Method and system for automatic configuration of virtual talk groups based on location of media sources

• US 7,636,339 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• 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:
  US11/201,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20070036118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 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 4/08 User group management
• 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 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data

Abstract

A method for automatic configuration of virtual talk groups based on location of media source includes monitoring communications from a plurality of mobile endpoints. Each communication comprises a media message and location information identifying a location of its transmitting endpoint. The method includes selecting a first group of mobile endpoints of the plurality of endpoints according to virtual talk group configuration instructions based on the locations of the mobile endpoints. The method also includes configuring a first virtual talk group comprising the first group of mobile endpoints to facilitate communications among the first group of mobile endpoints. The first group of mobile endpoints comprises mobile endpoints of different communication networks.

Claims

1. A method for automatic configuration of virtual talk groups based on location of media source, comprising:

monitoring communications from a plurality of mobile endpoints, each communication comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of its transmitting endpoint;

selecting a first group of mobile endpoints of the plurality of endpoints according to virtual talk group configuration instructions based on the locations of the mobile endpoints;

configuring a first virtual talk group comprising the first group of mobile endpoints to facilitate communications among the first group of mobile endpoints, the first group of mobile endpoints comprising mobile endpoints of different communication networks;

wherein the first group of mobile endpoints of the first virtual talk group comprise a plurality of mobile endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are mapped to a multicast IP address;

wherein the first virtual talk group is associated with a geographical area;

further comprising determining whether each of the selected first group of mobile endpoints are within a multicast reach of the geographical area; and

wherein configuring the first virtual talk group comprises joining in the first virtual talk group via multicast each of the selected first group of mobile endpoints that are within the multicast reach of the geographical area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual talk group configuration instructions include instructions to configure a virtual talk group of mobile endpoints within a first distance of a first event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual talk group configuration instructions include instructions to configure a virtual talk group of mobile endpoints within a first distance of a mobile endpoint of a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual talk group configuration instructions include instructions to configure a virtual talk group of mobile endpoints within a selected geographic area.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the geographic area is selected on a map by a user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the virtual talk group configuration instructions from a user; and

adding a mobile endpoint of the user to the first virtual talk group such that communications from the first group of mobile endpoints are communicated to the user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing a first mobile endpoint of the first group of mobile endpoints from the first virtual talk group when the first mobile endpoint leaves a geographic area associated with the first virtual talk group.

8. The method of claim 1:

wherein the virtual talk group configuration instructions relate to a first geographical area and the first virtual talk group is configured based on mobile endpoints within the first geographical area; and

further comprising removing a first mobile endpoint of the first group of mobile endpoints from the first virtual talk group when the first mobile endpoint leaves a second geographical area, the second geographical area including and greater than the first geographical area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first group of mobile endpoints of the first virtual talk group comprise a plurality of mobile endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are bridged.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first group of mobile endpoints of the first virtual talk group comprises land mobile radios operable to communicate on different frequencies.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein communications from the plurality of mobile endpoints comprises push-to-talk communications.

12. 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.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the first virtual talk group comprises joining in the first virtual talk group via nailed dialed connections each of the selected first group of mobile endpoints that are not within the multicast reach of the geographical area.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the joining via nailed dialed connections comprises joining using SIP protocol.

15. The method of claim 1:

further comprising switching a the-first mobile endpoint of the first group of mobile endpoints to a nailed SIP connection to the first virtual talk group when the first mobile endpoint leaves the multicast reach of the geographical area.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a first mobile endpoint of the first group of mobile endpoints is continuously moving in and out of the a-multicast reach of the geographical area; and

in response to the determination that the first mobile endpoint is continuously moving in and out of the multicast reach, providing a connection for the first mobile endpoint to the first virtual talk group via a nailed dialed connection.

17. A system for automatic configuration of virtual talk groups based on location of media source, comprising a processor operable to:

monitor communications from a plurality of mobile endpoints, each communication comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of its transmitting endpoint;

select a first group of mobile endpoints of the plurality of endpoints according to virtual talk group configuration instructions based on the locations of the mobile endpoints;

configure a first virtual talk group comprising the first group of mobile endpoints to facilitate communications among the first group of mobile endpoints, the first group of mobile endpoints comprising mobile endpoints of different communication networks;

wherein the first group of mobile endpoints of the first virtual talk group comprise a plurality of mobile endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are mapped to a multicast IP address;

the first virtual talk group is associated with a geographical area

the processor is further operable to determine whether each of the selected first group of mobile endpoints are within a multicast reach of the geographical area; and

a processor operable to configure the first virtual talk group comprises a processor operable to join in the first virtual talk group via multicast each of the selected first group of mobile endpoints that are within the multicast reach of the geographical area.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the virtual talk group configuration instructions include instructions to configure a virtual talk group of mobile endpoints within a first distance of a first event.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the virtual talk group configuration instructions include instructions to configure a virtual talk group of mobile endpoints within a first distance of a mobile endpoint of a user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the virtual talk group configuration instructions include instructions to configure a virtual talk group of mobile endpoints within a selected geographic area.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the geographic area is selected on a map by a user.

22. The system of claim 17:

an interface coupled to the processor and operable to receive the virtual talk group configuration instructions from a user; and

wherein the processor is further operable to add a mobile endpoint of the user to the first virtual talk group such that communications from the first group of mobile endpoints are communicated to the user.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further operable to remove a first mobile endpoint of the first group of mobile endpoints from the first virtual talk group when the first mobile endpoint leaves a geographic area associated with the first virtual talk group.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the virtual talk group configuration instructions relate to a first geographical area and the first virtual talk group is configured based on mobile endpoints within the first geographical area; and

the processor is further operable to remove a first mobile endpoint of the first group of mobile endpoints from the first virtual talk group when the first mobile endpoint leaves a second geographical area, the second geographical area including and greater than the first geographical area.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the first group of mobile endpoints of the first virtual talk group comprise a plurality of mobile endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are bridged.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the first group of mobile endpoints of the first virtual talk group comprises land mobile radios operable to communicate on different frequencies.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein communications from the plurality of mobile endpoints comprises push-to-talk communications.

28. The system of claim 17, 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.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein a processor operable to configure the first virtual talk group comprises a processor operable to join in the first virtual talk group via nailed dialed connections each of the selected first group of mobile endpoints that are not within the multicast reach of the geographical area.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the joining via nailed dialed connections comprises joining using SIP protocol.

31. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the processor is further operable to switch a first mobile endpoint of the first group of mobile endpoints to a nailed SIP connection to the first virtual talk group when the first mobile endpoint leaves the multicast reach of the geographical area.

32. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the processor is further operable to;

determine that a first mobile endpoint of the first group of mobile endpoints is continuously moving in and out of the multicast reach of the geographical area; and

in response to the determination that the first mobile endpoint is continuously moving in and out of the multicast reach, provide a connection for the first mobile endpoint to the first virtual talk group via a nailed dialed connection.

33. A system for automatic configuration of virtual talk groups based on location of media source, comprising:

means for monitoring communications from a plurality of mobile endpoints, each communication comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of its transmitting endpoint;

means for selecting a first group of mobile endpoints of the plurality of endpoints according to virtual talk group configuration instructions based on the locations of the mobile endpoints;

means for configuring a first virtual talk group comprising the first group of mobile endpoints to facilitate communications among the first group of mobile endpoints, the first group of mobile endpoints comprising mobile endpoints of different communication networks;

wherein the first group of mobile endpoints of the first virtual talk group comprise a plurality of mobile endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are mapped to a multicast IP address;

wherein the first virtual talk group is associated with a geographical area;

further comprising means for determining whether each of the selected first group of mobile endpoints are within a multicast reach of the geographical area; and

wherein means for configuring the first virtual talk group comprises means for joining in the first virtual talk group via multicast each of the selected first group of mobile endpoints that are within the multicast reach of the geographical area.

34. Logic embodied in a tangible computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising executable code operable to:

monitor communications from a plurality of mobile endpoints, each communication comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of its transmitting endpoint;

select a first group of mobile endpoints of the plurality of endpoints according to virtual talk group configuration instructions based on the locations of the mobile endpoints;

configure a first virtual talk group comprising the first group of mobile endpoints to facilitate communications among the first group of mobile endpoints, the first group of mobile endpoints comprising mobile endpoints of different communication networks;

wherein the first group of mobile endpoints of the first virtual talk group comprise a plurality of mobile endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are mapped to a multicast IP address;

wherein the first virtual talk group is associated with a geographical area;

wherein the code is further operable to determine whether each of the selected first group of mobile endpoints are within a multicast reach of the geographical area; and

wherein code operable to configure the first virtual talk group comprises code operable to join in the first virtual talk group via multicast each of the selected first group of mobile endpoints that are within the multicast reach of the geographical area.

35. A method for automatic configuration of virtual talk groups based on location of media source, comprising:

monitoring communications from a plurality of mobile endpoints, each communication comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of its transmitting endpoint;

selecting a first group of mobile endpoints of the plurality of endpoints according to virtual talk group configuration instructions based on the locations of the mobile endpoints;

configuring a first virtual talk group comprising the first group of mobile endpoints to facilitate communications among the first group of mobile endpoints, the first group of mobile endpoints comprising mobile endpoints of different communication networks;

wherein the first group of mobile endpoints of the first virtual talk group comprise a plurality of mobile endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are mapped to a multicast IP address;

wherein the virtual talk group configuration instructions relate to a first geographical area and the first virtual talk group is configured based on mobile endpoints within the first geographical area; and

further comprising removing a first mobile endpoint of the first group of mobile endpoints from the first virtual talk group when the first mobile endpoint leaves a second geographical area, the second geographical area including and greater than the first geographical area.

36. A system for automatic configuration of virtual talk groups based on location of media source, comprising a processor operable to:

monitor communications from a plurality of mobile endpoints, each communication comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of its transmitting endpoint;

select a first group of mobile endpoints of the plurality of endpoints according to virtual talk group configuration instructions based on the locations of the mobile endpoints;

configure a first virtual talk group comprising the first group of mobile endpoints to facilitate communications among the first group of mobile endpoints, the first group of mobile endpoints comprising mobile endpoints of different communication networks;

wherein the first group of mobile endpoints of the first virtual talk group comprise a plurality of mobile endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are mapped to a multicast IP address;

wherein the virtual talk group configuration instructions relate to a first geographical area and the first virtual talk group is configured based on mobile endpoints within the first geographical area; and

wherein the processor is further operable to remove a first mobile endpoint of the first group of mobile endpoints from the first virtual talk group when the first mobile endpoint leaves a second geographical area, the second geographical area including and greater than the first geographical area.

37. A system for automatic configuration of virtual talk groups based on location of media source, comprising:

means for monitoring communications from a plurality of mobile endpoints, each communication comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of its transmitting endpoint;

means for selecting a first group of mobile endpoints of the plurality of endpoints according to virtual talk group configuration instructions based on the locations of the mobile endpoints;

means for configuring a first virtual talk group comprising the first group of mobile endpoints to facilitate communications among the first group of mobile endpoints, the first group of mobile endpoints comprising mobile endpoints of different communication networks;

wherein the first group of mobile endpoints of the first virtual talk group comprise a plurality of mobile endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are mapped to a multicast IP address;

wherein the virtual talk group configuration instructions relate to a first geographical area and the first virtual talk group is configured based on mobile endpoints within the first geographical area; and

further comprising means for removing a first mobile endpoint of the first group of mobile endpoints from the first virtual talk group when the first mobile endpoint leaves a second geographical area, the second geographical area including and greater than the first geographical area.

38. Logic embodied in a tangible computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising executable code operable to:

monitor communications from a plurality of mobile endpoints, each communication comprising a media message and location information identifying a location of its transmitting endpoint;

select a first group of mobile endpoints of the plurality of endpoints according to virtual talk group configuration instructions based on the locations of the mobile endpoints;

configure a first virtual talk group comprising the first group of mobile endpoints to facilitate communications among the first group of mobile endpoints, the first group of mobile endpoints comprising mobile endpoints of different communication networks;

wherein the first group of mobile endpoints of the first virtual talk group comprise a plurality of mobile endpoints of different communication networks whose communications are mapped to a multicast IP address;

wherein the virtual talk group configuration instructions relate to a first geographical area and the first virtual talk group is configured based on mobile endpoints within the first geographical area; and

wherein the code is further operable to remove a first mobile endpoint of the first group of mobile endpoints from the first virtual talk group when the first mobile endpoint leaves a second geographical area, the second geographical area including and greater than the first geographical area.