AU613970B2 - Radio arrangement having two radios sharing circuitry - Google Patents

Description

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OPI DATE 02/05/89 APPLN 1D 24278 88 VQRL[ JP AT 15 0 -8 'CT NUMBER PCT/0S88/02979 ntrntinl atntClssfcatior 4 (It) International Publication Number; WO 89/ 03624 H04B7/15(43) Interntional Publication Date; 20 April, 1989 (20,04.89) (2 1) international Application Number: PCT/US88/02979 (81) Dosigoatedt States:, D, Fl, JP, KR, NO- (22) International Iiiling Date, 3J A LAu~ 195a (34.08.88): Published With tntern qtjonjqi eqrCht report.

(31) Priority Application Ntunber:,17,2 (32) Priority Date; 9 October 1937 (09.10V8) (33) Priority Country,,;U (71) ApplUgru MOTOROLA, INC. [IS/UJS]; 1103 Cat Algonquirt Road, $chaumbiirg, L~ 60196(U) (72) Invontori LNIETROKA, tlchael, Peter 7310 Oakviq~v Drive, Algonquin, IL 60102 (US).

IntelIeotal Property Dept., (.303 1ast Algonquin Road, S~humbtirg, IL 60196(U) Thife RADIO ARIZNQ WENT ffAVN,21 TWO RADIOS SHARING CJRCLIThY 212 224-i 210 218a R I 220 (57) Ab~ltact A tadio ar "genit nit miMethod Idtow-q a portabke (210) anld a mobitc (111) to 111niuid C01nnnu'mQo isteni hlving tit 1e~ii One remote 5sti sitc (114). Thle poetible (20 11,1,5~ at I otto inrorfimloion aet iuh as the rado idetification hifnrimation oand repertory dialinlilt'ofma"tion) (3 6 or,160), "Ind thc mobile (111) Is mot e d tlherewmti via a wrior G1 14). 'rie cetor I us'ed fr Ien~crriog a codc, whidh dc-iqgnatci the iifknrtaior ict, fromi the pr1;) table (110) to 010 mobile (212) whercby thc niobile (212) adoptts tlte itiormation set o( tho portale (210 for iosquet Communication. h igeln uvier, 11i1ing a portable, with ts 1111iied fcettvQ and functions.t uiie l the cophbfitoi sor tho mobilo.

WO 89/03624 PCT/US88/02979 RADIO ARRANGEMENT HAVING TWO RADIOS SHARING CIRCUITRY Fiold of the Inventi The present invention relates generally to RF communication systems, and particularly to mobile and portable radios for use on a cellular communication system.

1 RF coqmmunications systems are well known in the art. In many such systems, vehicles are equipped with mobile radios that allow an user to communicate with one or more base stations and also with other similarly equipped vehicles in the system. Such a system typically includes a vehicle mounted radio (hereinafter referred to as a mobile) an antenna and a handset (or microphone, speaker and control head). In addition, a base station at a remote system site generally communicates with the vehicle mounted equipment and typically serves to link the radio with a data terminal or operator.

The above configuration works well, so long as the user remains in the vehicle. Once the user ^yI WO 89/03624 PCT/US88/0297 9 WO 89/362 -2moves beyond the operational range of the microphone, however, the user typically loses the ability to forward communications to the base station. To meet this problem, portable radios (hereinafter referred to as portables) have been used to allow the user to communicate with the base station when separated from the vehicle. The portable must, in order to be effective, emulate the mobile in all basic aspects, including frequency and signalling capabilities. Unfortunately, due to size and power supply constraints, known portables have failed to emulate some of the more important mobile characteristics including power output rating, speaker phone, diversity and speech recognition/synthesis capabilities, In most every cellular system, each individual radio, portable or mobile, has one or more unique associated information sets, one of which includes NAI4 data phone numbert system X0, system channel scan data and serial number). The phone .number of the NAM data is used by the cellular systems to identify the radio using the system.

in instances where the user controls both the portable and the mobiles the user incurs an unjustified cost, Because each radio has its own unique telephone number, the user is billed separately for each radio, Thus, the user'S minimum monthly costs are doubled.

There therefore exists a need to provide relatively inepensive, effective, and reliable comzunications for those who ordinarily make use of a mounted radio but who must also carry on communications away from the vehicle from time to time.

ssI 1~ It is a general object of the present invention to provide a radio arrangement which alleviates the aforementioned deficiencies.

It is a more specific object of the present, invention to provide a radio arrangement which includes a mobile and a, portable which are intercompatible in that costs, features and functions may be shared or separated at the convenience of the user, According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a radio arrangement for communicating on a radio system having at least one fixed site and a plurality of radio units, the arrangement comprising: a first: radio unit having a first ijnformation set fo establishing a radio frequency commtnioation link sal 1 between itself and a fixed site; 0 a a second radio unit having a second information set Lor establishing a radio frequency communication link betwoen- itself and a fixed site; and intercoupling means for intercouplinq said first and .*e4 20 second radio units and for allowing ai fis an second radio units to transfer a. code thre weOn hc ~d designates said first informnation set to be used by Said second radio unit f r ornxuniatior wiha iedst cduring said intecotping.

AccordinQ to a further aspect of the present a* at invention there is provided a radio arrangement for cortion unicatinq On 4: radio system, having at leasjt one fixced site and a plurality of radio units 1 the aran'ient comprising: a first radio unit having a first seot of radi o ciirc lt s enabling radio communicantions with a fixed site; a :secnnd radio tinit having a second set of radio circuits enablinq radio comunioa t ions with a fixed sitoeintercoupling moansr for interootpling said fir!t and second radio unit 'and for allowing bsaid first and 'sovond rodzE unlts tO trn,;e ono or miore st~nals thorebectwoen; and abitrotion naodi poedl Witln U41(l s'ee(Ond radioQ A# Unit aTI( zsopomnsive to smiid tirfst radio unit being, 99 9 *4 9.

4 994 .9 4 .9 94 .9.9 4 p449 40 9 4* 9 4* 9949*9 4 .99.

9 9.

94 4 .9 994 t 99 94 94 4 9 44 4 .4 4 *4 connected to said second radio unit through said intercoupling means, for selecting said first set of radio circuits for use by said second radio unit.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a radio arrangement for communicating on a radio system having at least one fixed site and a plutality of radio units, the arrangement comprising: a first radio unit having programmed repertory lQ dialing information to be communicated to a fixed site; a second radio unit; and intercoupling means for intercoupling said first and aecond radio units and for allowing said first radio unit to transfer a code to said second radio unit, whi(,h code 1,5 designates said repertory dialing information, whereby said second radio unit adopts the repertory dialing information of said first radio unit for usage in communication with a f ixed site during said inter(.cowpling.

According to a still further aspect of the present 20 Invention there is provided In a radio arrangement having a portable for communicating with a fixed site of a multi-site radio systern, a mobile, oomprisingt intercoupling means having connections for intercoupling the portable and the mobila such that signals are transferable between the portable and the mnobi le; a transceiver for establishing a communic tion link with the fixed site,, and means for oupling the interCouplinq mneans, connections to the transceiver,~ wherein said signals transferable between the portable to the mobi 1e are communicated,f at least In the represqentative form, to the fixed site throttgh the transceivet While the portabla and mobile are intorcouplod.

as According to a still further aspc fth;rsn invention there i provided in a radio arr ngem(ornt having a mnobile for compmunicating with a fixecd site, of a ftltl-nite XadioY ays~em, a portable, comprising: mmcry Mom~ for atoring radio idnti fIcati oi information needed for establishing a communication link to a fixed site; intercoupling means for intercoupling the portable and the mobile; processing means for transferring one or more codes indicative of the radio identification information to the mobile via the intercoupling means such that the mobile adopts the identification information for communication to a fixed site while the portable and mobile are intercoupled, According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided in a cellular-type radio communication system having at least one fixed site radio station transceiver linked with a master cellular type 15 switching center which is in turn linked with a local telephone central switching office, wherein the fixed site radio station transceiver provides a wireless communication link with a base station transceiver, a radio arrangement for communicating on the cellular-type 20 radio communication system, comprising; a first radio having a first serial number and a first telephone number which are needed for establishing a communication link with a fixed site radio station transceiver; a second radio having a second serial number and a second telephone number which are needed for establishing a communications link with a fixed site radio station transceiver; and intercoupling means for intercoupling said first and second radios and for allowing said first and second radios to transfer a code therebetween, which code designates said first serial number and said first telephone number to be used by said second radio for subsequent communication with a fixed site radio station transceiver.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided in a cellular-type radio communication system having at least one fixed site radio station transceiver linked with a masetor cellular type \I z c I switching center which is in turn linked with a local telephone central switching office, wherein the fixed site radio station transceiver provides a wireless communication link with a base station transceiver, a radio arrangement for communicating on the cellulart-type radio communication system, the arrangement comprising; a portable capable of independent operation on the radio system and having a first serial number and a first telephone number which are needed for establishing a communication link with the fixed site radio station transceiver; a mobile capable of independent operation on the radio system and having a second serial number and a second telephone number which are needed for establishing 9*9* a communications link with the fixed site radio station transceiver; and intercoupling means for intercoupling said portable and mobile and for allowing said portable and mobile to transfer at least one code therebetween; wherein said mobile includes arbitration nmans, 20 responsive to said code transferred over said intercoupling means for selecting said first serial number and said first telephone number for use by said mobile in subsequent communication with the fixed site radio station transceiver According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided in a cellular-type radio communication system having at least one fixed site radio station transceiver linked with a master cellular type switching center which is in turn linked with a local telephone central switching office, wherein the fixed site radio station transceiver provides a wircless communication link with a base station transceiver, a method of employing a portable and a mobile to ommunicate with a fixed site radio station transceiver of the cellular-type radio communication system, Comprising the steps oft providing a portable having stored therein a first identifioation information set needed for establishing a communication link to a fixed sito radio station -3c.transceiver; providing a mobile having st ored therein a second identification information set needed for establishing a communication linX to a fixed site radio station ranscever; intercoupling the portable and mobile; and transferring a code from the portable to the mobile designating said first idenification infomati n set to be used by the mobile for communicating to a fixed site radio station transceiver while the portable and mobile are iateroupled.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference tQ the acompanying drawings wherein: i$ Figure 1 is o diagrami of a prior art mobile/portable air~ngement; Figu.re: is a diagr am of a mobilp/portable arrbn gement in accordance with the presont invention, Figure 3 is an expanded diagram of Figuro 2; '2 V q igure 4 is a flowchart depiting a set of steps, in 9a9o* aerda with the present invention, which may be useA by the microcomputer 344 of Figure 3 for impletimeing the U :froplt invention with respect to the mobile; and Figure 5 is a flowchart depicting a set of steps, in as accordance with the present invention, which may be Used by the micr omputer 336 of Vtigure3 for vimplementing the presint invention with respeot to the poftable.

301 0 262htl aip %a S~

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WO 89/03624 PCT/US88/0297 9 4 -Bet aild Decrie-ptie-n ofte-Pre fzrred-Embed-iment--- In Figure (Fig.) 1, a conventional cellular communication system is illustrated. The system includes a portable 110, a mobile 112 installed in the trunk of a vehicle, and at least one remote system site (RSS) 114 which includes a transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) for establishing a duplex communication link between the radios 110 and 112 and a master cellular switching center (MCSC) 116. The MCSC 116 couples the communication lin3k to a central office 118 for communication with a wireline phone 120 or another radio coupled into the system.

The novel arrangement disclosed in this specification has particular use for combining the circuitry of two cellular radios, eg. 110 and 112, such that the previously discussed disadvantages are overcome.

More specifically, the arrangement is directed to intercoupling 'a portable and a mobile in such a manner that their circuity may be shared while communicating on a cellular system.

Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein a portable (Rl) 210 and a mobile (R2) 212 are shown intercoupled through a connector 214. The mobile 212 is shown to include a number of peripherals such as a handset 216 for user communications, and a speaker 218 and microphone 220 which may be used for voice-speaker phone operations and/or for voice simulation and recognition by the radio 212. As will be discussed below, although both radios 210 and 212 can be implemented so that they are fully capable of communicating on a cellular system independently, while the radios are intercoupled the vehicle battery 222 is used to supply power to both radios 210 and 212, and the portable antenna (shown in dotted lines) 224 is not used.

WO 89/03624 PCT/US88/0 2 9 7 9 5 The intercoupling provided by the connector 214 allows the portable 210 and the mobile 212 to utilize each other's circuitry and to communicate with each other. In the preferred embodiment, the communication includes signalling transfers such as; intersignalling between the radios to indicate if the intercoupling is present, an actual transfer of programmed information which includes the NAM data and repertory dial information, and intersignalling which permits the portable 210 to utilize circuitry features which are inherent to the mobile 212 such as transceiver characteristics transmitter power, receiver sensitivity, antenna characteristics, and, when available, speaker phone functions, diversity, and speech synthesis and voice recognition capabilities), Fig. 3 illustrates details of the connector 214, the portable 210 and the mobile 212. The connector includes only eight electrical connections between the radios. These connections comprisez a speaker connection 310 from the mobile to the portable, a microphone connection 314 from the portable to the mobile, ground 312 for connections 310 and 314, data transfer connections 318, 320 and 322, a 9,5 Volt connection 324 from the mobile to the portable and a chassis ground connection 326.

The connections 310, 312 and 314 are audio connections which allow the portable. to act as a handset, with regards to the audio functions, for the mobile while the two radios are intercoupled. A speaker 328 and a microphone 330, conventional in portables, are coupled to the audio connections 310, 312 and 314 through mute gates 4 332 and 334 to provide this function, The mute gates may be controlled by microcomputers 336 and 346 as is conventionally provided in stand alone portables or 3S mobiles. See, for exampleQ, Motorola Znstruction Manual *1 _iYI_ i 1 WO 89/03624 pcT/US8$/02979 6 Nos, 68P81070E40 and 68P81046E60, entitled rDYNA TAC Cellular Mobile Telephone Instruction Manual" and "DYNA TAC Cellular Portable Telephone Instruction Manual" repectively, Both manuals are available from Motorola C E Parts, 1313 Algonquin Rd., Schaumburg, 11, 60196, U. S.A.

The audio connections (310, 3l and 314) are coupled to a conventional mobile transceiver (XVR) 338 for comunication with the RSSs 114 (Figo 1), Included with the audio connections is the on-off function of the portable, The portable includes an on-off switch 340 which is controlled by the user to enable power to the portable from the mobile, or, in this case where the portable is not intercoupled with the mobile, to enable power to the portable from the portable's internal battery 368, Power is enabled or disabled when the switch 340 is momemtarily closed, thereby momentarily grounding the microphone connection 314. A regulator 342 is snabled by switch 340 to providq power to the mobile, and, through connection 324, to the portable. Other switches (not shown) may also be connected to activate the regulator 342, Such a combined switch configuration is described in "High Noise Immunity Znput Level Detector With Hysterisis", UV.S patent applicOation no. 085444, docket no. CE00397G, filed on 08-13-87, assignd to the same assignee and incorporated herein by reference, A regulator (9.5 to 5V) 325 in the portable supplies the portable with logic power during the so intercoupling with the mobile.

The data transfer connections (data transfer kasj 318, 320 and 322 provide tor data ommunication between the portable and the mobile. Although other data tranesfer schemes could be used, Motorola's 'f1wire bus'l protocol, as dascribbd in U.S patent nos, 4369,516 and

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WO 89/03624 PCT/US88/02979 -7- 41654,655t incorporated herein by reference, is preferred. Briefly, the first "!3-wire bus" connection 318 and the second "13-wire bus" connection 320 are used, to send data from a u-C 344 in the mobile, while the third "13-wire bus" connection 32 is used to return data to the u-C 344.

Data transfer communication between the mobile And the portable. includes data transfer between the mobile u-C 344 and the portable U-Cs 336 and 346. The portable u-C 346 is used prim~arily for interfacing with the radio user, In response to instructions comxunicated by the mobile u-C 344, the Portable u-C 346 transfers Xeypad entries from a %eypAd 3.$Q to the mobile u-c 344 and. displays specif-ted data to a display 348 for user la viewng.

Tile portable U-C 336 is Similar to the mobile tt- 344 in that both contain the 5ist, oe their associated adiots inteligence. Both the portable u-C 336 and the mobile u-C 344 aqse;MZ associated pogram instruction set through RQ4s 1 68, and 3$4, respectively. Both access aassocatod NAM infomation thrugh~ EERs 356 and 358, raspctively, and both access associated repertory dialing inforation through UPPO$ $936 and 362, The portable U'Cs 336 and 346 and the mobile u-C 344 may be implemented timing an MlICII, available from Motoola, Inc, A detaled functional descition of the U-Cs 336 and 344 is provided below with r~terenca to F'igs. 4 Anjd 51 repetivaly.

~a A(::coinq to the prazant invention, diffar naE*, between the mobile and the portablQ Are zignLiiant. ono ditforanca is that the mobile includaes a xeoially designated RAMI 364. The RZt 364 is used, in rosponxe to a r.quost from tho u 344 OVer tho data tranzter bus (1t,320 and 321 fo *torinj the portable's N;tM1 WO 89/03624 PGT/US88/02979 8info-mation which is downloaded from EEPROM 356 of the portable. Such a data transfer allows the mobile to assume the portable's identity for subsequent communication on the system, The mobile also accommodates downloading of the portable's repertory dialing information from ZEPROM 360.

This is accomplished by providing that the. mobile's EEPIR0M 362 is not only used for storing the mobilef's repertory dialing Information, but also Used, it response to a request from the u-C 344 over the data transfer bus (318, 320 and 322), for storing the, portable's repertory dialing information which is dowded from B'i~Q~ 360 of the portable. Preferably, the tEPRQM 362 is portione into individual memory blocks, each of, which is ddicated is to the Particular radio's repertory information according to the radio's associatea unique phone nulbier, ,An alternative method for the mobile to acsce~ the portable's repertory dialing information in EEPRO 360 iqs for the portable to transfer only the dialing information that is selected at the portable. This Wuul oinimize the amount of data to be transferred in situations where the user only rquires the sbile for limited usage. For example, consider a situation where the u~ser dsires to have the mobile assume the portable'j identity for a single phone call. Qnce the intercoupling is establised, the user selects a particular repertory dialing key on the porbtable (or coreponding key on the mobile). In response, the portable tranzfern thq neesary dialing information to the mobile for transmission via the mobile's tranzivar, When the Qall is coml toe, the user removes the portablo tor indepandant usage.

According to the present inention, 1 by alowting the ftobia to employ the portable's N1M And repertory s dilinq Information, the user may employ the mobile ao i r rs r WO 89/03624 PCTIUS881029 7 9 9 though it were the portable. Thus, maintaining the same telephone number and repertory dialing information while preventing simultaneous radio usage of the same phone number.

Another difference between the portable and the mobile is that the transceiver 366, conventional to any portable, may be disabled by the u-C 336, The transceiver 366 is disabled in response to the u-C n36 detecting the availability and, selection of the more lo powerful mobile transceiver 338, The detection is ac~omplishea by the u-C 336 monitoring the connection 324 through A line conditioner circuit 374, The line conitioner 374 may be implemented using a bipolar transistor', Its function is to conVert the Xa sG~nal to a binary signal to indicatra whether, or not th signal is prese3nt. The selootion of the mobile transceiver 338 automatically occurs aftet the portable is interootplea With the mobilo and cozzUnxicatin is establishod betwoon the two radios. The seletioQn to employ the mobile transcei:Vex may also be manually implmene4 y providing fo an user code, eg. k~ey sequence, which is progr=amd into the portable' s keypac4 350 to instruct the mobile to enabkle its tranceiver acqqrdingly.

2$A third differaance involves the portable power supply. Ao previously dizqusse, the switch 340 on the portable actuates a voltgQe regulator 142 in the mobile to provide power to the portable during the intercoUplin3 mode. Comminsurate with thin i GercotplifJ, the power which is intez'na to the portAble,# battery 366t is disabledi This is acc orpismhd through the use of a protrumion 370 on the conneor. When the intrcplinq is made, the protrusiont 370 opens a switoh 372 which disables internal power from being pravided to tho ptabl. While the portable i' not intearcouplad with WO 89/03624 PCT/1S8/02979 10 the mobile, the switch 372 is normally closed. A diode 351 is connected between the battery 372 and the.

conditioner 374 to prevent the battery 372 from falsely indicating the presence of the 9 S.5V from the mobile.

As previously discussed, one advantage of the radio intercoupling is that the portable is. able to employ a number of mobile features which would not otherwise be available. The manner in which the portable employs the mobile's transceiver circuitry has been discussed above, The manner in which the. portable employs the mobile's voice-speaer phone and voice recognition and speech synthesis qircuitry is iow discus sed, The mqbie's voice recognition and speech synthesis ircq4try is~ depicted as 380 of Fig. 3, After the radio intercoupling is established, the user enables the moble's V/UP 80 by either entering a special key code into the portable's keypad 350 or by speaki -ng a speci al command into the zloirophona 22Q.

Ono4 the mobile'# V/SP 3:o is enabled, the user employs the- speaker 218 and the microphone 220 as normal, The V/SP 30 decodes the speak er's verbal commands and provides the decoded information to the V"C 344, which information initiates data trnsfers to the transceiver 2 5 338 and to the portabl 1 e's display 348.

The 380 may be implemented by using a conventional voice recognition/ speech synthesis zysteOrvo txmplary is "Method and Apparatus fior Synthex~zing speech for Speech Recognition Templates", descr~ibed 1n U.St$. patot application no, 06162, filed on 01/03/86t docket no. CMQO0220, assigned to the same ai ,xignao and incorporatad harein by raferance. Alathough the V/S? im mhow.rn comWmuncating with the uC via tfn independent connectionp the data transfer bus ($1i~813 3fQ And 32211 nat !3 atl:rnAtivaly be *employed, WO 89/03624 PCT/US88/029 7 9 11 The mobile's voice-speaker phone operation is utilized by entering a special key code into the portable's keypad 350. When the special key code is recognized by the u-C 344, the u-C 344 instructs the V/SP to enable the speaker 218 and the microphone 220 for the user's use. The speaker 218 and the microphone 220 are disabled either by a second special key code, by disconnecting the portable from the mobile or by lifting a separate handset (connected to the mobile as shown in Fig, 2) offhook.

Fig. 4 illustrates a flowchart, in accordance with the present invention, which may be used to implement the operation of the u-C 344 (mobile u-C) of Fig, 3, In both Figs. 4 and 5, references to the portable appear as Rl and references to the mobile appear as R2, The flowchart begins at block 410 where the power to the mobile and/or the portable is activated. AS previously discussed, this is accomplished by momentarily closing switch 340 on the portable or by momentarily go closing an on/off switch dedicated directly to the mobile., At block 420, the mobila u-c determines if the portable is connected to the data transfer bus (318, 320 and 322), The mobile u-C accomplishes this by polling peripherals on the bus (see, eg., U.S. patent nos.

4,369,516 and 4,654,6S5, supra). Each type of peripheral connected to the bus has an associated bus ID code. The mobile u-C requests a, response from each possible peripheral that can be connected to the bus. As applied to the present invention, the mobile u-c requests a response from portable u-C 336 or 346.

As previously discussed, the portable has its own NAM information which may or may not be the same as the mobile's MAM information. Because two radios with the same NAM information can operate on a cellular system at WO 89/03624 WO 8903624PCTfi)S88/ 02979 12the saA time, the operation of the mobile u-c provides arbitration control to select the radio ci 'rcuits which are to be shared such that the system' s integrity is not disturbed. once it is established that th,.a portable is connected to the data transfer bus, the remaining steps Sdepicted in the flowchart illustrate the manner in which the mobile u-c provides this arbitration control, if a response is received from portable ui-C 336 or 346, the mobile u-C concludes that an intercoupling the mobile and portables is established, And flow from block 420 to block 460 where the mobile begins to assume the portable' s identity for subsequent communications on the system.

If a portable u.-c does not respond, the mobile u-c concludes that the intercouplinq is not established flow proceeds from block 420 to bloc% 430 where the mobile iU-C performs a, test to determine it its OAM information, Is "intact"l, The NAM information can be intact, in only. ono circumstAncat when the mobilefs EPPRol 358 has beon pre-'prormmed with its own $tM information~ set, Another situation in, which the mobile will operate is when the mobile has not bpon pre-prorazzed, With its ownNAM int'ormation set, but when the NM Information set or the portabla has been downloaded. (transferred) into the Smobile's PW.X mezpry (3$4 of Vicl, 3), If the HAM information is not, "intaot" (not Pre-proqrammad into the &EPOM 35$t in, which 04so the mobile's sole purpose is to support the portable), flow proceeds fromt block 430 to )Aock 440 where the mo, ilo u-C displays an error messaq4 to the usnar via the handset, After sending the error message, the mobile %X-0 powers down the radiot AS indicated at block 440, The HM~ lmformat ion previously stored in. the, mobile' W is lost 4 WO 89/03624 PCT/US88/02979 13 at power down so that it cannot be used while the portable is not intercoupled.

If the mobile's NAM information is intact, flow proceeds from block 430 to block 450 where standard mobile (stand alone) operation commences.

If the outcome of the intercoupling test performed at block 420 indicates that the portable is intercoupled with the mobile, the mobile u-C requests, via the data transfer bus (318, 320 and 322), for an information transfer by the portable. Such a request is initiated by the mobile so that the portable may take advantage of the mobile characteristics or features.

At block 460, the NAM information which has been pre-programmed into the portable's EEPROM 356 is transferred over the data transfer bus for storage in the mobile's RAM 364. It should be noted that such a transfer could be effected by checking if the data is the same in the RAM 364 and in the EEPROM 356 via a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and, if so, rather than sending the entire data over the bus, sending only a code to inform the u-C of the data integrity.

After the NAM data has been designated for use by the mobile, the repertory dialing information of the portable is transferred in a similar manner In Fig, 3, the portable repertory dialing information is stored in EEPROM 360. This information is transferred to the mobile's EEPROM 362. Because EEPROM's are nonvolatile, such storage will permit repeated usage of this information after powering down the mobile, and avoid tht necessity of having to transfer the entire repertory dialing information set each time the radios are interooupled. Where the data is identical, a CRC check, as discussed above, will so indicate. Where the data is almost identical, the necessity of having to transfer the WO 89/03624 PCT/US88/02979 -14entire repertory dialing information. set may be avoided by implementing the portable to mark changes made since the most recent transfer to the mobile And, thereafter, transferring only the changes.

The foregoing discussion establishes that there a number of ways to transfer the NAM or repertory dialing information over the data transfer bus, In. the case where the data was previously stored in. the mobile, such a transfer minimally comprises a code (meaning flag, or signal) designating that the previously stored should be adopted, for use by the mobile.

Where none of the data was previously stored in the mobile, the code preferably includes the entire information set so as to designate it for Use by the Mobile, The transferred repertory dialinginomtn set may be inclusive of all stored phone numbers or miay include only a single requested phone number, Where the mobile in pre-programed with its own N4A± information, the mobile' and the portable may operate, independently on. the communication system. During such ZOindependent operation, the mobile maintains its own repertory dialing information set in gtVROK 362* Because the Mobile will eventually- reuze the information set, rather than overwriting, the repertory dialing information set which, is transferred from, the portable is stored, in, a separate portion of Mobile EEPROM, 362, After the NAM~ and repertory dialing information has been transferred, flow proceeds from block~ 460 to blocX 470 where the intercoupled radios commAnce OPeration with the Miobile circuitry assuming the idontityf depiote4 4t. block 480# Periodically, the mobile w-C polls the data transfer bus, to ensure that the portable Is still intercoupo4d, de~icted at blooX 490. Once the intercoUplinq is broken, at bl1ock 400t the mobilG U-C~ destroys NAM1 ineormation

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WO 89/03624 PCT/US88102979 15 which was downloaded from the portable and returns to block 430 to avoid possible system contention with the portable.

Fig. 5 illustrates a flowchart, in accordance with the present invention, which may be used to implement the operation of the u-C 336 of Fig. 3. The flowchart begins at block 510 where the power to the portable is switched on.

At block 512 a test is performed to determine if Volts is present at the connection 324. If 9.5 Volts is not present, the portable concludes that it is operating in its stand alone (not intercoupled) mode and employs its internal battery for power, depicted at block 514, If 9*5 Volts is present, then the portable concludes that the intercoupling is established and flow proceeds to block 516.

At block 516, the portable attempts to coimunicate with the mobile on the data transfer bus, if communication cannot be validly established, the portable operates in its stand alone mode using the 9,5 V power provided at the connection 324, depicted at block 520, thereby operating as a portable with an external supply, If communication is established, flow proceeds to block 522 where the portable monitors the data transfer bus for a request from the mobile to download its NAM information 2 set. Once the request is made, flow proceeds to block 524 Where the transfer is made as previously described.

At block 526'. the portable monitors the data transfer bus for a request from the mobile to download its repertory dialing information sat, Once the request 0 is made, flow proceeds toa block 528 where the transfer is made as previously described,.

At block 530, the portable inactivates its transceive? to that the more potent mobile transceiver may be utilized.

s s WO 89/03624 PCT/US88/02979 16 At block 532, the mobile begins to assume the portable's identity for subsequent communication on the system.

In either of the flowcharts illustrated in Figs.

4 or 5, once power is no longer provided to the radio, radio operation resumes at the top of each flowchart (blocks 410 and 510) where power is reactivated.

The present invention therefore provides a technique for intercoupling a mobile and a portable operating in a radio system such that the various circuits (including the associated stored information) of the radios are shared. The intercoupling technique accommodates the user's need for employing commonly owned portable and mobiles, in which case the mobile may be used solely to support the portable. The technique also accommodates the need for employing the user's portable with another's mobile, in which case the mobile is implemented to operate either by itself or in a support role for any portable having the intercoupling features described herein. In any case, the best features of both the portable and mobile may easily be combined for the convenience of the user, It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other modifications and changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

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Claims (4)

1. A radio arrangement for communicating on a radio system having at least one fixed site and a plurality of radio units, the arrangement comprising: a first radio unit having iat oaet nnformation set for establishing a radio frequency communication link between itself and a fixed site; a second radio unit having a second information set for establishing a radio frequency communication link between itself and a fixed site; and intercoupling means for intercoupling said first and second radio units and for allowing said first and second radio units to transfer a code therebetween, which code designates said first information set to be used by said second radio unit for communication with a fixed site during said intercoupling, 2, A radio arrangement for communicating on a radio system having at least one fixed site and a plurality of radio units, the arrangement comprising: a first radio unit having a first set of radio circuits enabling radio communications with a fixed site; a second radio unit having a second set of radio circuits enabling radio communications with a fixed site; intercoupling means for intercoupling said first and second radio units and for allowing said first and second radio units to transfer one or more signals therebetween; and arbitration means, disposed within said second radio unit and responsive to sad frst rado unt being connectedsaid t ro t ei d aid second radio unit through said intercoupling means, for selecting said first set of radio circuits for use by said second radio unit, -18

3. In a cellular-type radio communication system having at least one fixed site radio station transceiver linked with a master cellular type switching center which is in turn linked with a local telephone central switching office, wherein the fixed site radio station transceiver provides a wireless communication link with a base station transceiver, a radio arrangement for communicating on the cellular- type radio communication system, comprising: a first radio having a first serial number and i first telephone number which are needed for establishing a communication link with a fixed site radio station transceiver; a second radio having a second serial number and a second telephone number which are needed for establishing a communications link with a fixed site radio station transceiver; and intercoupling means for intercoupling said first and second radios and for allowing said first and second radios to transfer a code therebetween, which code designates said first serial number and said first telephone number to be used by satd second radio for subsequent communication with a fixed site radio station transceiver, 4a In a celular-type radio communication system having at least one fixed site radio station transceiver linked with a master cellular type switching center which is in turn linked with a local telephone central switching oflice, wherein the fixed site radio station transceiver provides a wireless communication link with a base station transceiver, a radio arrangement for communicating on the cellular. type radio communication system, the arrangement comprising; a portable capable ofifdpndndent operation on the radio system and having a first serial number and a first telephone number which are needed for establishing a communication link with the fixed site radio station transceiver a mobile capable of independent operation on the radio system and having a second serial umbe and a second tlophone number which are needed for establishing a communications link with the fixed site radio station transceiver; and V C L& i a f 1 4 -19 intercoupling means for intercoupling said. portable and mobile and for allowing said portable and mobile to transfer at least one code therebetween; wherein said mobile includes arbitra.-n mieans, responsive to said code transferred over said intercoupling means, for selecting said, first serial number and said first telephone number for use by said miln i usqet o ncto with the fixed site radio station transceiver, A radio arrangement for comunicating on a -radio system having at least one fixed site. and a plurality of radio uiis h arrangement comprng a frst radio unit Ihaving prog mdreetr dialing inormationt be communicated to a fixed site; a second radio unit; and intercoukpling means for intorcoupling said first and seo d aipnt and for allowing, said first radio unit to tranisfera code to said second radio unit, which Code, designates said repertory dialing information, whereby said second' radio unitU adots he epetor dilig Information of said frst radio tioit, for usag in comniain ih led site o Kn said Intercoopliog, 6~ I a ~diOarragemet hvjng a portable for conuuiaigwt fiXed, site of a multi-site radio systm a obile, compsng Intorwoupling means having- onneoctions for intercoupling, the portable andl the mo, bile smch that signals are transfrarble between the portable and the Mobie transceiver for establishing a communication 11nk with the fxd site; and moans, for coupling the intarcoupling moans' connections to the transceiver,, whorein said aitnals transferable bvtween the portable to the obile are, coi unicated, at least- in the represenitative form, to the, fxed site through the, traosoelver while the portablo and mobile tire IntrcooUplod. 71 In, a cellular-typo radio communication system having at least one0 fixed site radio station transceiver Inked with a master cellular type switching miter which is ia turn liziked with a local telephone central awitching office, wherein the fixed site radio station transceiver provides a wireleaa comm unication link with a base station transcoivor, a mothiod of employing a piortable and a mobile to commiunicato with u flxed site radio station transceiver of the colhilar-typq radio communication systani, com~prlsitig tha etAepa of: providing a portablo havitig stored tLoein a flrst identification informaition sot noedod for establistiing it conmmunication link to a fixed site radio stationi tra geeive' Y$'I 7 .4 2o providing a mobile having stored therein, a second identification, information set needed for establishing a communication link to a fixed site radio station transceiver; intercoupling the portable and maobile; and transferring a code from, the portable to the mobile designating said first Identification information set to be used by the mobile for communication to a fixed site radio station transceiver while theprae and mobile are intercouplod, 8 A radio arrangement, according to clalm I# wherein said 14ntercoupling in -s further includes means for storing sai frtifmation set, Insadeon radio unit, 91 A radio arrangement, according to claim 8 wherein said intercoupling mean futhe incude mens fr dterining When $aid first and second radio U~nits are no longer Intorcoupled, for doleting saild stored first informaatiol set froi sai ~eon raioUnits and for designaing sa d secondrdiuntouesideod Information, set for sUbsequent commulkication, wth a axedst. to. A radio; arrangement, According to claim It whorein; said Intercoupling mean futherincud, means for determining whnsadfrtadeodrdi units Are no longer intorcoupled and for designating said cocond radio Unit to use aid second inform)Ation set, for subsequnt- cenuunicAtin with a2 Axed site, U A rado arrange ot, accordig to claim 1~ whren sad first Information 8set includes-#414 first radio unit identiiainitrain A radio arra~ngement, according tAi 441iM 1, Wherein said first radio unit io a portablo radiotelephone and said second radio unit, is, A mobile radiotel op lon e. V) A radio arrangemnent,~ according to chlim L-1 further Including means. for enabling mobilu feature control froin the portable when tho mobile usesi said flrA informantion sot. K 4 /',LX 0 4jr t 1t4, A radio arrangement. for communicating on the cellular-type radio communication system, according to claim 3, wherein said intercoupling means further includes means for determinin hesaid first and second radios are no lger intercoupled and for designatn id seodrdot s ad cond serial number and said second telephone number for subsequent communication with a fixed site radio station receiver A radio arrangement for communicating on, the cellular.type radio communication systems according, to claim 3, wherein said intercoupligman further includes means for storing'sai'd first serial number and said first telephone number in said second radio, 1.6. A radio arrangement for cmmunicaiti on, the collular-type rodio Pommunication sYstem, accordinig to c14im, 15 wherein said Intorcoupling Moans further includes means flor determining when said first and second radios are no loniger intercoupled,- for deeigsadsoe fr 1 sial nubrn first, telephone number, from said seconid radio, and for dosignating said second radio to, use said second serial number and said second telephone number for subsequent, communication with a fixed site radio station trnceiver Vi. Aradio arrangement for co'nctn n the cellular-tpe radio communication s0Ystem, according to chlain~ e+,wheroin said arbitration means further In1cludos means fordtrnilgwe sald portabl an ai obile are no longr Iterouped nd.or designating said mobile to usa said secondsrilume and said secodtlphn number for 4"bequont commutnication withv the0 rXed site radio station tranisceiver, M~ A radio arraniigement, accordIng to chdzn m wherein said Intereoupling means further Includes meang for determining when said first and second raidio units are no longer intercoupled and for deosignating said second radio unit to no longer use tho repertory dialing information of said kort radio unit in nubsequent comimunication with a fIxed site

19. A method, according to olaim 7, including the step of provi~ding said~ portable with a repertory dialing informatLion set stored therein, in a radito arrangment havIng a mobile for cormnxnnoating with a fixed site of a multi-site radio sygtem, a portable comprising: memory mean$ for stpring radio identifiqation information needed for estalW-tin5 a Qonmiratio iJ to a fixed site;* inbercouplinq means for mntecov.plinq the portable a so rnd the mobile; processing meons, fortas rn onr Or More- (.odes Indioa tive of theq radio I nt otion inf ormation t h mobile via the intercouplingmas~~ tat hembl 1$ 4dopts the identification lntformiation for comnunioation to fixed s ito 4hije the portable a nd wobile aro ItercQupled.

21. A radio caranqejn M-4 get forth in: any one of clams 2, 5, and ;10 sbsat'tal ~heebf~ 20 priottlarly described with reoec~ to What, isq shwn tile accompanying drawinqga 2. A clulartype radio Comrn tion om ,forh in any one, of cl~aims I, and I sutstanitiall aaz hieeiribefore particularly deswribed withi refornce to wtlat in shiown in the acompayiiq dawigs 23, A meothod a sot forthi ini caini '7 subttAtiajly 1', Jjehoinbofore particularly desorifed With ref(Ience to whlat e; 'OhQwl in the acco lanyilqdawnn nM't~ 22 May 1L991 VI1 }TJ-S 011M0ND)I! F4A'~1 Attovnoy., fort t,400()flOt4Ak INC f o 11iV611uJU