Method and apparatus for providing access to a communication system

Claim 2

In a base station that provides communication services to a plurality of communication units, the base station employing a first inbound communication resource, a second inbound communication resource, and a dual-mode outbound communication resource, a method of providing access to a communication system for the plurality of communication units, the method comprising the steps of: A) receiving, on the second inbound communication resource from a requesting communication unit of the plurality of communication units, a request for an available message path; B) when the dual-mode outbound communication resource is operating in a control mode, assigning a message path to at least the requesting communication unit, wherein the message path includes the first inbound communication resource and the dual-mode outbound communication resource operating in a partial control mode; and C) establishing, responsive to the step of assigning, a communication between the requesting communication unit and a second communication unit of the plurality of communication units, using the message path.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: D) when the dual-mode outbound communication resource is operating in the partial control mode, transmitting a call acknowledgment to the requesting communication unit via the dual-mode outbound communication resource.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of: E) when the dual-mode outbound communication resource is operating in the partial control mode, queuing the request.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: D) receiving, via the second inbound communication resource, a priority call from any one of the plurality of communication units while the dual-mode outbound communication resource is operating in the partial control mode; and E) overriding the communication to service the priority call.

Claim 6

In a multiple site radio communication system that includes a base station for each of a plurality of communication sites and for providing communication services to a plurality of communication units, each base station employing a second inbound communication resource and a message path that includes a first inbound communication resource and a dual-mode outbound communication resource, a method of providing access to the communication system for the plurality of communication units, the method comprising the steps of: at a first communication unit of the plurality of communication units; A) identifying, using the dual-mode outbound communication resource, one of the plurality of communication sites as an affiliated communication site; B) transmitting, via the second inbound communication resource, a request to use the message path corresponding to the affiliated communication site; C) when the dual-mode outbound communication resource corresponding to the affiliated communication site is operating in a control mode, receiving an assignment for the message path; and D) communicating a message, responsive to the step of receiving, to a second communication unit of the plurality of communication units.

Claim 7

In a multiple site radio communication system that includes a base station for each of a plurality of communication sites and for providing communication services to a plurality of communication units, each base station employing a second inbound communication resource and a message path that includes a first inbound communication resource and a dual-mode outbound communication resource, a method of providing access to the communication system for the plurality of communication units, the method comprising the steps of: at a first communication unit of the plurality of communication units; A) identifying, using the dual-mode outbound communication resource, one of the plurality of communication sites as an affiliated communication site; B) transmitting, via the second inbound communication resource, a request to use the message path corresponding to the affiliated communication site; C) when the dual-mode outbound communication resource corresponding to the affiliated communication site is operating in a control mode, receiving an assignment for the message path; and D) communicating a message, responsive to the step of receiving, to a second communication unit of the plurality of communication units.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of: E) when the dual-mode outbound communication resource corresponding to the affiliated communication site is operating in a partial control mode, receiving, from the base station at the affiliated communication site, a call acknowledgment via the dual-mode outbound communication resource.

Claim 9

The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of: at a base station for the affiliated communication site; E) when the dual-mode outbound communication resource corresponding to the affiliated communication site is operating in a partial control mode, queuing the request.

Claim 10

The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of: E) transmitting, from a third communication unit of the plurality of communication units via the second inbound communication resource, a priority call while the dual-mode outbound communication resource is operating in a partial control mode.

Claim 11

A base station comprising: a dual-mode transmitter that transmits outbound information to a plurality of communication units, wherein the outbound information comprises control information when the dual-mode transmitter operates in a control mode, and wherein the outbound information comprises control and outbound message information when the dual-mode transmitter operates in a partial control mode; a first inbound communication resource, operably coupled to the dual-mode transmitter, that receives inbound message information from the plurality of communication units; and a second inbound communication resource, operably coupled to the dual-mode transmitter, that receives control information from the plurality of communication units.

Claim 12

A base station comprising: a dual-mode transmitter that transmits outbound information to a plurality of communication units, wherein the outbound information comprises control information when the dual-mode transmitter operates in a control mode, and wherein the outbound information comprises control and outbound message information when the dual-mode transmitter operates in a partial control mode; a first inbound communication resource, operably coupled to the dual-mode transmitter, that receives inbound message information from the plurality of communication units; and a second inbound communication resource, operably coupled to the dual-mode transmitter, that receives control information from the plurality of communication units.