System and Method for Granting Transmit Capability In A Push to Communicate System

• US 20070021136A1
• Filed: 07/19/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Allen, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• 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

Abstract

Systems of methods for performing queued and moderated communication groups in a system featuring network provided half duplex communications communication group sessions are provided. According to one aspect, a first mobile terminal provides the network with an identification of a second mobile terminal so that the network may automatically grant the transmit capability to the second mobile terminal after a transmitting mobile has finished transmitting communications. Therefore, the second mobile terminal receives the transmit capability without even requesting it, or without the network having to wait to receive a request for the transmit capability. According to another aspect, priority information is pre-assigned during creation of the communication group or dynamically assigned by another mobile user during the talk group session. Granting of the transmit capability and the time duration of the transmit capability is dependent upon the priority information. In this manner, priority information is group-specific.

Claims

1. A method in a particular mobile terminal of a plurality of mobile terminals of a communication group, each of the plurality of mobile terminals having push to communicate capabilities within the communication group such that a transmitting mobile terminal within the communication group is given a transmit capability while all other mobile terminals have a receive capability, the method comprising:

receiving user input for selecting a responding mobile terminal of the communication group, the responding mobile terminal being selected to receive the transmit capability once the transmitting mobile terminal has finished transmitting communications; and

transmitting an identification of the responding mobile terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein another mobile terminal other than the particular mobile terminal is the transmitting mobile terminal.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting communications upon being granted the transmit capability, the particular mobile terminal being the transmitting mobile terminal.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting a request for the transmit capability; and

transmitting communications upon being granted the transmit capability in response to the request, the particular mobile terminal being the transmitting mobile terminal.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the identification of the responding mobile terminal and the request for the transmit capability are transmitted together in a single message.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the single message is a RTCP (Real Time Transport Control Protocol) message.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications being transmitted by the transmitting mobile terminal comprises at least one of:

voice communications, and multi media communications.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular mobile terminal is coupled to a network adapted to deliver such to communicate capabilities within the communication group.

9. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for execution on a processor so as to implement the method of claim 1.

10. A mobile terminal adapted to communicate using push to communicate capabilities within a communication group of mobile terminals such that within the communication group a transmitting mobile terminal is given a transmit capability while all other mobile terminals have a receive capability, the mobile terminal comprising:

a wireless access radio adapted to establish communication;

a user interface adapted to receive user input for selecting a responding mobile terminal of the communication group, the responding mobile terminal being selected to receive the transmit capability once a transmitting mobile terminal has finished transmitting communications; and

a responding function adapted to transmit an identification of the responding mobile terminal.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the wireless access radio is further adapted to establish communication with a network adapted to deliver push to communicate capabilities within the communication group of mobile terminals.

12. A user interface of a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal being adapted to communicate with a network, the network being adapted to deliver push to communicate capabilities within a communication group of mobile terminals such that within the communication group a single mobile terminal is given a transmit capability while all other mobile terminals have a receive capability, the user interface comprising:

a display adapted to display an identification of mobile terminals of the communication group; and

an input adapted to accept user input for selecting a responding mobile terminal of the mobile terminals that do not have the transmit capability, the responding mobile terminal being selected to receive the transmit capability once a transmitting mobile terminal has finished transmitting communications.

13. A method in a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal having push to communicate capabilities within a communication group such that a transmitting mobile terminal within the communication group is given a transmit capability while all other mobile terminals have a receive capability, the method comprising:

creating a new communication group with priority information for each of a plurality of mobile terminals of the new communication group;

wherein the priority information concerns the transmit capability for the new communication group.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the priority information comprises grant priority information concerning priority for mobile terminals being granted the transmit capability.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the priority information comprises time priority information concerning time duration of having the transmit capability when granted the transmit capability.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the priority information comprises:

grant priority information concerning priority for mobile terminals being granted the transmit capability; and

time priority information concerning time duration of having the transmit capability when granted the transmit capability.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein creating the new communication group with priority information comprises:

transmitting the priority information.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the mobile terminal is coupled to a network adapted to deliver such to communicate capabilities within the communication group.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

dynamically assigning the priority information during a communication session after the new communication group has been created.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein dynamically assigning the priority information comprises:

identifying a change to be applied to the priority information; and

transmitting an identification of the change.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the change comprises at least one of:

a change in existing priority information, an addition of new priority information, and a removal of existing priority information.

22. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for execution on a processor so as to implement the method of claim 13.

23. A mobile terminal having push to communicate capabilities within a communication group such that a transmitting mobile terminal within the communication group is given a transmit capability while all other mobile terminals have a receive capability, the mobile terminal comprising:

a wireless access radio adapted to establish communication; and

a communication group function adapted to create a new communication group with priority information for each of a plurality of mobile terminals of the new communication group;

wherein the priority information concerns the transmit capability for the new communication group.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 23, wherein the wireless access radio is further adapted to establish communication with a network adapted to deliver push to communicate capabilities within the communication group of mobile terminals.

25. A method in network adapted to deliver push to communicate capabilities within a communication group of mobile terminals such that within the communication group a transmitting mobile terminal is given a transmit capability while all other mobile terminals have a receive capability, the method comprising:

receiving from a first mobile terminal of the communication group an identification of a second mobile terminal of the communication group; and

granting the transmit capability to the second mobile terminal once the transmitting mobile terminal has finished transmitting communications.