Abstract:
In a multiple RF communication system arrangement wherein a subscriber has a first identification number (ID) within a first RF communication system, and wherein the subscriber has a second ID within a second RF communication system, an arrangement (400) is provided for the subscriber to uniquely identify itself by means of a third ID to a console serving both the first and second RF communication systems.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to RF communication systems or, more particularly, to a method of identifying subscribers in RF communication systems. 
     Modern-day radio frequency (RF) communication systems can be understood with reference to FIG. 1, which depicts a typical RF communication system (100). As shown, the RF communication system includes fixed equipment (3) arranged to facilitate communication between subscriber A (1) and subscriber B (2). Such systems typically identify subscribers by providing each subscriber an identification number (ID) unique within the system. As depicted in FIG. 1, subscriber A has identification ID A  (43) and subscriber B has identification number ID B  (44). 
     Certain RF systems also include a console. Such an arrangement (200) is shown in FIG. 2, which depicts a typical RF communication system equipped with a console (8) connected to the RF communication system&#39;s fixed equipment (6) via a suitable link (7). Since identification numbers ID A  and ID B  have been assigned so they are unique within the RF communication system, these numbers are also unique to the console and, as a result, the console is able to identify a subscriber on the basis of a single ID. 
     There are certain situations, however, where it may be desireable to connect the same console to more than one RF communication system. This arrangement (300) is depicted in FIG. 3, which shows a single console (11) connected to the fixed equipment (14) of a first communication system via a first link (12), and connected to the fixed equipment (15) of a second RF communication system via a second link (13). 
     In such an arrangement, it may be desireable for one or more subscribers to be capable of communicating in both RF communication systems. Such a subscriber is depicted as subscriber N (16) in FIG. 3. With this arrangement, when subscriber N communicates in the first RF communication system, it will use a first ID, that is, ID N  #1 (45) to identify itself and, when subscriber N communicates in the second RF communication system, it will use a second ID, that is, ID N  #2 (46) to identify itself. Also with this arrangement, whenever such a subscriber identifies itself to the console, the ID it uses will vary according to which system it is currently operating in. As a result, the console will not be able to identify such a subscriber on the basis of a single ID. 
     As a result of the foregoing, the inventor has discovered it would be desireable to have an improved way of identifying such subscribers to a console in a multiple-RF communication system arrangement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, according to the invention, a method is provided, and an apparatus described, for a subscriber in a multiple-RF communication system arrangement to uniquely identify itself to a console. Also, a method is provided, and an apparatus described, for a console to uniquely identify an individual subscriber to a multiple-RF communication system arrangement. 
     In one embodiment the apparatus and method includes and makes use of a data base that assists in interfacing a console user that wishes to use only a single ID for each subscriber, and a subscriber that has more than one ID to facilitate its operation in multiple systems. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS SHOWING THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 depicts a typical RF communication system, as in the prior art. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a typical RF communication system arranged with a console, as in the prior art. 
     FIG. 3 depicts two typical RF communication systems arranged with a single console. 
     FIG. 4 depicts an universal ID arrangement. 
     FIG. 5 depicts a first data base arrangement. 
     FIG. 6 depicts a second data base arrangement. 
     FIG. 7 depicts a third data base arrangement. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The universal ID arrangement (400) is shown in FIG. 4. The figure depicts the fixed equipment (19) of a first RF communication system connected to a console (24) by means of a first link (20), a data base (26) and a third link (25). Also, the fixed equipment (22) of a second RF communication system is connected to the console by means of a second link (23), the data base (26), and the third link (25). In the figure, subscriber N (17) is a typical subscriber capable of communicating in both RF communication systems. In the arrangement (400), subscriber N (17) is provided with three IDs: ID N  #1 (18), which is unique within the first RF communication system; ID N  #2 (21), which is unique within the second RF communication system; and ID N  CONSOLE (27), which is unique within the console (24). 
     Referring to FIG. 4, when the console (24) wishes to identify subscriber N (17) to the first and second communication systems, it transmits ID N  CONSOLE (27) to the data base (26) via the third link (25). The data base, upon receipt of ID N  CONSOLE (27), generates ID N  #1 (18) and ID N  #2 (21), using the first data base arrangement (500) of FIG. 5, which will be discussed below. The data base (26) then transmits ID N  #1 (18) to the fixed equipment (19) of the first communication system via the first link (20), and ID N  #2 (21) to the fixed equipment (22) of the second communication system via the second link (23). 
     Referring to FIG. 5, this figure depicts the first data base arrangement (500) of the data base (26). As shown, this arrangement (500) provides a method for mapping subscriber N&#39;s ID N  CONSOLE (28) onto subscriber N&#39;s associated ID N  #1 (30) and ID N  #2 (31). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the data base (26) is arranged so that ID N  CONSOLE (28) forms a particular address (29) in the data base (26), with a particular memory word (32) stored at that address. The memory word (32), in turn, comprises field A (33) and field B (34), with field A (33) containing ID N  #1 (30) and field B (34) containing ID N  #2 (31). 
     Referring again to FIG. 4, when subscriber N (17) is operating in the first communication system and wishes to identify itself to the console (24), it transmits ID N  #1 (18) to the fixed equipment (19) of the first communication system which, in turn, transmits ID N  #1 to the data base (26) via the first L. link (20). The data base, upon receiving ID N  #1 via the first link, generates ID N  CONSOLE (27), using the second data base arrangement (600) which will be discussed below. The data base (26) then transmits ID N  CONSOLE (27) to the console (24) via the third link (25). 
     Referring to FIG. 6, this figure depicts the second data base arrangement (600) of the data base (26). As shown by the figure, this arrangement provides a method for mapping subscriber N&#39;s ID N  #1 (35) onto subscriber N&#39;s associated ID N  CONSOLE (37). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the data base (26) is arranged so that ID N  #1 (35) forms a particular address (36) in the data base (26), with a particular memory word (38) stored at that address. The memory word (38), in turn, contains ID N  CONSOLE (37). 
     Referring again to FIG. 4, when subscriber N (17) is operating in the second communication system and wishes to identify itself to the console (24), it transmits ID N  #2 (21) to the fixed equipment (22) of the second communication system which, in turn, transmits ID N  #2 to the data base (26) via the second link (23). The data base, upon receiving ID N  #2 via the second link, generates ID N  CONSOLE (27), using the third data base arrangement (700) which will be discussed below. The data base (26) then transmits ID N  CONSOLE (27) to the console (24) via the third link (25). 
     Referring to FIG. 7, this figure depicts the third data base arrangement (700) of the data base (26). As shown by the figure, this arrangement provides a method for mapping subscriber N&#39;s ID N  #2 (39) onto subscriber N&#39;s associated ID N  CONSOLE (41). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the data base (26) is arranged so that ID N  #2 (39) forms a particular address (40) in the data base (26), with a particular memory word (42) stored at that address. The memory word (42), in turn, contains ID N  CONSOLE (41). 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is applicable with any type of RF communication system employing subscriber IDs, including trunked RF communication systems and conventional RF communication systems.