Multimedia half-duplex sessions with individual floor controls

• US 7,283,489 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Anne Yin-Fee, Mathai, Stinson Samuel, Palaez, Mariana Benitez
• Primary Examiner(s): Phunkulh; Bob A.
• Application Number:
  US10/403,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20040190489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/277
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• 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: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• 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

Abstract

A method of managing a multimedia call session conducted over a communications network (10) is includes: receiving a request to set-up the multimedia session over the communications network (10), including a plurality of media types; and, establishing a separate single media session for each media type included in the request, the established sessions being between a plurality of participating terminals (40, 50).

Claims

1. A method of managing a multimedia call session conducted over a communications network, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a request to set-up the multimedia session over the communications network, including a plurality of media types (receiving a request to initiate a multimedia session, see paragraph); and

,

(b) establishing a separate single media session for each media type included in the request, said established sessions being between a plurality of participating terminals;

wherein the established single media sessions are half-duplex sessions and the method further comprises;

(c) monitoring each of the established sessions for corresponding floor control signals received from the participating terminals; and

(d) assigning transmission rights to the participating terminals in accordance with the monitored floor controls, wherein the transmission rights for each established session are assigned independently of assignments for other established sessions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring bearer paths for the established sessions, each of said bearer paths transporting communications between the participating terminals for the media type corresponding to the established session for which it is configured.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each bearer path is configured for half-duplex communication between the participating terminals such that the participating terminals are transmission enabled independently for each of the established sessions.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

monitoring each of the established sessions for corresponding floor control signals received from the participating terminals, wherein the bearer paths are configured based on the monitored floor controls such that one participating terminal designated as having the floor for each established session is transmission enabled for that established session.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

reconfiguring the bearer paths for the established sessions in accordance with changes in the monitored floor controls.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the established single media sessions is a half-duplex session and at least another one of the established single media sessions is a full-duplex session.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of participating terminals includes more than two terminals.

8. A system for managing a multimedia call session conducted over a communications network, said system comprising:

means for receiving a request to set-up the multimedia session over the communications network, including a plurality of media types; and

means for establishing a separate single media session for each media type included in the request, said established sessions being between a plurality of participating terminals;

wherein the established single media sessions are half-duplex sessions and the system further comprises;

means for monitoring each of the established sessions for corresponding floor control signals received from the participating terminals; and

means for assigning transmission rights to the participating terminals in accordance with the monitored floor controls, wherein the transmission rights for each established session are assigned independently of assignments for other established sessions.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for configuring bearer paths for the established sessions, each of said bearer paths transporting communications between the participating terminals for the media type corresponding to the established session for which it is configured.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each bearer path is configured for half-duplex communication between the participating terminals such that the participating terminals are transmission enabled independently for each of the established sessions.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

means for monitoring each of the established sessions for corresponding floor control signals received from the participating terminals, wherein the bearer paths are configured based on the monitored floor controls such that one participating terminal designated as having the floor for each established session is transmission enabled for that established session.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for reconfiguring the bearer paths for the established sessions in accordance with changes in the monitored floor controls.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the established single media sessions is a half-duplex session and at least another one of the established single media sessions is a full-duplex session.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of participating terminals includes more than two terminals.