System and method for providing group communication services
First Claim
1. A system for providing a group communication service to a plurality of communication devices in a wireless environment, comprising:
- a first communication device configured to convert information signals into data packets configured for transmission over a packet data network, operable to provide said data packets to said packet data network, and operable to receive data packets from said packet data network;
a second communication device configured to convert information signals into data packets configured for transmission over said packet data network, operable to provide said data packets to said packet data network, and operable to receive data packets from said packet data network;
a third communication device configured to convert information signals into data packets configured for transmission over said packet data network, operable to provide said data packets to said packet data network, and operable to receive data packets from said packet data network; and
a communications manager connected to said packet data network configured to provide arbitrated group communications among at least said first communication device, said second communication device, and said third communication device, wherein the group communication operates over the Internet protocol (IP) level and is further configured to grant a transmission privilege to either said first communication device, to said second communication device, or to said third communication device, said transmission privilege for allowing only one of said communication devices to transmit said data packets in association with the arbitrated group communication at any given time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing group communication services. Each of a plurality of communication devices coverts information signals into data packets suitable for transmission over a data network, such as the Internet. The data packets are transmitted through the data network to a communications manager. The communications manager acts as a configurable switch, allowing communications from any communication device to be routed to the plurality of communication devices. The communications manager further allows users of other communication systems and devices to participate in group communications with each other.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for providing a group communication service to a plurality of communication devices in a wireless environment, comprising:
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a first communication device configured to convert information signals into data packets configured for transmission over a packet data network, operable to provide said data packets to said packet data network, and operable to receive data packets from said packet data network; a second communication device configured to convert information signals into data packets configured for transmission over said packet data network, operable to provide said data packets to said packet data network, and operable to receive data packets from said packet data network; a third communication device configured to convert information signals into data packets configured for transmission over said packet data network, operable to provide said data packets to said packet data network, and operable to receive data packets from said packet data network; and a communications manager connected to said packet data network configured to provide arbitrated group communications among at least said first communication device, said second communication device, and said third communication device, wherein the group communication operates over the Internet protocol (IP) level and is further configured to grant a transmission privilege to either said first communication device, to said second communication device, or to said third communication device, said transmission privilege for allowing only one of said communication devices to transmit said data packets in association with the arbitrated group communication at any given time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for providing a group communication service to a plurality of communication devices in a wireless environment, comprising:
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granting a transmission privilege to only one of the plurality of communication devices for allowing the only one of the plurality of communication devices to transmit data packets over a packet data network in association with an arbitrated group communication at any given time; and providing arbitrated group communications among three or more of the plurality of communication devices by receiving data packets configured for transmission over a packet data network from the communication device that has been granted the transmission privilege and sending the received data packets to at least two other of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the group communication operates over the Internet protocol (IP) level.
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14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing at least one instruction, which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform operations in a wireless environment, the instructions comprising:
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a set of instructions to grant a transmission privilege to only one of a plurality of communication devices for allowing the only one of the plurality of communication devices to transmit data packets in association with an arbitrated group communication at any given time; and a set of the instructions to arbitrate group communications among three or more of the plurality of communication devices by receiving data packets configured for transmission over a packet data network from the communication device that has been granted the transmission privilege and sending the received data packets to at least two other of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the group communication operates over the Internet protocol (IP) level.
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15. An apparatus for providing a group communication service to a plurality of communication devices, comprising:
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means for granting a transmission privilege to only one of the plurality of communication devices for allowing the only one of the plurality of communication devices to transmit data packets in association with an arbitrated group communication at any given time; and means for providing arbitrated group communications among three or more of the plurality of communication devices by receiving data packets configured for transmission over a packet data network from the communication device that has been granted the transmission privilege and sending the received data packets to at least two other of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the group communication operates over the Internet protocol (IP) level.
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16. An apparatus for providing a group communication service to a plurality of communication devices in a wireless environment, comprising:
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a memory unit; and a multipoint control unit (MCU) configured to grant a transmission privilege to only one of the plurality of communication devices for allowing the only one of the plurality of communication devices to transmit data packets in association with an arbitrated group communication at any given time, and to provide arbitrated group communications among the plurality of communication devices by receiving data packets configured for transmission over a packet data network from the communication device that has been granted the transmission privilege and sending the received data packets to at least two other of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the group communication operates over the Internet protocol (IP) level.
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17. A method for providing a group communication service to at least three communication devices in a wireless environment, comprising:
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granting a transmission privilege to only one of the at least three communication devices for allowing the only one of the at least three communication devices to transmit data packets in association with an arbitrated group communication at any given time; and arbitrating group communications which operates over the Internet protocol (IP) level for the at least said three communication devices by receiving data packets configured for transmission over a packet data network from the communication device that has been granted the transmission privilege and sending the received data packets to at least two other of the at least three communication devices.
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18. A system for providing a group communication service to a plurality of communication devices in a wireless environment, comprising:
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a first communication device configured to convert information signals into data packets configured for transmission over a packet data network, operable to provide said data packets to said packet data network, and operable to receive data packets from said packet data network; a second communication device configured to convert information signals into data packets configured for transmission over said packet data network, operable to provide said data packets to said packet data network, and operable to receive data packets from said packet data network; a third communication device configured to convert information signals into data packets configured for transmission over said packet data network, operable to provide said data packets to said packet data network, and operable to receive data packets from said packet data network; and a communications manager connected to said packet data network configured to provide arbitrated group communications among at least said first communication device, said second communication device, and said third communication device, wherein the group communication operates over the Internet protocol (IP) level and further includes a multipoint control unit (MCU) configured to receive a data packet from said first communication device and to generate a duplicate data packet to be sent to said second communication device and to generate a duplicate data packet to be sent to said third communication device.
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19. A method of providing arbitrated group communications among three or more of a plurality of communication devices, comprising:
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receiving a data packet from a first communication device of the plurality of communication devices at a multipoint control unit (MCU); generating a duplicate data packet of the received data packet to be sent to a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices; generating another duplicate data packet of the received data packet to be sent to a third communication device of the plurality of communication devices; and sending the generated duplicate data packets from the MCU to the second and third communication devices, respectively.
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20. A communications manager configured to provide arbitrated group communications among three or more of a plurality of communication devices, comprising:
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means for receiving a data packet from a first communication device of the plurality of communication devices at a multipoint control unit (MCU); means for generating a duplicate data packet of the received data packet to be sent to a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices; means for generating another duplicate data packet of the received data packet to be sent to a third communication device of the plurality of communication devices; and means for sending the generated duplicate data packets from the MCU to the second and third communication devices, respectively.
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21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing at least one instruction, which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform operations in a wireless environment, the instructions comprising:
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a set of instructions to receive a data packet from a first communication device of the plurality of communication devices at a multipoint control unit (MCU); a set of instructions to generate a duplicate data packet of the received data packet to be sent to a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices; a set of instructions to generate another duplicate data packet of the received data packet to be sent to a third communication device of the plurality of communication devices; and a set of instructions to send the generated duplicate data packets from the MCU to the second and third communication devices, respectively.
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22. A method of participating in a group communication session at a communication device within in a wireless environment, comprising:
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sending a request to a communications manager to request a transmission privilege for the communication device, the communications manager responsible for arbitrating the group communication session involving the requesting communication device and at least two other communications devices, and the requested transmission privilege for allowing only the requesting communication device to transmit data packets in association with the arbitrated group communication at any given time; receiving a message from the communications manager that grants the transmission privilege to the requesting communication device; and sending data packets to the at least two other communications devices via the communications manager in response to the received message.
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23. A communication device configured to participate in a group communication session within in a wireless environment, comprising:
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means for sending a request to a communications manager to request a transmission privilege for the communication device, the communications manager responsible for arbitrating the group communication session involving the requesting communication device and at least two other communications devices, and the requested transmission privilege for allowing only the requesting communication device to transmit data packets in association with the arbitrated group communication at any given time; means for receiving a message from the communications manager that grants the transmission privilege to the requesting communication device; and means for sending data packets to the at least two other communications devices via the communications manager in response to the received message.
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24. A communication device configured to participate in a group communication session within in a wireless environment, comprising:
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a transmitter configured to send a request to a communications manager to request a transmission privilege for the communication device, the communications manager responsible for arbitrating the group communication session involving the requesting communication device and at least two other communications devices, and the requested transmission privilege for allowing only the requesting communication device to transmit data packets in association with the arbitrated group communication at any given time; and a receiver configured to receive a message from the communications manager that grants the transmission privilege to the requesting communication device, wherein the transmitter is further configured to send data packets to the at least two other communications devices via the communications manager in response to the received message.
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25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing at least one instruction, which, when executed by a communication device configured to participate in a group communication session within in a wireless environment, causes the communication device to perform operations in a wireless environment, the instructions comprising:
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a set of instructions to send a request to a communications manager to request a transmission privilege for the communication device, the communications manager responsible for arbitrating the group communication session involving the requesting communication device and at least two other communications devices, and the requested transmission privilege for allowing only the requesting communication device to transmit data packets in association with the arbitrated group communication at any given time; a set of instructions to receive a message from the communications manager that grants the transmission privilege to the requesting communication device; and a set of instructions to send data packets to the at least two other communications devices via the communications manager in response to the received message.
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Specification