Methods and apparatus for the immediate acceptance and queuing of voice data for PTT communications

• US 20080020718A1
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Zhao, Wen, Jin, Xin
• Granted Patent: US 7,697,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/90.2
• 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

In one illustrative example, a mobile station includes a wireless transceiver; a user interface including a Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch for initiating a PTT voice communication and a microphone for receiving voice input signals; one or more processors; and a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) buffer memory coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more processors are operative to identify a user actuation of the PTT switch and, in response, save digital voice data corresponding to voice input signals in the FIFO buffer memory; cause a request for the PTT voice communication to be made through a wireless network; identify that a floor grant has been received through the wireless network in response to the request; and after identifying the floor grant, cause the digital voice data from the FIFO buffer memory to be retrieved and transmitted to the wireless network for the PTT voice communication. Advantageously, the saving of the digital voice data in the FIFO buffer memory is performed at least in part during a delay time period between the user actuation of the PTT switch and the identifying of the floor grant.

Claims

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

identifying a user actuation of a PTT switch for initiating a PTT voice communication through a wireless communication network;

in response to identifying the user actuation of the PTT switch;

saving, in a First In First Out (FIFO) buffer memory, digital voice data corresponding to voice input signals;

causing a request for the PTT voice communication to be made through the wireless network;

identifying that a floor grant has been received through the wireless network in response to the request; and

after identifying the floor grant, causing the digital voice data from the FIFO buffer memory to be retrieved and transmitted to the wireless network for the PTT voice communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of saving the digital voice data in the FIFO buffer memory is performed at least in part during a delay time period between the user actuation of the PTT switch and the identifying of the floor grant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a delay time period between the act of identifying the user actuation of the PTT switch and receiving the voice input signals at the mobile station is zero or nearly zero.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the saving of the digital voice data is performed prior to the act of identifying the floor grant.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving analog voice signals from a microphone; and

performing an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion of the analog voice signals to produce the digital voice data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving analog voice signals from a microphone;

performing an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion on the analog voice signals to produce data; and

voice encoding the A/D converted voice signals to produce the digital voice data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein, for the FIFO buffer memory, an input pointer is used to identify a next memory location for storing voice data, an output pointer is used to identify a next memory location for retrieving and transmitting voice data, a start marker is used to identify a beginning of the PTT voice communication, and an end marker is used to identify an end of the PTT voice communication, the method further comprising:

causing PTT floor release procedures to be initiated when the output pointer reaches the end marker.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein, for the FIFO buffer memory, an input pointer is used to identify a next memory location for storing voice data, an output pointer is used to identify a next memory location for retrieving and transmitting voice data, a start marker is used to identify a beginning of the PTT voice communication, and an end marker is used to identify an end of the PTT voice communication, the method further comprising:

identifying a user release of the PTT switch;

in response to identifying the user release of the PTT switch, storing an end marker for a memory location associated with the input pointer; and

continuing transmission of voice data from the FIFO buffer memory until the output pointer reaches the end marker.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein, for the FIFO buffer memory, an input pointer is used to identify a next memory location for storing voice data, an output pointer is used to identify a next memory location for retrieving and transmitting voice data, a start marker is used to identify a beginning of the PTT voice communication, and an end marker is used to identify an end of the PTT voice communication, the method further comprising:

identifying a user release of the PTT switch;

continuing transmission of voice data from the FIFO buffer memory after identifying the user release of the PTT switch;

identifying a subsequent user actuation of the PTT switch during the continued transmission of voice data from the FIFO buffer memory;

in response to identifying the subsequent user actuation of the PTT switch, storing a pause marker in place of the end marker; and

the pause marker causing a transmission of silent data when encountered by the output pointer in the FIFO buffer memory.

10. A mobile station, comprising:

a wireless transceiver which operates with a wireless communication network;

a user interface which includes;

a Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch for initiating a PTT voice communication;

a microphone for receiving voice input signals;

one or more processors;

a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) buffer memory coupled to the one or more processors;

the one or more processors being operative to;

identify a user actuation of the PTT switch;

in response to identifying the user actuation of the PTT switch;

save, in the FIFO buffer memory, digital voice data corresponding to voice input signals received at the microphone;

cause a request for the PTT voice communication to be made through the wireless network;

identify that a floor grant has been received through the wireless network in response to the request; and

after identifying the floor grant, cause the digital voice data from the FIFO buffer memory to be retrieved and transmitted to the wireless network for the PTT voice communication.

11. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein a delay time period exists between the user actuation of the PTT switch and the identifying the floor grant, and the saving the digital voice data in the FIFO buffer memory is performed at least in part during the delay time period.

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

a coder/decoder (CODEC) having an input coupled to the microphone;

a voice encoder having an input coupled to an output of the CODEC;

the FIFO buffer memory having an input for coupling to an output of the voice encoder;

a switch coupled between the output of the voice encoder and the input to the FIFO buffer memory; and

the one or more processors being further operative to control the switch so as to route encoded voice data from the voice encoder to the input to the FIFO buffer memory for the PTT voice communication.

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

a coder/decoder (CODEC) having an input coupled to the microphone and an output which provides for voice data;

the FIFO buffer memory having an input for receiving the voice data from the CODEC;

a switch coupled between the output of the CODEC and the input to the FIFO buffer memory; and

the one or more processors being further operative to control the switch so as to route the voice data from the CODEC to the input to the FIFO buffer memory for the PTT voice communication.

14. The mobile station of claim 10 wherein, for the FIFO buffer memory, an input pointer is used to identify a next memory location for storing voice data, an output pointer is used to identify a next memory location for retrieving and transmitting voice data, a start marker is used to identify a beginning of the PTT voice communication, and an end marker is used to identify an end of the PTT voice communication, the one or more processors being further operative to:

cause PTT floor release procedures to be initiated when the output pointer reaches the end marker.

15. The mobile station of claim 10 wherein, for the FIFO buffer memory, an input pointer is used to identify a next memory location for storing voice data, an output pointer is used to identify a next memory location for retrieving and transmitting voice data, a start marker is used to identify a beginning of the PTT voice communication, and an end marker is used to identify an end of the PTT voice communication, the one or more processors being further operative to:

identify a user release of the PTT switch;

in response to identifying the user release of the PTT switch, store an end marker for a memory location associated with the input pointer; and

continue transmission of voice data from the FIFO buffer memory until the output pointer reaches the end marker.

16. The mobile station of claim 10 wherein, for the FIFO buffer memory, an input pointer is used to identify a next memory location for storing voice data, an output pointer is used to identify a next memory location for retrieving and transmitting voice data, a start marker is used to identify a beginning of the PTT voice communication, and an end marker is used to identify an end of the PTT voice communication, the one or more processors being further operative to:

identify a user release of the PTT switch;

continue transmission of voice data from the FIFO buffer memory after identifying the user release of the PTT switch;

identify a subsequent user actuation of the PTT switch before completing transmission of voice data from the FIFO buffer memory;

in response to identifying the subsequent user actuation of the PTT switch, store a pause marker in place of the end marker; and

the pause marker causing a transmission of silent data when encountered by the output pointer in the FIFO buffer memory.

17. 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;

identifying a user actuation of a PTT switch for initiating a PTT voice communication through a wireless communication network;

in response to identifying the user actuation of the PTT switch;

causing digital voice data corresponding to voice input signals to be saved in a First In First Out (FIFO) buffer memory;

causing a request for the PTT voice communication to be made through the wireless network;

identifying that a floor grant has been received through the wireless network in response to the request; and

after identifying the floor grant, causing the digital voice data from the FIFO buffer memory to be retrieved and transmitted to the wireless network for the PTT voice communication.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the saving the digital voice data in the FIFO buffer memory is performed at least in part during a delay time period between the user actuation of the PTT switch and identifying the floor grant.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein a delay time period between the act of identifying the user actuation of the PTT switch and receiving the voice input signals at the mobile station is zero or nearly zero.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein at least some of the saving of the digital voice data is performed prior to identifying the floor grant.

21. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein, for the FIFO buffer memory, an input pointer is used to identify a next memory location for storing voice data, an output pointer is used to identify a next memory location for retrieving and transmitting voice data, a start marker is used to identify a beginning of the PTT voice communication, and an end marker is used to identify an end of the PTT voice communication, the computer instructions being further executable for:

causing PTT floor release procedures to be initiated when the output pointer reaches the end marker.

22. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein, for the FIFO buffer memory, an input pointer is used to identify a next memory location for storing voice data, an output pointer is used to identify a next memory location for retrieving and transmitting voice data, a start marker is used to identify a beginning of the PTT voice communication, and an end marker is used to identify an end of the PTT voice communication, the computer instructions being further executable for:

identifying a user release of the PTT switch;

in response to identifying the user release of the PTT switch, storing an end marker for a memory location associated with the input pointer; and

continuing transmission of voice data from the FIFO buffer memory until the output pointer reaches the end marker.

23. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein, for the FIFO buffer memory, an input pointer is used to identify a next memory location for storing voice data, an output pointer is used to identify a next memory location for retrieving and transmitting voice data, a start marker is used to identify a beginning of the PTT voice communication, and an end marker is used to identify an end of the PTT voice communication, the computer instructions being further executable for:

identifying a user release of the PTT switch;

continuing transmission of voice data from the FIFO buffer memory after identifying the user release of the PTT switch;

identifying a subsequent user actuation of the PTT switch before completing transmission of voice data from the FIFO buffer memory;

in response to identifying the subsequent user actuation of the PTT switch, storing a pause marker in place of the end marker; and

the pause marker causing a transmission of silent data when encountered by the output pointer in the FIFO buffer memory.

24. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a wireless communication network;

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

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

a wireless transceiver which communicates through the wireless communication network;

a user interface which includes;

a Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch for initiating a PTT voice communication via the PoC server;

a microphone for receiving voice input signals;

one or more processors;

a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) buffer memory coupled to the one or more processors;

the one or more processors being operative to;

identify a user actuation of the PTT switch;

in response to identifying the user actuation of the PTT switch;

save, in the FIFO buffer memory, digital voice data corresponding to voice input signals received at the microphone;

cause a request for the PTT voice communication to be made through the wireless network;

identify that a floor grant has been received through the wireless network in response to the request; and

after identifying the floor grant, cause the digital voice data from the FIFO buffer memory to be retrieved and transmitted to the wireless network for the PTT voice communication.

25. The wireless communication system of claim 24, wherein the act of saving the digital voice data in the FIFO buffer memory is performed at least in part during a delay time period between the user actuation of the PTT switch and the act of identifying the floor grant.

26. The wireless communication system of claim 24, wherein the mobile station further comprises:

a coder/decoder (CODEC) having an input coupled to the microphone;

a voice encoder having an input coupled to an output of the CODEC;

the FIFO buffer memory having an input for coupling to an output of the voice encoder;

a switch coupled between the output of the voice encoder and the input to the FIFO buffer memory; and

the one or more processors being further operative to control the switch so as to route encoded voice data from the voice encoder to the input to the FIFO buffer memory for the PTT voice communication.

27. The wireless communication system of claim 24, wherein the mobile station further comprises:

a coder/decoder (CODEC) having an input coupled to the microphone and an output which provides for voice data;

the FIFO buffer memory having an input for receiving the voice data from the CODEC;

a switch coupled between the output of the CODEC and the input to the FIFO buffer memory; and

the one or more processors being further operative to control the switch so as to route the voice data from the CODEC to the input to the FIFO buffer memory for the PTT voice communication.

28. The wireless communication system of claim 24 wherein, for the FIFO buffer memory, an input pointer is used to identify a next memory location for storing voice data, an output pointer is used to identify a next memory location for retrieving and transmitting voice data, a start marker is used to identify a beginning of the PTT voice communication, and an end marker is used to identify an end of the PTT voice communication, the one or more processors of the mobile station being further operative to:

cause PTT floor release procedures to be initiated when the output pointer reaches the end marker.

29. The wireless communication system of claim 24 wherein, for the FIFO buffer memory, an input pointer is used to identify a next memory location for storing voice data, an output pointer is used to identify a next memory location for retrieving and transmitting voice data, a start marker is used to identify a beginning of the PTT voice communication, and an end marker is used to identify an end of the PTT voice communication, the one or more processors of the mobile station being further operative to:

identify a user release of the PTT switch;

in response to identifying the user release of the PTT switch, store an end marker for a memory location associated with the input pointer; and

continue transmission of voice data from the FIFO buffer memory until the output pointer reaches the end marker.

30. The wireless communication system of claim 24 wherein, for the FIFO buffer memory, an input pointer is used to identify a next memory location for storing voice data, an output pointer is used to identify a next memory location for retrieving and transmitting voice data, a start marker is used to identify a beginning of the PTT voice communication, and an end marker is used to identify an end of the PTT voice communication, the one or more processors of the mobile station being further operative to:

identify a user release of the PTT switch;

continue transmission of voice data from the FIFO buffer memory after identifying the user release of the PTT switch;

identify a subsequent user actuation of the PTT switch before completing transmission of the voice data from the FIFO buffer memory;

in response to identifying the subsequent user actuation of the PTT switch, store a pause marker in place of the end marker; and

the pause marker causing a transmission of silent data when encountered by the output pointer in the FIFO buffer memory.