Self-monitoring radio network

1. A method of identifying nonfunctional two-way radios from among a known group of two-way radios expected to be operating within a region, the method comprising:

for each of the two-way radios expected to be operating within the region, assigning a first frequency upon which all of the two-way radios are to receive transmissions;

assigning a second frequency upon which all of the two-way radios are to broadcast transmissions;

assigning a unique identification code to each of the two-way radios;

establishing a window of time that corresponds to each of the two-way radios;

for each of the established windows of time, awaiting a transmission from the corresponding radio;

if, for a particular radio, no transmission is detected within its corresponding window of time, recording the absence of the transmission; and

if, for a particular radio, the number of times absence of transmission has been recorded exceeds a threshold, identifying the particular radio as nonfunctional.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of establishing a time window corresponding to each radio comprises:

for each of the two-way radios expected to be operating in the region, assigning a corresponding unique delay period;

broadcasting a query signal;

following the broadcast of the query signal, for each of the two-way radios, commencing the window of time corresponding to a particular radio, after waiting for the unique delay period assigned to the particular radio to elapse; and

for each of the two-way radios, closing its corresponding window of time, after waiting for a pre-defined period to elapse.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of establishing a time window corresponding to each radio comprises:

transmitting a query signal containing a code identifying a particular radio;

commencing the window of time corresponding to the particular radio, upon transmission of the query signal; and

closing the window of time corresponding to the particular radio, after waiting for a pre-defined period of time to elapse.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of establishing a time window corresponding to each radio comprises:

opening a window of time corresponding to all of the radios;

waiting for a predefined period to elapse; and

closing the window of time.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of awaiting a transmission from a radio corresponding to a window of time comprises:

receiving transmissions on a carrier frequency assigned to the radio corresponding to the window of time; and

inspecting the received transmissions for presence of an identification code corresponding to the radio corresponding to the window of time.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the identification code is a sinusoid of a pre-defined frequency.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the identification code is a pre-defined binary signal.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

upon identifying a particular radio as nonfunctional, issuing an alert.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein issuing an alert comprises presenting a message on a display screen.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

upon identifying a particular radio as nonfunctional, contacting a repair service; and

identifying the nonfunctional radio to the repair service.

11. A method of identifying nonfunctional two-way radios from among a known group of two-way radios expected to be operation within a region, the method comprising:

establishing a window of time that corresponds to each of the two-way radios;

for each of the established windows of time, awaiting a transmission from the corresponding radio;

if, for a particular radio, no transmission is detected within its corresponding window of time, recording the absence of the transmission; and

if, for a particular radio, the number of times absence of transmission has been recorded exceeds a threshold, identifying the particular radio as nonfunctional,

during an initialization sequence for a particular radio, receiving from the particular radio, a unique identification code to be embedded in the radio's awaited transmission during its corresponding window of time;

receiving a serial number identifying the particular radio; and

adding the particular radio's unique identification code and serial number to a list of two-way radios expected to be operating in the region.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the serial number is printed on the particular two-way radio.

13. A wireless intercom system comprising:

a first two-way radio fashioned as a headset;

a second two-way radio fashioned as a headset; and

a repeater unit;

wherein transmissions from the first and second two-way radio occur upon a first carrier frequency;

wherein the first and second two-way radios receive transmissions carried upon a second carrier frequency;

wherein the repeater unit receives transmission carried upon the first carrier frequency, and broadcasts transmissions upon the second carrier frequency, thereby enabling the first and second two-way radios to communicate;

wherein the repeater unit establishes a first window of time corresponding to the first radio and a second window of time corresponding to the second radio;

wherein, the repeater unit awaits a transmission from the first radio during the first window of time, and awaits a transmission from the second radio during the second window of time;

wherein, the repeater unit records absence of transmission from the first radio, if no transmission is received from the first radio during the first window of time;

wherein, the repeater unit records absence of transmission from the second radio, if no transmission is received from the second radio during the second window of time;

wherein, the repeater unit identifies the first radio as nonfunctional if the number of times absence of transmission by the first radio has been recorded exceeds a threshold; and

wherein, the repeater unit identifies the second radio as nonfunctional if the number of times absence of transmission by the second radio has been recorded exceeds a threshold.

14. The wireless intercom system of claim 13 , wherein:

the repeater unit receives an alarm signal from an auxiliary device other than a two-way radio.

15. The wireless intercom system of claim 14 , wherein the auxiliary device is a temperature sensor.

16. The wireless intercom system of claim 14 , wherein the auxiliary device is a water sensor.

17. The wireless intercom system of claim 14 , wherein the auxiliary device is a humidity sensor.

18. The wireless intercom system of claim 14 , wherein the auxiliary device is an electrical current sensor.

19. The wireless intercom system of claim 14 , wherein the repeater unit is configured to identify the auxiliary device as nonfunctional upon receiving the alarm signal.

20. The wireless intercom system of claim 19 , wherein the repeater unit is configured to present a message on a display screen regarding the auxiliary device, upon the auxiliary device being identified as nonfunctional.

21. The wireless intercom system of claim 19 , wherein the repeater unit communicates a request for service, upon identifying the auxiliary device as nonfunctional.

22. The wireless intercom system of claim 21 , wherein:

the repeater unit further comprises a modem; and

wherein an electronic mail message requesting service is transmitted via the modem, upon identifying the auxiliary device as nonfunctional.

23. The wireless intercom system of claim 21 , wherein:

the repeater unit further comprises a modem; and

wherein an alpha-numeric page requesting service is transmitted via the modem, upon identifying the auxiliary device as nonfunctional.

24. The wireless intercom system of claim 21 , wherein:

the repeater unit further comprises a modem; and

a repair service is contacted via the modem, upon identifying the auxiliary device as nonfunctional.

25. The wireless intercom system of claim 14 , wherein the repeater unit is programmed to execute the following steps:

assign a first delay period to the first radio and a second delay period to the second radio;

broadcast a query signal to the first and second radios;

open the first time window for the first radio after waiting the first delay period following the broadcast of the query signal;

open the second time window for the second radio after waiting the second delay period following the broadcast of the query signal;

close the first time window after waiting for a pre-defined period to elapse; and

close the second time window after waiting for the pre-defined period of time to elapse.

26. The wireless intercom system of claim 14 , wherein the repeater unit is programmed to execute the following steps:

transmit a first query signal containing a code identifying the first radio;

open the first time window following the transmission of the first query signal;

close the first time window after waiting for a pre-defined period to elapse;

transmit a second query signal containing a code identifying the second radio;

open the second time window following the transmission of second first query signal; and

close the second time window after waiting for a pre-defined period to elapse.

27. The wireless intercom system of claim 14 , wherein:

the repeater unit includes a display; and

wherein, upon identifying a radio as nonfunctional, a message identifying the nonfunctional radio is presented upon the display.

28. The wireless intercom system of claim 27 , wherein: the repeater unit communicates a request for service upon identifying the auxiliary device as nonfunctional.