Programmable Radio

This invention relates to mobile radio communication systems and more particularly for loading and utilizing programmable information in mobile radio products.

It is oftentimes desirable in the mobile radio field to modify the mobile radio to accommodate desirable or changing environmental, operating, security, etc., needs. For example, it is desirable to be able to provide selectable frequency channels, to change or add addresses in either tone or digital format, to provide various controls such as carrier control timer, and any number of a wide variety of selectable options. For example, one desired option is the ability to select from one of several frequencies either for transmitting or receiving, or both, or to provide selectable addresses in either tone or digital format as the need arises, and to provide controls such as carrier control timer to limit the time allotted to any particular radio user to avoid monopolizing of the radio air time.

It is desirable that these operating characteristics or features be field programmable, that is implemented in the field at the user's choice with a minimum of loss of time with great reliability and with maximum flexibility. Systems in the past have not been fully field programmable in that the programming involved removing parts of the mobile radio to a central location where the desirable features were to be programmed and then returned to the radio with a consequent loss of time and an opportunity for error and damage. Such prior art systems have also been limited by their requirements for removing or adding modules from the radio to achieve the various option changes, the inclusion of considerable wiring and cabling which lends itself to pinching and breakage and involves considerable bulk and weight which inhibits maximum use of mobile radio equipment. This is particularly true in view of the trend to large scale integrated circuitry, where small, compact, lightweight portable characteristics are preferred.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved programmable radio arrangement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mobile radio which can be quickly and reliably programmed to provide a multitude of operational options.

It is another object of this invention to provide a programmable radio which can be reprogrammed countless times without opening the radio.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved programmable radio with a minimum of cabling and ties and weight requirements.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved mobile radio whose operating characteristics can be programmed without physical entry or removal of components to operate at user selectable frequencies with such options as tone or digital addresses, carrier control timer, etc.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement for reliably comparing data representing commands stored in a radio non-volatile memory with a subset of the total available commands that can be changed available in an external programming source to verify that the radio non-volatile memory contains said subset of commands.

Another object is to program specified functions into a mobile radio in situ with a minimum of delay.

A further object is to provide an improved arrangement for programming a mobile radio with special function and comparing data for verification purposes as part of the programming function.

Briefly and in accordance with my invention, I provide a single, common programming source for programming a plurality of different radios with respectively different commands where the commands represent various operating characteristics. Each of the radios has a symbol stored in its memory identifying the radio as a particular type and a set of commands representing the radio's operating characteristics. Means are provided for reprogramming a desired one of said radios with a new set of commands comprising means for interrogating the given radio to read its stored symbol. Means are responsive to a read symbol representing only the desired type radio for causing the radio and the programming source to read the commands stored in said radio's memory and for modifying the read commands to correspond to the new set of commands. If the interrogation reveals the radio not to be the desired type radio, a signal indicating such is provided and undesired reprogramming is avoided. With respect to a proper interrogation, means are provided to store the modified commands in the radio's memory. In order to confirm the accuracy of the stored modified commands, means are provided to read the stored modified commands in the radio memory and to compare them with the new set of commands at said source. Finally, a signal is provided in response to the comparison results.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims. The structure and operation of my invention, as well as advantages, may be better understood from the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in block diagram form a preferred arrangement in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates in greater detail the components of the block diagram FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart for illustrating the operation of my control arrangement.

FIG. 4 illustrates in block diagram form the manner in which control signals are used to effect radio operating characteristic changes.

While my control arrangement may have various applications, FIG. 1 illustrates in rough block diagram form a control arrangement for programming any one of a plurality of different radios with new commands from an external programming source without other than making an electrical connection with the radio, as for example via a cable. Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided an external programming source 1 for programming any one of a plurality of different radios such as radio 2 with new or substitute commands which may be inserted into the transient memory 12. Each of the radios has a symbol stored in its fixed memory 4 identifying the radio as a particular type radio. Radio types may differ in accordance with their model name, their power output, their frequency ranges and their general configuration. The different types of radios would vary in the sense that they would lend themselves to programming or not of certain options such as digital versus tone addresses, carrier control timer to monitor the amount of transmission time allotted to the radio to avoid monopolization of air time, the range of frequencies over which the radio is capable of operating, etc. If, for example, it is desired to reprogram a radio bearing the symbol, say radio A, the programming source has the desired or new commands representing these operating characteristics stored in its transient memory 12. This can be done in a well known manner either with an associated keyboard 11 or reading it in from a stored program source. In order to modify the radio with the changes desired for radio A, means 6 are provided for coupling the programming source 1 to the microcomputer 5 in the radio 2. Any existing commands controlling the operation of the radio are stored in fixed memory 7. To effect a change in the commands stored in this fixed memory and hence the operating characteristics of the radio 2, means 8 are provided for coupling the microcomputer 5 to the transient memory 9 and the transient memory 9 via coupling 10 to the fixed memory 7. The microcomputer 5 has stored in its fixed memory 4 a symbol establishing said radio as, for example, radio type A rather than a different radio type, say B. Operator initiated action, such as pressing a button, causes the programming source 1 to interrogate the radio 2 to read the symbol stored in memory 4. The programming source is responsive to a non-desired radio read symbol for providing an error signal on an indicator such as display 14 and avoiding reprogramming of the fixed memory 7. The programming source 1 is responsive to a desired radio read symbol representing, for example, radio type A for causing the programming source 1 and the radio 2 to read the selected operating function information or commands stored in fixed memory 7 and to write it into the transient memory 9 and to read the information written in the transient memory 9 and write it into the programming source memory 3. The information stored in the transient memory 3 is modified to correspond to the desired programming changes defined by the commands stored in memory 12 under control of microcomputer 20. Means are provided to read the modified function information stored in memory 3 and to write it via transient memory 9 into the fixed memory 7. Finally, to verify the accuracy of the changes made in commands stored in fixed memory 7, the system reads the modified information stored in fixed memory 7, writes it into the transient memory 13 via the transient memory 9. Means under control of microcomputer 20 are provided in the programming source 1 for comparing the modified stored information stored in the transient memory 13 with the desired information changes. Means responsive to a non-equal compare of the last named information causes an error signal to be produced at indicator 14. The operator then has to re-initiate the cycle for a programming change. On the other hand, the programming source 1 responds to an equal compare of the commands stored in the transient memories 3 and 13 to produce a signal on 14 indicating that a successful command change has taken place.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown in greater detail the elements of the arrangement of FIG. 1 for carrying out the present invention. The arrangement of FIG. 2 results in providing commands to a radio to exhibit certain characteristics such as preselected operating frequencies, address identification signals, carrier control timer, etc., under the control of a programmer 1 external of the radio 2. The programming source 1 comprises the first microcomputer 20 and a first and second transient memory 21 and 22 respectively. The mobile radio 2 comprises a first and second fixed memory 23 and 24, third transient memory 25 and a second microcomputer 26. Means 6 such as a two way cable connection couples the programming source or programmer to the second microcomputer 26. Means 8 couples the second microcomputer to the second fixed memory 24 via the third transient memory 25. Said second microcomputer 26 has identification symbols stored in its first fixed memory 23 over coupling 28. Means under the control of the operator causes the programming source to interrogate the second microcomputer 26 to establish the acceptability of the identification symbol stored in fixed memory 23. The programmer responds to non-acceptability to provide an error signal on 14 to avoid reprogramming of the commands stored in the fixed memory 24. The programming source 1, however, is responsive to the acceptability of the identification signal for providing first control signals on 6. The first and second microcomputers 20 and 26 are responsive to the first control signal passed over connection 6 to read the commands via connection 8 stored in said second fixed memory 24 into the first transient memory 21 via the third transient memory 25. The programming source 1 comprises a fourth transient memory 27. Means are provided to furnish desired commands into the fourth transient memory 27, as for example by a keyboard or external source of programming signals 11. The commands stored in the first transient memory 21 are modified under the control of the first microcomputer 20 to incorporate said desired commands stored in said fourth transient memory 27 to produce modified commands in the first transient memory 21. Essentially, the programming source 1 reprograms the radio memory to incorporate those commands which do not match the desired set of commands. The programming source accomplishes this by selecting from the read entire radio command set stored in memory 21 a subset representing the commands to be changed and then changes the selected subset to obtain the desired set of commands. Alternatively, the entire radio command set stored in memory 24 can be rewritten to incorporate the commands stored in memory 27 which include the subset to be changed. After the commands in memory 21 have been modified, they are stored in the second fixed memory 24 via the third transient memory 25 under the control of the first and second microcomputers 20 and 26. In order to verify that the commands last written into fixed memory 24 correspond with the changes desired as established by the programming source 1, means are provided in response to the microcomputers 20 and 26 to read the entire command set from the radio fixed or non-volatile memory 24 into the second transient or volatile memory 22 via the third transient memory 25. The commands stored in memory 21 and memory 22 are compared under the control of the programming source 20. The programming source responds to the results of the comparison to indicate on indicator 14 whether there is an equal compare or not. If the comparison is an equal compare, then the operator is assured that the radio has been reprogrammed in accordance with the instructions provided by the programming source 1.

The operations of the control arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2 will now be described in connection with the flow chart of FIG. 3. In explaining the operation, we will assume that the operating characteristics for the radio, lets say radio type A, have been established by the program stored in the fixed memory 24. In one particular embodiment this memory 24 represents an EPROM as will be described later. It is also assumed that the programming source 1 has its fourth transient memory 27 programmed to include the identification of the symbol of the type radio to be programmed and either that the specific changes in certain of the commands stored in memory 24 need to be modified or that the entire command set stored in memory 24 is to be modified. The operation is started by connecting the radio 2 to the programming source 1 as shown by block or step 30. Operation for the program change is initiated by the pressing of a button or the closing of a switch as represented by block 31 to obtain the connected radio 2's identification or ID whereupon the microcomputer 20 causes the identification symbols stored in memory 23 to be read over line 6 under the control of microcomputers 20 and 26 and compared with the symbol stored in memory 27 as represented by the inquiry diamond 44 under control of microcomputer 20. If there is no equal comparison or no ID as shown by block 44, then a signal is produced on connection 32 indicating a selection error in the expected type radio. If the identification is correct, then a signal 33 indicates that the commands stored in fixed memory 24 are to be transferred as shown by blocks, 34 and 35 into the transient memory 21 via the transient memory 25 under the control of microcomputers 20 and 26. Thus, the commands stored in memory 24 are now also stored in memory 21. In one embodiment, programmer 1 selects only those specific commands stored in memory 21 which need to be modified to correspond with the commands stored in transient memory 27, and the program stored in transient memory 21 is thus modified under the control of microcomputer 20 as represented by block 36. After the program has been modified in memory 21, the microcomputers 20 and 26 operate to read the program from memory 21 into the transient memory 25 via connections 6 and 8 as shown by block 37. After the modified program has been read in word parallel over lead 8 into transient memory 25, it is transferred in parallel to the fixed memory 24 as represented by block 38. Memory 24 now contains, supposedly, the modified commands as established by the programming source 1. However, in order to automatically verify that in fact the proper commands have been entered, microcomputer 26 reads in parallel the modified program stored in fixed memory 24 into the transient memory 25 as represented by block 39 and then reads the command set from the transient memory 25 in word parallel into microcomputer 26 over coupling 8 and then by word bit serial over lead 6 into the transient memory 22 as represented by block 40. After all of the commands stored in memory 24 have been transferred into the transient memory 22, microcomputer 20 in programming source 1 causes a comparison to be made between the commands stored in the transient memories 21 and 22 as represented by block 41. If there is an equal compare, then the operator is given a signal over connection 43 indicating that the change has accurately taken place. However, if there is a non-equal compare, then the signal is generated on line 42 warning the operator that the changes have not taken place whereupon the operator can re-initiate a program change once again, starting at block 31 as shown by loop 45.

The memories employed in the one preferred embodiment of the invention were standard off-the-shelf items. For example, the fixed and volatile memories 24 and 25 were an E.sup.2 PROM sold as a Xicor 2212 NOVRAM. It actually comprises a 256.times.4 EPROM for the non-volatile portion 24 and a 256.times.4 RAM for the volatile portion 25. The microcomputer in the radio was an Intel 8049 whereas in the programmer it was a Rockwell 6502 microcomputer. The microcomputer comprises a non-volatile ROM and a volatile RAM. The programmer comprises three volatile memories, each of which is a Hitachi 6116 RAM. Referring to FIG. 4, after new commands have been stored in the fixed memory 24, the microcomputer 26 furnishes controls over leads 51 to, in sequence, change the frequency of a frequency synthesizer 50 in a well known manner, as for example by changing the voltage applied to a voltage controlled oscillator frequency and synthesizer divide ratios, to cause the carrier control timer to change in response to pulses and the address tone or digital unit to alter its addresses by a different combination of tones or digits and any other functions that may be required. The methods for altering such functions are well known in the art. For example, they are described in detail in the GE-MARC V Classic Trunked Mobile Radio Communication System Maintenance Manual published in 1982 wherein PROMs were associated with changing RF channel frequencies involving a frequency synthesizer, the tone addresses assigned a radio, etc.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a new and improved arrangement for programming a radio in situ with an external comment programming source other than an electrical connection. The programming commands which would control frequency, tone or digital addresses, timer, etc., can be changed as desired any time by coupling the radio to the programmer and effecting the changes required. While I have shown only one embodiment of my invention, persons skilled in the art will appreciate the modifications that may be made. Therefore, while my invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the claims.