Radio programming device with access to a remote database
Contents
1. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks2. 5 604HMN0056 4 927 789 1 RADIO PROGRAMMING DEVICE WITH ACCESS TO A REMOTE DATABASE COPYRIGHT INFORMATION A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trade mark Office patent file or records but otherwise re serves all copyright rights whatsoever TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates generally to the programming and servicing of two way radios BACKGROUND ART Two way radios are becoming increasingly sophisti cated Many such radios now realize many operating functions and features through provision of an on board microprocessor For example some models of the Spec tra radio manufactured by Motorola Inc do not in clude any internal adjustable components such as poten tiometers or coils Instead all RF and signaling parame ters are controlled by an on board microprocessor These increasingly sophisticated radios have given rise to a concurrent need for a similarly sophisticated means of both initially programming such radios for intended service and of servicing or reprogramming the radio in a service shop At the same time however certain radio functions are not properly controlled at the service shop or user level For example certain parameters that relate to the operation of trunk
3. E VIEW TRUNK TRUNKING CONFIGURATION MENU Fi HELP i PERSONALTIES FLEETWIDE FAILSOFT TOT PHONE TYPE CALL LIST F5 SYSTEMS CONTROL CHANNEL ID s ETC F6 SYSTEM SCAN OPTIONS F7 PHONE LIST LIST NAMES AND NUMBERS F9 F10 EXIT RETURN TO CHANGE MIEW MENU Fi HELP 1987 MOTOROLA INC ELP READ DATA FROM RADIO CODEPLUG REQUIRES RIB F3 GET CODEPLUG DATA FROM ARCHIVE DISK FILE F4 GET TCMS CODEPLUG UPDATE DISK FILE FS CLONE COPY CODEPLUG DATA TO ANOTHER RADIO F7 SAVE CODEPLUG DATA TO ARCHIVE FILE D FB PROGRAM DATA INTO RADIO CODEPLUG REQURES RIB F9 F10 EXIT RETURN TO MAIN MENU Fi F2 F5 F4 FS F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 HELP READ GET GET CLONE SAVE PROGRAM EXIT CODEPLUG FILE TCMS RADIO FLE CODEPLUG 1987 MOTOROLA INC US Patent S N 604HMN0009 604HMN0001 604HNN0002 604HMN0003 TH 1987 MOTOROLA INC May 22 1990 FIG 6 604HMN0009 604HMNO010 604HMNO011 604HMN0012 604HMN001 3 604HMNO01 4 604HMN0015 604HMN0016 Sheet 4 of 4 4 927 789 SELECT FUNCTION KEY F1 F10 SPECTRA MODEL D37KGASUBSAK PAGE 1 OF 3 GET SAVE GET TOMS TCMS PATH C MRSS SPECTRA TCMSFILE 604HMNO017 604HMN0018 604HMN0019 604HMN0020 604HMNO021 604HMN0022 604HMN0023 604HMNO024 TCMS CODEPLUG UPDATE 604HMN0025 604HMN0026 604HMN0027 604HMN0028 604HMN0029 604HMN0050 604HMN005 1 604HMN0052 F7 F8 UPDATE DATA 604HMNO033 604HMNO034 604HMN005
4. R 4 927 789 May 22 1990 11 Patent Number 45 Date of Patent Systems 9000 Conventional 64 Mode Radio and Con trol Head Programmer dated Nov 12 1985 Systems 9000 Conventional 32 Mode Radio and Con trol Head Programmer dated Nov 12 1985 EEPROM Programmer Instruction Manual No 68P06088T60 0 published in 1984 Users Manual for Programming the Mostar NVR Manuai No 68P80100W88 0 published in 1985 HT600 Programmer Tuner User s Manual Manual No 68P81045C55 2 SMARINET Standalone Field Programmer Model T5124A Programming Information Guide 68P 811 17E11 0 published in 1985 Systems 9000 Conventional Radio Programmer Opera tor s Manual Manual No 68 80309B24 0 published in 1986 Systems 9000 Conventional Control Head Programmer Operator s Manual Manual No 68 80309B25 0 dated May 15 1986 Systems 9000 Trunked Control Head Programmer Op erator s Manual Operator s Manual No 68 80309B 26 0 dated May 15 1986 Primary Examiner Joseph A Orsino Assistant Examiner Frank M Scutch III Attorney Agent or Firm Steven G Parmelee 57 ABSTRACT A programming station for use in programming and servicing two way radios The station allows a user to read stored radio control and radio feature parameters as stored in either a radio or an archive file The station allows the user to modify at least some of the radio feature parameters and to access a remote central unit that allows modif
5. United States Patent m9 Shirley Jr et al 54 RADIO PROGRAMMING DEVICE WITH ACCESS TO A REMOTE DATABASE 75 Inventors Thomas F Shirley Jr Fort Worth Eric S Goldsmith Watauga both of Tex 73 Assignee 21 Appl No 22 Filed 51 52 Motorola Inc Schaumburg Iil 175 002 Mar 30 1988 asin HO4B 17 00 US Ch ss civsceccescacstsccnstvcenessuutsesiee 455 67 455 186 455 226 58 Field of Search 455 186 226 67 185 56 References Cited U S PATENT DOCUMENTS 4 310 924 1 1982 Miyasaka et al 455 186 4 525 865 6 1985 Mears ave 455 186 4 739 486 4 1988 Soderberg et al a 364 464 4 771 399 9 1988 Snowden et al wae 455 186 4 792 986 12 1988 Garner et al 455 186 OTHER PUBLICATIONS User Manual for the Motorola Trunking Code Manage ment System Remote Field Programming Radio Unit Code Plugs dated Jun 1 1986 User Manual for the Motorola Trunking Code Manage tment System Remote Field Programming Read Display Radio Unit Code Plugs dated July 1 1986 User Manual for the Motorola Trunking Code Manage ment System Remote Field Programming Read Display Radio Unit Code Plugs dated November 1 1986 The MC Micro Field Programmer Handbook dated 1985 by Motorola GmbH Taunusstein Systems 9000 Trunked Radio Programmer dated 1986 by Motorola Inc Systems 9000 Conventional Options Programmer 1985 _ Motorola Inc PRINTE
6. anged or unchanged and down loaded to and stored in the radio In this way radio feature parameters that are both changeable directly from the programming station 10 30 50 55 60 65 6 and those that are changeable only through access to the remote central unit can be merged and programmed into the radio with a minimum requirement for connect time to the remote central unit and a minimum burden being placed upon the remote central unit to maintain records regarding all parameters of the radio We claim 1 A method for using a programming station to pro gram a radio that operates in a communication system which radio includes memory means for storing first radio feature parameters that may be changed by said programming station without approval from a remote central unit and second radio feature parameters that should only be changed with approval from said remote central said method including the steps of A coupling said programming station to said ra dio B accessing said remote central unit to i pro vide information to said remote central unit re garding changes to at least some of said second radio feature parameters ii receiving approved changed second radio feature parameters from said remote central unit C combining at least some of said approved changed second radio feature parameters with at least some of said first radio feature parameters to provide combined parameters D stor
7. depiction of a main menu as pres ented at the programming station FIG 3 comprises a diagrammatic representation of the functional capabilities of the programming station FIG 4 comprises the trunking configuration menu as presented at station FIG 5 comprises the get save menu screen as pres ented at the programming station and FIG 6 comprises a representation of the TCMS code plug update screen BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG 1 the programming station depicted generally by the numeral 10 operates in con junction with an appropriate two way radio 11 The radio 11 connects to an appropriate power source 12 and the programming station 10 couples to the radio 11 through an appropriate coupling mechanism in this case a radio interface box 13 Each of these compo nents will now be described in more detail in seriatim fashion The radio 11 may be for example a Spectra two way land mobile radio as manufactured and sold by Motorola Inc Such a radio has an internal micro processor for controlling its radio control functions and its radio feature functions As used herein radio con trol functions refers to radio specific performance parameters such as deviation reference oscillator transmit power signaling deviation and so forth Radio feature functions refers to both user specific and system specific features such as trunking system data IDs channel scan li
8. device comprising A first coupling means for coupling to said mem ory means 4 927 789 7 8 B second coupling means for coupling to a re parameters without input from said remote mote central unit central unit C programming means for connecting to said first receiving new second radio feature parameters and second coupling m for from aid remote central unit enh 5 storing said changed first radio feature parame reading said first and second radio feature pa ters second said new second radio feature pa rameters in said memory means rameters in said memory means changing at least some of said first radio feature E Oorr a Oe 10 15 20 25 30 35 45 50 55 65 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENTNO 4 927 789 DATED May 22 1990 INVENTOR S Thomas F Shirley Jr et al it is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below Col 6 line 15 after the word central please insert the word unit Col 6 line 62 feat should be features Col 6 line 64 in between the words response and said please insert the word lt to Col 8 line 4 aid should be said Col 8 line 6 delete the first occurrence of the word second and insert thereat the word and Signed and Sealed this Thirtieth Day of July 1991 Aftest HARRY F MANBECK JR
9. display indicia coincides with the general location of the function keys themselves as an additional aid to the operator With reference to FIG 3 the programming station 10 provides screens and functions organized as de picted The system will not allow an operator to ran domly jump from one screen or function to another Instead the operator must move up and down the branches by using the menu screens and function keys in an appropriate manner For example pushing the F1 function key will provide a help function 26 which in turn leads to various other help options including more help 27 and keyboard help 28 The help options provide helpful supplemental information re garding the operation of the programming station 10 to the user In addition to the help function 26 the main menu 20 provides access to an initial setup function 29 and an exit routine 31 The main menu 20 also allows 10 20 25 30 40 45 50 60 65 4 access to four important service and programming menus service 32 get save 33 change view 34 and print 36 Additional information regarding the service function 32 the get save 33 function and the print function 36 can be found in copending U S pa tent application Ser No 07 175 361 filed on Mar 30 1988 and entitled Radio Component Replacement Pro gramming Device Ser No 07 175003 filed on Mar 30 1988 and entitled Radio Alignment Programmi
10. ed radios are best maintained and controlled from a single central site Since this central site will usually maintain such information for a number of systems the central site will likely be remote with respect to the radio that requires servicing In the past therefore when system configuration changes were required the entire code plug contents for the radio were down loaded via modem from the central site and then programmed into the radio The above process presents a number of problems For example this approach requires the central site to maintain many parameters that are not critical to the system This can become a significant burden Also as the number of parameters stored in the radio s memory increases the telephone line connect time required to down load each new configuration increases as well This represents both a time and cost issue Further as radios become more complex as described above many of the radio s parameters are not available to the central site thereby rendering the prior art approach inapplicable A need therefore exists for a radio programming device that can access a remote database for system critical information and integrate that information into a radio in conjunction with other on site programmable information SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other needs are substantially met through provision of the radio programming device disclosed herein This device is intended for use with t
11. ication of the remaining radio feature parameters The changed parameters can then be merged as necessary and stored in the radio and or an archive file 3 Claims 4 Drawing Sheets US Patent May 22 1990 Sheet 1 of 4 4 927 789 HELP F2 SERVICE ALIGNMENT SERVICE AIDS AND BOARD REPLACEMENTS F3 GET SAVE PROGRAM CODEPLUG DATA ber DISK CODEPLUG F4 CHANGE VIEW CREATE RADIO CODEPLUG F5 PRINT CODEPLUG DATA F8 F9 SETUP COMPUTER CONFIGURATION F10 EXIT RADIO SERVICE SOFTWARE RETURN TO DOS F7 F8 F9 F10 SETUP EXIT Fl F2 F3 FA _ F5 HELP SERVICE GET CHANGE PRINT SAVE VIEW 1987 MOTOROLA INC May 22 1990 Sheet 2 of 4 4 927 789 US Patent GNOMSSV _S30ON 1SaL SOV IJANS 09A nn auvoe dy ONVOE Yd IS NYOS En a3 WOMAN 03 ONYNNOD 1S1 INOHd ININGOVIJAN GVO i E ONINNNYL SIIA SNOlLdO a T isn TW wua pril NOLVIAaG ONFTIVNOIS ian NOLVMEITV NOLVSNAdNOJ NOLIVSNadM09 SNDINNL ANGNNOTTY INVAN ana omdado ss MMOd MOT XL Gale Deh pes Wd UAN INIRINJ MHN A SO zn JIS MGMOd HOW XL SHON NOD OA NOV YOLYTHOSO 434 S401029 INDIN H SL 139 NOLVA30 1Sal NNOD nants SNOLLdO TIJ 199 4 HOTANDS ANY sanya Linv aa 301 010 H oma009 cava IN3MNONv sod MJA AeA Gee cj 9 val ve ge ors es LE el zi a 82 haan dGH AMOU da 340M LL id 92 US Patent May 22 1990 Sheet 3 of 4 4 927 789 FIG 4 21 22 23 SPECTRA MODEL D37KGASJB9AK SELECT FUNCTION KEY Fi F10 CHANG
12. ing said combined parameters in said mem ory means 2 A method for programming a radio that operates in a communication system which radio includes memory means for storing first radio feature parameters that are substantially related to radio specific features and second radio feature parameters that are substantially related to system specific features said method including at a programming station that is coupled to said memory means the steps of A reading at least some of said first and second radio feature parameters from said memory means B accessing a remote data base that stores data relating to said second radio feature parameters C providing information to said remote data base regarding desired changes to said second radio feature parameters D receiving approved changed second radio fea ture parameters from said remote data base E merging said approved changed second radio feature parameters with said first radio feature parameters F storing said merged parameters in said memory means 3 A device for programming a radio that operates in a communication system which radio includes memory means for storing first radio feature parameters that are related to radio specific features and second radio feature parameters that are related to system specific feat computer means for controlling at least some radio features in response said first and second radio feature parameters said
13. ng De vice and Ser No 07 175 084 filed on Mar 30 1988 and entitled Radio Programming Device which applica tions are incorporated herein by this reference In general the service function 32 comprises a mul tilevel menu routine that supports radio alignment ad vanced alignment board replacement and service aids functions All service screens access the memory in the radio directly and it is not necessary to read the radio s memory via the get save function 33 before using the service screens All service screens use the same four dedicated screen sections described earlier The get save function 33 generally functions to read radio control and radio feature parameters as stored in a radio s memory and to obtain achieved parameter information from a diskette or hard disk However obtained the change view function 34 can then be used to edit the parameter information The get save function 33 also operates to write modified parameter information into the radio s memory or to save the modified parameters to an archive file on a diskette or hard disk Finally the print function 36 allows production of permanent records of parameter configurations With reference to FIG 4 the trunking configuration menu as depicted therein can be obtained by selecting the appropriate function key from the change view menu 34 The trunking configuration menu allows the user to view and or change parameters that relate to radi
14. o feature functions such as trunking personality and system parameters Many personality and system parameters can only be changed through access to a remote central unit such as a trunking code management system TCMS Other parameters can be changed on site directly from the programming station 10 For example with reference to Table 1 set forth below various parameters that relate to personality personality options system sys tem scan options and phone menu are represented in conjunction with a code This code indicates whether the parameter can be viewed only by the programming station 10 unless access is made to the remote central unit V or whether the parameter can be both viewed and changed with access only to the program ming station 10 C TABLE 1 PERSONALITY SYSTEM Failsoft Vv Connect Tone Vv Phone Enable c Control Channel v Private Call Enable C Individual ID Vv Private Call List C System ID Vv System Vv System Scan Enable C SYSTEM SCAN OPTIONS System Scan List Cntr Channel Monitor Cc Time Out Timer Failsoft Monitor C User Group ID Nuisance Delete Enable C Rx Hang Time Cc PERSONALITY Tx Hang Time C OPTIONS ISW Retry Timer 4 927 789 TABLE 1 continued Talk Back Scan Enable C PHONE MENU Talk Permit Tone C Phone List Names Cc Trunking Type Vv Phone Numbers From the depicted trunking configuration menu the F3 function key can be selected to view and change radio feature parameters
15. rogramming station 10 use an identical format with the screen being di vided into four dedicated sections The first dedicated section comprises a box 21 in the upper left hand cor ner This box 21 displays the radio s trademark in this case Spectra along with the model number or other radio type indicia of the radio as read from the radio s memory the model number is not displayed in FIG 2 but can be seen in FIG 4 The second dedicated section comprises a box in the upper right hand corner 22 that displays an indication of a generic type of input that the programming station 10 expects at that time from the user For example as depicted in FIG 2 the words Select Function Key F1 F10 instruct the operator that one of the indicated function keys must be actuated to select a desired opera tion Also error messages and data entry errors are displayed in this box 22 when necessary The third dedicated section comprises a large center box 23 that contains menu descriptions or data entry fields depending upon the function currently in progress FIG 2 displays the main menu in this section The main menu indicates the other functions that can be accessed through use of the function keys Finally the fourth dedicated section comprises an area at the bottom 24 of the display screen This sec tion 24 provides an abbreviated indication of each function key operation In general the location of the
16. sts telephone interconnect data call number lists and so forth The microprocessor in the radio communicates with other devices within the radio and external to the radio on a serial bus The radio interface box 13 functions to level shift the RS232 voltage level signals that are out put and received by the programming station 10 to an 4 927 789 3 appropriate signal level that is compatible with the radio s serial bus interface The radio interface box 13 may be provided through use of Part No 01 80353A74 The cable be tween the radio interface box 13 and the radio 11 may be provided through use of Part No 30 80369B73 The cable between the radio interface box 13 and the programming station 10 may be provided through use of a Part No 30 80369B71 All Of the above noted parts are manufactured and sold by Motorola Inc The programming station 10 can be comprised of an IBM personal computer or compatible 14 which in cludes at least one RS232 port 512K RAM and a DOS 3 0 operating system In addition at least one disk drive 16 a keyboard 17 a display screen for displaying alphanumeric information 18 a printer 19 and a modem 20 should be provided Referring now to FIG 2 most actions of the pro gramming station 10 are controlled through the use of formatted screen displays and the function keys ordinar ily found on the keyboard 17 i e F1 F10 In gen eral all screens provided at the p
17. such as personality and person ality options as listed in Table 1 Selection of the F5 function key allows system options to be viewed only Changes to these system options requires accessing the remote central unit and that procedure will be de scribed below in more detail The F6 function key al lows the user to both view and change system scan options thereby allowing the user to easily customize these radio feature parameters Finally selection of the F7 function key allows the user to view and change phone list parameters This allows the user to enter preprogrammed telephone interconnect numbers and names that are associated with each number in the list As indicated above not all radio feature parameters can be changed on site with access only to the program ming station 10 Many of these parameters particu larly the ones relevant to operation and behavior of the radio within a system context should only be changed with the permission of a remote central unit that has responsibility for the programming of similar parame ters for all radios operating within the system There fore to change these parameters the remote central unit must be accessed Through use of the programming station 10 appro priate software such as the on line field programming software sold by Motorola Inc as Part No RVN4004A and the modem 20 associated therewith the remote central unit can be accessed in a normal and usual manner An indica
18. tion of the desired radio feature parameter changes can then be provided to the remote central unit Importantly it is not necessary to inform the remote central unit of all proposed parameter changes only those parameters that should only be changed with permission of the remote central unit need be provided in this way The remote central unit can then approve the changes by down loading an appropriate file to the programming station 10 which file includes the new radio feature parameter information Again this new information need not include all radio control and radio feature parameters Instead only those parameters that should only be changed through access to the remote central unit need be down loaded The get save function 33 can then be used to either read current parameter data from the radio through selection of the F2 function key or to obtain parameter information as stored in an archive file through selec tion of the F3 function key Next the user can select the F4 function key from the get save menu to initiate the get TCMS function The programming station 10 will then review its files to locate the above noted down loaded file from the re mote central unit and present the relevant information on an update screen as depicted in FIG 6 The F8 func tion key can then be selected from this screen to cause the updated radio feature parameter information to be merged with other parameters which may be either ch
19. wo way radios that have a memory for storing at least some radio con trol parameters and an internal computer for control 10 15 20 25 30 35 45 50 55 65 2 ling at least some radio control functions as a function of the stored parameters The device includes an appropriate coupling mecha nism to allow access to at least the memory in the radio and a programming station for coramunicating with the radio via the coupling mechanism The programming station allows an operator to access the memory and read the radio control parameters that are stored therein to change these radio control parameters and to store the changed and unchanged radio control pa rameters in the radio s memory such that future use of the radio will be governed by the newly stored parame ters In another embodiment of the invention the pro gramming station can also read change and store cer tain radio feature parameters that may also be stored in the memory of the radio In yet another embodiment the programming station can receive new radio feature parameters that are main tained at a remote central unit and combine that new information with other radio control and radio feature parameters in an integrated form and store the compos ite information in the memory of the radio BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG 1 comprises a block diagram depiction of the invention as coupled to a two way radio FIG 2 comprises a
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