PUSH-TO-TALK-OVER-CELLULAR (POC)

• US 20130155875A1
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kodiak Networks (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kodiak Networks (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ayyasamy, Ravi, Kundu, Gorachand, Patel, Krishnakant M., Vempati, Brahmananda R., Cheedella, Shiva K. K., Ardah, Basem A., Kumar, Ravi Shankar, Kandula, Ramu, Velayudhan, Arun, Narayanan, Anand, Chandana, Pratap, Negalaguli, Harisha M., Narendranathan, Shibu, Setti, Bharatram
• Granted Patent: US 9,913,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/242
• 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 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A Push-to-Talk-over Cellular (PoC) implementation for use in a wireless communications network, wherein one or more servers interface to the wireless communications network to perform the PoC call sessions. Both the servers and the mobile units that use the PoC call sessions communicate with each other using SIP/IP (Session Initiation Protocol/Internet Protocol) control messages within the wireless communications network, and one or more of the servers switches RTP/IP (Realtime Transport Protocol/Internet Protocol), RTCP/IP (Realtime Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), or MBCP/IP (Media Burst Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) voice packets for the PoC call sessions between the mobile units across the wireless communications network.

Claims

1. A system for providing advanced voice services in a wireless communications network, comprising:

one or more servers that interface to the wireless communications network to perform advanced voice services, the advanced voice services including an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of users of the wireless communications network comprising a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) call session;

wherein both the servers and the handsets that use the advanced group services communicate with each other using Internet Protocol (IP) control messages within the wireless communications network, and at least one of the servers switches IP voice packets for the advanced group services between the handsets across the wireless communications network; and

wherein subscriber provisioning is initiated by the network'"'"'s operator and a PoC Client is activated when launched for execution on the handset, such that;

the PoC Client sends an activation request to an XML Document Management (XDM) Server that stores user-specific service-related information, the activation request including a unique identifier generated by the PoC Client that is used for verifying the subscriber'"'"'s identity,

the PoC Client sends a password to the XDM Server via a Web Group Provisioning (WGP) Server that is mapped to the activation request, the password is used with the unique identifier generated by the PoC Client for verifying the subscriber'"'"'s identity,

the XDM Server sets up the subscriber'"'"'s account by creating default documents including contacts for the subscriber,

the XDM Server updates a PoC Server and the PoC Server responds to the WGP Server with the subscriber'"'"'s configuration, which is stored on the XDM Server, and

the XDM Server returns the subscriber'"'"'s configuration to the PoC Client in response to the request via the WGP Server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the subscriber'"'"'s configuration includes a username to be used for authentication, wherein the username is generated based on the subscriber'"'"'s mobile number.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the XDM Server stores the password against the username and uses it for authenticating the PoC Client.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the username and password are used by the PoC Client for registration and for authenticating the XDM Server'"'"'s operations.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a duplicate activation by the PoC Client results in the XDM Server updating the activation request, overwriting a previous activation request, and using a last received activation request.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a request failure by the PoC Client results in the PoC Client re-sending the activation request.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein an activation failure results in the PoC Client sending the activation request again.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the XDM Server checks the handset against a list of allowed devices and grants or denies the activation based on the check.

9. A system for providing advanced voice services in a wireless communications network, comprising:

one or more servers that interface to the wireless communications network to perform advanced voice services, the advanced voice services including an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of users of the wireless communications network comprising a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) call session;

wherein both the servers and the handsets that use the advanced group services communicate with each other using Internet Protocol (IP) control messages within the wireless communications network, and at least one of the servers switches IP voice packets for the advanced group services between the handsets across the wireless communications network; and

wherein a PoC Client executed by the handset detects when the user changes a subscriber identity module (SIM) on the handset being used for PoC service and re-activates in response thereto.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the PoC Client initially stores a subscriber identity from the SIM when the handset is first activated,

the PoC Client reads the subscriber identity from the SIM when the handset is powered on, and

the PoC Client sends an activation request to a PoC Server when it determines that the subscriber identity read from the SIM is different than the subscriber identity that was initially stored.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the PoC Client updates its configuration, contacts and groups for the subscriber identity read from the SIM, when the activation request is completed.

12. A system for providing advanced voice services in a wireless communications network, comprising:

one or more servers that interface to the wireless communications network to perform advanced voice services, the advanced voice services including an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of users of the wireless communications network comprising a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) call session;

wherein both the servers and the handsets that use the advanced group services communicate with each other using Internet Protocol (IP) control messages within the wireless communications network, and at least one of the servers switches IP voice packets for the advanced group services between the handsets across the wireless communications network; and

wherein a PoC Client executed by the handset supports dual subscriber identity modules (SIMs) on the handset being used for PoC service.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the PoC Client initially stores a subscriber identity from the SIM when the handset is first activated,

the PoC Client reads the subscriber identity from the SIM when the handset registers with a different network, and

the PoC Client sends an activation request to a PoC Server when it determines that the subscriber identity read from the SIM is different than the subscriber identity that was initially stored.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the PoC Client updates its configuration, contacts and groups for the subscriber identity read from the SIM, when the activation request is completed.

15. A system for providing advanced voice services in a wireless communications network, comprising:

one or more servers that interface to the wireless communications network to perform advanced voice services, the advanced voice services including an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of users of the wireless communications network comprising a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) call session;

wherein both the servers and the handsets that use the advanced group services communicate with each other using Internet Protocol (IP) control messages within the wireless communications network, and at least one of the servers switches IP voice packets for the advanced group services between the handsets across the wireless communications network; and

wherein one or more of the servers support geographical redundancy.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more of the servers that support geographical redundancy include a Serving Server and a Geo Server that is configured in standby mode.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the Geo Server is in a different location than the Serving Server so as to provide the geographical redundancy.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the Serving Server and Geo Server maintain a heartbeat mechanism to detect failure scenarios and automatically failover to the Geo Server when the Serving Server fails.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the Serving Server and Geo Server replicate stored data.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the PoC Client maintains separate pre-established sessions with both the Serving Server and the Geo Server.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the PoC Client communicates with the Serving Server using a Virtual IP address of the Serving Server.

the PoC Client communicates with the Geo Server using a Physical IP address of the Geo Server, and

the PoC Client attempts to set up a session with the Serving Server and, if that attempt fails, the PoC Client falls back to the Geo Server.

22. A system for providing advanced voice services in a wireless communications network, comprising:

one or more servers that interface to the wireless communications network to perform advanced voice services, the advanced voice services including an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of users of the wireless communications network comprising a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) call session;

wherein both the servers and the handsets that use the advanced group services communicate with each other using Internet Protocol (IP) control messages within the wireless communications network, and at least one of the servers switches IP voice packets for the advanced group services between the handsets across the wireless communications network; and

wherein one or more of the servers is a Web Group Provisioning (WGP) Server that provides a Corporate Administration Tool (CAT) for providing subscriber management, group management, contact management and associations between corporations.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the CAT performs one or more operations for group management:

(i) create, update, delete and view corporate groups,

(ii) add, update, delete and view members of a corporate group,

(iii) manage corporate subscribers,

(iv) activate and deactivate corporate subscribers,

(v) change a subscriber'"'"'s type from “

Corporate”

to “

Corporate And Public”

,

(vi) change a subscriber'"'"'s type from “

Corporate And Public”

to “

Corporate”

,

(vii) restrict availability by not allowing a subscriber to change their presence status, and

(viii) manage number porting or name change via phone assignment.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the CAT performs one or more operations for contact management:

(i) manage a phone list for a subscriber,

(ii) add contacts as members of groups,

(iii) add, update, delete and view contacts for a subscriber, and

(iv) export and import contacts at both the subscriber and corporate levels.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the CAT performs one or more operations for the associations between corporations:

(i) manage a corporate ID,

(ii) manage corporate subscribers, groups, and contacts,

(iii) manage contacts and white lists between the corporations,

(iv) manage phone lists,

(v) restrict availability, and

(vi) import and export contacts at both the subscriber and corporate level.

26. A system for providing advanced voice services in a wireless communications network, comprising:

one or more servers that interface to the wireless communications network to perform advanced voice services, the advanced voice services including an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of users of the wireless communications network comprising a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) call session;

wherein both the servers and the handsets that use the advanced group services communicate with each other using Internet Protocol (IP) control messages within the wireless communications network, and at least one of the servers switches IP voice packets for the advanced group services between the handsets across the wireless communications network; and

wherein a PoC Client executed by the handset is configured to provide a specific corporate user experience on the handset.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the PoC Client displays a Status Bar showing the subscriber'"'"'s Personal Availability Status.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the PoC Client displays a Main Navigation Bar including a Home page, Contacts, Conversations, and Favorite Groups.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the PoC Client displays a Call History showing Instant Personal Alerts and recent PoC call sessions.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the PoC Client displays an Action Bar, which can be used to launch a Private PTT Call, a Group PTT Call, Send Instant Personal Alert or a Direct Dial Call.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein, during the PoC call session, the PoC Client shows a Call Status, including Group Name, Call Start Time and Call Timer, as well as a Call Participant List, including Member Name, Member Presence, Member Number and Who'"'"'s Talking.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the PoC Client displays a corporate logo for the subscriber.

33. A system for providing advanced voice services in a wireless communications network, comprising:

one or more servers that interface to the wireless communications network to perform advanced voice services, the advanced voice services including an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of users of the wireless communications network comprising a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) call session;

wherein both the servers and the handsets that use the advanced group services communicate with each other using Internet Protocol (IP) control messages within the wireless communications network, and at least one of the servers switches IP voice packets for the advanced group services between the handsets across the wireless communications network; and

wherein a PoC Client executed by the handset reports any changes to a country or network identifier for the network to a PoC Server.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the PoC Client registers with the PoC Server when there is a change to the country or network identifier for the network.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the PoC Server determines whether the PoC Client can register based on the country or network identifier for the network.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the PoC Server detects roaming by the PoC Client based on the country or network identifier for the network.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the PoC Client registers with the PoC Server when:

(i) the country or network identifier for the network changes,

(ii) a data session is re-established,

(iii) there is tiered billing for PoC,

(iv) the PoC Client is in its Home network,

(v) the PoC Client is roaming nationally,

(vi) the PoC Client is roaming internationally in a preferred country, or

(vii) the PoC Client is attempting to roam internationally in a blacklisted country.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein information based on the country or network identifier for the network is added to call detail records (CDRs).

39. A system for providing advanced voice services in a wireless communications network, comprising:

one or more servers that interface to the wireless communications network to perform advanced voice services, the advanced voice services including an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of users of the wireless communications network comprising a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) call session;

wherein both the servers and the handsets that use the advanced group services communicate with each other using Internet Protocol (IP) control messages within the wireless communications network, and at least one of the servers switches IP voice packets for the advanced group services between the handsets across the wireless communications network; and

wherein a PoC Client executed by the handset includes an Answer or Ignore option for use when a cellular service call overlaps with the PoC call session.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein, when the Answer option is set, the PoC Client disconnects from the PoC call session when the cellular service call occurs.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein, when the Ignore option is set, the PoC Client continues the PoC call session when the cellular service call occurs, and does not answer the cellular service call.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the PoC Client continues the cellular service call when the PoC call session occurs, and does not answer the PoC call session.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein the PoC Client continues the PoC call session when an incoming PoC call occurs, and does not answer the incoming PoC call.

44. A system for providing advanced voice services in a wireless communications network, comprising:

one or more servers that interface to the wireless communications network to perform advanced voice services, the advanced voice services including an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of users of the wireless communications network comprising a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) call session;

wherein both the servers and the mobile units that use the advanced group services communicate with each other using Internet Protocol (IP) control messages within the wireless communications network, and one or more of the servers switches IP voice packets for the advanced group services between the mobile units across the wireless communications network;

wherein one or more of the servers is a controlling server that manages the PoC call session by acting as an arbitrator for the PoC call session; and

wherein the controlling server sends connect messages for the PoC call session to calling and called parties, and the controlling server uses acknowledgments for the connect messages to determine whether the called parties have joined the PoC call session or not.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein a mobile unit for one of the called parties rejects the connect message for the PoC call session, even though in auto-answer mode, when busy with another call.