Inventors:
Philip C. Gulliford - Forest VA
Wim A. Imron - Forest VA
James L. Teel - Goode VA
Assignee:
Ericsson GE Mobile Communications, Inc. - Lynchburg VA
International Classification:
H04B 336
Abstract:
A distributed trunked radio frequency (RF) switching network (multisite switch) distributes audio routing control information and digitized audio signals to communications interface modules (nodes) throughout the multisite switch, thus avoiding a centralized mixing matrix, increasing fault tolerance and providing low routing request latency time. Each audio source, (for example, RF repeater transmitter, dispatch console microphone) is preassigned an audio channel on a time division multiplexed (TDM) digitized "audio network" or bus within the switch. The audio sources continually provide digitized audio signals to all other nodes within the switch over the assigned TDM bus channels. Audio routing is performed at the audio destinations (for example, interface modules/nodes associated with RF repeater receivers, dispatch console speakers) by selectively "listening" to active TDM network channels. In the preferred embodiment, audio is routed undirectionally on an "as needed" basis (for example, in response to radio transceiver "keys" and "unkeys"), and audio routing pathways may change dynamically during an on-going call.