Controller for reducing latency in a group communication network

• US 20020058523A1
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas M. Crockett, Eric Rosen, Mark Maggenti
• Original Assignee: Douglas M. Crockett, Eric Rosen, Mark Maggenti
• Inventors: Maggenti, Mark, Rosen, Eric, Crockett, Douglas M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,151,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 Call controllers; Call servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reducing perceived latency in a group communication network provides for receiving a request from a user of a communication device wishing to initiate a group call, receiving media from the user before completely processing the request, and buffering the received media for later transmission.

Claims

1. In a controller, a method for reducing latency in a group communication network, the method comprising:

determining whether any media frame belonging to a communication protocol is lost, the media frame being directed to the controller; and

modifying the communication protocol if a media frame is lost.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying includes sending multiple messages to a sender of the media frame requesting multiple copies of the lost media frame.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sending occurs after a predetermined time period.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the messages include a negative acknowledge (NAK) message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media frame originates from a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

6. In a controller, a method for reducing latency in a group communication network, the method comprising:

receiving an indication from a communication device that a user wishes to initiate a group call;

receiving media from the user before processing the request; and

buffering the received media for later transmission to another communication device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the communication device includes a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

8. The method of claim 6, further including:

transmitting the buffered media to the other communication device if the request is granted.

9. The method of claim 6, further including:

signaling the user to stop sending media if a memory unit used for buffering the received media runs out of space before the request is completely processed and media communication is not established between the other communication device and the controller.

10. The method of claim 6, further including:

transmitting the buffered media to a target receiver if a memory unit used for buffering the received media runs out of space before the request is processed but media communication is established between the other communication device and the controller.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein a memory unit used for buffering the received media is located in the communication device.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein a memory unit used for buffering the received media is located in the controller.

18. The controller of claim 17, wherein the modifying includes sending multiple messages to a sender of the media frame, requesting multiple copies of the lost media frame.

19. The controller of claim 18, wherein the sending occurs after a predetermined time period.

20. The controller of claim 18, wherein the messages include a negative acknowledge (NAK) message.

21. The controller of claim 17, wherein the communication device includes a push-to-talk device.

13. In a controller, a computer-readable medium embodying a method for reducing latency in a group communication network, the method comprising:

determining whether any media frame belonging to a communication protocol is lost, the media frame being directed to the controller; and

modifying the communication protocol if a media frame is lost.

14. In a controller, a computer-readable medium embodying a method for reducing latency in a group communication network, the method comprising:

receiving an indication from a communication device that a user wishes to initiate a group call;

receiving media from the user before processing the request; and

buffering the received media for later transmission to another communication device.

15. A controller for reducing latency in a group communication network, comprising:

means for determining whether any media frame belonging to a communication protocol is lost, the media frame being directed to the controller; and

means for modifying the communication protocol if a media frame is lost.

16. A controller for reducing latency in a group communication network, comprising:

means for receiving an indication from a communication device that a user wishes to initiate a group call;

means for receiving media from the user before processing the request; and

means for buffering the received media for later transmission to another communication device.

17. A controller for reducing latency in a group communication network, the communication device comprising:

a receiver to receive information over the network;

a transmitter to transmit information over the network; and

a processor communicatively coupled with the receiver and the transmitter, the processor being capable of;

determining whether any media frame belonging to a communication protocol is lost, media frame being directed to the controller; and

modifying the communication protocol if a media frame is lost.

22. A controller for reducing latency in a group communication network, comprising:

a receiver to receive an indication from a communication device that a user wishes to initiate a group call;

a memory unit to buffer media that is received from the user before the request is processed;

a transmitter for transmitting the buffered data to another communication device after the request is processed; and

a processor for processing the received request and the media, the processor being communicatively coupled with the receiver, the memory unit, and the transmitter.

23. The controller of claim 22, wherein the communication device includes a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

24. The controller of claim 22, wherein the transmitter transmits the buffered media to the other communication device if the request is granted.

25. The controller of claim 22, wherein the processor signals the user to stop sending media if a memory unit used for buffering the received media runs out of space before the request is completely processed and media communication is not established between the other communication device and the controller.

26. The controller of claim 22, wherein the transmitter transmits the buffered media to the other communication device if a memory unit used for buffering the received media runs out of space before the request is processed but media communication is established between the other communication device and the controller.