Methods and apparatus for automatically recording Push-To-Talk (PTT) voice communications for replay

• US 20060003740A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Munje, Arun
• Granted Patent: US 7,398,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64

Abstract

In one illustrative example, a mobile station includes a wireless transceiver which operates with a wireless communication network; a processor; memory coupled to the processor; and a user interface which includes a Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch for transmitting a PTT voice communication through the wireless transceiver, a PTT replay switch for replaying a PTT voice communication previously received through the wireless transceiver which is stored in the memory, and a speaker for outputting audible voice signals. The wireless transceiver is operative to receive a PTT key message; receive voice data of a PTT voice communication following the PTT key message; and receive a PTT dekey message following the voice data. The processor is operative to cause the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be recorded in the memory based on receiving the PTT key message, and cause the recording of voice data of the PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the PTT dekey message. Subsequently, in response to detecting a user actuation of the PTT replay switch, the processor causes the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be retrieved from the memory and audible voice signals corresponding to the voice data to be output from the speaker.

Claims

1. A method for use in recording and replaying Push-To-Talk (PTT) voice communications in a mobile station, comprising:

receiving a PTT key message at a mobile station through a wireless communication network;

receiving voice data of a PTT voice communication following the PTT key message;

causing the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be recorded in memory of the mobile station based on receiving the PTT key message;

receiving a PTT dekey message at the mobile station through the wireless communication network; and

causing the recording of voice data of the PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the PTT dekey message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to detecting a user actuation of a switch at a user interface of the mobile station, causing the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be retrieved from the memory and audible voice signals corresponding to the voice data to be output from a speaker of the mobile station.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a sender identification associated with the PTT voice communication; and

storing the voice communication in association with the sender identification in the memory.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a sender identification associated with the PTT voice communication;

storing the voice communication in association with the sender identification in the memory; and

wherein the sender identification comprises a telephone number.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a sender identification associated with the PTT voice communication;

storing the voice communication in association with the sender identification in the memory; and

visually displaying the sender identification in association with a saved PTT voice communication indicator in a visual display of the mobile station.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a circular buffer memory.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice data comprises compressed voice data stored in the memory.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the PTT key message comprises a first PTT key message, the PTT dekey message comprises a first PTT dekey message, the voice data comprises first voice data, and the PTT voice communication comprises a first PTT voice communication, the method further comprising:

receiving a second PTT key message at a mobile station through the wireless communication network;

receiving second voice data of a second PTT voice communication following the second PTT key message;

causing the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be recorded in memory of the mobile station, in addition to the first voice data of the first PTT voice communication;

receiving a second PTT dekey message at the mobile station through the wireless communication network; and

causing the recording of the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the second PTT dekey message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the PTT key message comprises a first PTT key message, the PTT dekey message comprises a first PTT dekey message, the voice data comprises first voice data, and the PTT voice communication comprises a first PTT voice communication, the method further comprising:

receiving a first sender identification associated with the first PTT voice communication;

storing the first sender identification in association with the first voice data in the memory;

receiving a second PTT key message at a mobile station through the wireless communication network;

receiving second voice data of a second PTT voice communication following the second PTT key message, the second voice data being associated with a second sender identification;

causing the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be recorded in memory of the mobile station based on receiving the second PTT key message, in addition to the first voice data of the first PTT voice communication stored in the memory;

causing the second sender identification to be stored in association with the second voice data recorded in the memory;

receiving a second PTT dekey message at the mobile station through the wireless communication network; and

causing the recording of the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the second PTT dekey message.

10. A mobile station, comprising:

a wireless transceiver adapted to operate within a wireless communication network;

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

a user interface which includes;

a Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch for transmitting a PTT voice communication through the wireless transceiver;

a PTT replay switch for replaying a PTT voice communication previously received through the wireless transceiver and stored in the memory;

a speaker for outputting audible voice signals;

the wireless transceiver being operative to;

receive a PTT key message;

receive voice data of a PTT voice communication following the PTT key message;

receive a PTT dekey message following the voice data;

the one or more processors being operative to;

cause the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be recorded in the memory based on receiving the PTT key message; and

cause the recording of voice data of the PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the PTT dekey message.

11. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

in response to detecting a user actuation of the PTT replay switch, cause the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be retrieved from the memory and audible voice signals corresponding to the voice data to be output from the speaker.

12. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

receive a sender identification associated with the PTT voice communication; and

store the voice communication in association with the sender identification in the memory.

13. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are operative to:

receive a sender identification associated with the PTT voice communication;

store the voice communication in association with the sender identification in the memory; and

wherein the sender identification comprises a telephone number.

14. The mobile station of claim 10, further comprising:

a visual display of the user interface;

wherein the one or more processors are further operative to;

receive a sender identification associated with the PTT voice communication;

cause the sender identification to be stored in association with the voice data in the memory; and

cause the sender identification to be visually displayed in association with a saved PTT voice communication indicator in the visual display.

15. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the memory comprises a circular buffer memory.

16. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the memory records voice data comprising compressed voice data.

17. The mobile station of claim 10, further comprising:

wherein the PTT key message comprises a first PTT key message;

wherein the PTT dekey message comprises a first PTT dekey message;

wherein the voice data comprises first voice data;

wherein the PTT voice communication comprises a first PTT voice communication;

wherein the wireless transceiver is further operative to;

receive a second PTT key message;

receive second voice data of a second PTT voice communication following the second PTT key message;

receive a second PTT dekey message;

wherein the one or more processors are further operative to;

cause the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be recorded in memory of the mobile station, in addition to the first voice data of the first PTT voice communication; and

cause the recording of the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the second PTT dekey message.

18. The mobile station of claim 10, further comprising:

wherein the PTT key message comprises a first PTT key message;

wherein the PTT dekey message comprises a first PTT dekey message;

wherein the voice data comprises first voice data;

wherein the PTT voice communication comprises a first PTT voice communication;

wherein the wireless transceiver is further operative to;

receive a first sender identification associated with the first PTT voice communication;

store the first sender identification in association with the first voice data in the memory;

receive a second PTT key message;

receive second voice data of a second PTT voice communication following the second PTT key message, the second voice data being associated with a second sender identification;

receive a second PTT dekey message;

wherein the one or more processors are further operative to;

cause the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be recorded in memory of the mobile station, in addition to the first voice data of the first PTT voice communication;

cause the second sender identification to be stored in association with the second voice data recorded in the memory; and

cause the recording of the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the second PTT dekey message.

19. A computer program product, comprising:

a storage medium;

computer instructions stored in the storage medium; and

the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors for;

receiving a PTT key message;

receiving voice data of a PTT voice communication following the PTT key message;

causing the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be recorded in memory based on receiving the PTT key message;

receiving a PTT dekey message following the voice data; and

causing the recording of voice data of the PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the PTT dekey message.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

in response to detecting a user actuation of a switch, causing the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be retrieved from the memory and audible voice signals corresponding to the voice data to be output.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

receiving a sender identification associated with the PTT voice communication; and

storing the voice communication in association with the sender identification in the memory.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

receiving a sender identification associated with the PTT voice communication;

storing the voice communication in association with the sender identification in the memory; and

wherein the sender identification comprises a telephone number.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

receiving a sender identification associated with the PTT voice communication;

storing the voice communication in association with the sender identification in the memory; and

visually displaying the sender identification in association with a saved PTT voice communication indicator.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the memory comprises a circular buffer memory.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the voice data comprises compressed voice data.

26. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the PTT key message comprises a first PTT key message, the PTT dekey message comprises a first PTT dekey message, the voice data comprises first voice data, and the PTT voice communication comprises a first PTT voice communication, the computer instructions being further executable for:

receiving a second PTT key message;

receiving second voice data of a second PTT voice communication following the second PTT key message;

causing the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be recorded in memory, in addition to the first voice data of the first PTT voice communication;

receiving a second PTT dekey message following the second voice data; and

causing the recording of the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the second PTT dekey message.

27. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the PTT key message comprises a first PTT key message, the PTT dekey message comprises a first PTT dekey message, the voice data comprises first voice data, and the PTT voice communication comprises a first PTT voice communication, the computer instructions being further executable for:

receiving a first sender identification associated with the first PTT voice communication;

storing the first sender identification in association with the first voice data in the memory;

receiving a second PTT key message;

receiving second voice data of a second PTT voice communication following the second PTT key message, the second voice data being associated with a second sender identification;

causing the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be recorded in memory based on receiving the second PTT key message, in addition to the first voice data of the first PTT voice communication stored in the memory;

causing the second sender identification to be stored in association with the second voice data recorded in the memory;

receiving a second PTT dekey message; and

causing the recording of the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the second PTT dekey message.

28. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a wireless communication network;

a Push-to-talk (PTT) server coupled in the wireless network;

one or more mobile stations adapted to operate in the wireless communication network, each mobile station including;

a wireless transceiver adapted to operate within the wireless communication network;

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

a user interface which includes;

a Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch for transmitting a PTT voice communication through the wireless transceiver;

a PTT replay switch for replaying a PTT voice communication previously received through the wireless transceiver and stored in the memory;

a speaker for outputting audible voice signals;

the wireless transceiver being operative to;

receive a PTT key message;

receive voice data of a PTT voice communication following the PTT key message;

receive a PTT dekey message following the PTT voice communication;

the one or more processors being operative to;

cause the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be recorded in the memory based on receiving the PTT key message; and

cause the recording of voice data of the PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the PTT dekey message.

29. The wireless communication system of claim 28, wherein the one or more processors of the mobile station are further operative to:

in response to detecting a user actuation of the PTT replay switch, cause the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be retrieved from the memory and audible voice signals corresponding to the voice data to be output from the speaker.

30. The wireless communication system of claim 28, wherein the one or more processors of the mobile station are further operative to:

receive a sender identification associated with the PTT voice communication; and

store the voice communication in association with the sender identification in the memory.

31. The wireless communication system of claim 28, wherein the one or more processors of the mobile station are further operative to:

receive a sender identification associated with the PTT voice communication;

store the voice communication in association with the sender identification in the memory; and

wherein the sender identification comprises a telephone number.

32. The wireless communication system of claim 28, further comprising:

the mobile station further including a visual display;

wherein the one or more processors of the mobile station are further operative to;

receive a sender identification associated with the PTT voice communication;

cause the sender identification to be stored in association with the voice data in the memory; and

cause the sender identification to be visually displayed in association with a saved PTT voice communication indicator in the visual display.

33. The wireless communication system of claim 28, wherein the memory of the mobile station comprises a circular buffer memory.

34. The wireless communication system of claim 28, wherein the memory of the mobile station records voice data comprising compressed voice data.

35. The wireless communication system of claim 28, further comprising:

wherein the PTT key message comprises a first PTT key message;

wherein the PTT dekey message comprises a first PTT dekey message;

wherein the voice data comprises first voice data;

wherein the PTT voice communication comprises a first PTT voice communication;

wherein the wireless transceiver of the mobile station is further operative to;

receive a second PTT key message;

receive second voice data of a second PTT voice communication following the second PTT key message;

receive a second PTT dekey message;

wherein the one or more processors of the mobile station are further operative to;

cause the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be recorded in memory of the mobile station, in addition to the first voice data of the first PTT voice communication; and

cause the recording of the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the second PTT dekey message.

36. The wireless communication system of claim 28, further comprising:

wherein the PTT key message comprises a first PTT key message;

wherein the PTT dekey message comprises a first PTT dekey message;

wherein the voice data comprises first voice data;

wherein the PTT voice communication comprises a first PTT voice communication;

wherein the wireless transceiver of the mobile station is further operative to;

receive a first sender identification associated with the first PTT voice communication;

store the first sender identification in association with the first voice data in the memory;

receive a second PTT key message;

receive second voice data of a second PTT voice communication following the second PTT key message, the second voice data being associated with a second sender identification;

receive a second PTT dekey message;

wherein the one or more processors of the mobile station are further operative to;

cause the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be recorded in memory of the mobile station, in addition to the first voice data of the first PTT voice communication;

cause the second sender identification to be stored in association with the second voice data recorded in the memory; and

cause the recording of the second voice data of the second PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the second PTT dekey message.