Communication manager for providing multimedia in a group communication network

• US 20040057449A1
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,411,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/432
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A system and method for providing group communication services is disclosed. Each of a plurality of group communication devices converts media, such as video, audio, image and/or data into data packets suitable for transmission over a data network, such as the Internet. The data packets are selectively transmitted through the data network to a communications manager. The communications manager acts as a configurable switch, allowing communications from any communication device to be selectively routed to the plurality of communication devices based on the types of the communication devices and/or the requests received from the corresponding users. The communications manager further allows users of other communication systems and devices to participate in group communications with each other.

Claims

1. A method in a communication manager for communicating multimedia among a plurality of communication devices (CDs) operating in a group communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a first media;

receiving a second media; and

selectively broadcasting the first media, the second media, or both, to at least one of the plurality of CDs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first media includes video and said second media includes audio.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of communication devices comprise a video camera and a still camera.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said selectively broadcasting includes selectively broadcasting based on requests received from the plurality of target communication devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said selectively broadcasting includes selectively broadcasting based on types of the plurality of target communication devices.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said selectively broadcasting includes selectively broadcasting the video at a reduced rate.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said selectively broadcasting includes selectively broadcasting a still image.

34. The method of claim 1, further including arbitrating among a first plurality of users for receiving the first media, each of the users providing the first media.

35. The method of claim 1, further including arbitrating among a second plurality of users for receiving the second media, each of the users providing the second media.

36. The method of claim 1, further including arbitrating among a third plurality of users for receiving the first and the second media, each of the users providing both the first and the second media.

8. A computer-readable medium embodying a method for communicating multimedia among a plurality of communication devices (CDs) operating in a group communication network, the method comprising:

receiving first media;

receiving second media; and

selectively broadcasting the first media, the second media, or both, to at least one of the plurality of CDs.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said first media includes video and said second media includes audio.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said plurality of communication devices comprise a video camera and a still camera.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said selectively broadcasting includes selectively broadcasting based on requests received from the plurality of target communication devices.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said selectively broadcasting includes selectively broadcasting based on types of the plurality of target communication devices.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said selectively broadcasting includes selectively broadcasting the video at a reduced rate.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said selectively broadcasting includes selectively broadcasting a still image.

15. An apparatus for communicating multimedia among a plurality of communication devices (CDs) operating in a group communication network, comprising:

means for receiving a first media;

means for receiving a second media; and

means for selectively broadcasting the first media, the second media, or both, to at least one of the plurality of CDs.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for receiving said first media includes means for receiving video and said means for receiving said second media includes means for receiving audio.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said plurality of communication devices comprise a video camera and a still camera.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for selectively broadcasting includes means for selectively broadcasting based on requests received from the plurality of target communication devices.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for selectively broadcasting includes means for selectively broadcasting based on types of the plurality of target communication devices.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said means for selectively broadcasting includes means for selectively broadcasting the video at a reduced rate.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said means for selectively broadcasting includes means for selectively broadcasting a still image.

22. A communication manager, comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter; and

a processor programmed to implement a method for communicating multimedia among a plurality of communication devices (CDs) operating in a group communication network, the method comprising;

receiving a first media;

receiving a second media; and

selectively broadcasting the first media, the second media, or both, to at least one of the plurality of CDs.

23. The communication manager of claim 22, wherein said first media includes video and said second media includes audio.

24. The communication manager of claim 22, wherein said plurality of communication devices comprise a video camera and a still camera.

25. The communication manager of claim 22, wherein said selectively broadcasting includes selectively broadcasting based on requests received from the plurality of target communication devices.

26. The communication manager of claim 22, wherein said selectively broadcasting includes selectively broadcasting based on types of the plurality of target communication devices.

27. The communication manager of claim 23, wherein said selectively broadcasting includes selectively broadcasting the video at a reduced rate.

28. The communication manager of claim 23, wherein said selectively broadcasting includes selectively broadcasting a still image.

29. A system for providing group communication services to a plurality of communication devices, comprising.

a first communication device for converting a first media into data packets suitable for transmission over a data network, for selectively providing said data packets to said data network, and for selectively receiving data packets from said data network;

a second communication device for converting a second media into data packets suitable for transmission over said data network, for selectively providing said data packets to said data network, and for selectively receiving data packets from said data network; and

a communications manager communicatively connected to said data network for receiving said first media and said second media, and selectively providing said first media, said second media, or both, to at least one of said plurality of communication devices.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said first media includes video and said second media includes audio.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein said plurality of communication devices comprises a video camera and a still camera.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein said communications manager selectively provides said first media, said second media, or both, to at least one of said plurality of communication devices based on types of said plurality of communication devices.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein said communications manager selectively provides said first media, said second media, or both, to at least one of said plurality of communication devices based on requests received from said plurality of communication devices.