GB2371446A

GB2371446A - Market-specific options for programming of a radio unit

Info

Publication number: GB2371446A
Application number: GB0101183A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Jahn Lavrsen
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2001-01-17
Filing date: 2001-01-17
Publication date: 2002-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2021-01-17
Also published as: GB2371446B; GB0101183D0

Abstract

Different customer markets, particularly in private mobile radio (PMR) systems, e.g. police, electricity companies, etc, have generally been served by different radio models, which are programmed via a codeplug specific to the model. Each customer can set up the different features required using radio service software (RSS) which is time consuming and results in a configuration that has not been pre-tested. The invention uses market-specific default options 312. A radio programming apparatus includes programming means operably coupled to a memory element, e.g. codeplug, associated with a radio communication unit. The programming means includes at least one market-specific default option 312, e.g. factory default, public safety, transportation, airport, security, hospital, taxi, power, off-shore, service company, maritime 312. The programming means programs the memory element with at least one radio parameter value associated with the at least one market-specific default, e.g. radio frequency channel, talk group, identity code of radio, number of digits in telegrams, private line frequencies, user programmable function keys, call forward, emergency settings. A user may modify the radio parameters provided by the default option. The radio service software (RSS) can be provided as a computer program element such as a program on a CR-ROM or as over-the-air-download. An on-line help text or manual regarding the options may also be provided.

Description

RADIO PROGRAMMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROGRAMMING A MEMORY ELEMENT Field of the Invention This invention relates to the programming of radio units.

The invention is applicable to, but not limited to, the programming of private mobile radios using radio service software.

Background of the Invention Wireless communications systems, for example cellular telephony or private mobile radio (PMR) communications systems, typically provide for radio telecommunication links to be arranged between a plurality of base transceiver stations (BTSs) and a plurality of subscriber units, often termed mobile stations (MSs). In the art, the term mobile station generally includes both handportable and vehicular mounted radio units.

A popular version of the PMR system is two-way radio, where MSs communicate directly to each other, without the need for the communication to be passed through BTSs.

Wireless communications systems are distinguished over fixed communications systems, such as the public switched telephone networks (PSTN), principally in that MSs are mobile (in the general sense) and therefore may move between service providers (and/or different BTS). In

doing so the MSs encounter varying radio propagation environments. As such, the functionality and system operation considerations in a wireless communication system are very different to wire-line communication systems.

The present invention finds particular application in the PMR domain of wireless communications. Most wireless communication units contain programmable memory elements.

Such programmable memory elements often contain information about the communication unit model and/or specific data relating to the communication unit.

Modern two-way radios include many selectable/definable features. Over recent years, the number of such features offered to PMR radio users has increased, to the point now where a user has potentially hundreds of features at his/her disposal.

With mobile and portable radio units, the specific data and/or features programmed into the radio unit's memory element are used to control the functionality of the radio unit. Programming the memory element is typically performed via a computer (PC) downloading or reading information of a radio unit via a'codeplug'of the radio unit. Information in the memory element can be read, modified and re-written by using Radio Service Software (RSS) over a serial connection to the radio unit. The RSS programming operation sets up both functions and user-interface aspects of the radio unit, for example, display presentation and button configuration.

In summary, the codeplug is the configuration data-set which defines the radio channels, user interface, signalling methods to be used, identification of individual radio units, etc. This data can also be stored on a disk for back up purposes.

In the past, every'codeplug file'on a disk could only be used for one radio type (the radio type with the same model number as in the file). Every attempt to read a file of a radio type having a different model number to the one stipulated in the codeplug file is prevented as the structure of the data is different. However, it is possible to read a file of a radio type having the same model number, but a different serial number.

For this reason, it is necessary to enter the complete data for each and every radio type into the respective codeplug file, even if their data is very similar, for example, entering the complete channel data for every radio type, even if their data differed only in the power level.

It is possible for the radio customer to set up one mobile and one portable radio with a complete set of data. The customer can then clone that radio to the customer's other radios and just update unique personality settings such as group and individual identities. When a radio is cloned, it is only the common data that is cloned.

It is noteworthy that some features of a radio may be mutually exclusive, in certain situations, and it is

therefore impossible to define a single functional system with a uniform set of features. Most customers will only need a subset of the whole feature list provided by any one radio or system manufacturer.

During a system test, a variety of standard codeplug setups are used to assess whether the radio system can function adequately with standard radio software configurations. However, it is known that customer radio requirements are very different. Police users may want an open radio without selective calling, push-to-talk identification (PTT ID), and emergency, whereas an electricity company may want a closed radio with selective calling and status/message display.

It is known, in the field of the present invention, that software is tested on a feature-by-feature basis. Often, the testing is subsequently enhanced by testing a variety of different combinations of features in order to see how they interact. However, as hundreds of radio features are presently being offered in today's market, it is unrealistic to test all combinations.

Until recently, radios had very limited range of features, and the market segments were generally targeted by different radio models. The market has now changed so that manufacturers typically offer fewer models to cover a greater range of different business areas. In addition, the customer base for PMR radios has increased to market areas that did not previously use advanced radio communication technology. Integration of data services and advanced signaling with recent digital radio

system technology such as the TErrestrial Trunked RAdio (TETRA) system, has also increased the opportunity to add ever more features to radio units.

Normally it is left up to the customer to try to set up the radio using the RSS software, building up the radio features and user interface, for example, two police forces may want the same features but with their own unique requirements for such aspects as geographical location, frequencies available, organisational and channel differences. Furthermore, there are always customers that want a special feature that is not available in any pre-defined packages.

Additionally it is known to define software options that the customer would pay for. Each option would open/enable a certain number of features. This however does not provide any kind of pre-tested configuration that is known to work in a system, unless specifically tested.

Hence, in the majority of cases in the present market, the customer is provided with a fully flexible and configurable radio system. The user is provided with the ability, via a RSS program, to set each of the hundreds of features for each of the hundreds or thousands of radios that the user needs to program.

However, this approach has the disadvantage that, in providing full flexibility to the PMR customer, it is impossible to test all possible configurations of the

radio unit/system before each unit, or group of units, is shipped to the customer.

Additionally it is very difficult for the customer to set-up a valid and efficiently-working radio system, because the customer has to build up the functionality of each and every radio type from, typically, a very feature limited factory default configuration.

Furthermore, from the after-sales support perspective, it is time consuming to teach customers how to configure a particular manufacturer's radios. This problem is exacerbated by logistical problems of maintaining a variety of different default versions between the service engineers programming and re-programming radio units, and those used by development engineers in the initial testing of the codeplugs.

Thus, there exists a need in the field of the present invention to provide a wireless communication system, a communication unit and method for automatically programming a radio unit wherein at least some of the aforementioned disadvantages may be alleviated.

Statement of Invention In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is a radio programming apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is a method of programming a memory element as claimed in claim 6.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is a computer program element as claimed in claim 9.

Brief Description of the Drawings Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a flowchart for defining and programming pre-defined market segments of a codeplug in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 shows a user interface display of a RSS program, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments The inventor of the present invention has recognised that it is unrealistic, in future, to aim to test all radio feature combinations. The inventor has also recognised the onerous requirement placed on customers in having to

set up their particular valid codeplug from a minimum default codeplug.

As such the inventor has developed an original arrangement for future radio service software programming based on market segments.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a flowchart for defining and programming pre-defined market segments of a codeplug is shown, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The process for defining the market segments starts at step 200. It is assumed that the appropriate market analysis has been performed, prior to any market segment programming operation, to select the most appropriate markets for radio use. Examples of suitable markets in a PMR domain can be found in FIG. 2.

It is within the contemplation of the invention that an on-line help text or a manual describing each market segment feature set could be used to assist the radio programming operation.

Once the respective market segments have been defined in the radio service software, as in step 202, the respective radio parameters are defined for each defined market segment, as shown in step 204. These radio parameter values for the respective market segments are written into the radio service software, as shown in step 206. Once installed in the RSS, the codeplugs can be programmed.

The radio (codeplug) programming operation is shown as starting at step 208. The customer, in the majority of cases, will select the appropriate pre-defined market segment from the RSS, as in step 210. The selected market segment should be the one that best represents their particular mode of business, or preferred use of radio. The RSS then loads (programs) the codeplug of the radio with the respective market segment default setting, as shown in step 212.

Finally, the customer is able to modify the feature settings of the respective radios (channel, talk group, identification setting information etc). The modification of the pre-defined market segment data is substantially less than the parameter definition procedure required to program prior art radio units.

Advantageously, as viewed from the development engineering aspect, all the default settings and userspecific feature combination can be tested before the product is sent to the market. When the customer subsequently creates his individual codeplug (s) using the RSS supplied to him, the user can start from one of the user-specific default combinations. As a consequence, the user will start with a codeplug, which is very close to the optimal for their particular radio units and systems.

It is within the contemplation of the invention that the RSS is still able to activate all the features that are

available in the radio, or the features that the customer has paid for.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a user interface display of a RSS program is shown, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Let us assume that a customer wants to build up a radio codeplug. First the customer would enter a menu 300 on the RSS which would provide a number of options, such as load codeplug 302, save codeplug 304, read from codeplug 306 and write to radio unit 308.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there will be a further option to select, namely load a market segment default values 310. On selecting the load default configuration 310, a number of pre-market segment configurations will be available 312, for example Factory default (simple talk/listen on one channel), Public safety (Police, Fire, Ambulance), Transportation (Road, Railways), Airport (Service, Technical), Security, Hospital (medical, technical), Taxi, Power/Electricity, Off shore (oil platforms), Maritime, etc.

It is within the contemplation of the invention that a few basic data fields could also be entered, at a subsequent level of the programming operation, by the customer, for example, number of channels, number of digits in telegrams, RF channels, PL frequencies, user programmable/defined function keys, call forward,

emergency settings, talkgroups, identity code of radio etc.

The radio service software for the present invention can be provided in a number of forms, including as a computer program element such as a program stored on a CD-ROM (or the like) or as over-the-air download. By way of illustration only, the software required to program the codeplug was described with regard to a computer download.

It will be understood that the aforementioned inventive concepts provide at least the following advantages: (i) the time taken for a customer to configure a set of radio units is significantly reduced; (ii) the customer's confidence in the particular configuration selected is improved, as the configuration is developed from a tried and tested default combination; (iii) the codeplug itself is improved as the default combination will have been carefully tested by development engineering; (iv) the customer only needs to concentrate on the few features that are unique to their particular needs; (v) it is easier to demonstrate the ease of programming of the radio unit product in marketing, sales

and after-sales support situations, by use of the RSS display of the default configurations ; and (vi) the customer is now provided with an integrated solution, as previous definitions of test codeplugs have not been linked to the codeplugs that end up in the final radio-radios typically being shipped with a single default codeplug.

In summary, a radio programming apparatus comprising programming means operably coupled to a memory element associated with a radio communication unit, wherein said programming means includes at least one market-specific default option and said programming means programs said memory element with at least one radio parameter value associated with said at least one market-specific default option has been provided.

Furthermore, a method of programming a memory element operably coupled to a radio communication unit is provided. The method includes the steps of: defining at least one default market-specific option for a radio unit; and programming at least one radio unit parameter value identified in said at least one default marketspecific option into a memory element associated with said radio communication unit.

In addition, a computer program element has been provided including computer program code means adapted to perform any of the aforementioned method steps.

Thus, a radio programming apparatus, a computer program element and method of programming a memory element wherein at least some of the aforementioned disadvantages may be alleviated.

Claims

1. A radio programming apparatus comprising programming means operably coupled to a memory element associated with a radio communication unit, wherein said programming means includes at least one market-specific default option and said programming means programs said memory element with at least one radio parameter value associated with said at least one market-specific default option.

2. The radio programming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory element is a radio unit codeplug.

3. The radio programming apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said market-specific default option includes at least one of the following: factory default, Public safety, Transportation, Airport, Security, Hospital, Taxi, Power, Off-shore, Service Company, Maritime.

4. The radio programming apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said market-specific default option is selected by a user of the radio communication unit so that said radio communication unit is configured to operate in said user's radio market.

5. The radio programming apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further characterised by an on line help text or manual operably coupled to said programming means for describing operating parameters of said radio communication unit with respect to said at least one market-specific option.

6. A method of programming a memory element operably coupled to a radio communication unit, the method characterised by the steps of: defining at least one default market-specific option for a radio unit; and programming at least one radio unit parameter value identified in said at least one default market-specific option into a memory element associated with said radio communication unit.

7. The method of programming a memory element according to claim 6, the method further characterised by the step of: modifying said at least one radio unit parameter value to a user-specific value to enable the radio communication unit to operate in a radio market associated with said market-specific option.

8. The method of programming a memory element according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said at least one radio unit parameter value includes at least one of the following: radio frequency channel, talk group, identity code of radio, number of digit (s) in telegrams, private line frequencies, user programmable function keys, call forward, emergency settings.

9. A computer program element comprising computer program code means adapted to perform any of the method steps of claims 6 to 8.

10. The computer program element according to claim 9, embodied on a computer readable medium.

11. A method of programming a memory element operably coupled to a radio unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated by, FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings.