Controller for reducing latency in a group dormancy-wakeup process in a group communication network

• US 7,047,031 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Maggenti, Mark, Rosen, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US10/785,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20040171400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/416, 455/419, 455/518, 455/519, 455/520, 455/524, 370/312, 370/329, 370/328, 370/335, 370/349, 370/352, 370/343, 370/355
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• 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 3/566 relating to a participants right to speak arrangements for multi-party communication with floor control, e.g. for conferences, H04L65/4038, H04L65/4046, H04L65/4053
• 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 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reducing latency in a group communication network provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormancy wakeup time and the PTT latency by exchanging group call signaling even when mobiles are dormant and no traffic channel is active. The method and apparatus provides for exchanging the group call signaling through the use of the short data burst (SDB) message signaling. The method and apparatus provides for re-establishing dedicated traffic channels for the talker mobile and the dormant listener mobiles advantageously in parallel.

Claims

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

receiving a floor-control request in short data burst (SDB) form from a dormant source communication device for initiating a group call directed to a group of dormant target communication devices, the floor-control request being sent by the dormant source communication device on a reverse common channel of the wireless network, the wireless network having released its dedicated traffic channel; and

transmitting wakeup messages to the group of dormant target communication devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving includes receiving the request through a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting the wakeup messages in SDB form on a forward common channel of the wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1, further including transmitting a response to the floor-control request in SDB form on a forward common channel of the wireless network.

5. In a controller, a computer-readable medium embodying a method for reducing latency in a group communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a floor-control request in short data burst (SDB) form from a dormant source communication device for initiating a group call directed to a group of dormant target communication devices, the floor-control request being sent by the dormant source communication device on a reverse common channel of the wireless network, the wireless network having released its dedicated traffic channel and radio link protocol; and

transmitting wakeup messages to the group of dormant target communication devices.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the receiving includes receiving the request through a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting the wakeup messages in SDB form on a forward common channel of the wireless network.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, the method further including transmitting a response to the floor-control request in SDB form on a forward common channel of the wireless network.

9. A controller for reducing latency in a group communication network, comprising:

means for receiving a floor-control request in short data burst (SDB) form from a dormant source communication device for initiating a group call directed to a group of dormant target communication devices, the floor-control request being sent by the dormant source communication device on a reverse common channel of the wireless network, the wireless network having released its dedicated traffic channel; and

means for transmitting wakeup messages to the group of dormant target communication devices.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein the means for receiving includes means for receiving the request through a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

11. The controller of claim 9, wherein the means for transmitting includes means for transmitting the wakeup messages in SDB form on a forward common channel of the wireless network.

12. The controller of claim 9, further including means for transmitting a response to the floor-control request in SDB form on a forward common channel of the wireless network.

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

a receiver to receive information over the network;

a transmitter to transmit information over the network; and

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

receiving a floor-control request in short data burst (SDB) form from a dormant source communication device for initiating a group call directed to a group of dormant target communication devices, the floor-control request being sent by the dormant source communication device on a reverse common channel of the wireless network, the wireless network having released its dedicated traffic channel; and

transmitting wakeup messages to the group of dormant target communication devices.

14. The controller of claim 13, wherein the receiving includes receiving the request through a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

15. The controller of claim 13, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting the wakeup messages in SDB form on a forward common channel of the wireless network.

16. The controller of claim 13, the processor further being capable of transmitting a response to the floor-control request in SDB form on a forward common channel of the wireless network.

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

receiving an indication from a user for initiating a group call directed to a group of dormant target communication devices; and

transmitting a floor-control request in short data burst (SDB) form to a controller for initiating the group call, the floor-control request being sent on a reverse common channel of the wireless network, the wireless network having released its dedicated traffic channel.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving includes receiving the indication through a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

19. The method of claim 17, further including receiving a response from the controller in SDB form on a forward common channel of the wireless network.

20. The method of claim 17, further including re-establishing a traffic channel.

21. The method of claim 17, further including re-negotiating a radio link protocol.

22. In a communication device, a computer-readable medium embodying a method for reducing latency in a group communication network, the method comprising:

receiving an indication from a user for initiating a group call directed to a group of dormant target communication devices; and

transmitting a floor-control request in short data burst (SDB) form to a controller for initiating the group call, the floor-control request being sent on a reverse common channel of the wireless network, the wireless network having released its dedicated traffic channel.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the receiving includes receiving the indication through a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, further including receiving a response from the controller in SDB form on a forward common channel of the wireless network.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, further including re-establishing a traffic channel.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, further including re-negotiating a radio link protocol.

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

means for receiving an indication from a user for initiating a group call directed to a group of dormant target communication devices; and

means for transmitting a floor-control request in short data burst (SDB) form to a controller for initiating the group call, the floor-control request being sent on a reverse common channel of the wireless network, the wireless network having released its dedicated traffic channel.

28. The communication device of claim 27, wherein the means for receiving includes means for receiving the indication through a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

29. The communication device of claim 27, further including means for receiving a response from the controller in SDB form on a forward common channel of the wireless network.

30. The communication device of claim 27, further including means for re-establishing a traffic channel.

31. The communication device of claim 27, further including re-negotiating a radio link protocol.

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

a receiver to receive information over the network;

a transmitter to transmit information over the network; and

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

receiving an indication from a user for initiating a group call directed to a group of dormant target communication devices; and

transmitting a floor-control request in short data burst (SDB) form to a controller for initiating the group call, the floor-control request being sent on a reverse common channel of the wireless network, the wireless network having released its dedicated traffic channel.

33. The communication device of claim 32, wherein the receiving includes receiving the indication through a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

34. The communication device of claim 32, the processor further capable of receiving a response from the controller in SDB form on a forward common channel of the wireless network.

35. The communication device of claim 32, the processor further capable of re-establishing a traffic channel.

36. The communication device of claim 32, the processor further capable of re-negotiating a radio link protocol.