Patent ID: 7782826

Claim:
A communication system including at least one controller for enabling a plurality of radio systems to communicate over a packet network, each radio system communicating one of at least two different radio signals transmitted using different radio protocols, the communication system comprising: a plurality of gateways adapted to communicate over an IP link using a generic IP data packet protocol having a component for storing audio signals and a component for storing radio control signals; for each radio signal of the at least two radio signals: at least one gateway of the plurality of gateways converting audio and control protocol signals in the radio protocols to and from audio and control components of the generic IP data packet protocol for at least one radio system that communicates using the radio signal; and wherein the component of the generic IP data packet protocol for storing radio control signals is configured to store at least one event selected from a group consisting of: activating a transmitter in a radio station; releasing a transmitter in a radio station; tuning a transmitter in a radio station to a specific RF channel; switching a receiver in a radio station to a specific RF channel; and monitoring the carrier status of a radio station.