1 2
communication system. This unfortunately wastes com
DYNAMIC GROUP REGROUPING METHOD munication resources.
In addition, some communication system networks,
FIELD OF THE INVENTION in each communication system, allocate a communica
This invention relates generally to communication 5 tion resource for each communication group of the
system networks and in particular to a method that suPer group and combine the signalling at the central
allows a central controller of the communication sys- controller such that, to the communication units, it
tern network to dynamically regroup existing communi- appears they are all talking on one resource. This be
cation groups. comes very inefficient when a communication system,
10 or site, does not have communication units of all comBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION munication groups of the super group located in it. Communication system networks are known to com- Therefore, a need exists for a method that will allow the prise a plurality of communication systems and a central central controller to allocate only one communication controller. Each of the communication systems com- resource in each communication system that has a comprises a plurality of communication units, a limited num- 15 munication unit of a communication group of the super ber of communication resources that are transceived via group located in it. a limited number of repeaters, and a communication
resource allocator that allocates the communication SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION resources among the plurality of communication units. These needs and others are substantially met by the The communication units, which may be mobile radios, 20 dynamic group regrouping method disclosed herein. In portable radios, and/or portable radio/telephones, are a network of communication systems that are operably typically arranged in to communication groups and are coupled via a central controller, wherein each commugenerally located throughout the communication sys- nication system includes a plurality of communication tem network. Of the communication resources, which units that are arranged into communication groups, a may be TDM slot locations, frequency earners, pair of 25 ... number of communjcation resources that are frequency carriers, or any other RF transmission means, transceived via a limited number of repeaters, a pluralone is selected to function as a control channel. The j of consoles, and a communication resource allocator control channel transceives operational information {hat allocates the limited number of communication between the communication units and the central con- resources a the lura]it of communicat5on unitSj troHer via the communication resource allocators 30 ^ foUowi ... a ... ^ ...
As is known, a communication unit may establish a ... tQ s d ic regTOuping on a communication with other communication units within . * ,' s .y . 6 y 6, the communication system network by transmitting an communication system by communication system basis, inbound signalling word (ISW) to the central controller The Process when a c°nsole generates a dynaimc via the communication resource allocator of the com- 35 grouP regrouping request, wherem the dynamic group munication svstem that the communication unit is lo- regrouping request comprises a set of communication cated in. Upon receiving the request, the central con- 8r0UPs that are t0 be combined m to a super communitroller processes it and, if the request is valid, the central catl0n grouP- The central controller subsequently decontroller allocates a communication resource in each termines for each communication system whether at of the communication systems that have a communica- 40 least one of the set of communication groups is registion unit of the targeted talk group in it. The communi- tered in the communication system. When at least one cation systems, which may also be communication sites, of the set of communication groups is registered in a are coupled to and controlled by the central controller. communication system, the central controller groups If a communication system, or site, loses contact with the at least one of the set of communication groups into the central controller, the communication system, or 45 a local suPer group. Having done this, the central consite, operates as an independent communication system trailer generates super communication group informabut only for communication units that are located tion and transmits it to each communication system but within its coverage area. or>ly tne portion that pertains to the local super commu
As is also known, under certain circumstances, com- nication group.
munication groups that normally do not communicate 50 Brief DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS with each other may be combined into one group to
more efficiently respond to a particular situation. For FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system network
example, when an emergency condition arises, an oper- that may incorporate the present invention,
ator of a operator station, or console, may elect to com- FIG. 2 illustrates a logic diagram that may be used to
bine separate communication groups into one to re- 55 implement the present invention. •
spond to the emergency condition. Thus, the operator DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED
of the console may combine the communication groups ...
,. j * c J J • . EMBODIMENT of the police department, fire department and state
patrol into one communication group to respond to the FIG. 1 illustrates as trunked communication system
emergency. When the operator of the console selects to 60 network that comprises a plurality of communication
combine groups, commonly known as regrouping, the systems 100, 101 (only two shown), a central controller
consoles transmits the request to the central controller. 102, and a plurality of operator stations 116 (only one
Upon receiving the request, the central controller pro- shown). Each of the communication systems, which
cesses it by regrouping the selected groups in to a super may also be communication sites, comprises a commu
group and allocating a communication resource in each 65 nication resource allocator 103, a limited number of
of the communication systems, or sites, to the re- communication resources 108, a number of repeaters, or
grouped communication group whether or not a com- base stations, 109, and a plurality of communication
munication unit of the super group is located within that units 104-107. The operator station, 116 which may be
