Abstract: An integrated land mobile dispatch radio capable of accommodating both standard audio transmissions and video transmissions. The push-to-talk switch controls these activities. Video images can be stored and reviewed prior to transmission. Also, video transmissions can be interrupted to accommodate a current need to conduct an audio transmission.

Abstract: To set-up a dispatch call, a controller identifies the destination units, destination sites, controlled devices and paths needed to support the call, and which LAN bridges will be used to create the communication paths. The controller then assigns the controlled devices a temporary address identical to the permanent address of one of the controlled devices, and then informs the LAN bridges which LAN ports should carry messages containing the temporary address. With all controlled devices having the same temporary address, and with the LAN bridges ready to pass messages containing the temporary address along a chosen path, the controlled device assigned to support the call request can transmit the messages generated by a source communication unit to other controlled devices using the temporary address. Thus, only one representation of a message produced by the source communication unit is transmitted from the assigned controlled device.