System and method for seamlessly switching a full-duplex session to a half-duplex session

• US 8,149,743 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Choksi, Ojas Thakor
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferris, Derrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): KHIRODHAR, MAHARISHI V
• Application Number:
  US11/485,087
• Time in Patent Office: 2,092 Days
• Field of Search: 370/296, 370/276, 370/277, 370/311, 455/553.1, 455/552.1, 455/574, 455/67.11, 455/463
• US Class Current: 370/296
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/16 Half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals non-automatically inverting the direction of transmission

Abstract

A communication system that is particularly suited to switch a full duplex session to a half duplex session. The system includes a VoIP server that sets up a full duplex session; and a dispatch call controller server that receives a request to switch the full duplex session to a half duplex session; forwards the request to the target subscriber unit; receives an acceptance of the request; and sets up the half duplex session between the subscriber units. In another embodiment, the VoIP server receives the request to switch to the half duplex session; forwards the request to the target subscriber unit; receives an acceptance of the request; and instructs the dispatch call controller to set up the half duplex session. In yet another embodiment, a service broker receives the request, instructs the dispatch call controller to set up the half duplex session, and instructs the VoIP server to terminate the full duplex session. In yet another embodiment, the switch from full-to-half is network-driven instead of user-driven.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a network;

a first network device coupled to said network, wherein said first network device is adapted to set up a full duplex communication session between first and second subscriber units (SUs);

a second network device coupled to said network; and

a third network device coupled to said network, wherein said third network device is adapted to;

monitor a network traffic load of said network; and

if said network traffic load exceeds a first predetermined threshold, send a message to instruct said second network device to set up a half duplex communication session between said first and second subscriber units (SUs); and

send a message to instruct said first network device to terminate said full duplex communication session.

2. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a fourth network device adapted to:

receive an instruction from said third network device to downgrade a certain number of full duplex communication sessions to half duplex communication sessions; and

determine which full duplex communication sessions to downgrade to half duplex communication sessions, one of which being said full duplex communication session between said first and second subscriber units (SUs);

send an instruction to said first network device to terminate said selected full duplex communication sessions;

send an instruction to said second network device to set up half duplex communication sessions to replace said terminated full duplex communication sessions.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein if said network traffic load of said network falls below a second predetermined threshold, said third network device is further adapted to:

cause said first network device to set up another full duplex communication session between said first and second subscriber units; and

cause said second network device to terminate said half duplex communication session.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said first predetermined threshold is different than said second predetermined threshold.

5. A method, comprising:

setting up a full duplex communication session by a first network device between first and second subscriber units;

monitoring by a second network device a network traffic load of a network through which said full duplex communication session is established; and

terminating said full duplex communication session according to instructions set by the second network device and setting up a half duplex communication session between said first and second subscriber units by a third network device if said network traffic load exceeds a first predetermined threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising setting up another full duplex communication session between said first and second subscriber units, and terminating said half duplex communication session if said network traffic load falls below a second predetermined threshold.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said first predetermined threshold is different than said second predetermined threshold.

8. A communication system, comprising:

a network;

a first network device coupled to said network, wherein said first network device is adapted to set up a full duplex communication session between first and second subscriber units (SUs);

a second network device coupled to said network; and

a third network device coupled to said network, wherein said third network device is adapted to;

monitor a network traffic load of said network;

determine a quality of service (QoS) associated with said first and/or second subscriber units (SUs); and

if said network traffic load exceeds a predetermined network load threshold and said QoS is below a predetermined QoS threshold, send instructions to change the full duplex communication session to a half duplex communication session to a fourth network device; and

wherein said fourth network device, in response to said message, is adapted to;

instruct said second network device to set up a half duplex communication session between said first and second subscriber units (SUs); and

instruct said first network device to terminate said full duplex communication session.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein said fourth network device is adapted to:

receive an instruction from said third network device to downgrade a certain number of full duplex communication sessions to half duplex communication sessions; and

determine which full duplex communication sessions to downgrade to half duplex communication sessions, one of which being said full duplex communication session between said first and second subscriber units (SUs);

send an instruction to said first network device to terminate said selected full duplex communication sessions;

send an instruction to said second network device to set up half duplex communication sessions to replace said terminated full duplex sessions.

10. A method, comprising:

setting up a full duplex communication session by a first network device between first and second subscriber units;

monitoring by a second network device a network traffic load of a network through which said full duplex communication session is established;

determining by the second network device a quality of service (QoS) associated with said first and/or second subscriber units (SUs); and

terminating said full duplex communication session according to instructions sent from the second network device and setting up a half duplex communication session between said first and second subscriber units by a third network device if said network traffic load exceeds a predetermined network load threshold and said QoS is below a predetermined QoS threshold.