Abstract: A wireless method and apparatus for late entry in frequency hopping systems that, during call setup, computes a random permutation sequence through a hop set of frequencies, chooses preamble frequencies to omit data thereon in lieu of preamble data, and swaps frequencies in the random permutation sequence such that synchronization frequencies lie next to the preamble frequencies with an expected delay such that late entrants can join. The wireless method and apparatus meets the FCC requirement of maintaining a pseudorandom hopping pattern and equal distribution of all frequencies in a hop set while guaranteeing late entry and having no effect on battery performance of radios.

Abstract: A wireless method and apparatus for late entry in frequency hopping systems that, during call setup, computes a random permutation sequence through a hop set of frequencies, chooses preamble frequencies to omit data thereon in lieu of preamble data, and swaps frequencies in the random permutation sequence such that synchronization frequencies lie next to the preamble frequencies with an expected delay such that late entrants can join. The wireless method and apparatus meets the FCC requirement of maintaining a pseudorandom hopping pattern and equal distribution of all frequencies in a hop set while guaranteeing late entry and having no effect on battery performance of radios.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a communication generated by an originating device to a target device using a repeating device is provided. In the method the communication is transmitted from the originating device and received at the repeating device. A repeater request sequence is transmitted from the originating device and retransmitted from the first repeating device to the target device before the repeater request sequence is received at the first repeating device.

Abstract: A digital radio communication system (200) uses a repeater (216) to relay calls which can not be completed in a direct talk-around mode between two radios. The repeater (216) establishes early synchronization in advance of a pending call by listening to an originator radio (204) attempt to make a direct talk-around call to a target radio (210). Asynchronous digital two-way radio communication systems can benefit from the reduction in voice call connect time.

Abstract: A method for communicating a group call within a communication network comprising at least one repeater and a plurality of communication devices includes: receiving at least one preamble slot and at least one synchronization slot from an originator communication device by the repeater and a communication device; operating the communication device to receive one or more calls directly from the originator device via eavesdropping on the repeater uplink channel when a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the direct preamble and synchronization slots is greater than a threshold; and operating the communication device to receive one or more calls from the originator device via the repeater on a repeater downlink channel of the repeater when the direct RSSI is not greater than the threshold.

Abstract: Methods of enabling late entry into an on-going spread spectrum call are described. A late join frame replaces, and has the same size as, a traffic frame. A late join slot in the late join frame contains sufficient information in preamble and sync subframes to permit a target to join the call. The traffic slots in the late join frame replicate data such that call quality of the call is substantially unaffected if one of the remaining traffic frames is not received. The preamble and sync subframes frequencies may be the same as, or different from, preamble and sync frames frequencies during a call establishment phase of the call. If different, the preamble and sync subframes frequencies are selected from one or more frequencies. Use of the preamble and sync subframes frequencies is compensated for when selecting the traffic slot frequencies to obtain uniform utilization of the spectrum.

Abstract: A method for call setup in an asynchronous frequency hopping digital two-way communication system includes transmitting in adjacent time slots, by a caller device, a preamble slot over a first unique fixed frequency selected from a frequency hopset and a synchronization slot over a second unique fixed frequency selected from the frequency hopset. Further, the method includes one or more target devices transmitting an acknowledgement signal upon receiving the preamble slot over the first unique fixed frequency and the synchronization slot over the second unique fixed frequency, and followed by the caller device establishing the data communication link between the caller device and the one or more target devices over at least one random frequency selected from the frequency hopset, in response to receiving the acknowledgement signal from the one or more target devices.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a communication generated by an originating device to a target device using a repeating device is provided. In the method the communication is transmitted from the originating device and received at the repeating device. A repeater request sequence is transmitted from the originating device and retransmitted from the first repeating device to the target device before the repeater request sequence is received at the first repeating device.

Abstract: Methods of enabling late entry into an on-going spread spectrum call are described. A late join frame replaces, and has the same size as, a traffic frame. A late join slot in the late join frame contains sufficient information in preamble and sync subframes to permit a target to join the call. The traffic slots in the late join frame replicate data such that call quality of the call is substantially unaffected if one of the remaining traffic frames is not received. The preamble and sync subframes frequencies may be the same as, or different from, preamble and sync frames frequencies during a call establishment phase of the call. If different, the preamble and sync subframes frequencies are selected from one or more frequencies. Use of the preamble and sync subframes frequencies is compensated for when selecting the traffic slot frequencies to obtain uniform utilization of the spectrum.

Abstract: A method for call setup in an asynchronous frequency hopping digital two-way communication system includes transmitting in adjacent time slots, by a caller device, a preamble slot over a first unique fixed frequency selected from a frequency hopset and a synchronization slot over a second unique fixed frequency selected from the frequency hopset. Further, the method includes one or more target devices transmitting an acknowledgement signal upon receiving the preamble slot over the first unique fixed frequency and the synchronization slot over the second unique fixed frequency, and followed by the caller device establishing the data communication link between the caller device and the one or more target devices over at least one random frequency selected from the frequency hopset, in response to receiving the acknowledgement signal from the one or more target devices.

Abstract: A method for communicating a group call within a communication network comprising at least one repeater and a plurality of communication devices includes: receiving at least one preamble slot and at least one synchronization slot from an originator communication device by the repeater and a communication device; operating the communication device to receive one or more calls directly from the originator device via eavesdropping on the repeater uplink channel when a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the direct preamble and synchronization slots is greater than a threshold; and operating the communication device to receive one or more calls from the originator device via the repeater on a repeater downlink channel of the repeater when the direct RSSI is not greater than the threshold.

Abstract: A digital radio communication system (200) uses a repeater (216) to relay calls which can not be completed in a direct talk-around mode between two radios. The repeater (216) establishes early synchronization in advance of a pending call by listening to an originator radio (204) attempt to make a direct talk-around call to a target radio (210). Asynchronous digital two-way radio communication systems can benefit from the reduction in voice call connect time.