Method and apparatus for enabling group communication services in an existing communication system

• US 6,928,294 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Maggenti, Mark, Rosen, Eric, Crockett, Douglas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THUAN T
• Application Number:
  US10/071,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20020102999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 455/518, 455/519, 455/520, 455/403, 455/412.1, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/435.1, 455/439, 455/445, 455/446, 455/463, 455/11.1, 455/550.1, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/500, 455/452.1
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• 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 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

An apparatus to form a group of communication devices over a distributed network is claimed. A first node establishes a first channel with a first communication device. At least one second node establishes at least one second channel with at least one second communication device. A controller electrically connected to the first node and the at least one second node comprises a database module. The database module comprises identification information of each of the communication devices of the group. The controller is dynamically configurable such that any single communication device of the group is capable of sending packet data through its respective channel to the other communication devices of the group.

Claims

1. In a communications system, an apparatus to form a group of communication devices over a distributed network, said apparatus comprising:

a first node to establish a first channel with a first communication device;

at least one second node to establish at least one second channel with at least one second communication device;

a controller electrically connected to said first node and said at least one second node, said controller further comprising a database module, wherein said database module comprises identification information of each of said communication devices of said group, wherein said controller is dynamically configurable such that any single communication device of said group is capable of sending packet data through its respective channel to the other communication devices of said group; and

at least one communication device is connected to at least one communications manager by at least one channel wherein the at least one channel is divided into separate channels comprising a session initiation protocol (SIP) channel, a net broadcast service (NBS) media signalinag channel and a media traffic channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said packet data contains time-sensitive information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said communication devices is a wireless communication device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a core module and a net module, wherein said core module establishes identification of each of said communications devices and redirects information from said communication devices to said net module, wherein said net module operates and manages information transmitted between said group of communication devices.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said database module is a part of said core module.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said core module further comprises a billing log module, wherein said billing log module maintains a history of activity between said communication devices.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said net module further comprises a local log module, wherein said local log module maintains a history of activity between said communication devices, and transfers said history to said billing log module.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said core module and said net module are connected to the distributed network.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a top level server, wherein said top level server sends and receives packet data from said communications devices.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said packet data comprises at least one of identification data of said communication device, location data of said communication device, and control data to establish, modify, or terminate group communications.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first channel further comprises a signal initiation protocol (SIP) channel, a media signaling channel, and a media traffic channel.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller further comprises a first timer, wherein said first timer measures a first elapsed time period in which any of said communication devices has not transmitted information to said controller, wherein said controller sends a message to said communications devices to enter an dormant mode if said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time period.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said controller further comprises a second timer, wherein said second timer measures a second elapsed time period, wherein if any of said communication devices has not transmitted information to said controller within a predetermined time period, said controller sends a message to said communications devices to elicit a response from said communication devices to determine if said communication devices wish to remain active participants.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller further comprises an arbitrator, wherein said arbitrator assigns a priority level to each of said communications devices, wherein said priority level determines a hierarchy of transmission privilege of said communications devices such that communication devices having a higher priority level may interrupt the transmission of communication devices having a lower priority level.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said assignment of priority level is dynamically configurable.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a buffer memoly, wherein the buffer memory stores said packet data until said communication device is ready to receive said packet data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said buffer memory is used to minimize perceived latency of a user.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein some of said communication devices operate in different communication infrastructures.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller updates the identification information of said communication device when the identification information of said communication device has or is about to change.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller sends information to said first communication device regarding said at least one second communication device.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first communication device is identified by a first identifier, and said at least one second communication device is identified by at least a one second identifier, and wherein said controller maintains said identifier of each of said communication devices and allows for transfer of packet data between said first communication device and said at least one second communication device.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communication devices operate over a secure mode.

23. In a communications system, an apparatus to form a group of wireless push-to-talk communication devices over a distributed network, said apparatus comprising:

a first node to establish a first channel with a first wireless push-to-talk communication device;

at least one second node to establish at least one second channel with at least one second wireless push-to-talk communication device;

a controller electrically connected to said first node and said at least one second node, said controller further comprising a database module, wherein said database module comprising identification information of each of said wireless communication devices of said group, wherein said controller is dynamically configurable such that any single wireless push-to-talk communication device of said group is capable of sending packet data through its respective channel to the other wireless push-to-talk communication devices of said group; and

at least one communication device is connected to at least one communications manager by at least one channel wherein the at least one channel is divided into separate channels comprising a session initiation protocol (SIP) channel, a net broadcast service (NBS) media signaling channel and a media traffic channel.

24. In a communications system, a method for forming a group communication, said method comprising:

establishing a first channel with a first communication device;

establishing at least one second channel with at least one second communication device;

receiving packet data from said first communication device;

sending said packet data to the at least one second communication device group; and

at least one communication device is connected to at least one communications manager by at least one channel wherein the at least one channel is divided into separate channels comprising a session initiation protocol (SIP) channel, a net broadcast service (NBS) media signaling channel and a media traffic channel.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said establishing steps include:

establishing at least one wireless communication channel.

26. The method of claim 24, further including:

maintaining identification information for each of said first communication device and at least one second communication device.

27. The method of claim 26, further including:

updating the maintained identification information when the identification information of said first communication device or said at least one second communication device has or is about to change.

28. The method of claim 24, further including:

maintaining a history of activity between said first communication device and said at least one second communication device.

29. The method of claim 28, further including:

transfering said history of activity to a billing log module.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein said receiving includes receiving at least one of identification data of first communication device and said at least one second communication device, location data of said first communication device and said at least one second communication device, and control data to establish, modify, or terminate said group communication.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein said establishing steps include:

establishing a signal initiation protocol (SIP) channel, a media signaling channel, and a media traffic channel.

32. The method of claim 24, further including:

measuring a first elapsed time period during which none of said first communication device and said at least one second communication device has transmitted information; and

sending a message to said first communication device and said at least one second communication device to enter a dormant mode if said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time period.

33. The method of claim 32, further including:

measuring a second elapsed time period during which none of said first communication device and said at least one second communication device has transmitted information; and

sending a message to a communication device that has not transmitted information to elicit a response from said communication device to determine if said communication device wishes to remain an active participant.

34. The method of claim 24, further including:

assigning a priority level to each of said first communications device and at least one second communications device such that a communication device having a higher priority level may interrupt another communication device having a lower priority level.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said priority level is dynamically configurable.

36. The method of claim 24, further including:

storing said received packet data until said at least one second communication device is ready to receive said packet data.

37. The method of claim 24, further including:

sending information to said first communication device regarding said at least one second communication device.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein said sending includes:

sending said packet data to said at least one second communication device via a multicast channel.

39. In a communications system, a computer-readable medium embodying a method for forming a group communication, said method comprising:

establishing a first channel with a first communication device;

establishing at least one second channel with at least one second communication device;

receiving packet data from said first communication device;

sending said packet data to the at least one second communication device group; and

at least one communication device is connected to at least one communications manager by at least one channel wherein the at least one channel is divided into separate channels comprising a session initiation protocol (SIP) channel, a net broadcast service (NBS) media signaling channel and a media traffic channel.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein said establishing steps include:

establishing at least one wireless communication channel.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein said method further includes:

maintaining identification information for each of said first communication device and at least one second communication device.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, wherein said method further includes:

updating the maintained identification information when the identification information of said first communication device or said at least one second communication device has or is about to change.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein said method further includes:

maintaining a history of activity between said first communication device and said at least one second communication device.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein said method further includes:

transfering said history of activity to a billing log module.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein said receiving includes:

receiving at least one of identification data of first communication device and said at least one second communication device, location data of said first communication device and said at least one second communication device, and control data to establish, modify, or terminate said group communication.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein said establishing steps include:

establishing a signal initiation protocol (SIP) channel, a media signaling channel, and a media traffic channel.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein said method further includes:

measuring a first elapsed time period during which none of said first communication device and said at least one second communication device has transmitted information; and

sending a message to said first communication device and said at least one second communication device to enter a dormant mode if said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time period.

48. Computer-readable medium of claim 47, wherein said method further includes:

measuring a second elapsed time period during which any of said first communication device and said at least one second communication device has not transmitted information; and

sending a message to a communication device that has not transmitted information to elicit a response from said communication device to determine if said communication device wishes to remain an active participant.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein said method further includes:

assigning a priority level to each of said first communications device and at least one second communications device such that a communication device having a higher priority level may interrupt another communication device having a lower priority level.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein said priority level is dynamically configurable.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein said method further includes:

storing said received packet data until said at least one second communication device is ready to receive said packet data.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein said method further includes:

sending information to said first communication device regarding said at least one second communication device.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein said sending includes:

sending said packet data to said at least one second communication device via a multicast channel.

54. An apparatus for forming a group communication, comprising:

means for establishing a first channel with a first communication device;

means for establishing at least one second channel with at least one second communication device;

means for receiving packet data from said first communication device;

means for sending said packet data to the at least one second communication device group; and

at least one communication device is connected to at least one communications manager by at least one channel wherein the at least one channel is divided into separate channels comprising a session initiation protocol (SIP) channel, a net broadcast service (NBS) media signaling channel and a media traffic channel.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said means for establishing include:

means for establishing at least one wireless communication channel.

56. The apparatus of claim 54, further including:

means for maintaining identification information for each of said first communication device and at least one second communication device.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, further including:

means for updating the maintained identification information when the identification information of said first communication device or said at least one second communication device has or is about to change.

58. The apparatus of claim 54, further including:

means for maintaining a history of activity between said first communication device and said at least one second communication device.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, further including:

means for transferring said history of activity to a billing log module.

60. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said means for receiving includes means for receiving at least one of identification data of first communication device and said at least one second communication device, location data of said first communication device and said at least one second communication device, and control data to establish, modify, or terminate said group communication.

61. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said means for establishing include:

means for establishing a signal initiation protocol (SIP) channel, a media signaling channel, and a media traffic channel.

62. The apparatus of claim 54, further including:

means for measuring a first elapsed time period during which none of said first communication device and said at least one second communication device has transmitted information; and

means for sending a message to said first communication device and said at least one second communication device to enter a dormant mode if said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time period.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, further including:

means for measuring a second elapsed time period during which none of said first communication device and said at least one second communication device has transmitted information; and

means for sending a message to a communication device that has not transmitted information to elicit a response from said communication device to determine if said communication device wishes to remain an active participant.

64. The apparatus of claim 54, further including:

means for assigning a priority level to each of said first communications device and at least one second communications device such that a communication device having a higher priority level may interrupt another communication device having a lower priority level.

65. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein said priority level is dynamically configurable.

66. The apparatus of claim 54, further including:

means for storing said received packet data until said at least one second communication device is ready to receive said packet data.

67. The apparatus of claim 54, further including:

means for sending information to said first communication device regarding said at least one second communication device.

68. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said means for sending includes:

means for sending said packet data to said at least one second communication device via a multicast channel.

69. An apparatus for forming a group communication, comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter;

a processor communicatively coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, the processor being capable of;

establishing a first channel with a first communication device;

establishing at least one second channel with at least one second communication device;

receiving packet data from said first communication device; and

sending said packet data to the at least one second communication device group; and

at least one communication device is connected to at least one communications manager by at least one channel wherein the at least one channel is divided into separate channels comprising a session initiation protocol (SIP) channel, a net broadcast service (NBS) media signaling channel and a media traffic channel.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein said establishing include:

establishing at least one wireless communication channel.

71. The apparatus of claim 69, the processor further being capable of:

maintaining identification information for each of said first communication device and at least one second communication device.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, the processor further being capable of:

updating the maintained identification information when the identification information of said first communication device or said at least one second communication device has or is about to change.

73. The apparatus of claim 69, the processor further being capable of:

maintaining a history of activity between said first communication device and said at least one second communication device.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, the processor further being capable of:

transferring said history of activity to a billing log module.

75. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein said receiving includes:

receiving at least one of identification data of first communication device and said at least one second communication device, location data of said first communication device and said at least one second communication device, and control data to establish, modify, or terminate said group communication.

76. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein said establishing include:

establishing a signal initiation protocol (SIP) channel, a media signaling channel, and a media traffic channel.

77. The apparatus of claim 69, the processor further being capable of:

measuring a first elapsed time period during which none of said first communication device and said at least one second communication device has transmitted information; and

sending a message to said first communication device and said at least one second communication device to enter a dormant mode if said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time period.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, the processor further being capable of:

measuring a second elapsed time period during which none of said first communication device and said at least one second communication device has transmitted information; and

sending a message to a communication device that has not transmitted information to elicit a response from said communication device to determine if said communication device wishes to remain an active participant.

79. The apparatus of claim 69, the processor further being capable of:

assigning a priority level to each of said first communications device and at least one second communications device such that a communication device having a higher priority level may interrupt another communication device having a lower priority level.

80. The apparatus of claim 79 wherein said priority level is dynamically configurable.

81. The apparatus of claim 69, the processor further being capable of:

storing said received packet data until said at least one second communication device is ready to receive said packet data.

82. The apparatus of claim 69, the processor further being capable of:

sending information to said first communication device regarding said at least one second communication device.

83. The apparatus of claim 69, the processor further being capable of:

sending said packet data to said at least one second communication device via a multicast channel.