System and method of setting up a push-to-talk call

• US 8,160,628 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmail, Tailor, Pinal, Ghaus, Mohammad
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US12/170,492
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 455/521, 455/416, 455517-519
• US Class Current: 455/519
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services

Abstract

Systems and methods of setting up a push-to-talk call are provided. When a push-to-talk server receives a request for a push-to-talk call from an originating mobile station, the server sends a push-to-talk call notification to a destination mobile station identified in the request and starts a timer. Upon expiration of the timer the server determines whether the originating mobile station has a traffic channel for the push-to-talk call.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the acts of:

receiving, by a push-to-talk server from an originating mobile station, a request for a push-to-talk call;

sending, by the push-to-talk server to a destination mobile station identified in the request, a push-to-talk call notification;

starting a timer in response to receipt of the request;

sending, upon expiration of the timer, an information request message from the push-to-talk server to a base transceiver station of the originating mobile station;

receiving an information response message at the push-to-talk server from the base transceiver station;

and

determining by the push-to-talk server whether a traffic channel has been established with the originating mobile station for the push-to-talk call based on the information response message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination mobile station attempts to obtain a traffic channel in response to receipt of the push-to-talk call notification.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein when it is determined that the originating mobile station does not have a traffic channel, the method further comprises the act of:

sending a push-to-talk call suspension message to the destination mobile station.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the timer is employed with at least a first and second time period, the first and second time periods being of a different duration, and the second time period being employed subsequent to the first time period.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein when it is determined that the originating mobile station does not have a traffic channel, the timer employs the second time period and another determination is performed upon expiration of the timer as to whether the originating mobile station has a traffic channel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein during the first period of time the destination mobile station does not output an indication of an incoming push-to-talk call and during the second period of time the destination mobile station outputs an indication of an incoming push-to-talk call.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information response message identifies call rejections and failures that have occurred within a particular period of time.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the particular period of time relates to a time of receipt of the request for the push-to-talk call.

9. A push-to-talk server, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the push-to-talk server receives a request for a push-to-talk call from an originating mobile station and sends a push-to-talk call notification to a destination mobile station identified in the request, and wherein the processor comprises

logic that starts a timer in response to receipt of the request;

logic that sends, upon expiration of the timer, an information request message to a base transceiver station of the originating mobile station;

logic that receives an information response message from the base transceiver station;

and

logic that determines whether a traffic channel has been established with the originating mobile station for the push-to-talk call based on the information response message.

10. The push-to-talk server of claim 9, wherein the destination mobile station attempts to obtain a traffic channel in response to receipt of the push-to-talk call notification.

11. The push-to-talk server of claim 10, wherein the processor further comprises:

logic that sends a push-to-talk call suspension message to the destination mobile station when it is determined that the originating mobile station does not have a traffic channel.

12. The push-to-talk server of claim 11, wherein the timer is employed with at least a first and second time period, the first and second time periods being of a different duration, and the second time period being employed subsequent to the first time period.

13. The push-to-talk server of claim 12, wherein when it is determined that the originating mobile station does not have a traffic channel, the timer employs the second time period and another determination is performed upon expiration of the timer as to whether the originating mobile station has a traffic channel.

14. The push-to-talk server of claim 13, wherein during the first period of time the destination mobile station does not output an indication of an incoming push-to-talk call and during the second period of time the destination mobile station outputs an indication of an incoming push-to-talk call.

15. The push-to-talk server of claim 9, wherein the information response message identifies call rejections and failures that have occurred within a particular period of time.

16. The push-to-talk server of claim 15, wherein the particular period of time relates to a time of receipt of the request for the push-to-talk call.