METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BEARER CONTROL IN A GROUP CALL

• US 20150173106A1
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: NEWBERG, DONALD G., DROZT, PETER M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,655,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/36 for reassigning the resources associated with the released connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A method and service network element are provided that control a distribution of multiple uplink bearers among multiple user devices participating in a group call. In response to receiving a trigger to reevaluate the multiple uplink bearers, one or more user devices of the multiple user devices are identified as candidates for de-allocation of uplink bearers based on a profile associated with each of the multiple user devices. Further, based on the profiles associated with each of the multiple user devices, one or more of the multiple user devices are identified as candidates for establishment of an uplink bearer. An uplink bearer, of the multiple uplink bearers, then is released from one or more of the user devices identified as candidates for de-allocation of uplink bearers, and an uplink bearer is established for one or more user devices identified as candidates for establishment of uplink bearers.

Claims

1. A method for bearer control in a group call, the method comprising:

receiving a trigger to reevaluate a plurality of uplink bearers needed for a group call;

identifying, based on a profile associated with each user device of a plurality of participating user devices participating in the group call, one or more participating user devices of the plurality of participating user devices as candidates for de-allocation of uplink bearers;

identifying, based on a profile associated with each user device of a plurality of user devices participating in the group call, one or more participating user devices of the plurality of participating user devices as candidates for establishment of an uplink bearer;

releasing an uplink bearer, of the plurality of uplink bearers, from one or more participating user devices of the plurality of participating user devices identified as candidates for de-allocation of uplink bearers; and

establishing an uplink bearer for one or more participating user devices of the plurality of participating user devices identified as candidates for establishment of uplink bearers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a trigger to reevaluate uplink bearers comprises receiving a request to start a new call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a trigger to reevaluate uplink bearers comprises receiving a floor request for the group call.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the floor request is received from a participating user device of the plurality of participating user devices and wherein receiving a trigger to reevaluate uplink bearers further comprises:

determining that the participating user device requesting the floor requires an uplink bearer; and

determining that the participating user device requesting the floor does not currently have an established uplink bearer.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein establishing an uplink bearer for one or more participating user devices of the plurality of participating user devices identified as candidates for establishment of uplink bearers comprises establishing an uplink bearer for the participating user device requesting the floor, and wherein the method further comprises:

delaying permission for the user of the participating user device requesting the floor to speak while the bearer is being established.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile associated with each participating user device comprises one or more of:

a time period that has expired since the user device has most recently transmitted on an uplink bearer;

a role of a user associated with the user device;

a priority of a user associated with the user device;

a location of the user device; and

a relationship between the user and one or more other participants in the group call.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to establishing an uplink bearer for one or more participating user devices of the plurality of participating user devices identified as candidates for establishment of uplink bearers, updating a profile associated with each of the one or more participating user devices for which an uplink bearer is established.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating a profile associated with a participating user device whose uplink bearer was de-allocated.

9. A service network element capable of bearer control in a group call, the service network element comprising:

a processor that is configured to;

receive a trigger to reevaluate a plurality of uplink bearers needed for a group call;

identify, based on a profile associated with each user device of a plurality of user devices participating in the group call, one or more participating user devices of the plurality of participating user devices as candidates for de-allocation of uplink bearers;

identify, based on a profile associated with each participating user device of the plurality of participating user devices, one or more participating user devices of the plurality of participating user devices as candidates for establishment of an uplink bearer;

release an uplink bearer, of the plurality of uplink bearers, from one or more participating user devices of the plurality of participating user devices identified as candidates for de-allocation of uplink bearers; and

establish an uplink bearer for one or more participating user devices of the plurality of participating user devices identified as candidates for establishment of uplink bearers.

10. The service network element of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to receive a trigger to reevaluate uplink bearers by receiving a request to start a new call.

11. The service network element of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to receive a trigger to reevaluate uplink bearers by receiving a floor request for the group call.

12. The service network element of claim 11, wherein the floor request is received from a participating user device of the plurality of participating user devices and wherein the processor is configured to trigger a reallocation of uplink bearers by:

determining that the participating user device requesting the floor requires an uplink bearer; and

determining that the participating user device requesting the floor does not currently have an established uplink bearer.

13. The service network element of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to establish an uplink bearer for one or more participating user devices of the plurality of participating user devices identified as candidates for establishment of uplink bearers by establishing an uplink bearer for the participating user device requesting the floor, and wherein the processor further is configured to:

delay permission for the user of the participating user device requesting the floor to speak while the bearer is being established.

14. The service network element of claim 9, wherein the profile associated with each participating user device comprises one or more of:

a time period that has expired since the user device has most recently transmitted on an uplink bearer;

a role of a user associated with the user device;

a priority of a user associated with the user device;

a location of the user device; and

a relationship between the user and one or more other participants in the group call.

15. The service network element of claim 9, wherein the processor further is configured to:

in response to establishing an uplink bearer for one or more participating user devices of the plurality of participating user devices identified as candidates for establishment of uplink bearers, update a profile associated with each participating user device for which an uplink bearer is established.

16. The service network element of claim 9, wherein the processor further is configured to:

update a profile associated with a participating user device whose uplink bearer was de-allocated.

17. The service network element of claim 9, wherein the service network element is a Group Application Server.