Multimode land mobile radio

1. A land mobile radio (LMR) comprising:

a common LMR application module configured to generate LMR content formatted in accordance with an LMR application layer protocol format;

an LMR communication module configured to support a plurality of LMR services by communicating said LMR content over an LMR network using an LMR network transport protocol, said LMR communication module including said common LMR application module and an LMR transport module;

a cellular data network communication module configured to support said plurality of LMR services by communicating said LMR content over a cellular data network using a cellular network transport protocol, and without conversion of said LMR content from said LMR application layer protocol format to a cellular application layer protocol format, said cellular data network communication module including said common LMR application module, an LMR encapsulation module and a cellular radio modem;

said LMR encapsulation module configured to encapsulate said LMR content using a packet switching protocol, without said conversion of said LMR content, when communicating using the cellular data network, said packet switching protocol including an Internet Protocol (IP) layer, and wherein said LMR encapsulation module is configured to encapsulate said LMR content exclusive of any intermediate presentation or session protocol layer between an LMR application layer and said IP layer;

a selector coupled to said LMR communication module and said cellular data network communication module;

an input/output module including transmission and receiving components configured for transmitting and receiving to and from an LMR network and a cellular data network; and

a processor coupled to said selector and configured to select one of said LMR communication module and said cellular data network communication module for communicating said LMR content from said common LMR application module.

2. An LMR in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the cellular network transport protocol comprises a packet switching protocol.

3. An LMR in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a user interface communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to receive a user input to select one of the LMR communication module and cellular data network module for communication of said LMR content.

4. An LMR in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said processor is configured to automatically select one of the LMR communication module and cellular data network communication module for communication of said LMR content.

5. An LMR in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said processor is configured to automatically select one of the LMR communication module and cellular data network communication module for communication of said LMR content based on at least one of an operating condition, a user setting, a predetermined setting and a type of LMR communication.

6. An LMR in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a display configured to identify a selected communication network.

7. An LMR in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a housing having the LMR communication module and cellular data network communication module therein and configured to provide handheld operation.

8. An LMR in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a housing having the LMR communication module and cellular data network communication module therein and configured in a desktop or dashboard operating configuration.

9. An LMR in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a processor configured to allow at least one of end-to-end encryption and end-to-end digital encoding with at least one other LMR unit.

10. A multimode terminal device comprising:

a land mobile radio (LMR) including

a common LMR application module configured to generate LMR content formatted in accordance with an LMR application layer protocol format, and

an LMR communication module configured to support a plurality of LMR services by communicating said LMR content over an LMR network using an LMR network transport protocol said LMR communication module including said common LMR application module and an LMR transport module;

a cellular data network communication module configured to support said plurality of LMR services by communicating said LMR content over a cellular radio data system using a cellular network transport protocol and without converting the application layer format of the LMR content to a cellular application layer protocol format, said cellular data network communication module including said common LMR application module, an LMR encapsulation module and a cellular radio modem; and

said LMR encapsulation module configured to encapsulate said LMR content using a packet switching protocol when communicating using the cellular radio data system, said packet switching protocol including an Internet Protocol (IP) layer, and wherein said LMR encapsulation module is configured to encapsulate said LMR content exclusive of any intermediate presentation or session protocol layer between an LMR application layer and said IP layer;

a selector coupled to said LMR communication module and said cellular data network communication module;

an input/output module including transmission and receiving components configured for transmitting and receiving to and from an LMR network and a cellular data network; and

a processor coupled to said selector and configured to select one of said LMR communication module and said cellular data network communication module for communicating said LMR content from said common LMR application module.

11. A multimode terminal device in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the LMR is configured to communicate said LMR content over said LMR network using an LMR protocol and the cellular radio modem is configured to communicate said LMR content over said cellular radio data system using an LMR-over-cellular protocol.

12. A multimode terminal device in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the LMR is configured to communicate said LMR content over said LMR network using one of a Project 25 (TIA 102), an ETS1 TETRA airlink protocol, an OpenSky M/A-COM proprietary format, a NetworkFirst and an EDACS system proprietary format.

13. A multimode terminal device in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the cellular radio modem is configured to communicate said LMR content over said cellular radio data system using one of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO), Universal Mobile Telephone Service (UMTS) and 802.11 system standard.

14. A multimode terminal device in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said processor is further configured to automatically select for communication of said LMR content one of the LMR communication module and said cellular data network communication module based on at least one of an operating condition, a user setting, a predetermined setting and a type of LMR communication.

15. A multimode terminal device in accordance with claim 10 , further comprising a user interface configured to receive a user input to select for communication of said LMR content one of the LMR communication module and the cellular data network communication module.