Communication device for reducing latency in a group communication network

• US 7,035,655 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• 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
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thuan T.
• Application Number:
  US10/035,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20020061759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/59, 455/416, 455/426.1, 455/517, 455/518, 455/519, 455/463, 455/561, 379/156, 379/157, 379/158, 379/177, 379/185, 379/202.01, 379/205.01
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 Call controllers; Call servers
• 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 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• 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 method and apparatus for reducing perceived latency in a group communication network provides for receiving a request from a user of a communication device wishing to initiate a group call, receiving media from the user before completely processing the request, and buffering the received media for later transmission.

Claims

1. In a communication device, a method for reducing latency in a group communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a user of the communication device wishing to initiate a group call;

receiving media from the user before processing the request;

buffering the received media for later transmission to a controller; and

signaling the user to stop sending media if a memory unit used for buffering the received media runs out of space before the request is completely processed and media communication is not established between the communication device and the controller.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

transmitting the buffered media to a target receiver if a memory unit used for buffering the received media runs out of space before the request is processed but media communication is established between the communication device and the controller.

3. A communication device for reducing latency in a group communication network, the communication device comprising:

a receiver to receive a request from a user who wishes to initiate a group call;

a memory unit to buffer media that is received from the user before the request is processed;

a transmitter for transmitting the buffered data to a controller after the request is processed; and

a processor for processing the received request and the media, the processor being communicatively coupled with the receiver, the memory unit, and the transmitter wherein the processor signals the user to stop sending media if a memory unit used for buffering the received media runs out of space before the request is completely processed and media communication is not established between the communication device and the controller.

4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the transmitter transmits the buffered media to a target receiver if a memory unit used for buffering the received media runs out of space before the request is processed but media communication is established between the communication device and the controller.