Adaptive Communication Recording for TETRA Direct Mode Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

In Professional Mobile Radio (PMR) networks, especially those using Terrestrial Trunked Radio Access (TETRA), there is a challenge in recording communications between terminals operating in Direct Mode Operation (DMO) as the dispatcher station cannot record direct links between terminals, making it difficult to verify if commands were received and executed accurately, especially with large groups and potential distortion of commands during transmission.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that determine the operation mode of terminals and record communications data accordingly, allowing for adaptive recording across different modes, including DMO and Trunked Mode Operation (TMO), enabling the reconstruction of communications data even when terminals operate outside the network infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the dispatcher station records commands and acknowledgements from all personnel in large groups, then command execution verification is improved, but the time required for recording and verification increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommand execution verificationVSAvoidrecording time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the large group of personnel into smaller subgroups for acknowledgement purposes. Instead of requiring all personnel to acknowledge individually, the group is divided and each subgroup provides acknowledgement separately, significantly reducing the total time required while maintaining verification reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements partial acknowledgement where not every single personnel member needs to provide individual acknowledgement for every command. Instead, representative acknowledgements or sampled acknowledgements from the group are sufficient to verify command execution, reducing the time burden while maintaining adequate verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If the dispatcher station records communications from terminals operating in Trunked Mode Operation (TMO), then command verification is improved, but communications during Direct Mode Operation (DMO) cannot be recorded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommand verificationVSAvoidoperation mode coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The recording system is designed to be universal and adapt to multiple operation modes. It can automatically detect whether terminals are operating in TMO or DMO and switch recording methods accordingly, ensuring command verification capability across all operation modes without requiring separate dedicated systems.

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

Solution Approach 2:

For DMO communications, the system uses the terminal devices themselves as intermediaries to record communications locally. Since DMO terminals communicate directly without network infrastructure, each terminal acts as a recording station for its own communications, enabling verification without network-based recording infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If commands are transmitted to large groups of personnel, then operational efficiency is improved, but command distortion and intelligibility issues increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidcommand intelligibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments large group communications into smaller transmission units or subgroups. Instead of transmitting commands to all personnel simultaneously in one large group, the command is divided and transmitted to smaller subgroups separately, reducing distortion and improving intelligibility while maintaining operational efficiency through parallel processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where acknowledgements are collected from personnel to verify successful command reception and understanding. This feedback loop allows the dispatcher to identify and retransmit distorted or unintelligible commands, ensuring accurate information delivery while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2239973B1Recording communications
Publication Date: 2016.04.06 AIRBUS DEFENCE & SPACE OY
  • EP2239973B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2239973B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2239973B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Determining an operation mode of a terminal, and recording communications data of the terminal, on the basis of the determined operation mode.