Relay Device Master-Slave Group Voice Signal Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing voice communication systems using wireless LAN, terminal devices can only communicate within their pre-registered talk groups and cannot listen to or call multiple talk groups simultaneously, limiting group communication capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A relaying device with a network communication unit, storage unit, and control unit is introduced, which stores master-slave relationships between talk groups and transfers voice signals across these groups, allowing terminal devices to call and listen to multiple talk groups by generating mixing groups for voice signal mixing and distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If terminal devices are restricted to communicate only within their pre-registered talk groups, then communication security and group management are improved, but communication versatility and the ability to listen to or call multiple talk groups are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication securityVSAvoidcommunication versatility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as an intermediary that manages talk group memberships and routes voice signals between terminal devices and multiple talk groups. The server maintains registration information linking terminal devices to their home talk groups and authorized additional talk groups, enabling secure controlled access across group boundaries without requiring terminal devices to directly manage complex group relationships

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The server provides universal communication functionality by enabling terminal devices to participate in multiple talk groups through a single unified system. The server handles routing, mixing, and distribution of voice signals across different talk groups, allowing a terminal device to function as both a member of its home group and a listener/member of additional groups without requiring separate communication channels for each group

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If voice signals are transferred only within the same talk group, then system complexity is reduced, but communication functionality and the ability to bridge multiple groups are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcommunication functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The server serves as a central mediator that manages the complexity of inter-group communication. It maintains registration information that maps terminal devices to their home talk groups and authorized additional talk groups, then automatically routes voice signals through appropriate mixing groups without requiring terminal devices to directly manage complex group-to-group connections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges multiple talk groups through mixing groups that combine terminal devices from the home talk group and authorized additional talk groups. This allows voice signals to be seamlessly distributed across group boundaries while maintaining a unified communication framework managed by the server, reducing the need for separate routing logic at each terminal device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If terminal devices belong to a single talk group, then group management is simplified, but the ability to participate in multiple groups and listen to other groups is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegroup managementVSAvoidmulti-group participation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as an intermediary that manages multi-group memberships on behalf of terminal devices. It maintains registration information that allows a terminal device to be associated with multiple talk groups (one home group and additional groups) without requiring the terminal device to directly manage these relationships, simplifying operation while enabling multi-group participation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The server provides universal group management functionality by enabling terminal devices to participate in multiple talk groups through a single unified registration system. The server handles the complexity of managing memberships across multiple groups, allowing terminal devices to maintain simple operation while gaining access to multiple communication groups through the server's routing and mixing capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3576391B1Relay device, voice communication system, voice signal transfer method, and program
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 ICOM INC
  • EP3576391B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3576391B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3576391B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To provide a relaying device and a voice communication system with which calling and listening among a plurality of talk groups is possible. [Solution] The relaying device is provided with: a relaying device which stores a plurality of groups and terminal devices belonging to each of the groups, and, when a voice signal is received from one or more of the terminal devices (calling terminal devices), transfers the voice signal to the terminal devices other than the calling terminal device in the group to which the calling terminal device belongs; and the plurality of terminal devices which are connected to the relay device over a communication network. The relaying device also stores the master-slave relationship among the plurality of groups, transfers the voice signal to the terminal devices belonging to a master group if the group to which the calling terminal device belongs is a slave group, and transfers the voice signal to the terminal devices belonging to slave groups if the group to which the calling terminal device belongs is the master group.