SESSION ESTABLISHMENT IN A GROUP COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20080139187A1
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: SUBRAMANIAN, Ramachandran
• Application Number:
  US11/609,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20080139187A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• 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 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

Systems and methods for establishing a limited group communication in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The method and system can include generating a group connection request for k respondents, where k is less than a total number of group members. Invite messages can be transmitted to the group members. Disinvite messages can be transmitted to remaining group members, upon receiving k responses from k respondents of the group.

Claims

1. A method for group communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

generating a group connection request for k respondents, wherein k is less than a total number of group members;

transmitting invite messages to the group members;

receiving k responses from k respondents of the group members; and

transmitting disinvite messages to remaining group members, wherein the remaining group members are group members that are not the k respondents.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein k is selected from the range of O<

k<

n, where n is the number of group members.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a user for a value of k when generating the group connection request at an originating access terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the group connection request is initiated by at least one of activating a push-to-talk button, activating a soft key, and selecting a menu item.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

preventing any of the remaining group members from joining the group communication.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one of said disinvite messages by one of the remaining group members; and

indicating the disinvite message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein indicating the disinvite message is at least one of a message on a display screen, an audible signal, a vibration, and an optical signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the group members are access terminals associated in a group with an originating access terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the group communication is a push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) communication.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing communication between the k respondents and an originating access terminal.

11. An access terminal comprising:

logic configured to receive a signal to initiate a limited group communication request;

logic configured to determine a number (k) of respondents; and

logic configured to transmit a request for a limited group communication with k respondents.

12. The access terminal of claim 11, further comprising:

logic configured to query a user to enter a value for k, to determine the k respondents.

13. The access terminal of claim 11, wherein k is a default value and the logic configured to determine the number k uses the default value.

14. The access terminal of claim 11, wherein k is selected from the range of 0<

k<

n, where n is the number of group members.

15. The access terminal of claim 11, wherein the signal to initiate the limited group communication request is generated by at least one of a push-to-talk button, a soft key, and a menu item.

16. A method for generating a limited group communication request at an access terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a signal to initiate a limited group communication request;

determining a number (k) of respondents; and

transmitting a request for a limited group communication with k respondents.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

querying a user to enter a value for k, to determine the k respondents, wherein k is selected from the range of 0<

k<

n, where n is the number of group members.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein k is a default value and the determining the number k comprises using the default value.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal to initiate the limited group communication request is generated by a user activated input device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal to initiate the limited group communication request is generated by at least one of activating a push-to-talk button, activating a soft key, and selecting a menu item.

21. An apparatus comprising:

logic configured to receive a request for a limited group communication with k respondents;

logic configured to generate session invite messages for members of the group;

logic configured to establish the limited group communication with the k respondents to the session invite messages; and

logic configured to generate disinvite messages for remaining group members after k respondents have responded, wherein the remaining group members are members that are not in the k respondents.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

logic configured to prevent the remaining group members from joining the limited group communication.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein k is selected from the range of O<

k<

n, where n is the number of group members.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

logic configured to delay the generation of the disinvite messages, if k is greater than one and the number of respondents is less than k.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the apparatus is at least one of a group communication server and a push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) server.

26. A method for processing a limited group communication request, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a limited group communication, for k respondents;

generating session invite messages for members of the group;

establishing the limited group communication with k respondents to the session invite messages and an originator; and

generating disinvite messages for remaining group members after k respondents have responded, wherein the remaining group members are members that are not in the k respondents.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

preventing the remaining group members from joining the limited group communication.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein k is selected from the range of O<

k<

n, where n is the number of group members.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

delaying the generation of the disinvite messages, if less than k responses have been received from the group members.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein establishing the limited group communication with k respondents further comprises:

establishing the limited group communication with less than k respondents to the session invite messages and an originator; and

joining additional respondents until k respondents are joined in the limited group communication.

31. A system for group communication in a wireless communication system, the system comprising:

means for generating a group connection request for k respondents, wherein k is less than a total number of group members;

means for transmitting invite messages to the group members;

means for receiving k responses from k respondents of the group members; and

means for transmitting disinvite messages to remaining group members, wherein the remaining group members are group members that are not the k respondents.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein k is selected from the range of O<

k<

n, where n is the number of group members.

33. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

means for preventing any of the remaining group members from joining the group communication.

34. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

means for receiving one of said disinvite messages by one of the remaining group members; and

means for indicating the disinvite message.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the group members are access terminals associated in a group with an originating access terminal.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the group communication is a push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) communication.

37. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

means for establishing communication between the k respondents and an originating access terminal.

38. A computer readable media embodying a method for generating a limited group communication request at an access terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a signal to initiate a limited group communication request;

determining a number (k) of respondents; and

transmitting a request for a limited group communication with k respondents.

39. The computer readable media of claim 38, embodying the method further comprising:

querying a user to enter a value for k, to determine the k respondents, wherein k is selected from the range of 0<

k<

n, where n is the number of group members.

40. The computer readable media of claim 38, wherein k is a default value and the determining the number k comprises using the default value.