# US 2010/0167774 A1 · Method to indicate status of channels assigned to a talkgroup in a multi-site conventional communication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0167774 A1 - Document ID: US20100167774A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/344,932 - Filed: 2008-12-29 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-29 - Assignees: Motorola, Inc. - Inventors: NATHANAEL P. KUEHNER; GERALD R. DROBKA; JAMES E. EASTWOOD; TODD A. LEIGH; TIMOTHY G. WOODWARD - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100167774A1 ## CPC - H04W 72/30: Resource management for broadcast services - H04W 48/08: Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery (signalling during connection H04W76/00) - H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information - H04W 72/00: Local resource management - H04W 84/08: Trunked mobile radio systems - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method for indicating the status of communication channels assigned to a talkgroup includes: determining the channels in various sites in a conventional communication system that service a talkgroup for media transmissions between subscribers of the talkgroup; receiving notification of the status of transmission activity on the channels; and based on the notification, providing an indication of the status of the channels assigned to the talkgroup so that the talkgroup or subscribers of the talkgroup can choose to proceed with a talkgroup communication. The notification may be received by an infrastructure device in an RF site or a central controlling entity. The indication may be that the channel is free for transmissions or is busy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for indicating status of channels assigned to a talkgroup, the method comprising: determining that a first channel at a first site in a conventional communication system and a second channel at a second different site in the conventional communication system are both assigned for use by a first talkgroup for media transmissions between subscribers of the first talkgroup; receiving notification of status of transmission activity on the first channel; and based on the notification, providing an indication of the status of the channels assigned to the first talkgroup. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving notification of the status of transmission activity on the first channel comprises receiving notification that the first channel is busy with transmission activity or is free of transmission activity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein providing an indication of the status of the channels assigned to the talkgroup comprises: providing an indication that the channels assigned to the talkgroup are not free for transmission activity, upon receiving notification that the first channel is busy; or providing an indication that the channels assigned to the talkgroup are free for transmission activity, upon receiving notification that the first channel is free when the second channel is also free of transmission activity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the notification of the status of transmission activity on the first channel is received from a first infrastructure device at the first site or from a central controller that communicates with the first infrastructure device and a second infrastructure device at the second site. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the status of the channels assigned to the first talkgroup is used to indicate to a subscriber of the talkgroup using a subscriber unit at the second site whether to proceed with media transmissions to other members of first talkgroup. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an indication that the second channel is busy with transmission activity or is free of transmission activity to indicate to a member of the first talkgroup using a subscriber unit at the first site whether to proceed with media transmissions to other members of first talkgroup. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a message from an infrastructure device indicating all talkgroups assigned to use the first channel for use in determining that the first channel is assigned for use by the first talkgroup. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving notification of the status of transmission activity on the second channel, wherein the indication of the status of the channels assigned to the first talkgroup is also based on the notification of the status of the transmission activity on the second channel. ### Claim 9 A method for indicating status of channels assigned to a talkgroup, the method comprising: receiving a first list of talkgroups assigned to a first channel at a first site in a conventional communication system; receiving a second list of talkgroups assigned to a second channel at a second site in the conventional communication system; determining, based on the first and second lists, that the first and second channels are both assigned for use by a first talkgroup for media transmissions between members of the talkgroup; receiving notification of the status of transmission activity on the first and second channels; and based on the notification, providing to a first infrastructure device at the first site and a second infrastructure device at the second site an indication of the status of the channels assigned to the first talkgroup. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the indication of the status of the channels assigned to the first talkgroup comprises: an indication to the first infrastructure device that the second channel is assigned for use by the first talkgroup and an indication of the status of transmission activity on the second channel; and an indication to the second infrastructure device that the first channel is assigned for use by the first talkgroup and an indication of the status of transmission activity on the first channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the indication of the status of channels assigned to the first talkgroup: is used by the first infrastructure device to indicate to a first member of the first talkgroup using a first subscriber unit at the first site whether to proceed with media transmissions to other members of the first talkgroup; and is used by the second infrastructure device to indicate to a second member of the first talkgroup using a second subscriber unit at the second site whether to proceed with media transmissions to other members of the first talkgroup.