Relay-mode and direct-mode operations for push-to-talk-over-cellular (PoC) using WiFi-technologies
First Claim
1. A system for providing communication services in a communications network comprising:
- a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) server configured to interface with a wireless communications network to perform communications services for a plurality of mobile units, the communications services including a two-way, half-duplex voice call within the plurality of mobile units comprising a PoC call session, wherein;
the PoC server and the plurality of mobile units are configured to communicate with each other using control messages, and a media server is configured to switch PoC voice messages between the plurality of mobile units;
the PoC server is configured to manage the PoC call session by acting as an arbitrator for the PoC call session, and manages sending of control messages and voice messages to and from the plurality of mobile units; and
wherein a first mobile unit of the plurality of mobile units relays the control messages and the voice messages from the PoC server and the media server to a second mobile unit of the plurality of mobile units.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for relay-mode and direct-mode operations for Push-to-talk-over-Cellular (PoC) using WiFi technologies. One or more servers interface to a wireless communications network to perform advanced voice services for mobile units therein, wherein the advanced voice services include an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of the mobile units comprising a PoC call session. Both the servers and the mobile units that use the advanced group services communicate with each other using control messages within the wireless communications network. At least one of the servers switches voice messages for the advanced group services between the mobile units across the wireless communications network. At least one of the servers manages the call session by acting as an arbitrator for the call session and by controlling the sending of the control messages and the voice messages to and from the mobile units. At least one of the mobile units performs Relay-Mode or Direct-Mode operations using WiFi communications for delivery of the control messages and the voice messages to and from others of the mobile units, thereby enabling the advanced voice services when access to the wireless communications network by the others of the mobile units is limited.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for providing communication services in a communications network comprising:
a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) server configured to interface with a wireless communications network to perform communications services for a plurality of mobile units, the communications services including a two-way, half-duplex voice call within the plurality of mobile units comprising a PoC call session, wherein; the PoC server and the plurality of mobile units are configured to communicate with each other using control messages, and a media server is configured to switch PoC voice messages between the plurality of mobile units; the PoC server is configured to manage the PoC call session by acting as an arbitrator for the PoC call session, and manages sending of control messages and voice messages to and from the plurality of mobile units; and wherein a first mobile unit of the plurality of mobile units relays the control messages and the voice messages from the PoC server and the media server to a second mobile unit of the plurality of mobile units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method comprising:
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providing, by a server in a telecommunications platform, push-to-talk (PTT) services to a plurality of mobile units; assigning, by the server, a first mobile unit of the plurality of mobile units to relay PTT services messages from the server to one or more second mobile units of the plurality of mobile units; transmitting, by the server, a PTT message to the first mobile unit using a wide area network (WAN); and instructing, by the server, the first mobile unit to relay the PTT message to the one or more second mobile units using a communications mechanism different than the WAN. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a first mobile unit, a first message from a server of a telecommunications platform over a wide area network (WAN), wherein the telecommunications platform provides push to talk (PTT) services, wherein the first message is a PTT voice message or a PTT control message for a group call session; and relaying, by the first mobile unit, the first message to a second mobile unit over a communications mechanism different than the WAN, wherein the second mobile unit and the first mobile unit are participants of the group call session, wherein the communications mechanism comprises a local access network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification