Method for a session initiation protocol push-to-talk terminal to indicate answer operating mode to an internet protocol push-to-talk network server

• US 20050255811A1
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Buckley, Adrian, Allen, Andrew M., Sundresh, Bokinakere S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

A push-to-talk communication device including an operating answer mode indicates that operating answer mode to a Session Initiation Protocol/Internet Protocol based push-to-talk network server. The method includes employing as the operating answer mode of the push-to-talk communication device one of an automatic-answer mode, an always-automatic-answer mode and a manual-answer mode. A Session Initiation Protocol/Internet Protocol core network is employed including a Session Initiation Protocol/Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server. The operating answer mode is indicated in a Session Initiation Protocol message from the push-to-talk communication device to the Session Initiation Protocol/Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server over the Session Initiation Protocol/Internet Protocol core network.

Claims

1. A method for a push-to-talk communication device including an operating mode to indicate said operating mode to a push-to-talk network server, said method comprising:

employing as the operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device one of a first answer mode and a second answer mode;

employing a communication network including a push-to-talk network server; and

indicating said operating mode in a Session Initiation Protocol message from said push-to-talk communication device to said push-to-talk network server over said communication network.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

employing as said first answer mode an automatic-answer mode;

employing as said second answer mode a manual-answer mode;

employing as said communication network an Internet Protocol core network; and

employing as said push-to-talk network server an Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

registering the operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device with said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

employing a Session Initiation Protocol registrar on said Internet Protocol core network; and

sending a first Session Initiation Protocol Register message from said push-to-talk communication device to said Session Initiation Protocol registrar.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

sending a second Session Initiation Protocol Register message from said Session Initiation Protocol registrar to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

employing as the operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device said automatic-answer mode; and

including in said first Session Initiation Protocol Register message a header having a parameter representing said automatic-answer mode.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

sending a second Session Initiation Protocol Register message from said Session Initiation Protocol registrar to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server;

including in said second Session Initiation Protocol Register message a header having a parameter representing said automatic-answer mode; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said automatic-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

employing as the operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device an always-automatic-answer mode; and

including in said first Session Initiation Protocol Register message a header having a parameter representing said always-automatic-answer mode.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

sending a second Session Initiation Protocol Register message from said Session Initiation Protocol registrar to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server;

including in said second Session Initiation Protocol Register message a header having a parameter representing said always-automatic-answer mode; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said always-automatic-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

10. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

employing as the operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device said manual-answer mode; and

including in said first Session Initiation Protocol Register message a header having a parameter representing said manual-answer mode.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

sending a second Session Initiation Protocol Register message from said Session Initiation Protocol registrar to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server;

including in said second Session Initiation Protocol Register message a header having a parameter representing said manual-answer mode; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said manual-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

12. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

notifying said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server of the operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Subscribe message associated with said operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device from said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server to said Internet Protocol core network; and

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Subscribe message by said Internet Protocol core network to said push-to-talk communication device.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

defining and employing an event package, including said automatic-answer mode, which is owned by said push-to-talk communication device.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

subscribing using said Session Initiation Protocol Subscribe message to said event package on said push-to-talk communication device;

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Notify message for said automatic-answer mode from said push-to-talk communication device to said Internet Protocol core network;

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Notify message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said automatic-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

defining and employing an event package, including said automatic-answer mode, which is owned by said push-to-talk communication device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Publish message containing said event package associated with said operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device from said push-to-talk communication device to said Internet Protocol core network;

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Publish message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said automatic-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

defining and employing an event package, including an always-automatic-answer mode, which is owned by said push-to-talk communication device.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

subscribing using said Session Initiation Protocol Subscribe message to said event package on said push-to-talk communication device;

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Notify message for said always-automatic-answer mode from said push-to-talk communication device to said Internet Protocol core network;

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Notify message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said always-automatic-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

defining and employing an event package, including an always-automatic-answer mode, which is owned by said push-to-talk communication device.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Publish message containing said event package associated with said operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device from said push-to-talk communication device to said Internet Protocol core network;

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Publish message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said always-automatic-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

22. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

defining and employing an event package, including said manual-answer mode, which is owned by said push-to-talk communication device.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

subscribing using said Session Initiation Protocol Subscribe message to said event package on said push-to-talk communication device;

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Notify message for said manual-answer mode from said push-to-talk communication device to said Internet Protocol core network;

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Notify message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said manual-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

24. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

defining and employing an event package, including said manual-answer mode, which is owned by said push-to-talk communication device.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Publish message containing said event package associated with said operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device from said push-to-talk communication device to said Internet Protocol core network;

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Publish message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said manual-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

26. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

publishing the operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device to a Presence server of said Internet Protocol core network.

27. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

publishing the operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device to an Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

defining and employing an event package, for said push-to-talk communication device, including said operating mode.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Subscribe message for said event package from said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server to said Internet Protocol core network; and

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Subscribe message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Presence server of said Internet Protocol core network.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Publish message containing a representation of said automatic-answer mode from said push-to-talk communication device to said Internet Protocol core network.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Publish message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Presence server;

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Notify message containing a representation of said automatic-answer mode from said Presence server to said Internet Protocol core network;

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Notify message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said automatic-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Publish message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said automatic-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

33. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Publish message containing a representation of an always-automatic-answer mode from said push-to-talk communication device to said Internet Protocol core network.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Publish message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Presence server;

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Notify message containing a representation of said always-automatic-answer mode from said Presence server to said Internet Protocol core network;

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Notify message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said always-automatic-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Publish message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said always-automatic-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

36. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Publish message containing a representation of said manual-answer mode from said push-to-talk communication device to said Internet Protocol core network.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Publish message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Presence server;

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Notify message containing a representation of said manual-answer mode from said Presence server to said Internet Protocol core network;

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Notify message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said manual-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Publish message by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server; and

setting a state of said push-to-talk communication device to said manual-answer mode at said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

39. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

employing as said push-to-talk communication device a wireless push-to-talk terminal.

40. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

employing as said Internet Protocol core network a Session Initiation Protocol/Internet Protocol core network.

41. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

employing as said Internet Protocol core network a Session Initiation Protocol push-to-talk over cellular network to indicate said operating mode to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

42. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

selecting one of said automatic-answer mode, an always-automatic-answer mode and said manual-answer mode at said push-to-talk communication device, and responsively providing said indicating said operating mode in a Session Initiation Protocol message from said push-to-talk communication device to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server over said Internet Protocol core network.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

employing a toggle switch to select said one of said automatic-answer mode, said always-automatic-answer mode and said manual-answer mode at said push-to-talk communication device.

44. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

employing a Session Initiation Protocol Presence server on said Internet Protocol core network;

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Register message including said operating mode from said push-to-talk communication device to said Internet Protocol core network; and

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Register message including said operating mode by said Internet Protocol core network to said Presence server.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising:

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Notify message including said operating mode from said Presence server to said Internet Protocol core network; and

routing said Session Initiation Protocol Notify message including said operating mode by said Internet Protocol core network to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

46. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

employing a Session Initiation Protocol Registration server on said Internet Protocol core network;

accepting a Subscription from said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server at said Session Initiation Protocol Registration server to a Registration Event package for said push-to-talk communication device; and

registering said operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device with said Registration server.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising:

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Notify message for said operating mode from said Registration server to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

48. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

employing a Session Initiation Protocol Registration server on said Internet Protocol core network;

accepting a Subscription from said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server at said Session Initiation Protocol Registration server to a Registration Event package for said push-to-talk communication device;

registering said operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device with said Registration server; and

notifying said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server of said operating mode.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising:

employing as said operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device a first operating mode;

changing said first operating mode to a different second operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device;

registering said different second operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device with said Registration server; and

notifying said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server of said different second operating mode.

50. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

employing a Session Initiation Protocol Registration server on said Internet Protocol core network;

employing a Session Initiation Protocol Presence server on said Internet Protocol core network;

accepting a Subscription from said Internet Protocol Presence server at said Session Initiation Protocol Registration server to a Registration Event package for said push-to-talk communication device; and

registering said operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device with said Registration server.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising:

sending a Session Initiation Protocol Notify message for said operating mode from said Registration server to said Presence server.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising:

sending another Session Initiation Protocol Notify message for said operating mode from said Presence server to said Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

53. A method for a push-to-talk communication device including an operating mode to indicate said operating mode to a push-to-talk network server, said method comprising:

employing as the operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device one of a first answer mode, a second answer mode and a third answer mode;

employing a communication network including a push-to-talk network server; and

indicating said operating mode in a Session Initiation Protocol message from said push-to-talk communication device to said push-to-talk network server over said communication network.

54. The method of claim 53 further comprising:

employing as the first answer mode an automatic-answer mode;

employing as the second answer mode an always-automatic-answer mode;

employing as the third answer mode a manual-answer mode;

employing as said communication network an Internet Protocol core network; and

employing as said push-to-talk network server an Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising:

employing a toggle switch to select said one of said automatic-answer mode, said always-automatic-answer mode and said manual-answer mode at said push-to-talk communication device.

56. A method for a push-to-talk communication device including an operating mode to send said operating mode to a push-to-talk network server, said method comprising:

employing as the operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device one of at least a first answer mode and a second answer mode;

employing a communication network including a push-to-talk network server; and

sending said operating mode in an event reporting message from said push-to-talk communication device or from another device on behalf of said push-to-talk communication device to said push-to-talk network server over said communication network.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising:

employing as the first answer mode an automatic-answer mode;

employing as the second answer mode a manual-answer mode;

employing as said communication network an Internet Protocol core network; and

employing as said push-to-talk network server an Internet Protocol push-to-talk network server.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising:

employing as the operating mode of said push-to-talk communication device an always-automatic-answer mode as a third answer mode.

59. The method of claim 56 further comprising:

employing a Session Initiation Protocol message as said event reporting message.

60. The method of claim 56 further comprising:

employing a Session Initiation Protocol Notify message as said event reporting message.

61. The method of claim 56 further comprising:

employing a Session Initiation Protocol Publish message as said event reporting message.

62. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

employing an event package to encode an event in said event reporting message for said operating mode.

63. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

employing an event package to encode an event in said event reporting message for said operating mode.

64. The method of claim 62 further comprising:

employing XML encoding for said event package for said event reporting message.

65. The method of claim 63 further comprising:

employing XML encoding for said event package for said event reporting message.