Press-to-connect for wireless communications systems

• US 20060019654A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kodiak Networks Inc (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kodiak Networks Inc (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Farrill, F. Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,529,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.100
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

An advanced voice service known as “Press-to-Connect” for wireless communications systems. A real-time exchange interfaces to the wireless network to provide a Press-to-Connect (PTC) call between an initiator and one or more recipients, wherein the PTC call comprises a time-limited Press-to-Talk (P2T) call. The real-time exchange uses a Talk Timer to limit how long the user may press a button and talk (i.e., the Talk Timer limits the length of each continuous “Talk” session of the call), before a “Talk” session of the call in the wireless network is ended, and the real-time exchange uses a Call Timer to limit how long the call can last (i.e., the Call Timer limits the overall length of the call), before the call in the wireless network is ended.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing advanced voice services in a wireless network, comprising:

a real-time exchange that interfaces to the wireless network to provide a Press-to-Connect (PTC) call between an initiator and one or more recipients, wherein the PTC call comprises a time-limited Press-to-Talk (P2T) call.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the real-time exchange uses a Talk Timer to limit how long a user can talk before a “

Talk”

session of the call in the wireless network is ended, and the real-time exchange uses a Call Timer to limit how long the call can last before the call in the wireless network is ended.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the Talk Timer limits how long the user may press a button and talk before the “

Talk”

session of the call is ended.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the Talk Timer limits the length of each continuous “

Talk”

session of the call.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the Call Timer limits the length of the call.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the Talk Timer and Call Timer are activated upon call origination.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the Talk Timer and Call Timer are stored on a per handset or on a per user basis.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the Talk Timer and Call Timer are configurable.

9. A method of providing advanced voice services in a wireless network, comprising:

using a Talk Timer to limit how long a user can talk before a “

Talk”

session of a call in the wireless network is ended; and

using a Call Timer to limit how long the call can last before the call in the wireless network is ended.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the call is a Press-to-Connect (PTC) call between an initiator and one or more recipients, and the PTC call comprises a time-limited Press-to-Talk (P2T) call.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the Talk Timer limits how long the user may press a button and talk before the “

Talk”

session of the call is ended.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the Talk Timer limits the length of each continuous “

Talk”

session of the call.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the Call Timer limits the length of the call.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the Talk Timer and Call Timer are activated upon call origination.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the Talk Timer and Call Timer are stored on a per handset or on a per user basis.