Systems and Methods for Web-Based Push-To-Talk Communications

• US 20120134352A1
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Published: 05/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Vu, Trinh D.
• Application Number:
  US12/956,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20120134352A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/347
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5053 Lease time; Renewal aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/067 using one-time keys cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for generation of one-time passwords H04L9/0863
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• 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 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method of enabling a push-to-talk (PTT) connection between a first user on a first network and a second user on a second network is provided. According to the method, a web application registration server on the first network receives and authenticates login information from the first user, forwards the login information to a PTT server, and assigns a temporary network identity from a pre-allocated pool of network identities to a client of the first user. After the PTT registration has been authenticated, a PTT call may be conducted between the first user and the second user. The first network may be an internet protocol-based network. The second network is a multiple-access network for cellular devices, such as a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network or any other wireless network.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a push-to-talk (PTT) connection between a first user on a first network and a second user on a second network, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving and authenticating, by a web application registration server on the first network, login information from the first user;

forwarding, by the web application registration server, the login information to a PTT server; and

assigning, by the web application registration server, a temporary network identity from a pre-allocated pool of network identities to a client of the first user,

wherein the second network is a multiple-access network for cellular devices.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary network identity is valid only during a registered PTT session that begins with the assigning of the temporary network identity by the web application registration server.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the registered PTT registration session expires if the registered PTT session is inactive for a predetermined duration.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the registered PTT session expires if the first user logs out of the client and a registration timer expires.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein if the registered PTT session expires, the temporary network identity is returned to the pool of network identities that is managed by the web application registration server.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary network identity is an urban fleet member identifier (UFMI).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the login information comprises a user name and a password.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the login information is received from the first user via the client on a website that hosts the web application registration server.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the login information is received from the first user via a desktop PTT client.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first network is an Internet protocol-based network.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second network is a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

receiving, by the web application registration server, a permanent network identity, after assigning the temporary network identity to the client of the first user.

13. A method of conducting a push-to-talk (PTT) call between a first user on a first network and a second user on a second network, wherein the first user has logged into a client that registers with a web application registration server on the first network and a temporary network identity has been assigned to the client by the web application registration server, the method comprising the acts of:

establishing a PTT connection between the first user and the second user;

after a predetermined length of time, determining whether the temporary network identity remains valid; and

if the temporary network identity has become invalid, disabling the PTT registration.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the temporary network identity is valid only during a registered PTT session that begins with the assignment of the temporary network identity to the client by the web application registration server.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the registered PTT session expires if the client is inactive for a predetermined duration and a registration timer expires.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the registered PTT registration session expires if the first user logs out of the client and a registration timer expires.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein if the registered PTT registration session expires, the temporary network identity is returned to a pool of network identities that is managed by the web application registration server.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the temporary network identity is an urban fleet member identifier (UFMI) or a Mobile Directory Number (MDN) or a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) address.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first network is an Internet protocol-based network.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the second network is a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network.