Eyes-free push-to-talk communication

• US 20080045256A1
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Kuansan, Huang, Xuedong
• Application Number:
  US11/505,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20080045256A1
• 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 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• 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 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A push-to-talk feature on a mobile handset is initiated by speaking a recipient'"'"'s name as the first part of an initial message. A speech recognition device located in the handset or in a push-to-talk server may recognize the recipient'"'"'s name, determine the proper addressing for the message, establish a push-to-talk session, and deliver the message to the intended recipient. The session may continue until a session timeout has occurred, until another session is started, or until the user otherwise terminates the session.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a push-to-talk audio message from a user, said push-to-talk audio message comprising a recipient name followed by a message body;

parsing said recipient name from said push-to-talk audio message;

matching said recipient name with a recipient name in a recipient database to determine a recipient address; and

attempting to establish a push-to-talk session.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

querying a push-to-talk status database to determine a recipient status for said recipient address.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining that said recipient status is online;

establishing a push-to-talk session with a device having said recipient address; and

transmitting said message body to said device.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining that said status is offline;

generating an audio response message comprising an indication that said recipient address is offline; and

playing said audio response message.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a keyword within said push-to-talk audio message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of parsing and matching are performed by a mobile handset.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of parsing and matching are performed by a push-to-talk server.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

failing to establish said push-to-talk session; and

storing at least said message body in a voice mail storage system for said recipient.

9. A handset comprising:

a push-to-talk key;

a directory of a plurality of push-to-talk users;

an interface for connection to a push-to-talk server, said push-to-talk server comprising a database of statuses for each of said push-to-talk users; and

wherein said handset is adapted to;

determine that no push-to-talk session is active between said handset and said push-to-talk server;

parse an initial push-to-talk audio message having a recipient name followed by a message body; and

match said recipient name with one of said push-to-talk users in said directory to determine a recipient device.

10. The handset of claim 9 further adapted to:

determine said status for said recipient device from said push-to-talk server.

11. The handset of claim 10 further adapted to:

based on said status, establish a push-to-talk session with said recipient device; and

transmit said message body to said recipient device.

12. The handset of claim 10 further adapted to:

detect a voice command to end said push-to-talk session; and

close said push-to-talk session.

13. The handset of claim 9 further adapted to:

determine that said status is offline; and

play an audio message indicating that said recipient device is offline.

14. The handset of claim 9 wherein said speech recognition system is further adapted to:

detect a keyword within said initial push-to-talk audio message.

15. A push-to-talk server comprising:

an interface for connecting to a first device, said first device adapted to transmit an initial push-to-talk audio message, said first device having a directory of push-to-talk users;

a processor adapted to;

when no push-to-talk session is active, receive a push-to-talk audio message from a user, said push-to-talk audio message comprising a recipient name followed by a message body;

parse said recipient name from said push-to-talk audio message;

match said recipient name with a recipient name in a recipient database to determine a recipient address; and

attempt to establish a one-to-one push-to-talk session;

a status database;

wherein said push-to-talk server is adapted to determine a status of said one of said push-to-talk users.

16. The push-to-talk server of claim 15 further adapted to:

based on said status, establish a push-to-talk session with said recipient device; and

transmit said message body to said recipient device.

17. The push-to-talk server of claim 16 further adapted to:

detect a voice command to end said push-to-talk session; and

close said push-to-talk session.

18. The push-to-talk server of claim 15 further adapted to:

determine that said status is offline; and

transmit an audio message indicating that said recipient device is offline to said first device.

19. The push-to-talk server of claim 15 wherein said speech recognition system is further adapted to:

detect a keyword within said initial push-to-talk audio message.