System and method for testing emergency dispatch systems

A testing system for a dispatch system that comprises a dispatch console and a remote base station comprising a communication link with the dispatch console and a radio transmitter, said testing system comprising:

• a dispatch monitor radio comprising a radio receiver configured to receive radio signals from the radio transmitter of the base station, at least one radio communications input and at least one radio communications output;
• a dispatch display unit comprising at least one visual display for displaying a status of said dispatch system and at least one display communications input;
• and
• a master control unit comprising;
• a radio control communications output in communication with said at least one radio communications input of said dispatch monitor radio and a radio control communications input in communication with said at least one radio communications output of said dispatch monitor radio;
• a display control communications output in communication with said at least one display communications input of said dispatch display unit;
• a console control communications output and a console control communications input in communication with the dispatch console of the dispatch system;
• a microprocessor in communication with said radio control communications output, said radio control communications input, said display control communications output, said console control communications output and said console control communications input;
• a memory;
• and
• computer program means, stored in said memory, for controlling said testing system, wherein said computer program means comprises transmission testing means comprising;
• transmission test initiation means for determining when a transmission test of the dispatch system is to be performed and for initiating said transmission test;
• transmission tone sending means for sending a signal corresponding to a predetermined transmission test tone through said console control communications output, to the dispatch console and through the communications link to the remote base station;
• transmission tone receiving means for receiving a signal corresponding to said transmission test tone from said dispatch monitor radio through said radio control communications input;
• transmission tone confirmation means for confirming whether said transmission test tone has been received;
• and
• transmission display output means for sending a signal corresponding to whether said transmission test tone has been received to said dispatch display unit through said display control communications output.

A dispatch monitoring and display device for use with a dispatch center having a monitor radio, said device comprising:

• a communications port for receiving signals from the monitor radio;
• a microprocessor;
• a memory;
• computer program means, stored in said memory, for controlling monitoring and display functions of said device;
• at least one visual display that displays information showing that a tone has been transmitted and identifies a emergency responder to which said tone corresponds, and
• dispatch tone data stored in said memory, said dispatch tone data comprising data corresponding to a plurality of dispatch tones and a responder assigned to each of said plurality of dispatch tones;
• wherein said at least one visual display comprises at least one dispatch status display;
• wherein said computer program means comprises dispatch monitoring means for monitoring dispatch tones and identifying responders corresponding to said dispatch tones, said dispatch monitoring means comprising:
• dispatch tone receiving means for receiving a signal corresponding to one of said plurality of dispatch tones from the monitor radio through said communications port;
• dispatch tone decoding means for comparing said signal with said plurality of dispatch tones to determine which responder is assigned to said dispatch tone received by said device;
• and
• dispatch display output means for controlling one of said at least one dispatch status display based upon said signal.