Function prioritization in a multi-channel, voice-datalink radio

A multi-channel voice-datalink radio system, comprising:

• a multi-mode radio module comprising:
• a transmitter section including at least one transmitter configured to send a radio frequency (RF) signal in a communications band to an antenna, the RF signal comprising data or voice communications;
• a receiver section including at least one receiver configured to receive an RF signal in the communications band from the antenna;
• and
• a processor section including at least one digital signal processor operatively coupled to the transmitter section and the receiver section;
• and
• a digital interface unit operatively coupled to the processor section;
• wherein the processor section is configured to:
• suspend transmission of one or more data messages on a first communication channel frequency when transmission of a voice message is active on a second communication channel frequency;
• buffer the one or more data messages while the transmission of the voice message is active;
• and
• resume transmission of the buffered one or more data messages on the first communication channel frequency when the transmission of the voice message ends;
• wherein during transmission of the voice message, a physical layer of the radio module reports to a communication link layer that the first communication channel frequency is busy when the first communication channel frequency is actually not busy.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of function prioritization in a multi-channel voice-datalink radio, the method comprising:
• suspending transmission of one or more data messages on a first communication channel frequency when transmission of a voice message is active on a second communication channel frequency;
• buffering the one or more data messages while the transmission of the voice message is active;
• and
• resuming transmission of the buffered one or more data messages on the first communication channel frequency when the transmission of the voice message ends;
• wherein during transmission of the voice message, a physical layer of the radio reports to a communication link layer that the first communication channel frequency is busy when the first communication channel frequency is actually not busy.