# US 2013/0157634 A1 · Method and apparatus for allocating frequencies among multiple talkgroups > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157634 A1 - Document ID: US20130157634A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/331,580 - Filed: 2011-12-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Motorola Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: DANIEL J. MCDONALD; MARK SHAHAF; LESLIE G. GUSTAFSON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157634A1 ## CPC - H04W 72/30: Resource management for broadcast services - H04W 76/40: for selective distribution or broadcast - 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 multi-carrier receiver radio monitors frequency channels associated with at least one talkgroup to which a multi-carrier receiver radio subscribes. The talkgroup is associated with a set of frequency channels that may carry group call activity. The radio monitors each frequency channel of the set of frequency channels associated with the talkgroup for group call activity. During monitoring, when a new call is detected on one frequency channel of the set of frequency channels associated with the talkgroup, the radio joins the new call. While joined to the new call, the radio continues to monitor the set of frequency channels associated with the talkgroup for additional transmissions to the talkgroup and to monitor a set of frequency channels associated with another talkgroup to which the multi-carrier receiver radio also subscribes for group call activity on the other talkgroup. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method in a multi-carrier receiver radio of monitoring frequency channels associated with at least one talkgroup to which the multi-carrier receiver radio subscribes, the method comprising: associating the at least one talkgroup with a set of frequency channels that may carry group call activity; substantially simultaneously monitoring for group call activity on each frequency channel of the set of frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup; and during monitoring, detecting a new call on one frequency channel of the set of frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup and joining the new call on the one frequency channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising while joined to the new call, continuing to monitor each frequency channel of the set of frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup for additional transmissions to the at least one talkgroup. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising while joined to the new call, continuing to monitor a set of frequency channels associated with another talkgroup to which the multi-carrier receiver radio also subscribes for group call activity on the other talkgroup. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the radio is configured to substantially simultaneously monitor the set of frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup in response to: determining that no call activity is present on the one frequency channel, determining that there is no match between a call participation criterion stored on the multi-carrier receiver radio and the call activity on the one frequency channel, after the multi-carrier receiver radio joins the new call, or if the new call is assigned a lower priority than another active call. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating the call directed to the at least one talkgroup by identifying a free frequency channel in the set of frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup and transmitting information to the at least one talkgroup on the free frequency channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises matching a call participation criterion stored on the multi-carrier receiver radio against information present on the one frequency channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the joining the new call comprises determining that the multi-carrier receiver radio is in active communication on another talkgroup, joining the new call, summing information from the active communication on the other talkgroup with the new call and playing a summed audio signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the joining the new call comprises determining that the multi-carrier receiver radio is in active communication on another talkgroup and joining the new call if the new call is assigned a higher priority. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising pre-programming the set of frequency channels in the multi-carrier receiver radio. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the set of frequency channels includes a set of inbound frequency channels for receiving the call directed to the at least one talkgroup via a repeater and a set of outbound frequency channels, different from the set of inbound frequency channels, for transmitting a call initiated at the multi-carrier receiver radio that is directed to the at least one talkgroup via the repeater. ### Claim 11 A method in a multi-carrier receiver radio of monitoring frequency channels associated with at least one talkgroup to which the multi-carrier receiver radio subscribes, the method comprising: associating the at least one talkgroup with a set of inbound frequency channels for receiving calls from other radios subscribed to the at least one talkgroup via a repeater and a set of outbound frequency channels for transmitting calls to the other radios subscribed to the at least one talkgroup via the repeater; substantially simultaneously monitoring for group call activity on each frequency channel of the set of inbound frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup; and during monitoring, detecting a new call on one frequency channel of the set of inbound frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup and joining the new call on the one frequency channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising while joined to the new call, continuing to monitor each frequency channel of the set of frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup for additional transmissions to the at least one talkgroup. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising while joined to the new call, continuing to monitor a set of frequency channels associated with another talkgroup to which the multi-carrier receiver radio also subscribes for group call activity on the other talkgroup. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising initiating the call directed to the at least one talkgroup by identifying a free frequency channel in the set of outbound frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup and transmitting information to the at least one talkgroup on the free frequency channel. ### Claim 15 A radio for monitoring frequency channels associated with at least one talkgroup to which the radio subscribes, the radio configured to: associate the at least one talkgroup with a set of frequency channels that may carry group call activity; monitor group call activity on each frequency channel of the set of frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup; detect a new call on one frequency channel of the set of frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup; and join the new call on the one frequency channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The radio of claim 15, further configured to monitor, while joined to the new call, each frequency channel of the set of frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup for additional transmissions to the at least one talkgroup. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The radio of claim 16, further configured to continue to monitor a set of frequency channels associated with another talkgroup to which the multi-carrier receiver radio also subscribes for group call activity on the other talkgroup. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The radio of claim 16, wherein responsive to determining that no call activity is present on the one frequency channel, that there is no match between a call participation criterion stored on the radio and call activity on the one frequency channel, after the radio joins the new call, or if the new call is assigned a lower priority than another active call, the radio is further configured to simultaneously monitor the set of frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The radio of claim 15, further configured to initiate a call to other radios subscribed to the at least one talkgroup by identifying a free frequency channel in the set of frequency channels associated with the at least one talkgroup and transmitting information to the other radios on the free frequency channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The radio of claim 15, further configured determine that the radio is in active communication on another talkgroup, join the new call, sum information from the active communication on the other talkgroup with the new call and play a summed audio signal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The radio of claim 15, further configured to determine that the radio is in active communication on another talkgroup and join the new call if the new call is assigned a higher priority. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The radio of claim 15, wherein the set of frequency channels includes a set of inbound frequency channels for receiving the new call via a repeater and a set of outbound frequency channels for transmitting a call initiated at the radio to other radios subscribed to the at least one talkgroup via the repeater.