Apparatus and method for broadcasting priority rated messages on a radio communications channel of a multiple transceiver system

Apparatus in a transceiver for broadcasting priority rated messages on a channel shared by a multiplicity of similar transceivers, comprising:

• analog-to-digital convertor means for generating a new message in digitalized format corresponding to audio frequency message signals in analog format applied to said convertor means;
• memory means connected to said convertor means for storing said digitalized new message;
• message coding means;
• central data processing means connected with and controlling said coding means, convertor means and memory means, and for adding a priority rating code, a recipient identity code and a sender's identity code to said new message;
• message reception means for monitoring said channel to detect other messages broadcast one at a time thereon by others of said transceivers;
• coding comparator means connected to said message reception means and said data processing means for comparing the priority rating of each of said other messages with the priority rating of said new message;
• and
• message broadcast means connected to said memory and under control of said data processing means for broadcasting said new message only when said channel is clear of any other message of equal or higher priority than that of said new message, and permits said new message to interrupt the broadcast of any other message of lower priority rating than that of said new message and interrupts said new messages when broadcast starts of any other message of higher priority than that of said new message;
• and said interrupted message is rebroadcast in its entirety when broadcast of the last named other message of higher priority is completed;
• whereby the possibility of any two messages being simultaneously broadcast with consequent loss of intelligibility, is eliminated.