Method and system for providing interoperable communications with location information

• US 7,633,914 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, Douglas J., Kalley, Yogesh, Shaffer, Shmuel, Metzger, Larry R., Talukder, Shah, Nagesh, Kittur V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong; Quochien B
• Application Number:
  US11/202,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20070037596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 455517-519, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/520, 370/338, 370/352, 370/395.5, 370/395.52, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

A method for providing interoperable communications with location information includes receiving communications from a plurality of virtual talk groups. Each virtual talk group comprises a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks. The method includes receiving from a first mobile endpoint of a first virtual talk group of the plurality of virtual talk groups a first communication. The first communication comprises a first media message and location information identifying a location of the first mobile endpoint. The method includes presenting to a user the first media message from the first mobile endpoint and the location of the first mobile endpoint.

Claims

1. A method for providing interoperable communications with location information, comprising:

receiving communications from a plurality of virtual talk groups, each virtual talk group comprising a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks;

receiving from a first mobile endpoint of a first virtual talk group of the plurality of virtual talk groups a first communication, the first communication comprising a first media message and location information identifying a location of the first mobile endpoint;

presenting to a user;

the first media message from the first mobile endpoint; and

the location of the first mobile endpoint; and

wherein;

the first communication comprises a multicast stream with a header; and

the header comprises the location information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the location of the first mobile endpoint comprises presenting a street address of the first mobile endpoint.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises global positioning satellite (GPS) information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication comprises a unicast stream comprising the location information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media message comprises an audio message and the location information is steganographically embedded within the audio message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from a second mobile endpoint of a second virtual talk group of the plurality of virtual talk groups a second communication, the second communication comprising a second media message and location information identifying a location of the second mobile endpoint; and

presenting to the user;

the second media message from the second mobile endpoint;

an identification of the second virtual talk group comprising the second mobile endpoint; and

the location of the second mobile endpoint.

7. The method of claim 1:

wherein the first virtual talk group comprises a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are bridged; and

further comprising;

simultaneously receiving from a plurality of additional endpoints of the first virtual talk group a plurality of additional communications, each comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of a respective transmitting endpoint of the plurality of additional endpoints; and

presenting to the user;

a bridged communication stream comprising each media message; and

the locations of the plurality of additional endpoints.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first virtual talk group comprises a second mobile endpoint; and

the first and second mobile endpoints comprise land mobile radios operable to communicate on different frequencies.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first mobile endpoint comprises a push-to-talk endpoint; and

the first media communication comprises a push-to-talk communication.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the different communication networks comprise at least two of:

a police department communication network, a fire department communication network, an ambulance communication network and a company communication network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first virtual talk group comprises a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are mapped to a multicast IP address.

12. A system for providing interoperable communications with location information, comprising:

an interface operable to receive communications from a plurality of virtual talk groups, each virtual talk group comprising a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks;

the interface operable to receive from a first mobile endpoint of a first virtual talk group of the plurality of virtual talk groups a first communication, the first communication comprising a first media message and location information identifying a location of the first mobile endpoint;

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to present to a user;

the first media message from the first mobile endpoint; and

the location of the first mobile endpoint; and

wherein;

the first communication comprises a multicast stream with a header; and

the header comprises the location information.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a processor operable to present the location of the first mobile endpoint comprises a processor operable to present a street address of the first mobile endpoint.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the location information comprises global positioning satellite (GPS) information.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first communication comprises a unicast stream comprising the location information.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the first media message comprises an audio message and the locationinformation is steganographically embedded within the audio message.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the interface is further operable to receive from a second mobile endpoint of a second virtual talk group of the plurality of virtual talk groups a second communication, the second communication comprising a second media message and location information identifying a location of the second mobile endpoint; and

the processor is further operable to present to the user;

the second media message from the second mobile endpoint;

an identification of the second virtual talk group comprising the second mobile endpoint; and

the location of the second mobile endpoint.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the first virtual talk group comprises a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are bridged;

the interface is further operable to;

simultaneously receive from a plurality of additional endpoints of the first virtual talk group a plurality of additional communications, each comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of a respective transmitting endpoint of the plurality of additional endpoints; and

the processor is further operable to present to the user;

a bridged communication stream comprising each media message; and

the locations of the plurality of additional endpoints.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the first virtual talk group comprises a second mobile endpoint; and

the first and second mobile endpoints comprise land mobile radios operable to communicate on different frequencies.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the first mobile endpoint comprises a push-to-talk endpoint; and

the first media communication comprises a push-to-talk communication.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the different communication networks comprise at least two of:

a police department communication network, a fire department communication network, an ambulance communication network and a company communication network.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the first virtual talk group comprises a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are mapped to a multicast IP address.

23. A system for providing interoperable communications with location information, comprising:

means for receiving communications from a plurality of virtual talk groups, each virtual talk group comprising a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks;

means for receiving from a first mobile endpoint of a first virtual talk group of the plurality of virtual talk groups a first communication, the first communication comprising a first media message and location information identifying a location of the first mobile endpoint;

means for presenting to a user;

the first media message from the first mobile endpoint; and

the location of the first mobile endpoint; and

wherein;

the first communication comprises a multicast stream with a header; and

the header comprises the location information.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for presenting to the user an identification of the first virtual talk group comprising the first mobile endpoint.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the first virtual talk group comprises a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are mapped to a multicast IP address.

26. Logic embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising code operable to:

receive communications from a plurality of virtual talk groups, each virtual talk group comprising a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks;

receive from a first mobile endpoint of a first virtual talk group of the plurality of virtual talk groups a first communication, the first communication comprising a first media message and location information identifying a location of the first mobile endpoint;

present to a user;

the first media message from the first mobile endpoint; and

the location of the first mobile endpoint; and

wherein;

the first communication comprises a multicast stream with a header; and

the header comprises the location information.

27. The medium of claim 26, wherein code operable to present the location of the first mobile endpoint comprises code operable to present a street address of the first mobile endpoint.

28. The medium of claim 26, wherein the location information comprises global positioning satellite (GPS) information.

29. The medium of claim 26, wherein the first communication comprises a unicast stream comprising the location information.

30. The medium of claim 26, wherein the first media message comprises an audio message and the location information is steganographically embedded within the audio message.

31. The medium of claim 27, wherein the code is further operable to:

receive from a second mobile endpoint of a second virtual talk group of the plurality of virtual talk groups a second communication, the second communication comprising a second media message and location information identifying a location of the second mobile endpoint; and

present to the user;

the second media message from the second mobile endpoint;

an identification of the second virtual talk group comprising the second mobile endpoint; and

the location of the second mobile endpoint.

32. The medium of claim 27:

wherein the first virtual talk group comprises a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are bridged; and

wherein the code is further operable to;

simultaneously receive from a plurality of additional endpoints of the first virtual talk group a plurality of additional communications, each comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of a respective transmitting endpoint of the plurality of additional endpoints; and

present to the user;

a bridged communication stream comprising each media message; and

the locations of the plurality of additional endpoints.

33. The medium of claim 27, wherein:

the first virtual talk group comprises a second mobile endpoint; and

the first and second mobile endpoints comprise land mobile radios operable to communicate on different frequencies.

34. The medium of claim 26, wherein:

the first mobile endpoint comprises a push-to-talk endpoint; and

the first media communication comprises a push-to-talk communication.

35. The medium of claim 26, wherein the different communication networks comprise at least two of:

a police department communication network, a fire department communication network, an ambulance communication network and a company communication network.

36. The medium of claim 26, wherein the first virtual talk group comprises a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are mapped to a multicast IP address.

37. A method for providing interoperable communications with location information, comprising:

receiving communications from a plurality of virtual talk groups, each virtual talk group comprising a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks;

receiving from a first mobile endpoint of a first virtual talk group of the plurality of virtual talk groups a first communication, the first communication comprising a first media message and location information identifying a location of the first mobile endpoint;

presenting to a user;

the first media message from the first mobile endpoint; and

the location of the first mobile endpoint;

wherein the first virtual talk group comprises a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are bridged;

simultaneously receiving from a plurality of additional endpoints of the first virtual talk group a plurality of additional communications, each comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of a respective transmitting endpoint of the plurality of additional endpoints; and

presenting to the user;

a bridged communication stream comprising each media message; and

the locations of the plurality of additional endpoints.

38. A system for providing interoperable communications with location information, comprising:

an interface operable to receive communications from a plurality of virtual talk groups, each virtual talk group comprising a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks;

the interface operable to receive from a first mobile endpoint of a first virtual talk group of the plurality of virtual talk groups a first communication, the first communication comprising a first media message and location information identifying a location of the first mobile endpoint;

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to present to a user;

the first media message from the first mobile endpoint; and

the location of the first mobile endpoint;

the first virtual talk group comprises a plurality of endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are bridged;

the interface is further operable to;

simultaneously receive from a plurality of additional endpoints of the first virtual talk group a plurality of additional communications, each comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of a respective transmitting endpoint of the plurality of additional endpoints; and

the processor is further operable to present to the user;

a bridged communication stream comprising each media message; and

the locations of the plurality of additional endpoints.