US005`754960A
Contents
1. le 1 4 1993 455 33 1 YP 6 1993 342 357 Ericsson GE Mobile Communications 16GEMS Multisite 8 1993 Gulliford et al 370 67 Coordinator Maintenance Manual LBI 384564A 5 754 960 Sheet 1 of 9 May 19 1998 U S Patent WOW JIOA SLISTIONW 01 viva YJLNAJWOI 1 1 OYVONV LS 42 YALNdWOD WNOSH3d YOLINOW 145 5 754 960 Sheet 2 of 9 May 19 1998 U S Patent 3115 O 3115 20 3115 LO 3115 lt 3115 gt 3113044 SNANIW NOILONNS LOS TASINWIS m d 13H I i I 4 AYOLSIH TIVO 539 553 SNLVLS LdAOdd 5 754 960 Sheet 3 of 9 May 19 1998 U S Patent S1 f SINO EZZ 20 3115 dNOYD t vtl 16 60 20 24 d HLINS EZZ 20306 2 26 61 16 60 20 2 SNOD 450 0 SNOD 045 SO t 16 60 20 Way H312 7331120 3WIL 26 v8 HOSIAM3dnS 13sNn cfe Ps D LAIHS sem 1v21901 VIVO 1485 dsigiseM HOHHU3 M 1 330 WY OLNY OL N O 138 7 N 613897 O 31nw ST38V1 73SNN 30 ILAW N JWL HH2. List continued on next page CRT MONITOR 12 PERSONAL COMPUTER E US005754960A 5 754 960 May 19 1998 Patent Number Date of Patent 11 45 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Jones The Pye TVT Approach to Audio Controls Sys tems International Broadcast Engineer vol 6 No 122 pp 4 6 8 11 Mar 1975 Ullah Master Switching Control Panel for Broadcast Stud ies ABV Technical Review Japan No 69 Jul 1980 Motorola Coverage Guide for Smartnet System Users 70 page brochure and Table of Contents pp 1 15 Trunking Console System Functional Specification Console Systems Inc Console System Electronics Section 2 pp 2 1 2 66 Motorola Centracom Series II Plus brochure dated Jul 1 1988 6 pages Motorola System Planner 2 37 Mar 1988 com Series II Control Centers pp 1 42 Motorola System Planner R4 2 73A Jul 1990 com Series II Plus Control Centers 1 46 Motorola Inc Centracom Series II Plus CRT Console Operator s Manual pp 1 40 Appendix A pp 1 6 Glos sary pp 1 5 GE C3 Series Overview and Introduction Standard Prac tice 82 400 1002 01 Jul 1988 List continued on next page Primary Examiner Edward F Urban Attorney Agent or Firm Nixon amp Vanderhye 57 ABSTRACT A dispatcher console for use in a digitally trunked multisite public service radio system The disp
3. 21 with volume control 22 and a foot switch 23 that is a push to talk switch The dispatcher need look only at the CRT monitor to operate the console The dispatch keyboard provides complete control over the console to the dispatcher However push to talk switches are provided on the microphone 20 and foot pedal 23 for the dispatcher s convenience The speakers microphone headset and foot pedal are connected to an audio communications tower 32 The CRT monitor 12 and an optional standard keyboard 25 are con nected to a conventional personal computer 24 In the preferred embodiment the personal computer is an AT class 10 15 35 45 35 65 4 PC computer equipped with VGA graphics 2 megabytes of RAM a hard disk and a floppy disk for loading software The computer uses a proprietary VRTX multi tasking operating system published by Ready Systems Inc of Sunnyvale Calif In addition the computer has an internal co processor logic board 26 that is further described in U S Pat No 5 384 854 entitled Co Processor Controlled Switching Apparatus and Method for Dispatching Console and incor porated by reference above This co processor board per forms the audio and command routing functions necessary for the dispatcher console The logic board allows a standard personal computer to be converted into a dispatcher console The customized keyboard 14 is coupled to the logic board and thereby to the personal computer A
4. board a display screen hav ing a window of communication modules and a keyboard directly connected to said co processor board a method for transmitting from said console comprising the following steps a selecting an individual communication module as the select module by depressing a dedicated key corre sponding to that individual communication module and then depressing a module select key transmitting an audio signal over the multisite system to a group corresponding to the select module by activating a transmit key and c transmitting an audio signal over the multisite system to another group other than the select group by depress ing a transmit key dedicated to a communications module for that another group 7 A method as in claim 6 wherein the step of transmitting to a group corresponding to the select module is initiated by depressing a key on a microphone at the dispatcher console 5 754 960 13 14 8 A method as in claim 6 wherein the step of transmitting presenting historical information partially listing said to a group corresponding to the select module is initiated by numerous terminated audio communications said call depressing a pedal on a foot activated switch history window being operable in a real time mode 9 In a public service radio system including a multisite switch a dispatcher console operatively coupled to said 5 whereby historical information on the most recent multisite switch said console c
5. call Freezing stops the real time mode at a particular point in time However only three calls can be displayed in the call history window at any one time The dispatch console stores information on more than the three most recent calls In the preferred embodiment infor mation on 32 calls are stored in the console dispatch computer The dispatcher can scroll the call history window through the history of recent calls by switching the display to the scrolling mode The scrolling mode is set up by depressing the help key to display a menu for the function keys This menu identifies the function key e g F2 that calls up the scroll history mode When in the scrolling mode the call history window will display information on any of the stored calls The call history is moved forward or backward i e scrolled by operation of the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard While only three call histories are displayed at any one time a much larger number of call histories can be displayed through scrolling The dispatcher can revert back to real time mode on the call history window by depressing the appropriate function key identified in the call history window The call history window is organized in a bottom to top arrangement with the oldest call at the top and most recent call denoted by an asterisk at the bottom of the window A header 93 at the top of the call history window shows column headings identifying each field in the call histor
6. standard keyboard 25 may also be connected to the personal computer but is not necessary for the operation of the dispatcher console The dispatcher console 10 communicates with the RF system through a console interface module CIM not shown in a multisite switch 28 The multisite switch routes audio voice and data signals throughout the RF system By way of the multisite switch the dispatcher console commu nicates with the trunked and conventional radio systems coupled to the switch to telephone lines connected to the switch and to other dispatch consoles The dispatch console and CIM communicate using the messages and the protocols described in further detail in U S Pat No 5 200 954 entitled Protocol Between Console and RF Trunking Switch and incorporated by reference above Individual dispatcher profiles and entity databases are loaded into the hard drive of the dispatcher console personal computer from the 30 via the console CIM data link to the multisite switch The MOM PC is a central control computer for the RF system and is under the control of the system operator for the entire RF system The operation of the MOM PC is described in more detail in U S Pat No 5 566 388 entitled RF Trunking Multisite Switch Configuration and Diagnostics Interface and incorporated by reference above The hard disk and PC RAM in the personal computer stores the user profile that identifies among other things the dispat
7. the code step 1102 then the co processor reads the extended code step 1103 and returns from the interrupt step 1104 The extended code is stored and the co processor waits for the second byte interrupt If a second character byte is expected step 1102 then the scan character code is read from this second byte step 1105 and translated into PC code in step 1106 If a repeating or delayed key is depressed then a repeat timer or delay timer is set as is appropriate steps 1107 to 1110 Similarly if the key is released step 1111 then these key timers are terminated step 1112 Unless a delay key has been depressed step 1113 the translated PC code is sent to the personal computer in step 1114 The code from a delayed key is sent after the delay timer expires If the transmit key is depressed step 1115 its code is loaded into the input queue step 1116 and then acted upon when the co processor next executes its main loop processing routine Finally the microprocessor returns from its interrupt routine step 1117 The invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment It covers various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims What is claimed is 1 In a public service radio system including a multisite switch a dispatcher console opera
8. the microprocessor Thus multiple inputs can occur while the microprocessor is running other programs The inputs will be properly processed when the scanner interrupt detection routine is conducted Once the input or inputs that caused the interrupt is determined step 904 the microprocessor generates the code corresponding to that input in step 905 The code or codes is then stored in the input queue in step 906 and the interrupt routine completed In this way the main processing loop FIG 8 picks up the input through a code in the input queue and sends the code to the input processing routines An external clock 304 provides pulses to the internal counter in the co processor board s microprocessor This internal counter interrupts the microprocessor e g every 10 milliseconds to trigger a timer service routine This routine checks flags decrements active software timers and checks for active software timers that have been decremented to zero Depending on which active software timer reaches zero the control logic of the co processor board issues a key code updates the VU meter value being displayed in each communications module on the screen or changes flags and timers related to tone generator sequences As shown in FIG 10 the co processor board micropro cessor is interrupted by its internal counter in step 1001 The interrupt calls up the timer interrupt processing routine 1000 The microprocessor first checks whether to
9. T CAUSED INTERRUPT 904 CONVERT INPUT POSITION TO A CODE PUT CODE INTO INPUT QUEUE RETURN FROM INTERRUPT FIC 2 5 754 960 Sheet 8 of 9 May 19 1998 U S Patent ON c SALLOV SYBLNNOD 35N3n03s S9V13 3NOL 34 135 9101 2d OL INYA 901 GN3S ON Y3LNNOS INVA 907 OL INVA S34 LY3AN09 201 Sa 20v Lavas 600 Y3LNNOD 8001 NA 1 ON 20432 130 9001 3009 151 90436 001 SINILNOY QHVOSA3 HONAS 3Y 200 LOOL 5 754 960 Sheet 9 of 9 May 19 1998 U S Patent 1d H831NI 83 38 anand 1 NI 3009 3009 NVOS 3002 NVOS OV3H 1x3 ANIL VW 3 34 1 5 754 960 1 DISPLAY CONSOLE AND USER INTERFACE FOR MULTISITE RF TRUNKED SYSTEM RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation in part of Ser No 825 689 filed Feb 22 1991 now U S Pat No 5 200 954 issued Apr 6 1993 This application is related to the following co pending and commonly assigned U S patent applications US Pat No 5 384 854 issued Jan 24 1995 entitled Co Processor Controlled Switching Apparatus And Method For Dispatching Console filed contemporaneously with this application in the name
10. United States Patent Downs et al 54 DISPLAY CONSOLE AND USER INTERFACE FOR MULTISITE RF TRUNKED SYSTEM 75 Inventors Stephen R Downs Charles P Brame both of Forest Satish Kappagantula Lynchburg all of Va 73 Assignee Ericsson Inc Research Triangle Park N C 21 Appl No 835 689 22 Filed Feb 14 1992 Related U S Application Data 63 Continuation in part of Ser No 825 689 Feb 22 1991 Pat No 5 200 954 51 Int CLS HO4B 7 00 52 US Cl 455 508 455 520 381 123 379 267 58 Field of Search 455 15 33 1 53 1 455 54 1 379 59 63 203 204 267 142 340 721 712 381 123 56 References Cited U S PATENT DOCUMENTS 3 611 301 10 1971 Parks 340 172 5 3 678 391 7 1972 Gough 325 55 3 809 910 5 1974 Walker et al 3 971 000 7 1976 Cromwell 340 172 5 4 028 498 6 1977 Mehaffey et al 4 251 865 2 1981 Moore et al 364 200 4 286 118 8 1981 Mehaffey et al 4 653 090 3 1987 Hayden 379 204 4 698 805 10 1987 Sasuta etal 370 97 4 726054 2 1988 Molnar 4 866 764 9 1989 Barker 4 901 314 2 1990 Lohrbach 4 924 496 5 1990 Figa et al 4 926 495 5 1990 Comroe et al 4 928 099 5 1990 Drake 4 947 162 8 1990 Kimura 4 961 070 10 1990 Maher et al
11. annels in these systems and the area that a single system covers have increased substantially Since more channels are available the number of system users has increased In the past an individual system would have had one police station or one fire department Now a single system handles an entire metropolitan government including the police department fire department ambulances hospitals and other governmental services Instead of only communicating with a small number of users radio dispatchers can now communicate with hundreds if not thousands of system users These system users e g mobile radio units hand held radios other consoles and conventional radio base stations are usually grouped by function into agencies fleets and groups The dispatcher has the ability to communicate with individual users or these functional groups In addition the dispatcher can patch users and groups together for a specific call Similarly the dispatcher can set up a simulselect call by 5 10 15 30 35 45 55 2 specifically selecting the groups and individual users to participate in the call The coverage of RF systems has been dramatically increased by linking several broadcast sites in a multisite network Multiple transmitting sites are often necessary to provide RF communications to all locations within a given community Multiple transmitters can accommodate a rural community covering many square miles Similarly mul
12. atcher counsel com prises a personal computer having a co processor logic board an audio switching tower and user VOs including a customized keyboard display screen audio speakers head set and a transmit foot pedal The switching tower routes audio communications between the console and multisite Switch The tower is controlled by and connected directly to the co processor board The customized keyboard is also connected directly to the co processor board and has dedi cated keys for commonly performed functions The display screen presents information a standard format such that the dispatcher knows precisely where to find particular information 9 Claims 9 Drawing Sheets 4 964 157 4 972 457 4 991 197 5 046 183 5 101 502 5 113 431 5 130 662 5 159 701 5 169 342 5 175 866 5 200 954 5 223 844 5 241 537 5 754 960 Page 2 U S PATENT DOCUMENTS 5 548 810 8 1996 Riddell et al 455 89 10 1990 Aoshima 379 204 OTHER PUBLICATIONS 11 1990 O Sullivan 1917 m TU GE C3 Series Console Dispatch Center Standard Practice orst et al E 3 1992 Felderman et l 455531 92 403 1003 01 Jul 1988 55 w 5 1992 Hom GE C3 Series Maintenance and Administration Position 7 1992 Jorgensen et al MAP User Manual Standard Practice 42 401 1004 01 10 1992 Barnes et al 455 54 1 X Jul 1988 12 1992 345 146
13. ations modules into pages the number of communication modules that can be displayed is drastically increased and the individual modules can be appropriately grouped by pages Communications module windows 44 are arranged con veniently in columns and rows These modules provide call access to individual groups entities consoles and telephone lines in the system Each communication module is pro grammed by the dispatcher to represent a particular group unit console channel line etc that is available to the console To assist in programming the communications module the available groups units consoles or channels may be displayed in the listing window 40 e g a listing of sites FIG 3 shows a representative communications module 60 from the communications windows segment 44 of the dis play screen In the preferred embodiment each module is allocated seven rows with nine columns per row The individual fields in each module are module page and position indicator 62 the module name 64 caller name 66 receiving emergency call indicator 68 console transmit indicator 70 busy indicator 72 showing that another console is transmitting to the module id encrypted call indicator 74 patch call designator 76 simulselect designator 78 and volume indicator 80 The background color 81 of the module is changed to red to signify an emergency call and to green to signify the select call The border 82 for the communi cations module is highl
14. cher and the user groups in which the dispatcher participates The profile contains information regarding the preferred console settings for the particular dispatcher and initial radio settings As each dispatcher sits down at the console such as at the beginning of a new shift the dispatcher calls up the appropriate user profile tailored to that dispatcher The dispatcher can display the user profile by depressing a function key on the customized keyboard The personal computer for the console also stores a database of user entities Each entity is an individual trunked radio unit e g mobile portable or console a radio talk group or a conventional radio There can be several thou sands of radio entities in a multisite system Accordingly PC RAM storage is used instead of ROM because the entity database may be large and changed in real time The entity database includes a record of each entity including the entity ID number type of entity e g unit and group home site home group and an eight character ASCII name The console personal computer saves some database updates to hard disk immediately and some updates are saved only on demand Thus the database records are loaded from the disk when an operator shift occurs dispatcher profile change or at startup The MOM PC database and hard disk can be used for back up storage to the PC RAM If the link breaks between the MOM PC and the console the 5 754 960 5 console will st
15. cies Most communications are to particu lar groups However the system allows dispatchers to trans mit to an entire fleet agency or system System wide calls may be restricted so as to be made only from supervisory dispatcher consoles As shown in FIG 2 the dispatcher monitor display screen 12 is divided into window segments These segments pro vide discrete work areas on the screen The segments include an entity listing 40 a page listing 42 communications modules 44 status prompts messages 46 clock 48 help call type menus 50 and call history 52 These segments display information in an organized and regular fashion to the dispatcher 10 15 35 45 55 65 6 The arrangement of these segments on the screen does not change However the information presented in each window segment does change Thus the dispatcher can become familiar and comfortable with the arrangement of the seg ments on the screen This familiarity allows the dispatcher to pick out desired information quickly from individual win dows because the dispatcher learns precisely where this information is displayed by knowing the location of each segment One window segment 40 provides a listing of available entities e g site controllers groups units consoles con ventional channels and telephone lines in the RF system Another segment 42 of the display lists the pages of com munications modules 44 that can be shown By segregating the communic
16. etrieved step 802 and the commands necessary in view of the message are issued to the audio tower AIOCM step 803 Similarly the code is stored in the DPRAM 320 and an interrupt is sent to the PC micropro cessor in step 804 If the input queue is empty see FIG 9 step 801 or once the queue code has been acted upon 803 and the PC interrupted 804 a check is conducted for an output command step 805 If the message number for the retrieved command with the processed indices for the DPRAM 320 are not equal then a new command exists step 806 and it is retrieved from the DPRAM The commands necessary in 10 15 35 45 55 65 10 view of DPRAM message are issued to the AIOCM in step 807 Finally a check for a new tone command is conducted in step 808 If a new tone is needed then the tone generator is set to sent the tone for a predetermined period of time duration timers are set in step 809 Once these checks for commands have been completed another command check begins As shown in FIG 9 the scanner chip monitors the external inputs When an input change is detected the scanner interrupts the main microprocessor in the co processor board in step 901 The microprocessor then reads the scanner memory to determine which input has changed in step 902 This determination is done in step 903 by comparing the current status of the scanner memory with the last scanner memory state that is stored and thus available to
17. face cable The co processor system has a plurality of inverting and diode protection circuits IDPCs 330 for conditioning input signals received on the interface cable The particular input signals applied to each of the IDPCs are shown in FIG 7 and are primarily digital input signals jack sense signals and push to talk PTT signals The conditioned signals received from the audio tower 32 are applied to an appropriate one of three octal tri state buffers 332 shown as buffers 332A 332B and 3320 The buffers 332 are connected by a buffer data bus 334 and a buffer control bus 336 to a buffer scanner 338 In the illustrated embodiment the buffer scanner 338 is a keyboard scanner chip The co processor logic board also includes an analog to digital converter ADC 350 for converting a signal VU PC received from the VU meter amplifier circuit 222 in the audio tower 32 Prior to application of the VU PC signal to the ADC 350 the VU PC signal is conditioned by a conditioner circuit CC 352 The conditioner circuit 352 includes protection diodes and an operational amplifier Selected pins of the microprocessor 300 are connected to apply signals to the audio tower In this respect pins 5 0 5 3 are connected to form a bus for carrying a SELECT signal pins P4 1 is connected to carry a STROBE signal pin P4 0 is connected to carry a DATA signal and pins P6 0 P6 5 are connected to carry an ADDR signal The SELECT STROBE DATA and ADDR s
18. g switch for the dispatcher console The AICOM is controlled via link 27 by the co processor logic board 26 in the personal computer The communications tower and logic board are described in more detail in the related U S Pat No 5 384 854 entitled Co Processor Controlled Switching Apparatus and Method for Dispatching Console and incorporated by reference above The overall RF multisite system serves groups of users and individual users Each user entity e g mobiles personals other dispatcher consoles and conventional base Stations in the RF system has an individual identification Logical ID Moreover generally each mobile radio unit will be a member of one or more groups The mobile unit is programmed with the group identification of its member group s and participates in calls to its group s The groups can be organized by for example police precincts fire department engine units ambulances and hospitals Most individual users will participate in a call only if the call involves their group Individual radio units that are members of more than one group can scan for calls or the unit can be set to listen for a particular group to the exclusion of other groups Group identification designations are organized in a four level hierarchy where i the particular group is identified as sub fleet ii several groups make up a fleet iii one or more fleets make up an agency and iv the total multisite system is all agen
19. ies The header includes a DATE field that shows the date of the call The size of the field underneath the DATE header is indicated by the mm dd yy symbol Similarly the time at which the call began is in the filed under TIME the TYPE of call indicates whether the call was for example a group call the origin identifies the site or console of the caller the CALLEE identifies for example the group involved in the call the CALLER is self explanatory and DUR is the duration of the call The designation REAL TIME 92 indicates that the call history window is continually present ing the three most recently terminated calls The dispatcher console obtains the information needed for the call history window from command messages from the multisite switch to the dispatcher console For example upon receipt of a call assignment message the console takes from the message the caller ID callee ID and site origina tion information and stores it in a circular buffer in the personal computer Similarly date and time information is read from the BIOS timer in the PC computer and also stored in a circular buffer The circular buffer holds information on many calls 32 calls in the preferred embodiment To calculate length of call time the computer waits for an unkey drop message and then rereads the BIOS timer The time from the start of the call is subtracted from the time the call ended to calculate call duration The digital information correspond
20. ighted when the module is picked by depressing the corresponding module key 114 A picked module is then modified muted selected or changed in volume via keys 118 and 116 FIG 4 illustrates a sample dispatcher profile 84 that can be displayed on the screen The profile presents the logical id for the dispatcher 85 volume settings 86 delay times 87 and other features of the profile The volume levels can be set such that emergency calls are broadcast louder from the dispatcher speakers than other calls The dispatcher profile is displayed by depressing keys on the console keyboard As shown in FIG 5 the call history window 52 on the display presents a chronological list of information on recent radio calls The dispatcher can look to the list of recent calls 91 to determine for example who is making calls which groups have been active when calls begin and how long they last The call history information can be even as little as a caller identification This information allows the dis patcher to better manage the system and the system users Normally the call history operates in a real time mode 92 where the three most recent calls are displayed in the call history window As a call is terminated its history comes into view in the call history window The oldest call dis played is deleted from the window each time another call terminates The dispatcher can freeze the call history win 5 754 960 7 dow to playback the previous
21. ignals are condi tioned by respective conditioning circuits 354 356 358 and 360 respectively prior to application to the interface cable The conditioning circuits 354 356 358 and 360 essentially are inversion with pull up and diode protection circuits In addition to the EPROM 302 and the DPRAM 320 the co processor logic board includes random access memory RAM 370 The microprocessor 300 is connected by a co processor data bus 372 to the ADC 350 the buffer scanner 338 the RAM 370 the EPROM 302 and the DPRAM 320 The microprocessor 300 is connected by a co processor address bus 374 to the RAM 370 the EPROM 302 and the DPRAM 320 Further in conventional manner the microprocessor 300 is connected by a co processor control bus 376 to the ADC 350 the buffer scanner 338 the RAM 379 the EPROM 302 and the DPRAM 320 As indicated in FIG 1 the co processor keyboard 14 is connected to the co processor A signal from the co processor keyboard is applied to a keyboard input pro tection circuit 382 prior to application to the microprocessor 300 The keyboard input protection circuit 382 provides inversion and diode protection functions The software routines performed by the co processor board monitor the keyboard scan inputs and other inputs for command messages FIG 8 shows the over all main pro cessing loop In step 801 the process checks whether its input queue is empty If an input is in the queue then the message code is r
22. ill have relatively current database informa tion stored on disk The dispatcher console relies on the MOM PC centralized databases to update and change most of its databases Since the personal computer is linked to the MOM PC via the mulitsite switch it has on line access to these centralized databases The MOM PC can send an entire database or update information for a database such as a single entity updates to modify the entity database New data base information can be broadcast on demand by the MOM PC operator or requested by a console such as when the console comes back on line after being off line for a period of time The MOM PC operator may create multiple dispatcher user profiles for each dispatch console Having multiple dispatcher user profiles allow different dispatchers e g a dispatcher for each work shift to configure the dispatch console to the individual requirements for each dispatcher simply by calling up the tailored user profile for that dispatcher The dispatcher user profiles are stored in the dispatcher console The dispatcher user profiles can be set up and changed only at the MOM PC In addition each dispatcher console includes an audio input output communications module AIOCM 32 other wise known as a communications tower that links the audio channels from the CIM of the multisite switch 28 with the speakers microphone and the foot pedal of the dispatcher console The communications tower is an audio routin
23. ing the appropriate key 114 e g MDL 3 to pick module 3 Once this module has been picked then the dispatcher can adjust its volume via volume keys 118 mute the module 116 highlight the module for the select speaker may be headset modify the module 116 or establish or clear an emergency condition for the module 124 When the module modify key is pressed a menu screen is displayed assigning new functions to the alterable func tions keys 102 These assigned functions allow the dis patcher to re program the module to a new unit group conventional channel telephone line or console The co processor logic board is shown in further detail in FIG 7 The heart of the co processor board is a micropro cessor 300 which in the illustrated embodiment is a 80C152 microprocessor Firmware executed by the micro processor 300 is stored in an EPROM 302 The micropro cessor 300 receives timing signals from a main clock 304 which also supplies timing signals to a second clock 306 Pulses from the second clock 306 are utilized by a tone generator 308 which in turn produces the signal TONE for application to the audio tower 32 via an interface cable Further included in the co processor system is a dual port RAM DPRAM 320 The DPRAM 320 handles the com munication between the microprocessor 360 and the main processor system in the PC over a bus connector 60 5 754 960 9 The co processor is connected to the audio tower by an inter
24. ing to the calls to be displayed is converted to ASCII data and dis played The circular file tacks each call by communications module number For any period of time the console may receive several channel assignment and unkey drop mes sages for a variety of calls on various channels Each assignment or unkey drop message contains an identifica tion corresponding to one of the module identification numbers The computer matches each message to the cor responding module and stores the information in the appro priate circular buffer There is one buffer for each module The call history window tracks all calls regardless of their sequence 10 15 25 35 45 50 55 65 8 As shown in FIG 6 the dispatcher inputs commands to the console through a customized keyboard 14 The key board includes alphanumeric and function keys The func tion keys are not all assigned to static functions Alterable functions keys 102 are assigned varying functions depend ing upon the operation being performed on the console The user can perform a specific function on the console by depressing the appropriate function key A dedicated escape key 104 allows the user to cancel an ongoing operation Instruction information regarding the operation of the con sole and each function key is provided through a help window on the display accessed via a dedicated help key 106 The alterable function keys 102 are each assigned a default function tha
25. ns is shown in an array of communication module windows Each communication module provides information on a specific call or group such as the caller volume and emergency The customized keyboard has been tailored so that certain keys are dedicated to specific radio functions For example dedicated keys are provided for transmit communication module control patch and simulselect calls and telephone and intercom communications Common function keys e g F1 F2 are assigned to control various other functions as needed and in conjunction with display menus BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG 1 is a block diagram of a dispatcher console for the present invention FIG 2 is a display screen for the dispatcher console shown in FIG 1 FIGS 3 to 5 illustrate portions of the display screen shown in FIG 2 FIG 6 is a diagram of the customized keyboard shown in FIG 1 FIG 7 is a block diagram of the co processor board in the personal computer shown in FIG 1 and FIGS 8 to 11 are software process flowcharts showing the operation of the co processor board illustrated in FIG 7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG 1 shows a dispatcher console 10 having a color CRT monitor 12 a customized dispatch keyboard 14 with 101 labeled keys audio speakers 16 in the preferred embodi ment each console can have two to twelve speakers speaker volume controls 18 underneath each speaker a microphone 20 or alternatively a headset
26. o much time has elapsed since receiving the last extended EXT code and if so re synchronizes the keyboard routines in steps 1002 and 1003 If step 1002 yields a yes then the flags are re synchronized to be ready for the next code which is expected to be an extended code The EXT code is the first byte of a 2 byte code sent to the co processor logic board 26 each time a key is depressed on the keyboard 14 If the repeat timer for a key depression is at zero step 1004 then the last key code is resent to the personal computer in step 1005 The dispatcher user will hold down a key to signal that a particular key function is to be repeated such as scrolling Similarly when the emergency declare key 120 is depressed a delay timer e g 1 sec starts in order to delay the issuance of the key code to the personal computer This delay ensures that the emergency key is held down for a full second and not inadvertently depressed In steps 1006 and 1007 the key code is issued when the delay timer reaches zero The displayed VU meter is updated regularly by the co processor The co processor decrements a counter each time it runs its timer interrupt processing routine in step 1008 When the VU counter equals one 1 step 1009 the co processor starts an analog to digital conversion ADC from data indicative of the volume level on the select and 5 754 960 11 YO input Thus when the VU counter reaches zero step 1912 the co processor con
27. of James L Teel Jr Stephen R Downs and Charles G Herndon Application Ser No 07 658 799 filed Feb 22 1991 which is a continuation in part application to Ser No 07 573 977 entitled Distributed Multisite Coordination System filed on 28 Aug 1990 in the name of James L Teel Jr U S Pat No 5 200 954 issued Apr 6 1993 entitled Protocol Between Console And RF Trunking System U S Pat No 5 297 354 issued Feb 15 1994 entitled Data Protocol And Monitoring System For RF Trunking Multisite Switch Global Serial Channel U S Pat No 5 239 538 issued Aug 24 1993 entitled Controller Architecture For RF Trunking Distributed Mul tisite Switch U S Pat No 5 392 278 issued Feb 21 1995 Distrib uted Multisite Switch Architecture US Pat No 5 384 776 issued Jan 24 1995 entitled Audio Routing With A Trunked Radio Frequency Multisite Switch The disclosure of each of these related applications is incorporated by reference FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to user interfaces for computerized telecommunication devices In particular the invention relates to a public service radio dispatcher console having a cathode ray tube CRT display customized keyboard and other user interface devices BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Radio dispatchers work with radio communication sys tems that are becoming increasingly complex The number of radio frequency RF ch
28. omprising terminated calls is presented and operable in a scroll a memory storing historical information on numerous ing mode whereby historical information is presented terminated audio communications in said system and in a scrolling manner on other of said numerous audio a display screen operatively coupled to said memory said communications display screen being segmented into windows includ ing a call history window said call history window
29. omputer including a co processor board a display screen and a keyboard directly connected to said co processor board said co processor board communicating command mes sages from said computer to an audio switching tower said tower routing audio communications between said multisite switch and audio input output devices at said console wherein said personal computer stores historical informa tion on numerous terminated audio communications in said system and wherein said display screen is segmented into windows including a call history window said call history win dow presenting historical information partially listing said numerous terminated audio communications said call history window being operable in a real time mode whereby historical information on the most recent terminated calls is presented and operable in a scroll ing mode whereby historical information is presented in a scrolling manner on other of said numerous audio communications 5 A dispatcher console as in claim 4 wherein said call history window presents the elapsed time of terminated communications and wherein said elapsed time is the time between a call initiation message and a call termination message as received by said console from said multisite switch 6 In a public service radio system including a multisite switch a dispatcher console operatively coupled to said multisite switch said console comprising a personal com puter including a co processor
30. r the C3 Series Consoles sold by the assignee Ericsson GE Mobile Communications Inc The C3 Console is a microprocessor controlled voice switch ing system The dispatcher workstation includes a control panel of dials buttons and small displays corresponding to 5 754 960 3 individual call groups consoles and other units Both of these prior art systems present the dispatcher with compli cated and non uniformly displayed information There is a need for dispatcher consoles that displays call information in an easy to comprehend manner that can be simply configured to suit individual dispatchers An inven tive dispatch console has been developed that is easy for the dispatcher to operate through a customized keyboard and CRT computer display The dispatch console includes a standard personal computer PC having a novel co processor logic board a customized keyboard connected to the co processor board a CRT devices for audio com munications such as speakers carphones microphones and a push to talk foot pedal and an audio switching tower for routing audio between the dispatch console and multisite switch The CRT display screen presents information on ongoing communications throughout the RF system and historical information on recently terminated calls The display is segmented into functional windows These windows provide information in a uniform and easy to read manner For example information on individual communicatio
31. t applies unless over ridden by a screen displayed menu These default functions include calling up the user profile screen changing the user profile because of a shift change signing onto the computer system and toggling the call history window The help key can be used to display a menu of these default function settings The dedicated function keys always perform the same function and are grouped with other keys of related func tions For example the HELP 106 and ESCAPE 104 keys are grouped with the common control functions 108 In addition calls to individual units are made through the ICALL SEL and ICALL TX keys 108 that allow the dispatcher to enter the unit identifier through the alphanu meric keypad 117 As can be seen the more common functions are assigned dedicated function keys include the establishing of patch 110 simulselect 112 and telephone intercom communica tions 114 edit control 116 such as paging through screen displays and cursor and position control on the display muting the console speakers 122 and emergency condition 120 A dedicated color coded key 124 sends a push to talk command over the selected communications module The foot switch 23 can also serve this transmit function Trans missions to any other module is made by depressing the TX key 112 corresponding to the communications module Through the use of the customized keyboard the dis patcher can choose a particular communications module by depress
32. t2 S OA LWX N f 3 x b HA 1 LL LL LL 5 754 960 Sheet 4 of 9 May 19 1998 U S Patent vel LIWSNVYL Oel 1650 GOW TINWS INNS 018 WS 3s NWS asa 735 MAS 18N3 016 SNOLLINNS TOULNOD Ot3 63 84 49 93 5 23 24 12031361086 s en ou 2 5 754 960 Sheet 5 of 9 May 19 1998 U S Patent Eso 9G tS 8ec 380415 124136 80 90 N39 520712 ANOL QNO23S M3NNV2S 33308 834308 adeec 20 lt lt goce Jil 2401 2901 o9 ese mole 919216 i Alo 259953 1 219 17 2 KAR RES NA 2 4 m 5 ASMA 43508 v2 dar 24 VOCE NI 9IQ U S Patent May 19 1998 Sheet 6 of 9 5 754 960 REMOVE CODE FROM QUEUE SEND COMMANDS TO A1OCM 803 GET OUTPUT MESSAGE FROM DPRAM SEND COMMANDS 807 TO 1 808 YES SET TONE GENERATOR U S Patent May 19 1998 Sheet 7 of 9 5 754 960 INTERRUPT 901 READ SCANNER CHIP SENSOR MEMORY 902 COMPARE NEW AND OLD READINGS 903 FIND INPUT THA
33. tiple transmitters may be used in a city having many buildings that obstruct RF signals Thus RF systems are no longer confined to a single transmitter The complexity of the system from the view of a dis patcher console is substantially increased by additional channels and multiple transmitters Instead of broadcasting over a single transmitter on a small number of channels dispatcher consoles now broadcast over tens hundreds or even a thousand channels distributed over several transmit ters covering a wide area or a large city A single call can be broadcast from several sites over as many different channels The dispatcher console must now be informed of the indi vidual transmitters and channels that are being used and of the status of other transmitters and receivers in the system Similarly the complexity of RF systems is also increasing because of numerous additional operation features that have become available for these systems Previously RF systems had basic key and unkey call terminate functions In untrunked systems calls to selected individuals and groups were made by selecting the appropriate dedicated channel for that group or individual With the advent of digitally trunked multisite systems RF systems can direct calls to individuals or selected group members covered by different radio broadcast sites These groups can be formed disassembled and rearranged by the radio dispatcher Voice calls can be encrypted for securi
34. tively coupled to said multisite switch said console comprising a personal computer including a co processor board a display screen and a keyboard directly connected to said co processor board said co processor board communicating command mes sages from said computer to an audio switching tower said tower routing audio communications between said multisite switch and audio input output devices at said console wherein said display screen is segmented into windows including a window of communication modules said 35 40 45 55 65 12 communication modules presenting information regarding individual system groups said communica tion modules having a module background color dis tinctive of a background color for said display screen the module background color of an individual commu nication module changes when a predetermined key or key sequence is activated on said keyboard 2 A dispatcher console as in claim 1 wherein said module background color changes to red in a predetermined com munication module when an emergency key or key sequence is activated on said keyboard 3 A dispatcher console as in claim 1 wherein said module background color changes to green in a select communica tion module when a predetermined key sequence is acti vated 4 In a public service radio system including a multisite Switch a dispatcher console operatively coupled to said multisite switch said console comprising a personal c
35. ty Telephone line calls can be made or received through the dispatcher console Moreover communications can be in the form of data transmission and are no longer just audio communications Dispatchers are facing an increasingly complex RF com munications systems This complexity increases the number of choices to be made by the dispatcher in handling com munications Dispatchers cannot be overwhelmed by the operational aspects of the RF system The dispatchers must be free to concentrate on the substance of the calls any one of which may be an emergency call The added features of a complex RF could become a hinderance to the dispatcher unless the dispatcher is able to quickly and easily operate the dispatch console Past dispatcher consoles have not been particularly user friendly In the prior art U S Pat No 4 961 070 discloses a Radio Console With CRT Display that allows channel control windows CCW representing selected radio channels to be moved about the display The CCWs present status infor mation on individual subfleet communication such as sub fleet identification caller id and whether the call is busy The CCWs are moved about the display using a computer mouse interface which also allows the user to operate a menu at the bottom of the display screen It is believed that this patent discloses the Motorola Centracom II Plus dispatcher con sole Another prior art dispatcher console is the Console Dis patch Center fo
36. verts the new ADC value to a logarithmic LOG value step 1913 and sends the log value to the personal computer step 1014 The personal computer then updates the displayed VU meter Finally the timer interrupt processing routine checks whether the tone sequence is active step 1015 and if so sets the tone flag counters step 1016 These flags are used to turn tones on off and to change the generator frequency for warble tones when the timer expires the flags are set so that the tone sequence continues for a predetermined number of cycles Then the co processor returns from the timer interrupt routine until 10 milliseconds later when it is again interrupted by the logic board s internal clock counter The customized keyboard is connected directly to the co processor logic board When a key is pushed or released the keyboard sends a two byte character sequence to the co processor logic board The first character byte is an 10 15 extended code EXT that identifies whether the depressed key is a normal or ALT mode or whether the key has been released The second character byte is the key scan code that identifies the key on the keyboard Based on the particular key codes the key may be set up with a repeat or delay counter As shown in FIG 11 the co processor is interrupted when it receives the first character byte from a key press or release in step 1101 If the co processor is not waiting for the second byte of
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