System and Methods for Dynamic Floor Control in Group Communications

• US 20150039691A1
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharma, Sandeep, Goel, Amit, Shuman, Mohammed Ataur Rahman
• Application Number:
  US13/958,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20150039691A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4046 with distributed floor control

Abstract

Dynamic floor control in group communications may include allocating floor time to participants according to a floor control function. To determine the amount of floor time to allocate to each participant, an embodiment floor control function may factor in parameters including the number of active participants in the group communication, the overall likeability of each participant, and the popularity ranking for each participant. In an embodiment, parameters such as overall likeability may be based on votes received from other participants. Parameters may be updated during the group communication to adjust participants'"'"' floor time. If a participant is granted the floor or speaks, a countdown timer may be started that decrements the participant'"'"'s remaining floor time until the participant releases the floor or runs out of floor time. Once the countdown timer expires, the participant may be denied the floor and/or may no longer speak in the group communication.

Claims

1. A method of arbitrating floor control between a plurality of active participants in a group communication, comprising:

allocating an initial floor time to each active participant in the plurality of active participants;

determining a group size for the group communication;

determining a likeability rating for at least one active participant of the plurality of active participants; and

adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the determined group size and the determined likeability rating.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the group size comprises a count of all participants in the group communication.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the group size comprises counting the plurality of active participants in the group communication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the determined group size comprises applying a size function to the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant, wherein the size function is based on a weighted count of the plurality of active participants compared to a count of all participants in the group communication.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the likeability rating for the at least one active participant comprises:

receiving from at least one other active participant a favorable or unfavorable vote regarding the at least one active participant;

determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes; and

determining a likeability adjustment based on the aggregate result.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a favorable vote comprises an “

up”

vote and an unfavorable vote comprises a “

down”

vote, and wherein determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes comprises comparing a number of received “

up”

votes to a number of received “

down”

votes associated with the at least one active participant.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the determined likeability rating comprises applying the determined likeability adjustment to the initial floor time allocated to the at least one active participant.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a popularity ranking associated with the at least one active participant, wherein:

the popularity ranking is based on accumulated likeability ratings for the at least one active participant from previous group communications; and

adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is further based on the retrieved popularity ranking.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein retrieving a popularity ranking associated with the at least one active participant comprises retrieving participant subscription information from a database.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the retrieved popularity ranking is further based on a subscription purchase by the at least one participant, wherein the popularity ranking is increased in response to the subscription purchase by the at least one participant.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the determined group size, the determined likeability rating, and the retrieved popularity ranking are given equal weight in adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the determined group size, the determined likeability rating, and the retrieved popularity ranking are given unequal weight in adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant.

13. The method of claim 5, further comprising assigning a weight to each received favorable or unfavorable vote, wherein determining a likeability adjustment further comprises applying to the votes the respectively assigned weights.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein received favorable and unfavorable votes include a magnitude factor, wherein determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes is based on the received magnitude factors.

15. The method of claim 5, further comprising updating the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant, comprising:

updating the group size of the group communication;

updating a likeability rating for at least one active participant using favorable and unfavorable votes received for the at least one active participant received since a previous floor time adjustment; and

updating the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the updated group size and the updated likeability rating.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero;

determining whether the at least one active participant is presently speaking in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero; and

starting a countdown of the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant in response to determining that the at least one active participant is presently speaking.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising increasing the transmit capability of at least one other active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising selectively diminishing the transmit capability of at least one other active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising selectively increasing the transmit capability of the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising muting a transmit capability of the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time is not greater than zero.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising revoking a floor granted to the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time is not greater than zero.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) streams from the plurality of active participants; and

mixing the received RTP streams to generate a new RTP stream for distributing to participants in the group communication,

wherein mixing the received RTP streams comprises selectively diminishing an RTP stream received from the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time is not greater than zero.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from at least one other participant a favorable or unfavorable vote regarding the at least one active participant, wherein a favorable vote provides an amount of time by which to increase the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant, and wherein an unfavorable vote indicates an amount of time by which to decrease the floor time allocated to the at least one participant;

determining an aggregate change in floor time allocated to the at least one active participant by combining the amounts of increase time and decrease time indicated in all of the received favorable and unfavorable votes; and

adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the aggregate change in floor time.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein a sum of the initial floor times allocated to each active participant comprises a total amount of time for the group communication.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the amount of time provided in a favorable vote represents time presently allocated to the at least one other participant.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein a sum of the initial floor times allocated to each active participant is less than a total amount of time for the group communication, wherein a difference between the sum and the total amount of time for the group communication is allocated to a global floor time bank assigned to the group communication.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the amount of time provided in a favorable vote represents time presently allocated to the global floor time bank, and wherein the amount of time provided in an unfavorable vote represents time to be transferred to the global floor time bank from the at least one active participant.

28. A group communication server, comprising:

a memory;

a network interface; and

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

allocating an initial floor time to each active participant in a plurality of active participants in a group communication;

determining a group size for the group communication;

determining a likeability rating for at least one active participant of the plurality of active participants; and

adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the determined group size and the determined likeability rating.

29. The group communication server of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining the group size for the group communication comprises counting all participants in the group communication.

30. The group communication server of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining the group size comprises counting the plurality of active participants in the group communication.

31. The group communication server of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the determined group size comprises applying a size function to the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant, wherein the size function is based on a weighted count of the plurality of active participants compared to a count of all participants in the group communication.

32. The group communication server of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining the likeability rating for the at least one active participant comprises:

receiving from at least one other active participant a favorable or unfavorable vote regarding the at least one active participant;

determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes; and

determining a likeability adjustment based on the aggregate result.

33. The group communication server of claim 32, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that:

a favorable vote comprises an “

up”

vote and an unfavorable vote comprises a “

down”

vote; and

determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes comprises comparing a number of received “

up”

votes to a number of received “

down”

votes associated with the at least one active participant.

34. The group communication server of claim 32, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the determined likeability rating comprises applying the determined likeability adjustment to the initial floor time allocated to the at least one active participant.

35. The group communication server of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising retrieving a popularity ranking associated with the at least one active participant, and wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that:

the popularity ranking is based on accumulated likeability ratings for the at least one active participant from previous group communications; and

adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is further based on the retrieved popularity ranking.

36. The group communication server of claim 35, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that retrieving a popularity ranking associated with the at least one active participant comprises retrieving participant subscription information from a database.

37. The group communication server of claim 35, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the retrieved popularity ranking is further based on a subscription purchase by the at least one participant, and the popularity ranking is increased in response to the subscription purchase by the at least one participant.

38. The group communication server of claim 35, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the determined group size, the determined likeability rating, and the retrieved popularity ranking are given equal weight in adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant.

39. The group communication server of claim 35, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the determined group size, the determined likeability rating, and the retrieved popularity ranking are given unequal weight in adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant.

40. The group communication server of claim 32, wherein:

the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising assigning a weight to each received favorable or unfavorable vote; and

the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining a likeability adjustment further comprises applying to the votes the respectively assigned weights.

41. The group communication server of claim 32, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that the received favorable and unfavorable votes include a magnitude factor, and determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes is based on the received magnitude factors.

42. The group communication server of claim 32, wherein:

the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions, further comprising updating the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant; and

the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that updating the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant comprises;

updating the group size of the group communication;

updating a likeability rating for at least one active participant using favorable and unfavorable votes received for the at least one active participant received since a previous floor time adjustment; and

updating the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the updated group size and the updated likeability rating.

43. The group communication server of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero;

determining whether the at least one active participant is presently speaking in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero; and

starting a countdown of the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant in response to determining that the at least one active participant is presently speaking.

44. The group communication server of claim 43, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising increasing the transmit capability of at least one other active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero.

45. The group communication server of claim 43, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising selectively diminishing the transmit capability of at least one other active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero.

46. The group communication server of claim 45, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising selectively increasing the transmit capability of the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero.

47. The group communication server of claim 45, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising muting a transmit capability of the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time is not greater than zero.

48. The group communication server of claim 41, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising revoking a floor granted to the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time is not greater than zero.

49. The group communication server of claim 43, wherein:

the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising;

receiving Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) streams from the plurality of active participants; and

mixing the received RTP streams to generate a new RTP stream for distributing to participants in the group communication; and

the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that mixing the received RTP streams comprises selectively diminishing an RTP stream received from the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time is not greater than zero.

50. The group communication server of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving from at least one other participant a favorable or unfavorable vote regarding the at least one active participant, wherein a favorable vote provides an amount of time by which to increase the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant, and wherein an unfavorable vote indicates an amount of time by which to decrease the floor time allocated to the at least one participant;

determining an aggregate change in floor time allocated to the at least one active participant by combining the amounts of increase time and decrease time indicated in all of the received favorable and unfavorable votes; and

adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the aggregate change in floor time.

51. The group communication server of claim 50, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that a sum of the initial floor times allocated to each active participant comprises a total amount of time for the group communication.

52. A group communication server, comprising:

means for allocating an initial floor time to each active participant in a plurality of active participants in a group communication;

means for determining a group size for the group communication;

means for determining a likeability rating for at least one active participant of the plurality of active participants; and

means for adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the determined group size and the determined likeability rating.

53. The group communication server of claim 52, wherein the group size comprises a count of all participants in the group communication.

54. The group communication server of claim 52, wherein means for determining the group size comprises means for counting the plurality of active participants in the group communication.

55. The group communication server of claim 52, wherein means for adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the determined group size comprises means for applying a size function to the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant, wherein the size function is based on a weighted count of the plurality of active participants compared to a count of all participants in the group communication.

56. The group communication server of claim 52, wherein means for determining the likeability rating for the at least one active participant comprises:

means for receiving from at least one other active participant a favorable or unfavorable vote regarding the at least one active participant;

means for determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes; and

means for determining a likeability adjustment based on the aggregate result.

57. The group communication server of claim 56, wherein a favorable vote comprises an “

up”

vote and an unfavorable vote comprises a “

down”

vote, and

wherein means for determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes comprises means for comparing a number of received “

up”

votes to a number of received “

down”

votes associated with the at least one active participant.

58. The group communication server of claim 56, wherein means for adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the determined likeability rating comprises means for applying the determined likeability adjustment to the initial floor time allocated to the at least one active participant.

59. The group communication server of claim 52, further comprising means for retrieving a popularity ranking associated with the at least one active participant, wherein:

the popularity ranking is based on accumulated likeability ratings for the at least one active participant from previous group communications; and

means for adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant comprises means for adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the retrieved popularity ranking.

60. The group communication server of claim 59, wherein means for retrieving a popularity ranking associated with the at least one active participant comprises retrieving participant subscription information from a database.

61. The group communication server of claim 59, further comprising means for increasing the popularity ranking in response to a subscription purchase by the at least one participant.

62. The group communication server of claim 59, wherein the determined group size, the determined likeability rating, and the retrieved popularity ranking are given equal weight in adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant.

63. The group communication server of claim 59, wherein the determined group size, the determined likeability rating, and the retrieved popularity ranking are given unequal weight in adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant.

64. The group communication server of claim 56, further comprising means for assigning a weight to each received favorable or unfavorable vote, wherein means for determining a likeability adjustment further comprises means for applying to the votes the respectively assigned weights.

65. The group communication server of claim 56, wherein received favorable and unfavorable votes include a magnitude factor, wherein means for determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes comprises means for determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes based on the received magnitude factors.

66. The group communication server of claim 56, further comprising means for updating the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant,

wherein means for updating the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant comprises:

means for updating the group size of the group communication;

means for updating a likeability rating for at least one active participant using favorable and unfavorable votes received for the at least one active participant received since a previous floor time adjustment; and

means for updating the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the updated group size and the updated likeability rating.

67. The group communication server of claim 52, further comprising:

means for determining whether the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero;

means for determining whether the at least one active participant is presently speaking in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero; and

means for starting a countdown of the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant in response to determining that the at least one active participant is presently speaking.

68. The group communication server of claim 67, further comprising means for increasing the transmit capability of at least one other active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero.

69. The group communication server of claim 67, further comprising means for selectively diminishing the transmit capability of at least one other active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero.

70. The group communication server of claim 69, further comprising means for selectively increasing the transmit capability of the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero.

71. The group communication server of claim 67, further comprising means for muting a transmit capability of the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time is not greater than zero.

72. The group communication server of claim 65, further comprising means for revoking a floor granted to the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time is not greater than zero.

73. The group communication server of claim 67, further comprising:

means for receiving Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) streams from the plurality of active participants; and

means for mixing the received RTP streams to generate a new RTP stream for distributing to participants in the group communication,

wherein means for mixing the received RTP streams comprises means for selectively diminishing an RTP stream received from the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time is not greater than zero.

74. The group communication server of claim 52, further comprising:

means for receiving from at least one other participant a favorable or unfavorable vote regarding the at least one active participant, wherein a favorable vote provides an amount of time by which to increase the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant, and wherein an unfavorable vote indicates an amount of time by which to decrease the floor time allocated to the at least one participant;

means for determining an aggregate change in floor time allocated to the at least one active participant by combining the amounts of increase time and decrease time indicated in all of the received favorable and unfavorable votes; and

means for adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the aggregate change in floor time.

75. The group communication server of claim 74, wherein a sum of the initial floor times allocated to each active participant comprises a total amount of time for the group communication.

76. The group communication server of claim 75, wherein the amount of time provided in a favorable vote represents time presently allocated to the at least one other participant.

77. The group communication server of claim 74, wherein a sum of the initial floor times allocated to each active participant is less than a total amount of time for the group communication, wherein a difference between the sum and the total amount of time for the group communication is allocated to a global floor time bank assigned to the group communication.

78. The group communication server of claim 74, wherein the amount of time provided in a favorable vote represents time presently allocated to the global floor time bank, and wherein the amount of time provided in an unfavorable vote represents time to be transferred to the global floor time bank from the at least one active participant.

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

allocating an initial floor time to each active participant in a plurality of active participants in a group communication;

determining a group size for the group communication;

determining a likeability rating for at least one active participant of the plurality of active participants; and

adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the determined group size and the determined likeability rating.

80. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that the group size comprises a count of all participants in the group communication.

81. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that determining the group size comprises counting the plurality of active participants in the group communication.

82. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the determined group size comprises applying a size function to the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant, wherein the size function is based on a weighted count of the plurality of active participants compared to a count of all participants in the group communication.

83. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that determining the likeability rating for the at least one active participant comprises:

receiving from at least one other active participant a favorable or unfavorable vote regarding the at least one active participant;

determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes; and

determining a likeability adjustment based on the aggregate result.

84. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 83, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that:

a favorable vote comprises an “

up”

vote and an unfavorable vote comprises a “

down”

vote; and

determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes comprises comparing a number of received “

up”

votes to a number of received “

down”

votes associated with the at least one active participant.

85. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 83, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the determined likeability rating comprises applying the determined likeability adjustment to the initial floor time allocated to the at least one active participant.

86. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 79, wherein:

the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations further comprising retrieving a popularity ranking associated with the at least one active participant; and

the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that;

the popularity ranking is based on accumulated likeability ratings for the at least one active participant from previous group communications; and

adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is further based on the retrieved popularity ranking.

87. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 86, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that retrieving a popularity ranking associated with the at least one active participant comprises retrieving participant subscription information from a database.

88. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 86, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that the retrieved popularity ranking is further based on a subscription purchase by the at least one participant, wherein the popularity ranking is increased in response to the subscription purchase by the at least one participant.

89. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 86, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that the determined group size, the determined likeability rating, and the retrieved popularity ranking are given equal weight in adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant.

90. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 86, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that the determined group size, the determined likeability rating, and the retrieved popularity ranking are given unequal weight in adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant.

91. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 83, wherein:

the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations further comprising assigning a weight to each received favorable or unfavorable vote; and

the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that determining a likeability adjustment further comprises applying to the votes the respectively assigned weights.

92. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 83, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that:

received favorable and unfavorable votes include a magnitude factor; and

determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes comprises determining an aggregate result of all received favorable and unfavorable votes based on the received magnitude factors.

93. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 83, wherein:

the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations further comprising updating the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant; and

the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that updating the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant comprises;

updating the group size of the group communication;

updating a likeability rating for at least one active participant using favorable and unfavorable votes received for the at least one active participant received since a previous floor time adjustment; and

updating the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the updated group size and the updated likeability rating.

94. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero;

determining whether the at least one active participant is presently speaking in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero; and

starting a countdown of the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant in response to determining that the at least one active participant is presently speaking.

95. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 94, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations further comprising increasing the transmit capability of at least one other active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero.

96. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 94, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations further comprising selectively diminishing the transmit capability of at least one other active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero.

97. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 96, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations further comprising selectively increasing the transmit capability of the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time allocated to the at least one active participant is greater than zero.

98. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 94, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations further comprising muting a transmit capability of the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time is not greater than zero.

99. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 92, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations further comprising revoking a floor granted to the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time is not greater than zero.

100. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 94, wherein:

the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations further comprising;

receiving Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) streams from the plurality of active participants; and

mixing the received RTP streams to generate a new RTP stream for distributing to participants in the group communication; and

the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that mixing the received RTP streams comprises selectively diminishing an RTP stream received from the at least one active participant in response to determining that the adjusted floor time is not greater than zero.

101. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 79, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving from at least one other participant a favorable or unfavorable vote regarding the at least one active participant, wherein a favorable vote provides an amount of time by which to increase the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant, and wherein an unfavorable vote indicates an amount of time by which to decrease the floor time allocated to the at least one participant;

determining an aggregate change in floor time allocated to the at least one active participant by combining the amounts of increase time and decrease time indicated in all of the received favorable and unfavorable votes; and

adjusting the floor time allocated to the at least one active participant based on the aggregate change in floor time.

102. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 101, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that a sum of the initial floor times allocated to each active participant comprises a total amount of time for the group communication.

103. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 102, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that the amount of time provided in a favorable vote represents time presently allocated to the at least one other participant.

104. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 101, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that:

a sum of the initial floor times allocated to each active participant is less than a total amount of time for the group communication; and

a difference between the sum and the total amount of time for the group communication is allocated to a global floor time bank assigned to the group communication.

105. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 101, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the group communication server processor to perform operations such that:

the amount of time provided in a favorable vote represents time presently allocated to the global floor time bank; and

the amount of time provided in an unfavorable vote represents time to be transferred to the global floor time bank from the at least one active participant.