Multi-casting communication system, server used for the system, and method of making multi-casting communication

• US 8,036,149 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nemori, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ott; Frederick
• Application Number:
  US11/795,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20080123572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,099 Days
• Field of Search: 370/296
• US Class Current: 370/296
• 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

Abstract

In the multi-casting communication system, on receipt of a signal transmitted from one of mobile communication terminals with a half-duplex communication switch thereof being on, the PoC server records a user of the mobile communication terminal in a subscriber list as a next speaker, if there is another mobile communication terminal presently making multi-casting communication, and further if no mobile communication terminals are recorded in the subscriber list. Thus, it is clear who speaks next.

Claims

1. A multi-casting communication system configured to allow a plurality of mobile communication terminals to conduct multi-casting communication with one another in a half-duplex manner, comprising:

the plurality of mobile communication terminals, each configured to conduct voice-communication with other mobile communication terminals through a base station, and each of the plurality of mobile communication terminals comprising a half-duplex communication switch; and

a controller,

wherein said controller is configured to communicate with said plurality of mobile communication terminals through a network, and further configured to allow each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals to participate in a multi-casting session in accordance with predetermined rules,

wherein, when a signal is received from a first mobile communication terminal among said plurality of mobile communication terminals with said half-duplex communication switch of the first mobile communication terminal being on, said controller is configured to check whether there is a second mobile communication terminal among said plurality of mobile communication terminals which is associated with a user that is presently speaking in the multi-casting session,

if there is not said second mobile communication terminal, and further if there is not recorded one or more third mobile communication terminals among said plurality of mobile communication terminals in a subscriber list, said controller is configured to allow a user associated with said first mobile communication terminal to speak in the multi-casting session,

if there is at least one of said second mobile communication terminal and said one or more third mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list, said controller is configured to record said first mobile communication terminal in said subscriber list to thereby reserve a speaking position for the user associated with said first mobile communication terminal,

wherein when a signal is received from said one or more third mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list with said half-duplex communication switch being on, said controller is configured to remove recordation of said third mobile communication terminal from said subscriber list.

2. The multi-casting communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to:

update data about a communication status for each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals, record a mobile communication terminal among said plurality of mobile communication terminals which is associated with a user that is allowed to speak in the multi-casting session next time or later in the subscriber list, and transmit data about the communication status of one or more mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list, to other mobile communication terminals participating in the multi-casting session.

3. The multi-casting communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a priority is applied to each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals in accordance with a characteristic thereof, and wherein, said controller, when said first mobile communication terminal is to be recorded in said subscriber list, is configured to record said first mobile communication terminal and said one or more third mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list in an order determined in accordance with said priority.

4. The multi-casting communication system as set forth in claim 3, wherein, when the signal is received from said first mobile communication terminal with said half-duplex communication switch of the first mobile communication terminal being on, said controller, if there is said second mobile communication terminal associated with the user that is presently speaking in the multi-casting session, and further if there is recorded said one or more third mobile communication terminals in said subscriber list, is configured to compare priorities of said first and second mobile communication terminals to each other, and allow said first mobile communication terminal to interrupt the multi-casting session if said controller judges that said first mobile communication terminal has a priority higher than a priority of second mobile communication terminal.

5. The multi-casting communication system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said characteristic of said mobile communication terminals comprises a residual power of a battery of a mobile communication terminal, wherein a higher priority is given to a mobile communication terminal including a battery having low residual power.

6. The multi-casting communication system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said characteristic of said mobile communication terminals comprises a sensitivity of an antenna of a mobile communication terminal, and a higher priority is given to a mobile communication terminal including an antenna having a low sensitivity.

7. The multi-casting communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a predetermined one of said plurality of mobile communication terminals is determined to be a privilege user'"'"'s terminal, and

wherein a priority is applied to mobile communication terminals other than said privilege user'"'"'s terminal in accordance with a characteristic thereof, and

wherein said privilege user'"'"'s terminal is entitled to:

record mobile communication terminals other than said privilege user'"'"'s terminal into said subscriber list, delete mobile communication terminals other than said privilege user'"'"'s terminal from said subscriber list, and interrupt the multi-casting session.

8. The multi-casting communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a first server and a second server that is configured to communicate with said first server,

wherein said first server is configured to communicate with said plurality of mobile communication terminals through the network, and further configured to allow each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals to participate in a multi-casting session in accordance with predetermined rules,

wherein, when the signal is received from the first mobile communication terminal among said plurality of mobile communication terminals, said first server is configured to check whether there is the second mobile communication terminal associated with the user presently speaking in the multi-casting session,

if there is not said second mobile communication terminal, and further if there is not recorded the one or more third mobile communication terminals in the subscriber list, said first server is configured to allow a user associated with said first mobile communication terminal to speak in the multi-casting session,

if there is at least one of said second mobile communication terminal and said third mobile communication terminal recorded in said subscriber list, said first server is configured to record said first mobile communication terminal in said subscriber list to thereby reserve the speaking position for said first mobile communication terminal, and

said second server is configured to:

update data about a communication status of each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals, record a mobile communication terminal of said plurality of mobile communication terminals which is to be allowed to speak in the multi-casting session next time or later in the subscriber list, and transmit data about the communication status of the one or more mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list, to other mobile communication terminals participating in the multi-casting session.

9. The multi-casting communication system as set forth in claim 8, further comprising an administrator configured to communicate with said plurality of mobile communication terminals through said first server, and administer said plurality of mobile communication terminals as a group for conducting the multi-casting session.

10. The multi-casting communication system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an administrator configured to communicate with said plurality of mobile communication terminals through said controller, and administer said plurality of mobile communication terminals as a group for conducting the multi-casting session.

11. The multi-casting communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mobile communication terminal comprises a mobile phone.

12. A server configured to allow a plurality of mobile communication terminals to conduct multi-casting communication with one another in a half-duplex manner, each of said mobile communication terminals being configured to conduct voice-communication with other mobile communication terminals through a base station, and each of the plurality of communication terminals comprising a half-duplex communication switch,

said server being configured to communicate with said plurality of mobile communication terminals through a network, and further configured to allow each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals to participate in a multi-casting session in accordance with a predetermined rule,

wherein, when a signal is received from a first mobile communication terminal among said plurality of mobile communication terminals with said half-duplex communication switch of the first mobile communication terminal being on, said server is configured to check whether there is a second mobile communication terminal associated with a user which is presently speaking in the multi-casting session,

if there is not said second mobile communication terminal, and further if there is not recorded one or more third mobile communication terminals among said plurality of mobile communication terminals in a subscriber list, said server is configured to allow a user associated with said first mobile communication terminal to speak in the multi-casting session,

if there is at least one of said second mobile communication terminal and said one or more third mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list, said server is configured to record said first mobile communication terminal in said subscriber list to thereby reserve a speaking position for a user associated with said first mobile communication terminal, and

when a signal is received from said one or more third mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list with said half-duplex communication switch being on, said server is configured to remove recordation of said third mobile communication terminal from said subscriber list.

13. The server as set forth in claim 12, wherein said server is configured to:

update data about a communication status each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals, record a mobile communication terminal among said plurality of mobile communication terminals which is associated with a user that is allowed to speak in the multi-casting session next time or later in the subscriber list, and transmit data about the communication status of one or more mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list, to other mobile communication terminals participating in the multi-casting session.

14. The server as set forth in claim 12, wherein a priority is applied to each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals in accordance with a characteristic thereof, and wherein,

said server, when said first mobile communication terminal is to be recorded in said subscriber list, is configured to record said first mobile communication terminal and said one or more third mobile communication terminals in said subscriber list in an order determined in accordance with said priority.

15. The server as set forth in claim 12, wherein, when the signal is received from said first mobile communication terminal with said half-duplex communication switch of the first mobile communication terminal being on, said server, if there is said second mobile communication terminal associated with the user that is presently speaking, and further if there is recorded said one or more third mobile communication terminals in said subscriber list, is configured to compare priorities of said first and second mobile communication terminals to each other, and allow said first mobile communication terminal to interrupt the multi-casting session if said server judges that said first mobile communication terminal has a priority higher than a priority of second mobile communication terminal.

16. The server as set forth in claim 12, wherein said server comprises a first server and a second server that is configured to communicate with said first server,

wherein said first server is configured to communicate with said plurality of mobile communication terminals through the network, and further configured to allow a user associated with one of said plurality of mobile communication terminals to speak in the multi-casting session in accordance with the predetermined rule,

wherein, when the signal is received from the first mobile communication terminal among said plurality of mobile communication terminals, said first server is configured to check whether there is the second mobile communication terminal presently speaking in the multi-casting session,

if there is not said second mobile communication terminal, and further if there is not recorded the one or more third mobile communication terminals in the subscriber list, said first server is configured to allow the user associated with said first mobile communication terminal to speak in the multi-casting session,

if there is at least one of said second mobile communication terminal and said third mobile communication terminal recorded in said subscriber list, said first server is configured to record said first mobile communication terminal in said subscriber list to thereby reserve the speaking position for the user associated with said first mobile communication terminal, and

said second server is configured to:

update data about a communication status of each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals, record a mobile communication terminal among said plurality of mobile communication terminals which is associated with a user that is allowed to speak in said multi-casting session next time or later in the subscriber list, and transmit data about the communication status of the one or more mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list, to other mobile communication terminals participating in the multi-casting session.

17. A method of allowing a plurality of mobile communication terminals to conduct multi-casting communication with one another through a server in a half-duplex manner, each of said mobile communication terminals configured to conduct voice-communication with other mobile communication terminals through a base station, and each of the plurality of mobile communication terminals comprising a half-duplex communication switch, comprising:

allowing, via the server, each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals to participate in a multi-casting session in accordance with a predetermined rule;

wherein, when a signal is received from a first mobile communication terminal among said plurality of mobile communication terminals with said half-duplex communication switch of the first mobile communication terminal being on, said server is configured to check whether there is a second mobile communication terminal among said plurality of mobile communication terminals which is associated with a user that is presently speaking in the multi-casting session;

if there is not said second mobile communication terminal, and further if there is not recorded one or more third mobile communication terminals among said plurality of mobile communication terminals in a subscriber list, said server is configured to allow a user associated with said first mobile communication terminal to speak in the multi-casting session;

if there is at least one of said second mobile communication terminal and said one or more third mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list, said server is configured to record said first mobile communication terminal in said subscriber list to thereby reserve a speaking position for a user associated with said first mobile communication terminal; and

when a signal is received from said third mobile communication terminal recorded in said subscriber list with said half-duplex communication switch of said third mobile communication terminal being on, said server is configured to remove recordation of said third mobile communication terminal from said subscriber list.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

said server updating data about a communication status of each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals;

said server recording a mobile communication terminal which is associated with a user that is allowed to speak in the multi-casting session next time or later in the subscriber list; and

said server transmitting data about a communication status of the one or more mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list, to plurality of other mobile communication terminals participating in the multi-casting session.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein a predetermined one of said plurality of mobile communication terminals is determined as a privilege user'"'"'s terminal, and a priority is applied to mobile communication terminals other than said privilege user'"'"'s terminal in accordance with a characteristic thereof,

said method further comprising said privilege user'"'"'s terminal recording mobile communication terminals other than said privilege user'"'"'s terminal into said subscriber list, deleting mobile communication terminals other than said privilege user'"'"'s terminal from said subscriber list, and interrupting the multi-casting session.

20. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein a priority is applied to each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals in accordance with a characteristic thereof, and

wherein, in recording said first mobile communication terminal in said subscriber list, said first mobile communication terminal and said one or more third mobile communication terminals in said subscriber list are recorded in an order to be determined in accordance with said priority.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20, further comprising, on receipt of the signal transmitted from said first mobile communication terminal with said half-duplex communication switch being on, said server, if there is the user associated with said second mobile communication terminal presently speaking in the multi-casting session, and further if there is recorded said third mobile communication terminals in said subscriber list, comparing priorities of said first and second mobile communication terminals to each other, and allowing said first mobile communication terminal to interrupt the multi-casting session, if said server judges that said first mobile communication terminal has a priority higher than a priority of second mobile communication terminal.

22. The method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising, on receipt of a signal transmitted from said third mobile communication terminal recorded in said subscriber list with said half-duplex communication switch being on, said server canceling recordation of said third mobile communication terminal from said subscriber list.

23. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

allowing each of a plurality of mobile communication terminals to participate in a multi-casting session in accordance with a predetermined rule;

wherein, when a signal is received from a first mobile communication terminal among said plurality of mobile communication terminals with a half-duplex communication switch of the first mobile communication terminal being on, checking whether there is a second mobile communication terminal is associated with a user which is presently speaking in the multi-cast session;

if there is not said second mobile communication terminal, and further if there is not recorded one or more third mobile communication terminals in a subscriber list, allowing a user associated with said first mobile communication terminal to speak in the multi-casting session;

if there is at least one of said second mobile communication terminal and said third mobile communication terminal recorded in said subscriber list, recording said first mobile communication terminal in said subscriber list to thereby reserve a speaking position for a user associated with said first mobile communication terminal; and

when a signal is received from said third mobile communication terminal recorded in said subscriber list with a half-duplex communication switch of said third mobile communication terminal being on, removing recordation of said third mobile communication terminal from said subscriber list.

24. The article of manufacture as set forth in claim 12, wherein said operations further comprise:

updating data about a communication status of each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals;

recording a mobile communication terminal associated with a user which is to be allowed to speak in the multi-casting session next time or later in the subscriber list; and

transmitting data about the communication status of one or more mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list, to said other mobile communication terminals participating in the multi-casting session.

25. The article of manufacture as set forth in claim 23, wherein a priority is applied to each of said plurality of mobile communication terminals in accordance with a characteristic thereof, and wherein said first mobile communication terminal and said one or more third mobile communication terminals recorded in said subscriber list are recorded in an order to be determined in accordance with said priority.

26. The article of manufacture as set forth in claim 25, wherein operations further comprise:

on receipt of the signal transmitted from said first mobile communication terminal with said half-duplex communication switch being on, if there is said second mobile communication terminal associated with the user presently speaking in the multi-casting session, and further if there is recorded said third mobile communication terminal in said subscriber list, comparing priorities of said first and second mobile communication terminals to each other; and

allowing said first mobile communication terminal to interrupt the multi-casting session, if judging that said first mobile communication terminal has a priority higher than a priority of second mobile communication terminal.

27. A multi-casting communication system allowing a plurality of mobile communication means to conduct multi-casting communication with one another in a half-duplex manner, comprising:

a plurality of mobile communication means each for making voice-communication with other mobile communication means through a base station, and each of the plurality of mobile communication means including a half-duplex communication switch; and

control means for making communicating with said plurality of mobile communication means through a network, and allowing each of said plurality of mobile communication means to participate in a multi-casting session in accordance with predetermined rules,

wherein, when a signal is received from a first mobile communication means among said plurality of mobile communication means with said half-duplex communication switch of the first mobile communication means being on, said control means is configured to check whether there is second mobile communication means associated with a user which is presently speaking in the multi-casting session,

if there is not said second mobile communication means, and further if there is not recorded one or more third mobile communication means in a subscriber list, said control means is configured to allow a user associated with said first mobile communication means to speak in the multi-casting session,

if there is at least one of said second mobile communication means and said third mobile communication means recorded in said subscriber list, said control means is configured to record said first mobile communication means in said subscriber list to thereby reserve a speaking position for the user associated with said first mobile communication means,

when a signal is received from said one or more third mobile communication means recorded in said subscriber list with said half-duplex communication switch being on, said control means is configured to remove recordation of said third mobile communication means form said subscriber list.