Methods and apparatus for the immediate acceptance and queuing of voice data for PTT communications

• US 8,023,983 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Zhao, Wen, Jin, Xin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; John J
• Application Number:
  US12/758,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20100197335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 455/518, 455/520, 455/517, 455/90.2, 455/519, 455/509, 455/452.1, 455/450, 455/552.1, 455/514, 455/463, 370/310, 370/352, 370/401
• US Class Current: 455/518
• 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

In one illustrative example, methods and apparatus for use in buffering PTT voice communications are described. A mobile station sends a PTT voice communication request in a wireless communication network. Prior to receiving a floor grant in response to the PTT voice communication request, the mobile station receives voice input signals and buffers digital voice data corresponding to the voice input signals, where the digital voice data is produced by encoding and compressing the voice input signals. The mobile station receives the floor grant in response to the PTT voice communication request. Upon receipt of the floor grant, the mobile station retrieves the buffered digital voice data and continues to buffer digital voice data corresponding to the voice input signals, until all of the buffered digital voice data has been sent.

Claims

1. A method in a Push-To-Talk (PTT) capable mobile station for use in buffering PTT voice communications, the method comprising:

sending a PTT voice communication request in a wireless communication network;

prior to receiving a floor grant in response to the PTT voice communication request;

receiving voice input signals at the mobile station and buffering digital voice data corresponding to the voice input signals, wherein the digital voice data is produced by encoding and compressing the voice input signals;

receiving the floor grant in response to the PTT voice communication request; and

upon receiving the floor grant;

retrieving the buffered digital voice data and continuing to buffer digital voice data corresponding to the voice input signals, until all of the buffered digital voice data has been sent from the mobile station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the encoding comprises an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion of the voice input signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the encoding comprises processing the voice input signals with a coder/decoder (CODEC).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressing comprises processing the encoded signals with a voice encoder.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

continuing to buffer digital voice data corresponding to the voice input signals after receiving the floor grant.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

continuing to buffer digital voice data corresponding to the voice input signals while transmitting the retrieved digital voice data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the encoding and compressing of the voice input signals reduces the size required for the buffering.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station utilizes a circular buffer memory for the buffering.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station utilizes a first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer memory for the buffering.

10. A Push-To-Talk (PTT) capable mobile station, comprising:

a processor;

a receiver and a transmitter;

the receiver and the transmitter being coupled to the processor;

the processor being configured to produce a PTT voice communication request;

the transmitter being configured to transmit the PTT voice communication request in a wireless communication network;

the receiver configured to receive a floor grant in response to the transmission of the PTT voice communication request;

the processor being further configured to;

prior to the floor grant being received in response to the PTT voice communication request;

cause voice input signals at the mobile station to be received and digital voice data corresponding to the voice input signals to be buffered, the digital voice data being produced by encoding and compressing the voice input signals;

receive, via the receiver, the floor grant in response to the PTT voice communication request; and

upon receiving the floor grant;

cause the buffered digital voice data to be retrieved and the digital voice data corresponding to the voice input signals to continued to be buffered, until all of the buffered digital voice data has been sent from the mobile station.

11. The PTT capable mobile station of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the voice input signals to be encoded with use of an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter.

12. The PTT capable mobile station of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the voice input signals to be encoded with use of a voice encoder.

13. The PTT capable mobile station of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the voice input signals to be encoded with use of a coder/decoder (CODEC).

14. The PTT capable mobile station of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the encoded voice input signals to be compressed with use of a voice compressor.

15. The PTT capable mobile station of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the digital voice data to continue to be buffered during the transmission of the retrieved digital voice data.

16. The PTT capable mobile station of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the digital voice data to continue to be buffered after receiving the floor grant.