Radio Call Include Bitmask Talk Group Joining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing two-way radio systems require infrastructure and manual intervention to merge or regroup radios into a single communication group, which is inefficient and may fail in situations like power interruptions, increasing setup time and limiting seamless communication between different talk groups.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a Call Include Bitmask (CIB) and Call Include List (CIL) to automatically include or exclude radios and talk groups in a call, allowing radios to unmute and participate based on embedded control signaling, enabling dynamic participation without the need for a dispatcher or console operator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual regrouping features are used to merge multiple talk groups into a single common group, then communication between different groups is enabled, but setup time increases and the system becomes dependent on infrastructure availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures Call Include Lists (CIL) and Call Include Bitmasks (CIB) in each radio device before communication is needed. These contain advance instructions about which talk groups should be included in calls. When a call is initiated, radios automatically reference these pre-configured lists to determine participation, eliminating the need for real-time manual regrouping and reducing setup time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables radios to autonomously determine their own call participation by checking their radio identifier against the CIB embedded in call signaling. Each radio independently evaluates whether it should join the call based on pre-configured CIL data, without requiring manual intervention from dispatchers or console operators. This self-service mechanism automates the regrouping process and reduces dependency on infrastructure.
2Reliability
If console patching or dynamic regrouping features are used to create super groups, then multiple groups can communicate seamlessly, but the system requires infrastructure and manual intervention which may fail during power interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent distributes intelligence to individual radios through embedded CIB and CIL data, enabling each radio to autonomously determine call participation. This eliminates dependency on centralized console operators or dispatchers, allowing the system to function independently during infrastructure failures or power interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces CIB and CIL as data structures that act as intermediaries between the calling radio and potential participants. These embedded control signaling elements carry the necessary information for radios to self-determine participation, replacing the need for continuous infrastructure-mediated regrouping operations.
3Ease of operation
If multi-select feature is used to merge talk groups on one voice channel, then dispatcher can communicate with all groups, but individual group members cannot communicate with each other across groups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the call participation logic into individual radio-level decisions rather than group-level control. Each radio independently evaluates the CIB to determine if it should participate, allowing any radio from any talk group to join the call based on the embedded control signaling, thereby enabling peer-to-peer communication across traditional group boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional model where the dispatcher controls group communication. Instead, the calling radio embeds participation instructions in the CIB, and all other radios independently decide whether to join based on their own evaluation of the CIB against their configured CIL. This inversion enables direct peer-to-peer communication without dispatcher mediation.
Data Source
AI summary
A radio receives a call including a call include bitmask (CIB). The radio retrieves a call include list (CIL) that, for each bit position in the CIB, maps the bit position to one of a radio identifier, a talk group identifier, and a sub-CIL. The radio determines that one bit position in the CIB is set to a value indicating that a radio associated with a radio identifier mapped to the bit position in the CIB via the CIL or to a talk group identifier mapped to the bit position in the CIB via the CIL are to be included in the call. The radio matches its identifier to the radio identifier mapped to the bit position or matches a talk group to which it subscribes to the talk group identifier mapped to the at least one bit position and unmutes the call.