Dynamic Control Point in Simulcast Radio Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional simulcast communication systems with redundant control points are costly and complex, and can be vulnerable to failure if only one or two control points are targeted, as they often lack sufficient redundancy due to high implementation costs.
Innovation Solution
A digitally trunked simulcast communication system where any transmit/receive site can act as a backup control point, allowing for dynamic selection and reconfiguration of a new control point in case of faults, enabling all sites to be disabled before the system fails, thereby enhancing redundancy and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant control points are implemented to improve system reliability, then system resiliency is enhanced, but cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each transmit site in the simulcast system is equipped with the capability to function as a control point, making the control point function universal across multiple sites rather than dedicated to a single location. This allows any site to assume control functions if needed, enhancing reliability without requiring separate redundant control point infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The control point functionality is replicated across multiple transmit sites through software or firmware implementation, creating virtual copies of the control point function at each site. This eliminates the need for physical redundant control point hardware while maintaining the ability to failover to an alternative control point.
2Reliability
If completely redundant control point systems at different geographic locations are deployed to enhance system resiliency, then fault tolerance improves, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The same transmit site hardware infrastructure is used for both normal transmission operations and as a backup control point, eliminating the need for separate redundant hardware. Each site's existing processing capabilities are utilized to perform control point functions when activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing transmit site infrastructure to provide control point redundancy, rather than requiring external or dedicated redundant hardware. The transmit sites themselves serve the dual purpose of normal operation and backup control functionality.
3Ease of operation
If a centralized control point architecture is used to simplify system management, then ease of operation is improved, but system vulnerability to single point of failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control point function dynamically transitions between different transmit sites based on operational needs and fault conditions. The system can switch from a primary control point to alternative control points at different sites, making the architecture dynamic rather than static, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of different sites, allowing them to switch between transmit-only mode and control point mode. This parameter change enables the same hardware to serve different functions, maintaining simplified management while distributing reliability risk across multiple locations.
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
Simulcast communication network (200) includes a first transmit/receive (T/R) site (2101, 2102,... 210N) that functions as control point. At least one processing device (211) is communicatively coupled to the simulcast communication network. The at least one processing device is responsive to a determination that the first T/R site has experienced at least one fault to initiate a dynamic control point arbitration (DCPA) session. The DCPA session includes automatically selecting one of a plurality of second T/R site (2101, 2102,... 210N) to function as the control point in place of the first T/R site and automatically re-configuring of the simulcast communication network to cause the selected one of the plurality of second T/R sites to function as the new control point.