System and method for transmitting graphics data in a push-to-talk system

• US 20060046755A1
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kies, Jonathan K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,725,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A system and method that transmits and displays graphical images among wireless devices in a push-to-talk system A predefined set of graphical images is stored in a wireless device, and when a user presses a push-to-talk button on the wireless device, the wireless device displays a list of predefined images to the user to select. After the user selects an image, the wireless device transmits an image code associated with the selected image to a server for relaying to every wireless device in a push-to-talk communication group. When a receiving wireless device receives the image code, it retrieves an image corresponding to the image code from the predefined set and displays the image to the user of the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting graphical images information between a wireless device and a server in a push-to-talk system on a wireless telecommunication network, comprising the steps of:

displaying a predefined set of graphical images at a wireless device, wherein the a graphical image is selected for transmitting to the server, the predefined set resident on the wireless device and each graphical image in the predefined set being identified by an image code;

receiving an indication of a selected graphical image at the wireless device, wherein the indication of the selected graphical image will be transmitted from the wireless device to the server via the push-to-talk system;

selecting at the wireless device an image code corresponding to the indication of the selected graphical image; and

transmitting the image code from the wireless device to the server via a push-to-talk communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an activation request for a push-to-talk session at the wireless device; and

transmitting the activation request from the wireless device to the server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving at the wireless device from the server an indication of availability of the push-to-talk communication channel.

4. A method for displaying graphical images in a wireless device, the graphical images being received from a server through a push-to-talk communication system, comprising the steps of:

receiving at the wireless device a push-to-talk request, the push-to-talk request received from the server through a push-to-talk communication channel;

receiving an image code at the wireless device, the image code received from the server through the push-to-talk communication channel, wherein the image code represents a graphical image;

selecting the graphical image corresponding to the image code from a predefined set of graphical images stored in the wireless device, wherein each graphical image in the predefined set of graphical images is associated with a unique image code; and

displaying the graphical image at the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a first image set code at the wireless device, the first image set code identifying a first image set;

comparing the first image set code with a second image set code, the second image set code identifying the predefined set of graphical images in the wireless device; and

if the first image set code differs from the second image set code, sending a download request for new graphical images from the wireless device to the server.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of, if the image code is not listed in the predefined set of graphical images, displaying an error.

7. A method for transmitting graphical image information in a remote wireless telecommunication device received from a server in a push-to-talk system, comprising the steps of:

receiving at the server a request for a push-to-talk session;

receiving at the server an image code corresponding to a graphical image, the image code received from the wireless telecommunication device through a push-to-talk communication channel;

determining a group of intended receiving wireless telecommunication devices for the push-to-talk session;

sending an indication of the push-to-talk session to each intended receiving wireless telecommunication device in the group; and

sending the image code through the push-to-talk communication channel to each intended receiving wireless telecommunication device in the group.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

determining at the server an availability of the push-to-talk communication channel; and

if the push-to-talk communication channel is available, granting the push-to-talk communication channel to the remote wireless telecommunication device.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a graphical image at the server;

storing the graphical image in an image database in the server; and

assigning a new image set identification code to the image database.

10. An apparatus for enabling transmission and display of graphical images on a wireless telecommunication device in a push-to-talk system, comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving push-to-talk communications from a remote server;

a storage unit for receiving a predefined set of graphical images from the remote server, wherein the predefined set is identified by a image set code and includes a plurality of graphical images, each graphical image identified by an image code;

a display unit for displaying graphical images in the predefined set at the wireless telecommunication device;

an interface unit for receiving an indication of a selected graphical image;

a push-to-talk interface for receiving a push-to-talk request; and

a controller for selecting the image code corresponding to the indication and transmitting the image code and the push-to-talk request to the remote server.

11. An apparatus for enabling transmission and display of graphical images on a wireless telecommunication device during a push-to-talk session, comprising:

means for transmitting and receiving push-to-talk communications from a remote server;

means for receiving a predefined set of graphical images from the remote server, wherein the predefined set is identified by a image set code and includes a plurality of graphical images, each graphical image identified by an image code;

means for displaying graphical images in the predefined set;

means for receiving an indication of a selected graphical image;

means for receiving a push-to-talk request; and

controller means for selecting the image code corresponding to the indication and transmitting the image code and the push-to-talk request to the remote server.

12. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for transmitting graphical images information between a wireless device and a server in a push-to-talk system on a wireless telecommunication network, the computer program comprising computer instructions that when executed by a computer perform the steps of:

displaying a predefined set of graphical images at a wireless device, wherein a graphical image is selected for transmitting to the server, the predefined set resident on the wireless device and each graphical image in the predefined set being identified by an image code;

receiving an indication of a selected graphical image at the wireless device, wherein the indication of the selected graphical image will be transmitted from the wireless device to the server via the push-to-talk system;

selecting at the wireless device an image code corresponding to the indication of the selected graphical image; and

transmitting the image code from the wireless device to the server via a push-to-talk communication channel.

13. The computer program of claim 12, further performing the steps of:

receiving an activation request for a push-to-talk session at the wireless device; and

transmitting the activation request from the wireless device to the server.

14. The computer program of claim 12, further performing the step of receiving from the server an indication of availability of the push-to-talk communication channel.

15. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for displaying graphical images in a wireless device, the graphical images being received from a server through a push-to-talk communication system, the computer program comprising computer instructions that when executed by a computer perform the steps of:

receiving at the wireless device a push-to-talk request at the wireless device, the push-to-talk request received from the server through a push-to-talk communication channel;

receiving an image code at the wireless device, the image code received from the server through the push-to-talk communication channel, wherein the image code represents a graphical image;

selecting the graphical image corresponding to the image code from a predefined set of graphical images stored in the wireless device, wherein each graphical image in the predefined set of graphical images is associated with a unique image code; and

displaying the graphical image at the wireless device.

16. The computer program of claim 15, further performing the steps of:

receiving a first image set code at the wireless device, the first image set code identifying a first image set;

comparing the first image set code with a second image set code, the second image set code identifying the predefined set of graphical images in the wireless device; and

if the first image set code differs from the second image set code, sending a download request for new graphical images from the wireless device to the server.

17. The computer program of claim 15, further performing the step of, if the image code is not listed in the predefined set of graphical images, displaying an error.

18. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for transmitting graphical image information in a remote wireless telecommunication device received from a server in a push-to-talk system, the computer program comprising computer instructions that when executed by a computer perform the steps of:

receiving at the server a request for a push-to-talk session;

receiving at the server an image code corresponding to a graphical image, the image code received from the wireless telecommunication device through a push-to-talk communication channel;

determining a group of intended receiving wireless telecommunication devices for the push-to-talk session;

sending an indication of the push-to-talk session to each intended receiving wireless telecommunication device in the group; and

sending the image code through the push-to-talk communication channel to each intended receiving wireless telecommunication device in the group.

19. The computer program of claim 18, further performing the steps of:

determining at the server an availability of the push-to-talk communication channel; and

if the push-to-talk communication channel is available, granting the push-to-talk communication channel to the remote wireless telecommunication device.

20. The computer program of claim 18, further performing the steps of:

receiving a graphical image at the server;

storing the graphical image in an image database in the server; and

assigning a new image set identification code to the image database.

21. A system for transmitting and displaying graphical images during a push-to-talk communication session in a wireless communication network, comprising:

a server in communication with the wireless communication network, the server including information on at least one push-to-talk communication group with a plurality of members; and

a plurality of wireless communication devices capable of communicating with the server through the wireless communication network, each wireless communication device having a predefined set of graphical images, each graphical image in the predefined set being identified by an image code,

wherein a first wireless communication device transmits a image code with a push-to-talk communication to the server, the server transmits the image code with the push-to-talk communication to a second wireless communication device, and the second wireless communication device receives the image code with the push-to-talk communication and displays an image identified by the image code.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the server further includes a predefined set of graphical images.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the predefined set is identified by an image set code.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the predefined set is identified by an image set code.