Communications system having mobile wireless communications devices operative in push-to-talk mode workgroup and hands-free mode work subgroups and associated methods
A communications system may include a command communications device and mobile wireless communications devices responsive to the command communications device to be assigned into a push-to-talk mode workgroup and with subsets of the mobile wireless communications devices also to be assigned to respective different hands-free mode work subgroups. Each mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing operable in the push-to-talk mode and the hands-free mode, and a controller carried by the portable housing, coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver, and responsive to the command communications device to operate in the assigned push-to-talk mode workgroup and the assigned hands-free mode work subgroup.
1. A communications system comprising:
a command communications device; and
a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices responsive to the command communications device to be assigned into a push-to-talk mode workgroup and with subsets of the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices also to be assigned to respective different hands-free mode work subgroups;
each mobile wireless communications device comprising
a portable housing,
at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing operable in the push-to-talk mode and the hands-free mode, and
a controller carried by the portable housing, coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver, and responsive to the command communications device to operate in the assigned push-to-talk mode workgroup and the assigned hands-free mode work subgroup.
2. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless transceiver comprises a WiFi transceiver; and wherein the hands-free mode is operable over the WiFi transceiver.
3. The communications system of claim 2 wherein a given mobile communications device of a given hands-free mode workgroup operates as a WiFi access point.
4. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless transceiver comprises a P25 transceiver; and wherein the push-to-talk mode is operable over the P25 transceiver.
5. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to reduce an audio level of the hands-free mode when receiving a push-to-talk mode transmission.
6. The communications system of claim 1 wherein each mobile wireless communications device comprises an accessory device coupled to the controller.
7. The communications system of claim 6 wherein the accessory device comprises a wireless audio input/output device.
8. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the controller of a given mobile wireless communications device is configured to send a unique identification to the command communications device.
9. A communications system comprising:
a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices responsive to a command communications device to be assigned into a push-to-talk mode workgroup and with subsets of the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices also to be assigned to respective different hands-free mode work subgroups;
each mobile wireless communications device comprising
a portable housing,
at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing operable in the push-to-talk mode and the hands-free mode, and
a controller carried by the portable housing, coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver, and responsive to the command communications device to operate in the assigned push-to-talk mode workgroup and the assigned hands-free mode work subgroup.
10. The communications system of claim 9 wherein the at least one wireless transceiver comprises a WiFi transceiver; and wherein the hands-free mode is operable over the WiFi transceiver.
11. The communications system of claim 10 wherein a given mobile communications device of a given hands-free mode workgroup operates as a WiFi access point.
12. The communications system of claim 9 wherein the at least one wireless transceiver comprises a P25 transceiver; and wherein the push-to-talk mode is operable over the P25 transceiver.
13. The communications system of claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to reduce an audio level of the hands-free mode when receiving a push-to-talk mode transmission.
14. The communications system of claim 9 wherein each mobile wireless communications device comprises an accessory device coupled to the controller.
15. The communications system of claim 14 wherein the accessory device comprises a wireless audio input/output device.
16. The communications system of claim 9 wherein the controller of a given mobile wireless communications device is configured to send a unique identification to the command communications device.
17. A method of operating a communications system comprising:
operating a command communications device to assign a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices into a push-to-talk mode workgroup and to assign subsets of the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices to respective different hands-free mode work subgroups; and
operating a controller of each mobile wireless communications device to operate in the assigned push-to-talk mode workgroup and the assigned hands-free mode work subgroup.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the hands-free mode is operable over the WiFi transceiver.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein a given mobile communications device of a given hands-free mode workgroup operates as a WiFi access point.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the push-to-talk mode is operable over the P25 transceiver.
21. The method of claim 17 comprising operating the controller to reduce an audio level of the hands-free mode when receiving a push-to-talk mode transmission.
22. The method of claim 17 comprising operating the controller of a given mobile wireless communications device to send a unique identification to the command communications device.