Dispatch Communication Router Protocol Interworking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular communication systems cannot facilitate seamless dispatch calls between networks operating with different protocols, limiting interconnectivity between carriers.
Innovation Solution
A dispatch communication router with a protocol interworking function, media control stack, and transcoding function, along with dispatch technology protocol stacks, enables conversion of signaling and media protocols to facilitate calls between networks using different dispatch communication technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different dispatch communication protocols are used in separate cellular carrier networks, then each network can maintain its own proprietary technology and service quality, but interconnectivity and interoperability between different carriers' networks cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between dispatch networks using different protocols. This gateway contains protocol stacks for multiple dispatch technologies (iDEN, QChat, PoC, TETRA, DMR) and performs protocol conversion to enable interoperability. The gateway acts as a mediator that translates signaling and media between incompatible protocols, resolving the contradiction by adding complexity at the gateway level to achieve interoperability without requiring changes to the core network infrastructures.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device segments the protocol conversion function into separate protocol stacks for each dispatch technology. Each protocol stack handles conversion for a specific protocol independently, allowing the system to support multiple protocols simultaneously without creating a monolithic complex conversion engine. This segmentation enables modular addition of new protocols and simplifies maintenance while achieving multi-protocol interoperability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If protocol conversion functionality is added to enable calls between different dispatch networks, then interoperability is achieved, but the system complexity and number of required protocol stacks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device is designed with universal multi-functionality to handle multiple dispatch protocols simultaneously. It incorporates a media control stack that can manage media streams across different protocols and a protocol interworking function that handles signaling conversion for various protocols. This universal design allows a single gateway to serve multiple protocol conversion needs without requiring separate dedicated gateways for each protocol pair.
Solution Approach 2:
The protocol conversion functionality is segmented into independent protocol stacks, each responsible for a specific dispatch protocol (iDEN, QChat, PoC, TETRA, DMR). This segmentation allows the system to add or remove protocol support modularly without affecting other protocols. Each protocol stack is a self-contained unit that can be independently configured and maintained, reducing the overall system complexity despite supporting multiple protocols.
3Reliability
If media control and transcoding functions are implemented, then seamless media transmission between different protocols is achieved, but processing complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The media control stack serves as an intermediary for media transmission between different dispatch protocols. It receives media from one protocol, manages the media stream through transcoding if necessary, and delivers it to the destination protocol. The media control stack ensures reliable media transmission by handling protocol-specific media formats, timing, and synchronization, resolving the contradiction by centralizing media management in a dedicated intermediary component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional circuit-switched media transmission with packet-based media control and transcoding. Instead of dedicated physical circuits for media transmission, the system uses software-based media control stacks and transcoding functions that can dynamically adapt to different protocols. This substitution increases flexibility and reliability while managing complexity through software-based solutions rather than hardware circuitry.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a dispatch communication router are provided. The dispatch communication router allows calls between two or more dispatch communication networks which operate using different dispatch communication protocols. The dispatch communication router includes a protocol interworking function, a media control stack and a transcoding function. The dispatch communication router also includes a dispatch technology protocol stack for each different dispatch communication protocol supported by the router. The dispatch technology protocol stack converts dispatch communication signaling of a particular dispatch communication technology into a common protocol. The dispatch technology protocol stack can also convert dispatch communication media into a common dispatch communication media protocol and media format, or a separate transcoder can be provided to perform such conversion. The dispatch communication router of the present invention allows support of new dispatch communication technologies by adding a new dispatch technology protocol stack and communication coders (if necessary).