Abstract: A local site communication system, including a broadband connection between the local site and an internet, a wireless local site network in the local site and communicating data between the broadband connection and the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is located at the local site, and a cyber base station connected to the internet and communicating data between the broadband connection and a mobile switching center whereby the mobile terminal when located at the local site connects to a mobile switching center via the wireless local site network, the broadband connection, the internet and the cyber base station. A voice client converts data between wireless signals on the wireless local site network and internet protocol signals on the broadband connection, and the cyber base station mimics a radio base station to the mobile switching center.

Abstract: A method of receiving digital messages from a mobile terminal at a radio base station of a communications system including a plurality of radio base stations is discussed. This method includes receiving a login message at the radio base station from the mobile terminal wherein the login message includes a caller address number for the mobile terminal and wherein the caller address number comprises a first number of bits. After receiving the login message, a temporary identification number is selected at the base station for the mobile terminal wherein the temporary identification number comprises a second number of bits less than the first number of bits.

Abstract: Group calls can be provided between an originating terminal and a called terminal on a radiotelephone communications system including a switching center and a plurality of radio base stations wherein each of the radio base stations defines a cell and wherein each of the originating and called terminals is in one of the cells. In particular, a group call origination message can be received from the originating terminal, and after receiving the group call origination message, a group call setup message can be sent to a radio base station defining a cell within which the called terminal is located. After sending the group call setup message, first and second traffic channels can be designated for the originating terminal to provide communications between the originating and called terminals. Related systems are also discussed.

Abstract: A method of assigning paging channels to terminals providing group communications with a communications systems includes defining a control channel including a plurality of time slots wherein the time slots are grouped into time frames so that each time frame includes a plurality of sequential time slots. A first time slot of each of the time frames is assigned as a first paging channel for one of the terminals. A second time slot of each of the time frames is assigned as a second paging channel for the terminal wherein the second time slot is assigned to provide a desired proximity of the first and second time slots within each of the time frames. Related systems and terminals are also discussed.

Abstract: Call agents methods and systems are provided for providing emergency services on a heterogeneous network, such as a cable system, having a bandwidth. A request for telephony service is received wherein the telephony service will be provided over the cable system. It is determined if a portion of the bandwidth of the cable system which is allocated to telephony is fully utilized and if the request for telephony service is a request for emergency service. A portion of the bandwidth of the cable system is obtained to provide the requested telephony service if the request for telephony service is a request for emergency service and the portion of the bandwidth of the cable system which is allocated to telephony is fully utilized. The requested emergency service is provided using the obtained portion of the bandwidth of the cable system.

Abstract: A local site communication system, including a broadband connection between the local site and an internet, a wireless local site network in the local site and communicating data between the broadband connection and the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is located at the local site, and a cyber base station connected to the internet and communicating data between the broadband connection and a mobile switching center whereby the mobile terminal when located at the local site connects to a mobile switching center via the wireless local site network, the broadband connection, the internet and the cyber base station. A voice client converts data between wireless signals on the wireless local site network and internet protocol signals on the broadband connection, and the cyber base station mimics a radio base station to the mobile switching center.

Abstract: A group call is conducted in a wireless communications system including a plurality of distributed transceiver units, e.g., radio heads of a private wireless system, each of which are operative to communicate with terminals over a plurality of communications channels. A group call origination message is transmitted from an originating terminal, preferably in response to a user input at the originating terminal, more preferably in response to actuation of a push-to-talk (PTT) device at the originating terminal. The transmitted group call origination message is received at a transceiver unit and, in response, a group call traffic channel designation messages addressed to a group of terminals is transmitted from the transceiver units, the transmitted group call traffic channel designation message designating a common traffic channel. Communications then occur among terminals of the group of terminals, preferably in half-duplex mode, over the designated common traffic channel.

Abstract: A wireless network with a group call capability. The wireless network includes a mobile switching center connected to a plurality of base stations each serving a portion of the wireless network and communicating with mobile stations on a plurality of channels. Each base station allocates one of the channels for the group call. Each mobile station in the group sends an acknowledgement of the group call to the base station serving the area where the mobile is located. Each base station that did not receive an acknowledgement frees the allocated channel for use in other calls.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer communication system includes multiple microcontrollers where each microcontroller has a microprocessor, memory, and an asynchronous receiver-transmitter connected by a parallel bus. A serial bus includes transmit, receive, and request lines. Each of the controllers is connected to the transmit and receive lines of the serial bus by way of its asynchronous receiver-transmitter. Each microcontroller is connected to the request line of the serial bus through an I/O port. A microcontroller detects an idle period on the serial bus and seizes control of the serial bus using that request line. The asynchronous receiver-transmitter is preferably a conventional universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART). Thus, peer-to-peer communications are coordinated in a simplified fashion so that each device on the network can independently communicate with any other device on that network using standardized, industry accepted hardware and protocols.

Abstract: An extremely compact, full featured portable radio architecture conserves power by allowing a processor to sleep except when it needs to perform tasks. A lower power processor which acts principally as an interrupt controller but which performs other functions as well (e.g., tone decode, synthesizer lock monitoring, etc.) so the main processor can sleep as much as possible and yet is assured of being awoken promptly when its processing power is required. The resulting portable radio has extremely low power consumption (e.g., on the order of 75 milliamperes during trunked mode operation)--thereby permitting even a relatively small battery pack to provide nearly 8 hours of continuous operation. The portable radio with battery is small and lightweight enough to fit into a front shirt pocket.