Abstract: A radio communication system assigns one repeater the role of priority repeater, whereupon that priority repeater exclusively relays all messages between one or more portable radios and a base site. The priority repeater monitors various indica relating to its level of activity, and transitions to a non-priority state when the level of activity exceeds a prescribed threshold. In one embodiment, the repeater includes a counter for counting the number of transactions performed since the repeater was assigned the role of priority repeater, wherein the count serves as the activity level measure. In another embodiment, the repeater includes a timer for determining the amount of time which has transpired since the repeater assumed the role of priority repeater, wherein this time value serves as the activity measure. Still another embodiment uses battery level as a proxy for activity level. The above techniques may be employed in a non-trunked type of repeater or a trunked type of repeater.

Abstract: A vehicular repeater system communicates with a portable mobile radio using the same RF communication band and digital trunking protocol that it communicates with a base site. The repeater station may employ an operational radio within a vehicle which communicates with the base site. A separate repeater radio module is connected to the operational radio, preferably through hardwired links. The separate repeater radio module includes a transmitting section which receives messages from the base site through the operational radio, and forwards these messages through a passive RF interface to a portable radio. The separate repeater also includes a receiving section which receives messages from the portable radio, and forwards these messages through the operational radio to the base site.

Abstract: In a digitally trunked radio repeating system that includes several radio repeating transceiver sites linked by a multisite switch, a method for locating a mobile radio when two or more of the sites report having the mobile radio in their site area. When a site reports to the multisite switch that a mobile radio has newly entered the area for the site, the switch broadcasts communications from the mobile radio to two or more sites during a prescribed period of time. If no other site reports receiving a message from the mobile radio during the prescribed period, the radio is logged out of its former site and broadcasts to the radio are only made from the new site. If two or more sites report having the mobile radio in their areas within the prescribed period, a polling method is executed where each of the sites reporting messages from the mobile radio transmits in sequence a command for the mobile radio to respond.