive and act upon such information. The indicator flags indicate one or more characteristics of the group call, such as call type, call subtype, or priority level. One flag may indicate priority level and another may indicate the call subtype of the group call. The mobile terminals receiving the augmented paging message base their response, such as to auto-answer or not, on the group call characteristics indicated in the paging message. The group call server may rely on already built-in flexibility in existing air interface protocols so that the method disclosed herein may be implemented without the need to change the signaling and air interface protocols or substantial changes to the existing system equipment.

Method of establishing group calls in a communications system

The invention includes a method for processing group calls. A group list is created having a plurality of group members and preferably includes for each group member whether the group member requires an affirmative response when contacted, and an identifier. A request is received from an originator to contact the group members. At least one of the group members is contacted, and an affirmative response is requested. After receiving the affirmative response, the originator and group member are connected. If no affirmative response is received, the group member is not connected with the originator.

Method of processing group calls within a wireless communications network

A group call server supplies communications terminals of a certain type with an indication of call type, and optionally other information, for group calls so as to distinguish such calls from other types of calls. The group call server in charge of the group call may selectively augment the calling party number field of the outgoing paging message with one or more indicator flags when the targeted communications terminal is adapted to receive and act upon such information. The indicator flags indicate one or more characteristics of the group call, such as call type, call subtype, or priority level. One flag may indicate priority level and another may indicate the call subtype of the group call. The communications terminals receiving the augmented paging message will base their response, such as to auto-answer or not, on the group call characteristics indicated in the paging message. The group call server may rely on already built-in flexibility in existing signaling and air interface protocols so that the method disclosed herein may be implemented without the need to change the air interface or the BMI.

Communications system providing call type indication for group calls

A mobile radio for use in multiple different frequency plans is disclosed. The multiple different frequency plans, such as land-based plans (cellular, land mobile radio, etc.) and satellite-based plans may employ different frequency bands and, within those different bands, different frequency channel step sizes. The mobile radio employs only a single loop synthesizer to accommodate all of the different plans, including all of the different channel step sizes. It does so by employing a dynamically programmable divider circuit within the single loop synthesizer for macro-adjustment of the local oscillator frequency and a dynamically adjustable reference oscillator within the single loop synthesizer for micro-adjustment of the local oscillator frequency depending upon a recovered carrier signal.

Method and apparatus for compliance to multiple frequency plans

Techniques and systems for formalizing discontiguous spectrum frequency planning maximize system capacity while minimizing the potential for adjacent channel interference. Within the context of an overall system frequency plan, spatial separation can be used to offset overlap resulting from channelization mapping when additional frequencies are not available. Site by site modification and/or design can be used to prevent intermodulation products and/or adjacent channel interference effects. A variety of factors can be taken into account including, for example, control channel position and separation in a new spectrum, probability block utilization, threshold levels for adjacent channel interference, symmetric vs. non-symmetric adjacent channel interference, frequency plan type, Antenna Near Part (ANP) separation, intermodulation effects, local topography, frequency environment conditions, and site availability. These techniques are especially useful for (although not limited to) establishing a downbanded cellular (DBC) radio communication system by overlaying 30 kHz channelization on portions of the Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) band having 25 kHz channelization.

Radio frequency planning and assignment in a discontiguous spectrum

The present invention provides increased geographical coverage and system capacity for mobile/portable radio transceivers using adjacent and typically separate radio communication frequency bands. A radio that transceives in just one frequency band is adapted to provide a configurable duplexing arrangement to permit communications in extended frequency bands. Duplexing circuitry is connected between the radio antenna and the radio transmitter and receiver. Depending upon the mode of operation of the radio transceiver, switches are selectively operated for variously configuring the antenna, duplexer circuitry, receiver, and transmitter to permit communications in a first or a second set of transmit/receive frequency bands. In one preferred example embodiment, only a single duplexer is employed connected to the antenna and transceiving circuitry through plural switches.

System and method for achieving extended radio coverage and additional

The present invention provides techniques for adapting the portion of the frequency spectrum allocated to Land Mobile Radio (LMR) for use as downbanded cellular channels. These downbanded cellular channels can be employed, for example, either to supplement a cellular operator's system capacity or as a stand alone cellular-style system which can provide complementary geographic coverage which may, for example, bridge existing Cellular systems. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the conventional channelization of the LMR spectrum is redefined in a manner which provides significant advantages. More specifically, for every six originally specified, 25 KHz LMR channels, five new 30 KHz DBC channels are specified. In this way, complete compatibility with cellular systems, e.g,. allowing roaming between cellular and DBC systems, is achieved according to the present invention.

Downbanded cellular systems and methods

A downbanded Cellular network (DBC) is provided to supplement an adjacent or coincident standard Cellular network. The control channels used by the DBC and standard Cellular network are synchronized to ensure proper hand-off between the DBC network and the standard network. Synchronization is achieved by monitoring the separation in time between timing pulses transmitted by the DBC network and the standard Cellular network.

Control channel synchronization between DBC and Cellular networks

A method and system for locating control channels, particularly digital control channels, are described. By grouping the channels which are candidates for carrying supervisory messages in blocks indicative of their relative likelihood for being used as control channels, a mobile station can begin its search for a control channel with channels which are most likely to actually be control channels.

Growing community of inventors

Lynchburg, VA, United States of America

Thomas A Przelomiec