SESSION-TRIGGERED PUSHING OF GROUP COMMUNICATION DATA

• US 20130059623A1
• Filed: 11/02/2012
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lindner, Mark Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 8,929,939 B2
• 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 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

Exemplary techniques for sending data packages, such as media objects, during group communication sessions between wireless telecommunication devices, such as push-to-talk communication sessions, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the data packages, such as discrete data packages, are queued at the transmitting wireless communication device and then sent to other group members upon establishment of channels for group communications to the group members. The data packages can also be queued at the group communication server prior to being sent to a target device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a wireless communication device, a request to send a data package to a target over a group communication channel;

determining whether a group communication channel is open at the wireless communication device; and

in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open at the wireless communication device performing;

selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages;

determining whether the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether an indication that a group communication channel has been opened is received at the wireless communication device; and

in response to receiving an indication that a group communication channel has been opened, sending, from the wireless communication device, all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving an indication that a group communication channel has been opened comprises receiving an indication that a push-to-talk (PTT) call is established with the target.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein sending, from the wireless communication device, all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue in conjunction with a talk spurt using the same floor control mechanism that is used to send voice data in the PTT call.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein sending, from the wireless communication device, all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue using a floor control mechanism that is different from a floor control mechanism used to send voice data in the PTT call.

5. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a server, a data package from an originating wireless communication device over a group communication channel, wherein the data package is intended to be sent to one or more target group members of a communication group;

determining whether a group communication channel is open from the server to all of the target group members;

selectively storing the data package in a queue in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open from the server to all of the target group members, wherein the queue is configured to store a plurality of data packages;

determining whether the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened; and

sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members in response to determining that a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened.

6. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a wireless communication device, a request to send a data package to a target over a group communication channel;

determining whether a group communication channel is open at the wireless communication device;

selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open at the wireless communication device;

identifying all data packages stored in the queue that are intended for the target;

determining whether the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue that are intended for the target is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

establishing a group communication channel in response to determining that the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target is greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

sending to the target from the wireless communication device all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target over the established group communication channel.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether a group communication channel has been opened; and

sending to the target, from the wireless communication device, all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target in response to determining that an indication that a group communication channel has been opened.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

determining whether a group communication channel has been opened comprises receiving an indication that a push-to-talk (PTT) call is established with the target.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein sending to the target from the wireless communication device all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target over the established group communication channel comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target in conjunction with a talk spurt using the same floor control mechanism that is used to send voice data in the PTT call.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein sending to the target from the wireless communication device all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target over the established group communication channel comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target using a floor control mechanism that is different from a floor control mechanism used to send voice data in the PTT call.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a server, a data package from an originating wireless communication device over a group communication channel, wherein the data package is intended to be sent to one or more target group members of a communication group;

determining whether a group communication channel is open from the server to all of the target group members;

selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open from the server to all of the target group members;

identifying all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members;

determining whether the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

establishing a group communication channel from the server to the target group members in response to determining that the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members is greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members over the established group communication channel.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened; and

sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members in response to determining that a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened.

13. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a direct communication interface;

an internal memory; and

a processor coupled to the direct communication interface and the internal memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving a request to send a data package to a target over a group communication channel;

determining whether a group communication channel is open; and

in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open performing operations comprising;

selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages;

determining whether the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether an indication that a group communication channel has been opened is received; and

in response to receiving an indication that a group communication channel has been opened, sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that receiving an indication that a group communication channel has been opened comprises receiving an indication that a push-to-talk (PTT) call is established with the target.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue in conjunction with a talk spurt using the same floor control mechanism that is used to send voice data in the PTT call.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue using a floor control mechanism that is different from a floor control mechanism used to send voice data in the PTT call.

17. A server, comprising:

a network interface;

an internal memory; and

a processor coupled to the network interface and the internal memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving a data package from an originating wireless communication device over a group communication channel, wherein the data package is intended to be sent to one or more target group members of a communication group;

determining whether a group communication channel is open with all of the target group members;

selectively storing the data package in a queue in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open with all of the target group members, wherein the queue is configured to store a plurality of data packages;

determining whether the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened; and

sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members in response to determining that a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened.

18. A system for selectively sending data packages using group communications, comprising:

a server;

a wireless communications network; and

a wireless communication device interconnected to the server through the wireless communications network,

wherein the server is configured with executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving a data package from the wireless communication device over a group communication channel, wherein the data package is intended to be sent to one or more target group members of a communication group;

determining whether a group communication channel is open with all of the target group members;

selectively storing the data package in a queue in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open with all of the target group members, wherein the queue is configured to store a plurality of data packages;

determining whether the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened; and

sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members in response to determining that a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened.

19. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a direct communication interface;

an internal memory; and

a processor coupled to the direct communication interface and the internal memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving a request to send a data package to a target over a group communication channel;

determining whether a group communication channel is open;

selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open;

identifying all data packages stored in the queue that are intended for the target;

determining whether the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue that are intended for the target is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

establishing a group communication channel in response to determining that the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target is greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

sending to the target from the wireless communication device all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target over the established group communication channel.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether a group communication channel has been opened; and

sending to the target all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target in response to determining that an indication that a group communication channel has been opened.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 20 wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining whether a group communication channel has been opened comprises receiving an indication that a push-to-talk (PTT) call is established with the target.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that sending to the target all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target over the established group communication channel comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target in conjunction with a talk spurt using the same floor control mechanism that is used to send voice data in the PTT call.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that sending to the target all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target over the established group communication channel comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target using a floor control mechanism that is different from a floor control mechanism used to send voice data in the PTT call.

24. A server, comprising:

a network interface;

an internal memory; and

a processor coupled to the network interface and the internal memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving a data package from an originating wireless communication device over a group communication channel, wherein the data package is intended to be sent to one or more target group members of a communication group;

determining whether a group communication channel is open with all of the target group members;

selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open with all of the target group members;

identifying all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members;

determining whether the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

establishing a group communication channel with the target group members in response to determining that the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members is greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members over the established group communication channel.

25. The server of claim 24, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened; and

sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members in response to determining that a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened.

26. A system for selectively sending data packages using group communications, comprising:

a server

a wireless communications network; and

a wireless communication device interconnected to the server through the wireless communications network,

wherein the server is configured with executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving a data package from the wireless communication device over a group communication channel, wherein the data package is intended to be sent to one or more target group members of a communication group;

determining whether a group communication channel is open with all of the target group members;

selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open with all of the target group members;

identifying all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members;

determining whether the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

establishing a group communication channel with the target group members in response to determining that the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members is greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members over the established group communication channel.

27. A wireless communication device, comprising:

means for receiving a request to send a data package to a target over a group communication channel;

means for determining whether a group communication channel is open; and

means for selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open;

means for determining whether the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

means for determining whether an indication that a group communication channel has been opened is received in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

means for sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target in response to receiving an indication that a group communication channel has been opened.

28. The wireless communication device of claim 27, wherein means for determining whether an indication that a group communication channel has been opened is received comprises means for determining whether an indication that a push-to-talk (PTT) call is established with the target is received.

29. The wireless communication device of claim 28, wherein means for sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target comprises means for sending all data packages stored in the queue in conjunction with a talk spurt using the same floor control mechanism that is used to send voice data in the PTT call.

30. The wireless communication device of claim 28, wherein sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue using a floor control mechanism that is different from a floor control mechanism used to send voice data in the PTT call.

31. A server, comprising:

means for receiving a data package from an originating wireless communication device over a group communication channel, wherein the data package is intended to be sent to one or more target group members of a communication group;

means for determining whether a group communication channel is open with all of the target group members;

means for selectively storing the data package in a queue in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open with all of the target group members, wherein the queue is configured to store a plurality of data packages;

means for determining whether the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

means for determining whether a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

means for sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members in response to determining that a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened.

32. A wireless communication device, comprising:

means for receiving a request to send a data package to a target over a group communication channel;

means for determining whether a group communication channel is open;

means for selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open;

means for identifying all data packages stored in the queue that are intended for the target;

means for determining whether the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue that are intended for the target is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

means for establishing a group communication channel in response to determining that the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target is greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

means for sending to the target from the wireless communication device all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target over the established group communication channel.

33. The wireless communication device of claim 32, further comprising:

means for determining whether a group communication channel has been opened in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

means for sending to the target all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target in response to determining that an indication that a group communication channel has been opened.

34. The wireless communication device of claim 33, wherein:

means for determining whether a group communication channel has been opened comprises means for receiving an indication that a push-to-talk (PTT) call is established with the target.

35. The wireless communication device of claim 34, wherein means for sending to the target all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target over the established group communication channel comprises means for sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target in conjunction with a talk spurt using the same floor control mechanism that is used to send voice data in the PTT call.

36. The wireless communication device of claim 34, wherein means for sending to the target all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target over the established group communication channel comprises means for sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target using a floor control mechanism that is different from a floor control mechanism used to send voice data in the PTT call.

37. A server, comprising:

means for receiving a data package from an originating wireless communication device over a group communication channel, wherein the data package is intended to be sent to one or more target group members of a communication group;

means for determining whether a group communication channel is open with all of the target group members;

means for selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open with all of the target group members;

means for identifying all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members;

means for determining whether the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

means for establishing a group communication channel with the target group members in response to determining that the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members is greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

means for sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members over the established group communication channel.

38. The server of claim 37, further comprising:

means for determining whether a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

means for sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members in response to determining that a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened.

39. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request to send a data package to a target over a group communication channel;

determining whether a group communication channel is open; and

in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open performing operations comprising;

selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages;

determining whether the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether an indication that a group communication channel has been opened is received; and

in response to receiving an indication that a group communication channel has been opened, sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations such that receiving an indication that a group communication channel has been opened comprises receiving an indication that a push-to-talk (PTT) call is established with the target.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations such that sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue in conjunction with a talk spurt using the same floor control mechanism that is used to send voice data in the PTT call.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations such that sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue using a floor control mechanism that is different from a floor control mechanism used to send voice data in the PTT call.

43. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a server to perform operations comprising:

receiving a data package from an originating wireless communication device over a group communication channel, wherein the data package is intended to be sent to one or more target group members of a communication group;

determining whether a group communication channel is open with all of the target group members;

selectively storing the data package in a queue in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open with all of the target group members, wherein the queue is configured to store a plurality of data packages;

determining whether the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened; and

sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members in response to determining that a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened.

44. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request to send a data package to a target over a group communication channel;

determining whether a group communication channel is open;

selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open;

identifying all data packages stored in the queue that are intended for the target;

determining whether the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue that are intended for the target is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

establishing a group communication channel in response to determining that the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target is greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

sending to the target from the wireless communication device all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target over the established group communication channel.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations further comprising:

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether a group communication channel has been opened; and

sending to the target all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target in response to determining that an indication that a group communication channel has been opened.

46. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations such that:

determining whether a group communication channel has been opened comprises receiving an indication that a push-to-talk (PTT) call is established with the target.

47. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations such that:

sending to the target all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target over the established group communication channel comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target in conjunction with a talk spurt using the same floor control mechanism that is used to send voice data in the PTT call.

48. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations such that:

sending to the target all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target over the established group communication channel comprises sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target using a floor control mechanism that is different from a floor control mechanism used to send voice data in the PTT call.

49. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a server to perform operations comprising:

receiving a data package from an originating wireless communication device over a group communication channel, wherein the data package is intended to be sent to one or more target group members of a communication group;

determining whether a group communication channel is open with all of the target group members;

selectively storing the data package in a queue configured to store a plurality of data packages in response to determining that a group communication channel is not open with all of the target group members;

identifying all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members;

determining whether the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members is greater than a predetermined memory size threshold;

establishing a group communication channel with the target group members in response to determining that the memory size of all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members is greater than the predetermined memory size threshold; and

sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members over the established group communication channel.

50. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor of a server to perform operations further comprising:

in response to determining that the memory size of the plurality of data packages stored in the queue is not greater than the predetermined memory size threshold, determining whether a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened; and

sending all data packages stored in the queue intended for the target group members in response to determining that a group communication channel with all of the target group members has been opened.