Apparatus and method for identifying last speaker in a push-to-talk system

• US 7,483,708 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Maggenti, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hai V
• Application Number:
  US11/096,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20060223459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426.1, 455/518, 455/553.1, 455/90.2, 455/415, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• 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

An apparatus and method for displaying identity information of a last speaker in a push-to-talk (PTT) system. A wireless communication device receives PTT communications and identification information of PTT speakers from a remote server. The wireless communication device displays the identification information of at least the last speaker while playing the PTT communication from a current speaker.

Claims

1. A method for displaying on a wireless communication device the identity of a last speaker in push-to-talk (PTT) communications on a wireless telecommunication network, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a wireless communication device a first identity information of a first speaker of a first PTT communication from a server, the first identity information being received through the wireless telecommunication network;

receiving at the wireless communication device a second PTT communication originated from a second speaker;

playing the second PTT communication on the wireless communication device; and

displaying the first identity information on the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of receiving at the wireless communication device a second identity information of the second speaker;

and

after the first identity information is displayed for a predefined period, displaying the second identity information.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of

receiving from a user of the wireless communication device a predefined period of identity information display period;

and

storing the predefined period in the wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of retrieving the predefined period from the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of activating a recall key to display the first identity information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, if a second identity information of the second speaker is received while the first identity information is displayed, displaying the first identity information and the second identity information on the wireless communication device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of displaying an indicator identifying the first identity information as belonging to the first speaker.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of displaying an indicator identifying the second identity information as belonging to the second speaker.

9. An apparatus for displaying the identity of a last speaker in push-to-talk (PTT) communications on a wireless telecommunication network, comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving PTT communications from a remote server, the transceiver also receiving identity information of PTT speakers;

a display unit for displaying identity information of a PTT speaker;

a user interface unit for playing PTT communications received from the remote speaker;

a PTT interface for receiving a PTT request from a user; and

a controller for instructing the display unit to display the identity information of the last PTT speaker while the user interface unit is playing a PTT communication from a current speaker.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a storage unit for storing an indication of a user defined time period of a last speaker identification on the display unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a recall key for recalling display of identity information.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a display timer for controlling the display of identity information on the display unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display unit is configured to simultaneously display identity information of more than one PTT speaker.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display unit, when displaying identity information of two or more PTT speakers, is configured to indicate identity information of a last PTT speaker.

15. An apparatus for displaying the identity of a last speaker in push-to-talk (PTT) communications on a wireless telecommunication network, comprising:

means for receiving PTT communications and identity information of PTT speakers from a remote server;

means for displaying identity information of a PTT speaker;

means for playing PTT communications received from the remote speaker;

means for receiving a PTT request from a user; and

means for instructing the display unit to display the identity information of the last PTT speaker while the user interface unit is playing a PTT communication from a current speaker.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for storing an indication of a user defined time period of last speaker identification on the display unit.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for recalling the display of identity information.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for controlling the duration of display of identity information on the display unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for displaying identity information is configured to simultaneously display identity information of more than one PTT speakers.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for displaying identity information, when displaying identity information of two or more PTT speakers, is configured to indicate identity information of a last PTT speaker.

21. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for displaying the identity of a last speaker in push-to-talk (PTT) communications on a wireless telecommunication network, the computer program comprising computer instructions that when executed by a computer performs the steps of:

receiving a first identity information of a first speaker of a first PTT communication from a server, the first identity information being received through the wireless telecommunication network;

receiving a second PTT communication originated from a second speaker;

playing the second PTT communication on a wireless communication device; and

displaying the first identity information on the wireless communication device.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the first identity information is displayed for a predefined period.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, further performing the steps of:

receiving from a user an indication of a time period for the predefined period; and

storing the indication of the time period in the wireless communication device.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further performing the step of retrieving the indication of the time period from the wireless communication device.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further performing the step of activating a recall key to display the first identity information.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further performing the step of, if a second identity information of the second speaker is received while the first identity information is displayed, displaying the first identity information and the second identity information on the wireless communication device.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, further performing the step of displaying an indicator identifying the first identity information as belonging to the first speaker.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 26, further performing the step of displaying an indicator identifying the second identity information as belonging to the second speaker.