US-20260128878-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING A COMMUNICATION ON A COMMON CHANNEL TO A SPECIFIC GROUP

US20260128878A1US 20260128878 A1US20260128878 A1US 20260128878A1US-20260128878-A1

Abstract

Techniques for directing a communication on a common communications channel to a specific group are provided. An Artificial Intelligence (AI) system receives a communication from a first device. Keywords are identified in the communication that indicate the communication is intended for a subset of users monitoring the shared communications channel. An encryption key associated with the subset of users is retrieved. The communication is encrypted using the encryption key. The encrypted communication is sent over the common communications channel. Only a second device associated with the subset of users and including the encryption key associated with the subset of users is able to decrypt the encrypted communication.

Inventors

MUHAMMAD HADRI BIN NADZLAN
MUHAMMAD FITRI ZAINUDIN
Boon Teong OOI
WEI SHENG CHONG

Assignees

MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241106

Claims (18)

1 . A method for directing a communication on a common communications channel to a specific group comprising: receiving, by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system a communication from a first device; identifying a keyword in the communication that indicates the communication is intended for a subset of users monitoring the common communications channel; retrieving an encryption key associated with the subset of users; encrypting the communication using the encryption key; and sending the encrypted communication over the common communications channel, wherein only a second device associated with the subset of users and including the encryption key associated with the subset of users is able to decrypt the encrypted communication.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the keyword is a phrase.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the encryption is not performed on a subsequent communication when the keyword is not identified.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second device are part of a land mobile radio (LMR) system.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein there are at least two subsets of users, wherein each of the at least two subsets of users have different keywords, wherein each of the at least two subsets of users is associated with a different encryption key.
6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: decrypting the communication by the second device; and unmuting the second device to playout the communication.
7 . A system for directing a communication on a common communications channel to a specific group comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing a set of instructions thereon that when executed by the processor cause the processor to: receive, by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system a communication from a first device; identify a keyword in the communication that indicates the communication is intended for a subset of users monitoring the common communications channel; retrieve an encryption key associated with the subset of users; encrypt the communication using the encryption key; and send the encrypted communication over the common communications channel, wherein only a second device associated with the subset of users and including the encryption key associated with the subset of users is able to decrypt the encrypted communication.
8 . The system of claim 7 wherein the keyword is a phrase.
9 . The system of claim 7 wherein the encryption is not performed on a subsequent communication when the keyword is not identified.
10 . The system of claim 7 wherein the first and second device are part of a land mobile radio (LMR) system.
11 . The system of claim 7 wherein there are at least two subsets of users, wherein each of the at least two subsets of users have different keywords, wherein each of the at least two subsets of users is associated with a different encryption key.
12 . The system of claim 7 further comprising instructions to: decrypt the communication by the second device; and unmute the second device to playout the communication.
13 . A non-transitory processor readable medium containing a set of instructions thereon for directing a communication on a common communications channel to a specific group that when executed by a processor cause the processor to: receive, by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system a communication from a first device; identify a keyword in the communication that indicates the communication is intended for a subset of users monitoring the common communications channel; retrieve an encryption key associated with the subset of users; encrypt the communication using the encryption key; and send the encrypted communication over the common communications channel, wherein only a second device associated with the subset of users and including the encryption key associated with the subset of users is able to decrypt the encrypted communication.
14 . The medium of claim 13 wherein the keyword is a phrase.
15 . The medium of claim 13 wherein the encryption is not performed on a subsequent communication when the keyword is not identified.
16 . The medium of claim 13 wherein the first and second device are part of a land mobile radio (LMR) system.
17 . The medium of claim 13 wherein there are at least two subsets of users, wherein each of the at least two subsets of users have different keywords, wherein each of the at least two subsets of users is associated with a different encryption key.
18 . The medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions to: decrypt the communication by the second device; and unmute the second device to playout the communication.

Description

BACKGROUND Public safety first responders (e.g. police, firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS), etc.) typically utilize highly reliable wireless communications that are referred to as Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems. Some examples of LMR systems can include Project 25 (P25), TETRA, or other types of mobile radio systems. These systems can be either analog or digital. The systems can also be conventional (e.g. different channels defined by different radio frequencies, etc.) or trunked (e.g. a radio frequency is dynamically assigned when a call is placed). The systems are typically half-duplex Push-to-Talk (PTT) systems. In a PTT system, users are typically divided into groups, which may be referred to as talkgroups. When a user wishes to communicate, they press a PTT button on their radio device. In trunked systems, the user may wait for a signal referred to as a talk permit tone that indicates a communication channel is assigned before speaking, while in a conventional system, the user may simply begin speaking. Different types of users are generally segregated into different talkgroups. A talkgroup is a collection of users that should all receive a PTT transmission. For example, a separate talkgroup may exist for police, fire, and EMS. If a police officer presses a PTT button on his radio and begins speaking, the communication is only played out by others in the same talkgroup (e.g. other police officers, etc.). In some cases, for a particular incident, it is possible for various talkgroups to be patched together. For example, a talkgroup may be created for both police and fire, and all police officers and firemen are added to that talkgroup. When a user in the talkgroup initiates a PTT call, all users that are included in the talkgroup will hear the communication. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying figures similar or the same reference numerals may be repeated to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. These figures, together with the detailed description, below are incorporated in and form part of the specification and serve to further illustrate various embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and to explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments. FIG. 1 is an example of a system wherein the directing a communication on a common channel to a specific group techniques described herein may be implemented. FIG. 2 is an example of a flow chart of an implementation of the techniques described herein from a network perspective. FIG. 3 is an example of a flow chart of an implementation of the techniques described herein from a radio device perspective. FIG. 4 is an example of a device that may implement the network portions of the techniques described herein. FIG. 5 is an example of a radio device that may implement the radio portions of the techniques described herein. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. The system, apparatus, and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In some cases, different types of users may all be placed in the same talkgroup. For example, in a situation where first responders from multiple jurisdictions are working together to respond to a large incident (e.g. mutual aid situations, etc.) each user's radio may be configured with talkgroups for their home jurisdiction, which maybe different than the jurisdiction in which they are responding. There may be no time to reconfigure each radio to use the talkgroups that are defined in the current jurisdiction. In other cases, for ease of maintenance, all radio users may be placed in the same talkgroup to avoid having to maintain different talkgroups. In some cases, it may be desirable to have all users have the ability to speak with all other users. The particular reason why all users are placed in the same talkgroup is unimportant. What should be understood is that a talkgroup may exist that is used by all responders, regardless of role. Regardless of the reason why all users are placed in the same talkgroup, a problem arises when a communication is only intended for a subset of the users. For example, if police, fire, and EMS responders are all placed in a single talkgroup, all communications will be heard by all people. This may cause a problem when the communication is not relevant to all u