Controller for providing dormant mode for a group communication network

• US 20020068595A1
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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.
• Application Number:
  US10/036,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20020068595A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/519
• 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 providing a dormant mode for push-to-talk communication devices in a group communication network provides for determining whether the communication devices in a net have been inactive for a predetermined time period and causing the net to enter the dormant mode if it is determined that the net has been inactive for the predetermined time period.

Claims

1. In a controller, a method for putting an inactive net in a group communication network into a dormant mode, the method comprising:

determining whether the net has been inactive for a predetermined time period; and

causing the net to enter the dormant mode if it is determined that the net has been inactive for the predetermined time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing includes ordering each participating communication device in the net to release its air-traffic channel.

3. The method of claim 2 further including:

maintaining sufficient connection for each participating communication device in the net for sending an out-of-dormant command.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein each participating communication device may ignore a go-dormant order.

5. The method of claim 1, further including:

causing a new communication device attempting to participate in the net to enter the dormant mode.

6. The method of claim 1, further including:

informing each participating communication device in the net that the net is put in the dormant mode.

7. In a controller, a method for bringing a net in a group communication network out of a dormant mode, the method comprising:

receiving a floor-control request from a participating communication device in the net; and

bringing the net out of the dormant mode if the request is granted.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the bringing the net out of the dormant mode includes sending wake-up commands to participating communication devices in the net before bringing the net out of the dormant mode.

9. The method of claim 8, further including:

receiving responses to the wake-up commands from a number of participating communication devices in the net before bringing the net out of the dormant mode; and

bringing the net out of the dormant mode if the number exceeds a predetermined threshold number.

10. The method of claim 9, further including:

un-registering communication devices that fail to respond to the wake-up requests within a predetermined time period.

11. The method of claim 10, further including:

re-registering a communication device that later asks to re-join the net.

12. The method of claim 8, further including:

bringing the net out of the dormant mode after a predetermined time period following sending the wake-up requests.

13. The method of claim 7, further including:

buffering information received from the participating communication device before bringing the net out of the dormant mode.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving includes receiving the floor-control request from a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

15. In a controller, a computer-readable medium embodying a method for putting an inactive net in a group communication network into a dormant mode, the method comprising:

determining whether the net h as been inactive for a predetermined time period; and

causing the net to enter the dormant mode if it is determined that the net has been inactive for the predetermined time period.

16. In a controller, a computer-readable medium embodying a method for bringing a net in a group communication network out of a dormant mode, the method comprising:

receiving a floor-control request from a participating communication device in the net; and

bringing the net out of the dormant mode if the request is granted.

17. A controller for bringing a net in a group communication network out of a dormant mode, comprising:

means for receiving a floor-control request from a communication device in the net; and

means for bringing the net out of the dormant mode if the request is granted.

18. A controller for putting a net in a group communication network into a dormant mode, comprising:

means for determining whether the net has been inactive for a predetermined time period; and

means for causing the net to enter the dormant mode if it is determined that the net has been inactive for the predetermined time period.

19. A controller for putting an inactive net in a group communication network into a dormant mode, comprising:

a receiver to receive information over the network;

a transmitter to transmit information over the network; and

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

determining whether the net has been inactive for a predetermined time period; and

causing the net to enter the dormant mode if it is determined that the net has been inactive for the predetermined time period.

20. A controller for bringing a net in a group communication network out of a dormant mode, comprising:

a receiver to receive information over the network;

a transmitter to transmit information over the network; and

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

receiving a floor-control request from a participating communication device in the net; and

bringing the net out of the dormant mode if the request is granted.

21. In a controller, a method for putting an inactive communication device in a group communication network into a dormant mode, the method comprising:

determining whether the communication device has been inactive for a predetermined time period; and

causing the communication device to enter the dormant mode if it is determined that the communication device has been inactive for the predetermined time period.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the causing includes ordering the communication device to release its air-traffic channel.

23. The method of claim 22 further including:

maintaining sufficient connection for the communication device for sending an out-of-dormant command.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the communication device may ignore a go-dormant order.

25. In a controller, a method for bringing a communication device in a group communication network out of a dormant mode, the method comprising:

receiving a floor-control request; and

bringing the communication device out of the dormant mode if the request is granted.