Method for developing and transmitting usage context information in an RF communication system

Claim 2

In an RF communication system having a plurality of communication resources that provide a capability to communicate information signals among a plurality of communication units, a method for developing and communicating usage context information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) determinig usage context information relating to communication units and associated communication resources currently being used to communicate information signals; and (b) retransmitting, over at least one communication resource, the usage context information determined in step (a), interleaved with the information signals, thus enabling a communication unit to selectively monitor communications involving other communication units matching at least one characteristic embodied in received usage context information.

Claim 3

The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the usage context information determined in step (a) comprises: (a1) individual identification of the communication units currently using the communication resources to communicate information signals; and (a2) identification of the communication resources currently being used by the communication units identified in step (a1).

Claim 4

The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the usage context information further comprises talk group identification of the communication units.

Claim 5

The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the usage context information further comprises message type of the information signals.

Claim 6

The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the usage context information further comprises message priority of the information signals.

Claim 7

The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the information signals are encrypted, and the usage context information further comprises information related to an encryption key in use.

Claim 8

The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step (b) of retransmitting usage context information interleaved with the information signals comprises continuously interleaving usage context frames with information frames.

Claim 9

In an RF communication system having at least one base site and a plurality of mobile and/or portable communication units constructed and arranged to communicate information signals over a plurality of communication resources, a method allowing communication units to obtain usage context information relating to the communication resources and/or other communication units, the method comprising the steps of: at the base site: (a) receiving a communication from a mobile or portable communication unit, the communication including identification of the communication unit and information signals; (b) developing usage context information including identification of the communication unit and identification of the communication resource currently in use; (c) retransmitting at least some of the usage context information interleaved with the information signals; at the mobile or portable communication units: (d) receiving the retransmitted usage context information interleaved with the information signals to provide a received signal; (e) extracting the usage context information from the received signal to form a list of communication unit identifications and associated communication resources; (f) comparing the list formed in step (e) with a self-contained list of communication unit identification information to determine if a match exists between communication unit identifications in said lists; and, if so (g) switching to the communication resource associated with the matching communication unit identification.

Claim 10

In an RF communication system having at least one base site and a plurality of mobile and/or portable communication units constructed and arranged to communicate information signals over a plurality of communication resources, a method allowing communication units to obtain usage context information relating to the communication resources and/or other communication units, the method comprising the steps of: at the base site: (a) receiving a communication from a mobile or portable communication unit, the communication including identification of the communication unit and information signals; (b) developing usage context information including identification of the communication unit and identification of the communication resource currently in use; (c) retransmitting at least some of the usage context information interleaved with the information signals; at the mobile or portable communication units: (d) receiving the retransmitted usage context information interleaved with the information signals to provide a received signal; (e) extracting the usage context information from the received signal to form a list of communication unit identifications and associated communication resources; (f) comparing the list formed in step (e) with a self-contained list of communication unit identification information to determine if a match exists between communication unit identifications in said lists; and, if so (g) switching to the communication resource associated with the matching communication unit identification.

Claim 11

An RF communication unit constructed and arranged to transmit and receive signals over a plurality of communication resources, wherein at least some of the signals include usage context information associating other communication units with particular communication resources, the RF communication unit comprising: transmitter means for transmitting signals; receiver means for receiving signals; storage means for storing identification information related to other communication units; means for extracting usage context information from received signals to form a list of communication unit identifications and associated communication resources; comparison means for comparing the list of communication unit identifications with the identification information from the storage means; switching means, responsive to the comparison means, for switching to the communication resource associated with the matching communication unit identification.

Claim 12

An RF communication unit constructed and arranged to transmit and receive signals over a plurality of communication resources, wherein at least some of the signals include usage context information associating other communication units with particular communication resources, the RF communication unit comprising: transmitter means for transmitting signals; receiver means for receiving signals; storage means for storing identification information related to other communication units; means for extracting usage context information from received signals to form a list of communication unit identifications and associated communication resources; comparison means for comparing the list of communication unit identifications with the identification information from the storage means; switching means, responsive to the comparison means, for switching to the communication resource associated with the matching communication unit identification.