Apparatus and method for selectively initiating a data call for a group communication in wireless communication networks

• US 20070197249A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ross, David, Rosen, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,933,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast 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 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

Apparatus and method for selectively enabling an early push-to-talk (PTT) call set up request in a wireless communications network. When a user activates a directory application on a wireless device, the wireless device checks for network information received from a base station. If the network information indicates that the network is of a predetermined type and can advantageously set up the PTT call, the wireless device enables the early PTT call set up request by sending a data channel set up request to the base station. If the network information does not indicate the network is of the predetermined type, the wireless device does not send any data channel request to the base station until the user has actually initiates a PTT call.

Claims

1. A method for a wireless device to initiate a pre-call set up for a push-to-talk (PTT) communication in a wireless communications network, wherein the wireless device communicates through wireless communications with a base station, comprising the steps of:

receiving at the wireless device from a user an activation request for a directory application;

checking for wireless communications network information stored on the wireless device; and

if the wireless communications network information indicates that pre-call set up is advantageous, initiating the pre-call set up for the PTT communication.

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

receiving from the wireless communication network a wireless communications network information during a registration procedure; and

storing the wireless communications network information on the wireless device.

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

receiving from the wireless communication network a wireless communications network information during a hand off procedure; and

storing the wireless communications network information on the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step for initiating the pre-call set up further comprising the steps for:

transmitting from the wireless device to the base station a data channel request for setting up a data channel between the wireless device and the base station;

setting up a timer;

if the timer expires before a PTT call activation request is received from the user, requesting the data channel be removed; and

if the PTT call activation request is received before the timer expires, disabling the timer and sending the PTT call activation request to the base station through the data channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the directory application is an address book application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications network information includes a network type.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications network information includes network traffic volume information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications network information includes time information

9. An apparatus capable of communicating with a base station and selectively initiating, in response to an action by a user, an early push-to-talk (PTT) call set up for a PTT communication in a wireless communications network, comprising:

a transceiver unit for receiving from the base station wireless communications network information;

a controller unit for analyzing the wireless communications network information; and

a storage unit for storing the wireless communications network information and a data application,

wherein, the controller, in response to activation of the data application by the user, checks the wireless communications network information and transmits an early PTT call set up to the base station if the wireless communications network information indicates that pre-call set up is advantageous.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, the controller further being capable of:

receiving from the base station a wireless communications network information during a registration procedure; and

storing the wireless communications network information on the storage unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, the controller further being capable of:

receiving from the base station a wireless communications network information during a hand off procedure; and

storing the wireless communications network information on the storage unit

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a timer.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the controller further being capable of:

transmitting to the base station a data channel request for setting up a data channel between the apparatus and the base station;

setting up the timer;

if the timer expires before a PTT call activation request is received from the user, requesting the data channel be removed; and

if the PTT call activation request is received before the timer expires, disabling the timer and sending the PTT call activation request to the base station through the data channel.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data application is an address book application.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless communications network information includes a network type.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless communications network information includes network traffic volume information.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless communications network information includes time information

18. An apparatus capable of communicating with a base station and selectively initiating, in response to an action by a user, an early push-to-talk (PTT) call set up for a PTT communication in a wireless communications network, comprising:

means for receiving from the base station wireless communications network information;

means for analyzing the wireless communications network information; and

means for storing the wireless communications network information and a data application,

wherein, the means for analyzing the wireless communications network information, in response to activation of the data application by the user, checks the wireless communications network information and transmits an early PTT call set up to the base station if the wireless communications network information indicates that pre-call set up is advantageous.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, the means for analyzing the wireless communications network information further being capable of:

receiving from the base station a wireless communications network information during a registration procedure; and

storing the wireless communications network information on the storage unit.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, the means for analyzing the wireless communications network information further being capable of:

receiving from the base station a wireless communications network information during a hand off procedure; and

storing the wireless communications network information on the storage unit

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a timer means.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, the means for analyzing the wireless communications network information further being capable of:

transmitting to the base station a data channel request for setting up a data channel between the apparatus and the base station;

setting up the timer means;

if the timer means expires before a PTT call activation request is received from the user, requesting the data channel be removed; and

if the PTT call activation request is received before the timer means expires, disabling the timer means and sending the PTT call activation request to the base station through the data channel.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the data application is an address book application.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the wireless communications network information includes a network type.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the wireless communications network information includes network traffic volume information.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the wireless communications network information includes time information

27. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for a wireless device to initiate a pre-call set up for a push-to-talk (PTT) communication in a wireless communications network, wherein the wireless device communicates through wireless communications with a base station, the computer program comprising computer instructions that when executed by a wireless device in the wireless communication network performs the steps of:

receiving at the wireless device from a user an activation request for a directory application;

checking for wireless communications network information stored on the wireless device; and

if the wireless communications network information indicates that pre-call set up is advantageous, initiating the pre-call set up for the PTT communication.

28. The computer program of claim 27, further performing the steps for:

receiving from the wireless communication network a wireless communications network information during a registration procedure; and

storing the wireless communications network information on the wireless device.

29. The computer program of claim 27, further performing the steps for:

receiving from the wireless communication network a wireless communications network information during a hand off procedure; and

storing the wireless communications network information on the wireless device.

30. The computer program of claim 27, wherein the step for initiating the pre-call set up further comprising the steps for:

transmitting from the wireless device to the base station a data channel request for setting up a data channel between the wireless device and the base station;

setting up a timer;

if the timer expires before a PTT call activation request is received from the user, requesting the data channel be removed; and

if the PTT call activation request is received before the timer expires, disabling the timer and sending the PTT call activation request to the base station through the data channel.

31. The computer program of claim 27, wherein the directory application is an address book application.

32. The computer program of claim 27, wherein the wireless communications network information includes a network type.

33. The computer program of claim 27, wherein the wireless communications network information includes network traffic volume information.

34. The computer program of claim 27, wherein the wireless communications network information includes time information