Method and apparatus for providing arbitration in a group communication network

• US 20020077136A1
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• 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 7,079,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/518
• 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 arbitrating between a first communication device having floor control in a group communication network and a second communication device competing for floor control provides receiving a floor-control request from the second communication device, comparing respective priority levels of the first communication device and the second communication device, and granting floor control to the second communication device if the second communication device has a higher or equal priority level. In one embodiment, the controller receives the request for floor control from a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

Claims

1. A method for arbitrating between a first communication device having floor control in a group communication network and a second communication device competing for floor control, the method comprising:

receiving a floor-control request from the second communication device;

comparing respective priority levels of the first communication device and the second communication device; and

granting floor control to the second communication device if the second communication device has a higher or equal priority level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving includes receiving the request from a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority levels are dynamically assigned.

4. The method of claim 1, further including:

interrupting the first communication device after said granting floor control to the second communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, further including:

informing participating communication devices in the network that the second communication device has the floor control.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein if the second communication device has a lower priority level, informing the second communication device that it has been denied floor control.

7. A method for arbitrating between a first communication device and a second communication device competing for floor control in a group communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a first floor-control request from the first communication device;

placing the first communication in a wake-up state;

receiving a second floor-control request from the second communication device;

comparing respective priority levels of the first communication device and the second communication device; and

placing the second communication device in the wake-up state if the second communication device has a higher or equal priority level.

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

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the priority levels are dynamically assigned.

10. The method of claim 7, further including:

bringing the first communication device out of the wake-up state after said granting floor control to the second communication device.

11. The method of claim 7, further including:

informing participating communication devices in the network that the second communication device has been placed in the wake-up state.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein if the second communication device has a lower priority level, informing the second communication device that it has been denied floor control.

13. A computer-readable medium embodying a method for arbitrating between a first communication device having floor control in a group communication network and a second communication device competing for floor control, the method comprising:

receiving a floor-control request from the second communication device;

comparing respective priority levels of the first communication device and the second communication device; and

granting floor control to the second communication device if the second communication device has a higher or equal priority level.

14. A computer-readable medium embodying a method for arbitrating between a first communication device and a second communication device competing for floor control in a group communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a first floor-control request from the first communication device;

placing the first communication in a wake-up state;

receiving a second floor-control request from the second communication device;

comparing respective priority levels of the first communication device and the second communication device; and

placing the second communication device in the wake-up state if the second communication device has a higher or equal priority level.

15. An apparatus for arbitrating between a first communication device having floor control in a group communication network and a second communication device competing for floor control, comprising:

means for receiving a floor-control request from the second communication device;

means for comparing respective priority levels of the first communication device and the second communication device; and

means for granting floor control to the second communication device if the second communication device has a higher or equal priority level.

16. An apparatus for arbitrating between a first communication device and a second communication device competing for floor control in a group communication network, comprising:

means for receiving a first floor-control request from the first communication device;

means for placing the first communication in a wake-up state;

means for receiving a second floor-control request from the second communication device;

means for comparing respective priority levels of the first communication device and the second communication device; and

means for placing the second communication device in the wake-up state if the second communication device has a higher or equal priority level.

17. An apparatus for arbitrating between a first communication device having floor control in a group communication network and a second communication device competing for floor control, 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 the second communication device;

comparing respective priority levels of the first communication device and the second communication device; and

granting floor control to the second communication device if the second communication device has a higher or equal priority level.

18. An apparatus for arbitrating between a first communication device and a second communication device competing for floor control in a group communication network, 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 first floor-control request from the first communication device;

placing the first communication in a wake-up state;

receiving a second floor-control request from the second communication device;

comparing respective priority levels of the first communication device and the second communication device; and

placing the second communication device in the wake-up state if the second communication device has a higher or equal priority level.