Channel re-assignment method for time division multiple access (TDMA) trunked systems

Claim 2

In a radio communication system controller, a method of providing extended use of a communication resource to a plurality of communication units, the method comprising the steps of: A) assigning a first communication resource to a first of the plurality of communication units to produce an assigned communication resource; B) temporarily reserving, in response to a predetermined indicia received from the first communication unit during a first communication, the assigned communication resource such that a reserved communication resource is produced; C) receiving on the reserved communication resource, from a second of the plurality of communication units, a request to transmit a second communication on the assigned communication resource; and D) re-configuring, in response to the request, the assigned communication resource to allow transmission of the second communication on the assigned communication resource.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: E) measuring a transmission parameter for the second communication unit.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, wherein step E comprises the step of: E1) determining a time advance value based on a propagation delay characteristic of the request received from the second communication unit.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3, wherein step D comprises the step of: D1) updating the assigned communication resource such that the time advance value is conveyed to the second communication unit.

Claim 6

The method of claim 2, wherein step E comprises the step of: E1) determining a power control value of the request received from the second communication unit.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5, wherein step D comprises the step of: D1) updating the assigned communication resource such that the power control value is conveyed to the second communication unit.

Claim 8

The method of claim 2, wherein step D comprises the step of: D1) updating the assigned communication resource such that the measured transmission parameter is conveyed to the second communication unit.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1, wherein step C comprises the step of: C1) identifying the second communication unit to produce a requestor identification (ID).

Claim 10

The method of claim 8, wherein step D comprises the step of: D1) updating the assigned communication resource such that the requestor ID is conveyed to the second communication unit.

Claim 11

In a radio communication unit which is a member of a communication group, a method of responding to a first communication transmitted on an assigned communication resource, via a second communication transmitted on the assigned communication resource, the radio communication unit being in communication with a radio communication controller, the method comprising the steps of: A) determining whether the first communication resource has been configured as a reserved communication resource; B) sending to the radio communication controller, on the reserved communication resource, a request-to-transmit the second communication; C) determining whether the reserved communication resource has been re-configured to accept the second communication; and D) transmitting, responsive to the step of determining whether the reserved communication resource has been re-configured, the second communication on the assigned communication resource.

Claim 12

In a radio communication unit which is a member of a communication group, a method of responding to a first communication transmitted on an assigned communication resource, via a second communication transmitted on the assigned communication resource, the radio communication unit being in communication with a radio communication controller, the method comprising the steps of: A) determining whether the first communication resource has been configured as a reserved communication resource; B) sending to the radio communication controller, on the reserved communication resource, a request-to-transmit the second communication; C) determining whether the reserved communication resource has been re-configured to accept the second communication; and D) transmitting, responsive to the step of determining whether the reserved communication resource has been re-configured, the second communication on the assigned communication resource.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: E) determining a time advance value for the communication unit based on a present transmission parameter for the communication unit.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11, wherein step E comprises the step of: E1) receiving the time advance value from the radio controller.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11, wherein step E comprises the steps of: E1) receiving the present transmission parameter from the radio controller; and E2) calculating the time advance value based on the received present transmission parameter.

Claim 16

The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: E) determining a power control value for the communication unit based on a present transmission parameter for the communication unit.

Claim 17

The method of claim 14, wherein step E comprises the step of: E1) receiving the power control from the radio controller.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14, wherein step E comprises the steps of: E1) receiving the present transmission parameter from the radio controller; and E2) calculating the power control value based on the received present transmission parameter.

Claim 19

In a time-division multiple-access (TDMA) radio communication system, a method, for use in a radio system controller, of providing extended use of one of a plurality of time-slots for communication among a plurality of communication units belonging to a communication group, each of the time-slots having data fields for conveying information, the method comprising the steps of: A) assigning a first time-slot to a first of the plurality of communication units to produce an assigned time-slot; B) updating, in response to a predetermined indicia received from the first communication unit during a first communication, a slot descriptor field of the assigned time-slot, such that the assigned time-slot is reserved for use by members of the communication group; C) receiving, on the reserved time-slot from a second communication unit, a request to transmit a second communication; D) re-configuring, in response to the request, the reserved time-slot to allow transmission of the second communication on the assigned time-slot; and E) measuring a transmission parameter for the second communication unit.

Claim 20

In a time-division multiple-access (TDMA) radio communication system, a method, for use in a radio system controller, of providing extended use of one of a plurality of time-slots for communication among a plurality of communication units belonging to a communication group, each of the time-slots having data fields for conveying information, the method comprising the steps of: A) assigning a first time-slot to a first of the plurality of communication units to produce an assigned time-slot; B) updating, in response to a predetermined indicia received from the first communication unit during a first communication, a slot descriptor field of the assigned time-slot, such that the assigned time-slot is reserved for use by members of the communication group; C) receiving, on the reserved time-slot from a second communication unit, a request to transmit a second communication; D) re-configuring, in response to the request, the reserved time-slot to allow transmission of the second communication on the assigned time-slot; and E) measuring a transmission parameter for the second communication unit.

Claim 21

The method of claim 17, wherein step E comprises the step of: E1) determining a time advance value based on a propagation delay characteristic of the request received from the second communication unit.

Claim 22

The method of claim 18, wherein step D comprises the step of: D1) updating the slot descriptor field of the assigned time-slot such that the time advance value is conveyed to the second communication unit.

Claim 23

The method of claim 17, wherein step E comprises the step of: E1) determining a power control value of the request received from the second communication unit.

Claim 24

The method of claim 20, wherein step D comprises the step of: D1) updating the slot descriptor field of the assigned time-slot such that the power control value is conveyed to the second communication unit.

Claim 25

In a time-division multiple-access (TDMA) radio communication unit which is a member of a communication group, a method of responding to a first communication transmitted on an assigned time-slot via a second communication transmitted on the assigned time-slot, the radio communication unit being in communication with a radio communication controller, the method comprising the steps of: A) determining whether the first time-slot has been configured as a reserved time-slot; B) sending to the radio communication controller, on the reserved time-slot, a request-to-transmit the second communication; C) determining whether the reserved time-slot has been reconfigured to accept the second communication; D) transmitting, responsive to the step of determining whether the reserved time-slot has been re-configured, the second communication on the assigned time-slot; and E) determining a time advance value for the communication unit based on a present transmission parameter for the communication unit.

Claim 26

In a time-division multiple-access (TDMA) radio communication unit which is a member of a communication group, a method of responding to a first communication transmitted on an assigned time-slot via a second communication transmitted on the assigned time-slot, the radio communication unit being in communication with a radio communication controller, the method comprising the steps of: A) determining whether the first time-slot has been configured as a reserved time-slot; B) sending to the radio communication controller, on the reserved time-slot, a request-to-transmit the second communication; C) determining whether the reserved time-slot has been reconfigured to accept the second communication; D) transmitting, responsive to the step of determining whether the reserved time-slot has been re-configured, the second communication on the assigned time-slot; and E) determining a time advance value for the communication unit based on a present transmission parameter for the communication unit.

Claim 27

The method of claim 22, wherein step E comprises the step of: E1) receiving the time advance value from the radio controller.

Claim 28

The method of claim 22, wherein step E comprises the steps of: E1) receiving the present transmission parameter from the radio controller; and E2) calculating the time advance value based on the received present transmission parameter.