Internet protocol radio dispatch system and method
AssigneeCML Emergency Services Inc.
InventorsPierre Olivier, Douglas Roberts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for dispatching calls using a packet network is disclosed. The use of distributed call management modules, enables various communication systems, such as RF and PSTN systems, to communicate with each other over the IP network. Audio devices from the various communication systems are each assigned an IP multicast group. Distributed call management modules convert signals from the audio devices into IP packets and transmit the IP packets to designated IP multicast groups over the IP network.
Claims41
A distributed dispatch control system operable to use a packet network, to provide audio and signalling connectivity to a plurality of audio devices, the system comprising:
- a plurality of distributed call management modules, each distributed call management module being adapted to serve a respective audio device and each distributed call management module having a respective group address for each audio device;
- each distributed call management module operable to convert audio and signalling from the respective audio device into packets for distribution through the packet network using the respective group address for receipt by any distributed call management modules monitoring the group address;
- and
- each distributed call management module operable to monitor at least one selected group address by:
- receiving packets addressed to at least one selected group address and converting such packets to audio and signalling for distribution to the audio device.
A distributed call management module for use in a radio dispatch system, said distributed call management module comprising:
- an audio processing engine for converting an audio signal from an audio device to a packet signal;
- a call and management processing engine for directing the packet signal to a multicast group address;
- and
- a packet processor for encoding the packet signal as multicast packets and for decoding multicast packets from the packet network, said packet processor configured to send and receive packets over the packet network.
A method of dispatching a call between audio devices, said audio devices being connected to a packet network, said method comprising:
- assigning multicast group addresses to each audio device;
- converting a call from a first audio device to packets;
- and
- transmitting the packets to the multicast group address of the first audio device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.