System and method for distributing VoIP data packets in group communications amoung wireless telecommunication devices

• US 7,724,743 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Razdan, Ashu, Rosen, Eric C., Ananthanarayanan, Arul, Gill, Harleen K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Thong H
• Application Number:
  US11/097,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20060221968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: 370/312, 370/328, 370/338, 370/260, 370/352, 370/542, 455/519, 455/452, 455/518, 455/502
• US Class Current: 370/392
• 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 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

In group wireless telecommunication, such as push-to-talk (PTT) calls, a voice communication is broadcast through Internet protocol data packets to other member devices of the PTT group. At least one communication server receives a single communication stream from a communicating wireless device, such as a PTT call, and creates a group communication to all wireless telecommunication devices of the designated group with the broadcast of Internet protocol data packets containing the voice data of the communication stream to one or more wireless telecommunication devices of the receiving group that can receive and handle the packets. Other wireless network infrastructure can be used to assist the communication server in generation and broadcast of the Internet protocol data packets to the receiving wireless telecommunication devices.

Claims

1. A system for broadcasting Internet protocol data packets containing voice data to a group of wireless telecommunication devices on a wireless network, comprising:

a plurality of wireless telecommunication devices wherein each wireless telecommunication device is able to direct a single communication stream that is addressed to a communication server for transmission to a designated group of the plurality of wireless telecommunication devices, and at least one of the plurality of wireless telecommunication devices able to receive broadcast Internet protocol data packets containing voice data;

the communication server that receives the single communication stream from a communicating wireless device and creates a group communication to all wireless telecommunication devices of the designated group, and wherein the server causes the broadcast of Internet protocol data packets containing voice data to at least one wireless telecommunication device of the receiving group of the plurality of wireless telecommunication devices; and

one or more intermediate communication devices that bridge communication streams between the communication server and the group of wireless telecommunication devices,

wherein the communication server further determines the wireless telecommunication devices of the group able to receive broadcast Internet data protocol packets and directs the one or more intermediate communication devices to send Internet protocol data packets to those wireless telecommunication devices of the group that can receive Internet protocol data packets.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication server broadcasts voice data packets.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication server broadcasts application data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication server broadcasts multimedia.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one wireless telecommunication device sends Internet protocol data packets to the communication server.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless telecommunication device sends voice data to the communication server and the communication server routes the voice data to another computer device on the network that converts the voice data in Internet protocol data packets for broadcast to at least one wireless telecommunication device of the group.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication server is configured to map the designated group to a subset of packet data service nodes (PDSNs) within the wireless network based on an expected distribution, within the wireless network, of the wireless communication devices belonging to the designated group, the PDSN subset including at least one PDSN.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the communication server selects, as an address to be associated with the group communication, an address that is currently available in each PDSN of the PDSN subset.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein each PDSN of the PDSN subset statically maintains itself as a member of the PDSN subset, such that the communication server need not be responsible for updating the membership of the PDSN subset.

10. A communication server for broadcasting Internet protocol data packets containing voice data to a group of wireless telecommunication devices on a wireless network, wherein the communication server receives a single communication stream that is addressed to the communication server from a communicating wireless device and creates a group communication to all wireless telecommunication devices of the designated group, and wherein the server causes the broadcast of Internet protocol data packets containing voice data to at least one wireless telecommunication device of the receiving group of the plurality of wireless telecommunication devices,

wherein one or more intermediate communication devices bridge communication streams between the communication server and the group of wireless telecommunication devices, and

wherein the communication server further determines the wireless telecommunication devices of the group able to receive broadcast Internet data protocol packets and directs the one or more intermediate communication devices to send Internet protocol data packets to those wireless telecommunication devices of the group that can receive Internet protocol data packets.

11. The communication server of claim 10, wherein the communication server broadcasts only voice data packets.

12. The communication server of claim 10, wherein the communication server further broadcasts application data.

13. The communication server of claim 10, wherein the communication server further broadcasts multimedia.

14. The communication server of claim 10, wherein the communication server further receives Internet protocol data packets from one or more wireless telecommunication devices on the wireless network.

15. A system for broadcasting Internet protocol data packets containing voice data on a wireless network, comprising:

means for wireless telecommunication and directing a single communication stream that is addressed to a means for receiving for transmission to a designated group of other wireless telecommunication means on the wireless network, the wireless telecommunication devices further for receiving broadcast Internet protocol data packets containing voice data;

the means for receiving the single communication stream from a communicating wireless means and creating a group communication to all wireless telecommunication means of the designated group, and wherein the means for receiving further causing the broadcast of Internet protocol data packets containing voice data to the wireless telecommunication means; and

means for bridging communication streams between the means for receiving and the wireless communication means, and

wherein the means for receiving further determines the wireless telecommunication means of the group able to receive broadcast Internet data protocol packets and direct the means for bridging communication streams to send Internet protocol data packets to those wireless telecommunication means of the group that can receive Internet protocol data packets.

16. A wireless telecommunication device able to direct a single communication stream that is addressed to a communication server for transmission to a designated group of a plurality of wireless telecommunication devices accessible on a wireless network, the wireless telecommunication device further able to receive broadcast Internet protocol data packets containing voice data in addition to communicating through a standard communication stream on the wireless network to other wireless telecommunication devices on the wireless network,

wherein one or more intermediate communication devices bridge communication streams between the communication server and the group of wireless telecommunication devices, and

wherein the communication server further determines the wireless telecommunication devices of the group able to receive broadcast Internet data protocol packets and directs the one or more intermediate communication devices to send Internet protocol data packets to those wireless telecommunication devices of the group that can receive Internet protocol data packets.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the wireless telecommunication device further transmits Internet protocol voice data packets to other computer devices on the wireless network.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the wireless telecommunication device further transmits application data to other computer devices on the wireless network.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the standard communication stream is a full duplex telephone call across a cellular telecommunication network.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the standard communication stream is a half duplex telephone call across a cellular telecommunication network to a group of other wireless telecommunication devices.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the standard communication stream is a push-talk telecommunication.

22. A method for efficiently distributing Internet protocol data packets containing voice data among a group of wireless telecommunication devices on a wireless network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a single communication stream from a communicating wireless device at a communication server, the single communication stream addressed to the communication server for transmission to a designated group of a plurality of wireless telecommunication devices on a wireless network, the communication stream including voice data, and wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless telecommunication devices able to receive Internet protocol data packets containing voice data;

determining at the communication server the wireless telecommunication devices of the group able to receive broadcast Internet data protocol packets;

creating at the communication server a group communication to all wireless telecommunication devices of the designated group; and

broadcasting Internet protocol data packets containing voice data to at least one wireless telecommunication device of the receiving group of the plurality of wireless telecommunication devices, the broadcasting step performed by directing the single communication stream from the wireless telecommunication device to one or more intermediate communication devices to send Internet protocol data packets to those wireless telecommunication devices of the group that can receive Internet protocol data packets, the one or more intermediate communication devices bridging communication streams between the communication server and the group of wireless telecommunication devices.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of receiving the Internet protocol data packets containing voice data at one or more of the plurality of wireless telecommunication devices in the group.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of directing a communication stream includes directing application data to a designated group of a plurality of wireless telecommunication devices.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of directing a communication stream includes directing multimedia to a designated group of a plurality of wireless telecommunication devices.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of routing the voice data from the communication server to another computer device on the network that converts the voice data in Internet protocol data packets for broadcast to at least one wireless telecommunication device of the group.

27. A method for efficiently distributing Internet protocol data packets containing voice data among a group of wireless telecommunication devices on a wireless network, comprising:

a step for receiving a single communication stream from a communicating wireless device at a communication server, the single communication stream addressed to the communication server for transmission to a designated group of a plurality of wireless telecommunication devices on a wireless network, the communication stream including voice data, and wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless telecommunication devices able to receive Internet protocol data packets containing voice data;

a step for determining at the communication server the wireless telecommunication devices of the group able to receive broadcast Internet data protocol packets;

a step for creating a group communication to all wireless telecommunication devices of the designated group; and

a step for broadcasting Internet protocol data packets containing voice data to at least one wireless telecommunication device of the receiving group of the plurality of wireless telecommunication devices, the broadcasting step performed by directing the single communication stream from the wireless telecommunication device to one or more intermediate communication devices to send Internet protocol data packets to those wireless telecommunication devices of the group that can receive Internet protocol data packets, the one or more intermediate communication devices bridging communication streams between the communication server and the group of wireless telecommunication devices.

28. A method for broadcasting Internet protocol data packets containing voice data to a group of wireless telecommunication devices on a wireless network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a single communication stream at a communication server from a communicating wireless telecommunication device, the single communication stream being addressed to the communication server for transmission to a designated group of wireless telecommunication devices;

determining at the communication server the wireless telecommunication devices of the group able to receive broadcast Internet data protocol packets;

creating at the communication server a group communication to each of the wireless telecommunication devices of the designated group of wireless telecommunication devices that are determined to be able to receive broadcast Internet data protocol packets; and

broadcasting Internet protocol data packets containing voice data from the communication stream to at least one member wireless telecommunication device of the receiving group of the plurality of wireless telecommunication devices, the broadcasting step performed by directing the single communication stream from the wireless telecommunication device to one or more intermediate communication devices to send Internet protocol data packets to those wireless telecommunication devices of the group that can receive Internet protocol data packets, the one or more intermediate communication devices bridging communication streams between the communication server and the group of wireless telecommunication devices.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of broadcasting is broadcasting only voice data packets.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of broadcasting is broadcasting application data.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of broadcasting is broadcasting multimedia.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of receiving a communication stream is receiving Internet protocol data packets from one or more wireless telecommunication devices on the wireless network.

33. A method for broadcasting Internet protocol data packets containing voice data to a group of wireless telecommunication devices on a wireless network, comprising:

a step for receiving a single communication stream at a communication server from a communicating wireless telecommunication device, the single communication stream being addressed to the communication server for transmission to a designated group of wireless telecommunication devices;

a step for determining at the communication server the wireless telecommunication devices of the group able to receive broadcast Internet data protocol packets;

a step for creating a group communication to each of the wireless telecommunication devices of the designated group of wireless telecommunication devices that are determined to be able to receive broadcast Internet data protocol packets; and

a step for broadcasting Internet protocol data packets containing voice data to at least one wireless telecommunication device of the receiving group of the plurality of wireless telecommunication devices, the broadcasting step performed by directing the single communication stream from the wireless telecommunication device to one or more intermediate communication devices to send Internet protocol data packets to those wireless telecommunication devices of the group that can receive Internet protocol data packets, the one or more intermediate communication devices bridging communication streams between the communication server and the group of wireless telecommunication devices.

34. A computer-readable storage medium including instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of:

receiving a single communication stream at a communication server from a communicating wireless telecommunication device, the single communication stream being addressed to the communication server for transmission to a designated group of wireless telecommunication devices;

determining at the communication server the wireless telecommunication devices of the group able to receive broadcast Internet data protocol packets;

creating at the communication server a group communication to each of the wireless telecommunication devices of the designated group of wireless telecommunication devices that are determined to be able to receive broadcast Internet data protocol packets; and

broadcasting Internet protocol data packets containing voice data from the communication stream to at least one member wireless telecommunication device of the receiving group of the plurality of wireless telecommunication devices, the broadcasting step performed by directing the single communication stream from the wireless telecommunication device to one or more intermediate communication devices to send Internet protocol data packets to those wireless telecommunication devices of the group that can receive Internet protocol data packets, the one or more intermediate communication devices bridging communication streams between the communication server and the group of wireless telecommunication devices.

35. The program of claim 34, wherein the program further causes the step of broadcasting to be broadcasting only voice data packets.

36. The program of claim 34, wherein the program further causes the step of broadcasting to be broadcasting application data.

37. The program of claim 34, wherein the program further causes the step of broadcasting to be broadcasting multimedia.

38. The program of claim 34, wherein the program further causes the step of receiving a communication stream to be receiving Internet protocol data packets from one or more wireless telecommunication devices on the wireless network.