Virtual Talk Group Congestion Management via Priority-Based Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication systems face congestion issues in virtual talk groups, leading to lost or garbled communications during emergency situations, particularly when multiple agencies with different networks attempt to communicate, and existing solutions like MLPP can disrupt lower priority users.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that monitor communication congestion levels within virtual talk groups, track priority characteristics of endpoints, and execute policies to reduce congestion by downgrading non-essential endpoints, preventing them from transmitting, and sending alert messages to affected users, allowing higher priority users to maintain communication without disruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple agencies communicate simultaneously in a virtual talk group during emergency situations, then collaboration and information sharing are improved, but communication congestion increases causing lost or garbled communications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration capabilityVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the parameter of communication priority by assigning different priority levels to different users or agencies. When congestion is detected, the system modifies transmission parameters to allow higher priority communications to proceed while blocking or delaying lower priority ones, thus maintaining reliable communication for critical users while allowing multiple agencies to participate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism by monitoring communication congestion levels in real-time and using this information to dynamically adjust transmission permissions. The congestion monitoring component continuously provides feedback on channel utilization, which triggers priority-based access control decisions to prevent communication loss while maintaining multi-agency collaboration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If multi-level preemption protocol (MLPP) is used to allow higher priority users to preempt lower priority users, then higher priority communications are ensured, but lower priority users experience interruption and communication loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehigh priority communication reliabilityVSAvoidinterruption to lower priority users

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of completely preempting lower priority users as in traditional MLPP, the system applies partial action by selectively managing access based on congestion levels. The system allows lower priority users to continue communicating when congestion is moderate, and only restricts them when necessary to ensure high priority communications, thus reducing harmful interruptions while maintaining reliability for critical users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If congestion management policies are implemented to reduce congestion levels, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and policy management overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcongestion management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The congestion management system is designed with universal components that can be applied across different communication networks and agencies. The priority assignment mechanism, congestion monitoring, and access control policies form a multi-functional framework that handles various scenarios (different agencies, different priority levels, different congestion conditions) through a unified approach, reducing overall system complexity despite the sophisticated congestion management capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8189460B2Method and system for providing congestion management within a virtual talk group

Publication Date: 2012.05.29 STA GROUP LLC

AI summary

A method for providing congestion management within a virtual talk group includes facilitating communication within a virtual talk group between a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks. The method also includes monitoring a communication congestion level within the virtual talk group and tracking at least one priority characteristic for at least one endpoint of the plurality of endpoints within the virtual talk group. The method further includes detecting that the communication congestion level exceeds a congestion threshold and reducing the congestion level by executing at least one policy based on the at least one priority characteristic of the at least one endpoint.