GROUP COMMUNICATION SESSIONS IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

• US 20120009915A1
• Filed: 07/08/2010
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Goel, Amit, Shuman, Mohammed Ataur Rahman, Verma, Rajan
• Granted Patent: US 8,731,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data

Abstract

In an embodiment, an access terminal (AT), requests a non-exclusive floor (NEF) for a group communication session (GCS) in response to a detection that a user of the AT intends to speak to an associated communication group (CG). In another embodiment, the AT later requests that its NEF for the GCS be revoked in response to a detection that the user of the AT no longer intends to speak to the CG. In another embodiment, another AT holds a NEF for the GCS, and a user of the AT decides to revoke the other AT'"'"'s NEF such that the AT sends a floor-revocation request to an application server (AS) that is arbitrating the GCS. In another embodiment, the AS grants NEFs to multiple ATs, selectively mixes media received from the ATs for transmission to the CG, and selectively revokes NEFs from one or more of the multiple ATs.

Claims

1. A method of participating in a group communication session with a communication group at an access terminal within a wireless communications system, comprising:

receiving media at the access terminal from one or more other members of the communication group that currently hold a non-exclusive floor for the group communication session;

detecting that a user of the access terminal intends to send given media to the communication group during the group communication session;

sending a request to obtain a given non-exclusive floor for the access terminal, the given non-exclusive floor configured to permit the access terminal to send the given media to the communication group while each of the one or more other members maintain their non-exclusive floor for the group communication session; and

sending the given media to the communication group based on whether an application server grants the request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step corresponds to detecting that the user of the access terminal is speaking.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step corresponds to detecting that the user of the access terminal has explicitly requested the access terminal to obtain the non-exclusive floor for the group communication session.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the detecting step, buffering the given media;

receiving a floor-grant message from the application server that grants the request,

wherein, upon receipt of the floor-grant message, the sending step sends the buffered, given media to the communication group.

5. A method of participating in a group communication session with a communication group at an access terminal within a wireless communications system, comprising:

receiving media at the access terminal from one or more other members of the communication group that currently hold a non-exclusive floor for the group communication session;

receiving a request from a user of the access terminal to revoke the non-exclusive floor for at least one of the one or more other members; and

sending a floor-revocation request to an application server that is arbitrating the group communication session to request that the application server revoke the floor of the at least one other member.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the access terminal is allocated a revocation privilege over the at least one other member that permits the access terminal to prompt the application server to revoke the non-exclusive floor of the at least one other member upon request.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, from the application server, an authorization request to revoke the non-exclusive floor for the at least one other member,

wherein the received request from the user corresponds to an approval of the authorization request.

8. A method of participating in a group communication session with a communication group at an access terminal within a wireless communications system, comprising:

obtaining a non-exclusive floor for the group communication session;

after obtaining the non-exclusive floor, transmitting media to one or more other members of the communication group;

detecting that a user of the access terminal no longer intends to send media to the communication group;

sending a floor-revocation request to an application server that is arbitrating the group communication session to request that the application server revoke the floor of the access terminal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the detecting step corresponds to detecting that the user of the access terminal has stopped speaking.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the detecting step corresponds to detecting that the user of the access terminal has explicitly requested the access terminal to release the non-exclusive floor for the group communication session.

11. The method of claim 8,

wherein the access terminal corresponds to an originator of the group communication session, and

wherein the obtaining step is based on the access terminal'"'"'s status as the originator of the group communication session.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the obtaining step is performed in response to an earlier detection that the user of the access terminal intends to send media to the communication group.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the earlier detection corresponds to detecting that the user of the access terminal started speaking.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the earlier detection corresponds to detecting that the user of the access terminal has explicitly requested the access terminal to obtain the non-exclusive floor for the group communication session.

15. A method of supporting a group communication session with a communication group at an application server within a wireless communications system, comprising:

granting a non-exclusive floor to a plurality of access terminals, among the communication group, that are expected to have users with an intent to speak to the communication group;

selectively mixing media from each of the plurality of access terminals;

selectively sending the mixed media to the communication group;

determining to revoke the non-exclusive floor from a given access terminal among the plurality of access terminals; and

revoking the non-exclusive floor from the given access terminal based on the determination.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a request to revoke the non-exclusive floor of the given access terminal from another member of the communication group,

wherein the determining step is based on the received request.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

in response to the received request, verifying that the another member has authority to revoke the non-exclusive floor of the given access terminal,

wherein the determining step is based on the another member having the verified authority to revoke the non-exclusive floor of the given access terminal.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a request to revoke the non-exclusive floor of the given access terminal from the given access terminal,

wherein the determining step is based on the received request.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the determining step corresponds to an independent determination to revoke the non-exclusive floor of the given access terminal at the application server.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to the determining step, requesting authority to revoke the non-exclusive floor from the given access terminal from another access terminal,

wherein the revoking step is performed if the another access terminal authorizes the application server to revoke the non-exclusive floor from the given access terminal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the another access terminal corresponds to a high-priority access terminal with floor-revocation privileges.

22. An access terminal configured to participate in a group communication session with a communication group within a wireless communications system, comprising:

means for receiving media at the access terminal from one or more other members of the communication group that currently hold a non-exclusive floor for the group communication session;

means for detecting that a user of the access terminal intends to send given media to the communication group during the group communication session;

means for sending a request to obtain a given non-exclusive floor for the access terminal, the given non-exclusive floor configured to permit the access terminal to send the given media to the communication group while each of the one or more other members maintain their non-exclusive floor for the group communication session; and

means for sending the given media to the communication group based on whether an application server grants the request.

23. An access terminal configured to participate in a group communication session with a communication group within a wireless communications system, comprising:

means for receiving media at the access terminal from one or more other members of the communication group that currently hold a non-exclusive floor for the group communication session;

means for receiving a request from a user of the access terminal to revoke the non-exclusive floor for at least one of the one or more other members; and

means for sending a floor-revocation request to an application server that is arbitrating the group communication session to request that the application server revoke the floor of the at least one other member.

24. An access terminal configured to participate in a group communication session with a communication group within a wireless communications system, comprising:

means for obtaining a non-exclusive floor for the group communication session;

means for, after obtaining the non-exclusive floor, transmitting media to one or more other members of the communication group;

means for detecting that a user of the access terminal no longer intends to send media to the communication group;

means for sending a floor-revocation request to an application server that is arbitrating the group communication session to request that the application server revoke the floor of the access terminal.

25. An application server configured to support a group communication session with a communication group within a wireless communications system, comprising:

means for granting a non-exclusive floor to a plurality of access terminals, among the communication group, that are expected to have users with an intent to speak to the communication group;

means for selectively mixing media from each of the plurality of access terminals;

means for selectively sending the mixed media to the communication group;

means for determining to revoke the non-exclusive floor from a given access terminal among the plurality of access terminals; and

means for revoking the non-exclusive floor from the given access terminal based on the determination.

26. An access terminal configured to participate in a group communication session with a communication group within a wireless communications system, comprising:

logic configured to receive media at the access terminal from one or more other members of the communication group that currently hold a non-exclusive floor for the group communication session;

logic configured to detect that a user of the access terminal intends to send given media to the communication group during the group communication session;

logic configured to send a request to obtain a given non-exclusive floor for the access terminal, the given non-exclusive floor configured to permit the access terminal to send the given media to the communication group while each of the one or more other members maintain their non-exclusive floor for the group communication session; and

logic configured to send the given media to the communication group based on whether an application server grants the request.

27. An access terminal configured to participate in a group communication session with a communication group within a wireless communications system, comprising:

logic configured to receive media at the access terminal from one or more other members of the communication group that currently hold a non-exclusive floor for the group communication session;

logic configured to receive a request from a user of the access terminal to revoke the non-exclusive floor for at least one of the one or more other members; and

logic configured to send a floor-revocation request to an application server that is arbitrating the group communication session to request that the application server revoke the floor of the at least one other member.

28. An access terminal configured to participate in a group communication session with a communication group within a wireless communications system, comprising:

logic configured to obtain a non-exclusive floor for the group communication session;

logic configured to, after obtaining the non-exclusive floor, transmit media to one or more other members of the communication group;

logic configured to detect that a user of the access terminal no longer intends to send media to the communication group;

logic configured to send a floor-revocation request to an application server that is arbitrating the group communication session to request that the application server revoke the floor of the access terminal.

29. An application server configured to support a group communication session with a communication group within a wireless communications system, comprising:

logic configured to grant a non-exclusive floor to a plurality of access terminals, among the communication group, that are expected to have users with an intent to speak to the communication group;

logic configured to selectively mix media from each of the plurality of access terminals;

logic configured to selectively send the mixed media to the communication group;

logic configured to determine to revoke the non-exclusive floor from a given access terminal among the plurality of access terminals; and

logic configured to revoke the non-exclusive floor from the given access terminal based on the determination.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by an access terminal configured to participate in a group communication session with a communication group within a wireless communications system, cause the access terminal to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to receive media at the access terminal from one or more other members of the communication group that currently hold a non-exclusive floor for the group communication session;

program code to detect that a user of the access terminal intends to send given media to the communication group during the group communication session;

program code to send a request to obtain a given non-exclusive floor for the access terminal, the given non-exclusive floor configured to permit the access terminal to send the given media to the communication group while each of the one or more other members maintain their non-exclusive floor for the group communication session; and

program code to send the given media to the communication group based on whether the application server grants the request.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by an access terminal configured to participate in a group communication session with a communication group within a wireless communications system, cause the access terminal to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to receive media at the access terminal from one or more other members of the communication group that currently hold a non-exclusive floor for the group communication session;

program code to receive a request from a user of the access terminal to revoke the non-exclusive floor for at least one of the one or more other members; and

program code to send a floor-revocation request to an application server that is arbitrating the group communication session to request that the application server revoke the floor of the at least one other member.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by an access terminal configured to participate in a group communication session with a communication group within a wireless communications system, cause the access terminal to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to obtain a non-exclusive floor for the group communication session;

program code to, after obtaining the non-exclusive floor, transmit media to one or more other members of the communication group;

program code to detect that a user of the access terminal no longer intends to send media to the communication group;

program code to send a floor-revocation request to an application server that is arbitrating the group communication session to request that the application server revoke the floor of the access terminal.

33. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by an application server configured to support a group communication session with a communication group within a wireless communications system, cause the application server to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to grant a non-exclusive floor to a plurality of access terminals, among the communication group, that are expected to have users with an intent to speak to the communication group;

program code to selectively mix media from each of the plurality of access terminals;

program code to selectively send the mixed media to the communication group;

program code to determine to revoke the non-exclusive floor from a given access terminal among the plurality of access terminals; and

program code to revoke the non-exclusive floor from the given access terminal based on the determination.