Communication device for providing multimedia in a group communication network

• US 7,130,282 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US10/247,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20040057405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/296
• 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 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for providing group communication services is disclosed. Each of a plurality of group communication devices coverts media, such as video, audio, image and/or data into data packets suitable for transmission over a data network, such as the Internet. The data packets are selectively transmitted through the data network to a communications manager. The communications manager acts as a configurable switch, allowing communications from any communication device to be selectively routed to the plurality of communication devices based on the types of the communication devices and/or the requests received from the corresponding users. The communications manager further allows users of other communication systems and devices to participate in group communications with each other.

Claims

1. A method in a communication device (CD) for communicating multimedia with a communication manager (CM) operating in a group communication network, the method comprising:

providing a type of the CD to the CM, the type indicating the media that the CD is capable of communicating;

selectively communicating the media based on the type of the CD; and

media traffic from the CD is encapsulated by grouping one or more data frames representing media information, including media payload format descriptors, within a payload and upon confirmation that the CD is authorized to participate in a selected group and in response to an invite request to participate in the selected group, a description of media traffic and signaling parameters is embedded and provided to group participant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said type indicates a video camera and said media includes video.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said type indicates a still camera and said media includes still image.

4. A method in a communication device (CD) for receiving multimedia from a communication manager (CM) operating in a group communication network, the method comprising:

providing a request to the CM, the request indicating the media that the CD is capable of receiving;

selectively receiving the media based on the request; and

media traffic from the CD is encapsulated by grouping one or more data frames representing media information, including media payload format descriptors, within a payload and upon confirmation that the CD is authorized to participate in a selected group and in response to an invite request to participate in the selected group, a description of media traffic and signaling parameters is embedded and provided to group participant.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said request includes a request for receiving video.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said request includes a request for receiving a still image.

7. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions for communicating multimedia between a communication device (CD) and a communication manager (CM) operating in a group communication network, the instructions when executed perform a method comprising:

providing a type of the CD to the CM, the type indicating the media that the CD is capable of communicating;

selectively communicating the media based on the type of the CD; and

media traffic from the CD is encapsulated when grouping one or more data frames representing media information, including media payload format descriptors, within a payload and upon confirmation that the CD is authorized to participate in a selected group and in response to an invite request to participate in the selected group, a description of media traffic and signaling parameters is embedded and provided to group participant.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein said type indicates a video camera and said media includes video.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein said type indicates a still camera and said media includes still image.

10. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions for communicating multimedia between a communication device (CD) and a communication manager (CM) operating in a group communication network, the instructions when executed perform a method comprising:

providing a request to the CM, the request indicating the media that the CD is capable of receiving;

selectively receiving the media based on the request; and

media traffic from the CD is encapsulated when grouping one or more data frames representing media information, including media payload format descriptors, within a payload and upon confirmation that the CD is authorized to participate in a selected group and in response to an invite request to participate in the selected group, a description of media traffic and signaling parameters is embedded and provided to group participant.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said request includes a request for receiving video.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said request includes a request for receiving an image.

13. An apparatus for communicating multimedia with a communication manager (CM) operating in a group communication network, comprising:

means for providing a type of a communication device (CD) to the CM, the type indicating the media that the CD is capable of communicating;

means for selectively communicating the media based on the type of the CD; and

media traffic from the CD is encapsulated by grouping one or more data frames representing media information, including media payload format descriptors, within a payload and upon confirmation that the CD is authorized to participate in a selected group and in response to an invite request to participate in the selected group, a description of media traffic and signaling parameters is embedded and provided to group participant.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said type indicates a video camera and said media includes video.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said type indicates a still camera and said media includes still image.

16. An apparatus for receiving multimedia from a communication manager (CM) operating in a group communication network, comprising:

means for providing a request to the CM, the request indicating the media that the CD is capable of receiving;

means for selectively receiving the media based on the request; and

media traffic from the CD is encapsulated by grouping one or more data frames representing media information, including media payload format descriptors, within a payload and upon confirmation that the CD is authorized to participate in a selected group and in response to an invite request to participate in the selected group, a description of media traffic and signaling parameters is embedded and provided to group participant.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said request includes a request for receiving video.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said request includes a request for receiving an image.

19. A communication device (CD), comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter;

a processor programmed to implement a method for communicating multimedia with a communication manager (CM) operating in a group communication network, the method comprising;

providing a type of the CD to the CM, the type indicating the media that the CD is capable of communicating; and

selectively communicating the media based on the type of the CD; and

media traffic from the CD is encapsulated by grouping one or more data frames representing media information, including media payload format descriptors, within a payload and upon confirmation that the CD is authorized to participate in a selected group and in response to an invite request to participate in the selected group, a description of media traffic and signaling parameters is embedded and provided to group participant.

20. The CD of claim 19, wherein said type indicates a video camera and said media includes video.

21. The CD of claim 19, wherein said type indicates a still camera and said media includes still image.

22. A communication device (CD), comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter;

a processor programmed to implement a method for receiving multimedia from a communication manager (CM) operating in a group communication network, the method comprising;

providing a request to the CM, the request indicating the media that the CD is capable of receiving; and

selectively receiving the media based on the request; and

media traffic from the CD is encapsulated by grouping one or more data frames representing media information, including media payload format descriptors, within a payload and upon confirmation that the CD is authorized to participate in a selected group and in response to an invite request to participate in the selected group, a description of media traffic and signaling parameters is embedded and provided to group participant.

23. The CD of claim 22, wherein said request includes a request for receiving video.

24. The CD of claim 22, wherein said request includes a request for receiving still image.