System and method for providing group communication services

• US 8,077,634 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Maggenti, Mark, Crockett, Douglas M., Rosen, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Scheibel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Prenell P
• Application Number:
  US10/243,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20030012149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,379 Days
• Field of Search: 370260-261, 370310-312, 370/229, 370/462, 370/472, 370/381, 370/438, 370/907, 370/418, 370/387, 370/468, 370/252, 370/401, 370/390, 370/270, 370/328, 370/380, 370/346, 370/352, 370/353, 370/427, 370/230, 370/235, 370/395, 370/432, 370/338, 370/414, 370/413, 370/389, 370/398, 370/335, 370/327, 370/399, 370/354, 370/467, 370/356, 370/331, 370/400, 370/265, 370/447, 370/392, 370/236, 370/351, 370/396, 370/477, 370/296, 379/177, 379/221, 379/202, 379/201, 379/49, 455/518, 455/450, 455/436, 455/466, 455/416, 455/503, 455/343, 455/517, 455/127, 455/445, 455/427, 455/12, 455/428, 455/519, 455/434, 455/456, 455/411, 455/414, 455/458, 455/417, 455/426, 455/463, 455/435, 455/41, 455/47, 455/512, 455/403, 455/555, 455/461, 455/554, 455/446, 455/90, 709/223, 709/204, 709/225, 709/224, 709/202, 709/203, 709/229, 709/250, 709/226, 709/227, 709/238, 375/256, 375/316, 398/58, 398/48, 340/10.33, 340/539, 340/7.39, 340/7.21, 340/7.32, 711/151, 711/158, 710240-244, 710/111, 710/113, 710/116, 710/119, 705/7
• US Class Current: 370/260
• 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 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• 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 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

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.

Claims

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.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said arbitrated group communications is further configured to route said data packets from said first communication device to said second and third communication devices, to route said data packets from said second communication device to said first and third communication devices, and to route said data packets from said third communication device to said first and second communication devices.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first communication device comprises a wireless communication device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said first communication device is selected from the group comprising a wireless telephone, a wireless camera, a wireless video camera, a wireless computer, a pager, a wireless audio recording device, a desktop computer, a wireline telephone, and a digital camera.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said first communication device further comprises:

a processor configured to request the transmission privilege from said communications manager.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said information signals are selected from the group comprising audio signals, visual signals, and data.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said communications manager further comprises:

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.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said communications manager further comprises:

a local database configured to store information relating to said first communication device, said second wireless communication device, and said third communication device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said communications manager comprises:

a multipoint control unit (MCU) configured to receive said data packets from said first communication device and to create at least two duplicate data packets for each of said data packets received from said first communication device, a first of said duplicate data packets comprising addressing information corresponding to said second communication device and a second of said duplicate data packets comprising addressing information corresponding to said third communication device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said first communication device operates in a terrestrial cellular communication system and said second wireless communication device operates within a satellite communication system.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said first communication device operates in a CDMA communication system and said second communication device operates within a GSM communication system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said first communication device is identified by a first data address and is a member of a net;

said second communication device is identified by a second data address and is a member of said net; and

said first communication device communicates with said second communication device by sending said data packets to a third data address, said third data address associated with said net, said net hosted by said communications manager, said communications manager configured to receive said data packets from said first communication device, further configured to duplicate said data packets and to address said duplicate data packets to said second data address, and to send said duplicate data packets to said second communication device.

13. A method for providing a group communication service to a plurality of communication devices in a wireless environment, comprising:

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.

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:

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.

15. An apparatus for providing a group communication service to a plurality of communication devices, comprising:

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.

16. An apparatus for providing a group communication service to a plurality of communication devices in a wireless environment, comprising:

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.

17. A method for providing a group communication service to at least three communication devices in a wireless environment, comprising:

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.

18. 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 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.

19. A method of providing arbitrated group communications among three or more of a plurality of communication devices, comprising:

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.

20. A communications manager configured to provide arbitrated group communications among three or more of a plurality of communication devices, comprising:

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.

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:

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.

22. A method of participating in a group communication session at a communication device within in a wireless environment, comprising:

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.

23. A communication device configured to participate in a group communication session within in a wireless environment, comprising:

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.

24. A communication device configured to participate in a group communication session within in a wireless environment, comprising:

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.

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:

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.