Title:
Method and system of load sharing and prioritization of radio repeaters
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO1998017007
Kind Code:
A3
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. In the later case, the priority repeater transmits a message containing its activity level on a control channel to other idle repeaters in the vicinity. These idle repeaters compare the activity level embedded in the message with their own activity level. If an idle repeater determines that its activity level is higher than the current priority repeater's activity level, then it will transmit a message to the priority repeater requesting that the priority repeater relinquish priority status. In this manner, the present invention ensures that a repeater will not deplete its battery during its tenure as priority repeater.
Inventors:
FRATTA LA LAURENCE A (US)
PRIEST MARK D (US)
PRIEST MARK D (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US1997/016671
Publication Date:
June 18, 1998
Filing Date:
September 24, 1997
Export Citation:
Assignee:
ERICSSON INC (US)
International Classes:
H04W88/02; H04W16/26; (IPC1-7): H04B7/26; H04Q7/32
Foreign References:
| EP0188322A2 | 1986-07-23 | |||
| US5239666A | 1993-08-24 | |||
| US5056152A | 1991-10-08 | |||
| US4234959A | 1980-11-18 | |||
| US4056779A | 1977-11-01 |
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