System and method for communications in a multi-platform environment
First Claim
1. A communications networking system comprising:
- a push to talk radio interface through which communication with a plurality of push to talk radio devices travel via an external radio base station;
a network interface through which Voice Over internet Protocol (VOIP) communications with a plurality of VOIP devices travel and through which data communications with external devices travel;
a call control unit defining communication session parameters for the push to talk radio interface and the network interface, the call control unit operable to be controlled by a user of one of the VOIP devices such that the call control unit allows VOIP device users to simultaneously monitor communications from at least one network interface and at least one push to talk radio interface and select from at least one network interface and at least one push to talk radio interface to establish communication sessions with one or more other users;
a programmable signaling processor configured by a VOIP device user to establish communication sessions between the push to talk radio devices and the VOIP devices allowing for multiple push to talk devices and multiple VOIP devices to all communicate concurrently in a conference including enabling at least one of the users of one of the push to talk radio devices and/or at least one of the users of one of the VOIP devices to join the conference or initiate the conference;
the programmable signaling processor further configured to generate a mix of audio originating from a multiple of the push to talk radio devices as a single VOIP audio stream according to a mix selection specified by one of the VOIP device users;
wherein the communications networking system is configured to convert audio and signaling communications received over the push to talk radio interface and the network interface into a common format for use within the communications network system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A radio networking system includes at least a first communication port operable to facilitate communication between the radio networking system and a first communication platform. The system further includes at least a second communication port operable to facilitate communication between the radio networking system and a second communication platform. Additionally, a call control software module is operable to automatically and intelligently switch an incoming call from the first communication platform to the second communication platform which is controlled by a processor operable to execute the call control software module according to the information contained in a system configuration database. The call control software module further manages the configuration of call connections and conferencing services and supports real time user control of desired communication services.
-
Citations
103 Claims
-
1. A communications networking system comprising:
-
a push to talk radio interface through which communication with a plurality of push to talk radio devices travel via an external radio base station; a network interface through which Voice Over internet Protocol (VOIP) communications with a plurality of VOIP devices travel and through which data communications with external devices travel; a call control unit defining communication session parameters for the push to talk radio interface and the network interface, the call control unit operable to be controlled by a user of one of the VOIP devices such that the call control unit allows VOIP device users to simultaneously monitor communications from at least one network interface and at least one push to talk radio interface and select from at least one network interface and at least one push to talk radio interface to establish communication sessions with one or more other users; a programmable signaling processor configured by a VOIP device user to establish communication sessions between the push to talk radio devices and the VOIP devices allowing for multiple push to talk devices and multiple VOIP devices to all communicate concurrently in a conference including enabling at least one of the users of one of the push to talk radio devices and/or at least one of the users of one of the VOIP devices to join the conference or initiate the conference; the programmable signaling processor further configured to generate a mix of audio originating from a multiple of the push to talk radio devices as a single VOIP audio stream according to a mix selection specified by one of the VOIP device users; wherein the communications networking system is configured to convert audio and signaling communications received over the push to talk radio interface and the network interface into a common format for use within the communications network system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
-
-
56. A method performed by a communications networking system, the method comprising:
-
the communications networking system establishing a communication session with a plurality of external push to talk radio devices, the communication session initiated by a user of one of the external push to talk radio devices or one of a plurality of external networked communications terminals communicatively coupled with the communications networking system; the communications networking system automatically creating a communication link between the external push to talk radio devices and at least one of the external networked communications terminals including at least one Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) device; the communications networking system converting communications from the external push to talk radio devices, external networked communications terminals and VOIP devices into a common format IP data protocol data packets for communication using VOIP protocols; the communications networking system receiving communications from the external networked communications terminals and VOIP devices to control the configuration of the communications networking system; the communications networking system establishing a conference call among multiple push to talk radio devices, external networked communications terminals and VOIP devices in which the push to talk radio devices, external networked communications terminals and VOIP devices may all communicate concurrently in the conference call; the communications networking system providing call control features to the networked communications terminals and the VOIP devices such that users of the networked communications terminals and the VOIP devices may control a plurality of call control parameters associated with the conference call and the established communication link during the communications session; the communications networking system providing audio processing control features to the networked communications terminals and the VOIP devices including enabling users of the networked communications terminals and the VOIP devices to create a unique mix of audio originating from multiple push to talk radio devices. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 102)
the communications networking system receiving configuration programming from a system administrator specification of communication interfaces to be functional with specified external communication equipment and network types including receiving identification of a connected device type, such as a radio model number or network signaling standard.
-
-
85. The method of claim 56 further comprising:
the communications networking system remotely controlling features and functionality of communicatively coupled communication equipment and networks.
-
86. The method of claim 85 further comprising:
the communications networking system providing users the ability to remotely control radio features and functionality such as, radio frequency select, group select, scan, squelch, PTT, modulation type, volume and power level and receive status messages from the radio, including caller ID or location information.
-
87. The method of claim 56 further comprising:
the communications networking system distributing conferencing tasks among a plurality of networked communications gateway systems to create a redundant backup such that failure of one of the networked communications gateway systems only affects the operation of locally supported communication devices of the failed networked communications gateway system.
-
88. The method of claim 56, further comprising:
-
the communications networking system recording an emergency message operable to be stored in a data store in the system; and the communications networking system playing back the recorded emergency message when prompted.
-
-
102. The method of claim 56 wherein the call control features comprise one from the group including:
- configuration of a desired mix of monitored radios and talk groups, selection and configuration of radios for transmission, push to talk control, patching of radios with other communication interfaces, control of radio paging and alerting signals, and initiating and accessing a talk group, a conference and intercom communications.
-
89. A communications networking system comprising:
-
a first communication port operable to facilitate communication between the communications networking system and a first communication platform, the first communication platform comprising a push to talk radio platform; a second communication port operable to facilitate communication between the communications networking system and a second communication platform that supports Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) communications; a switch operable to automatically switch an incoming call from the first communication platform to the second communication platform; an audio signaling processor configurable by a user of the second communication platform, the audio signal processor operable to transmit a composite mix of first and second communications platform audio in a VOIP audio packet format; a call control unit configurable by one or more external VOIP device users, the call control unit operable to establish conferences and cross-connect audio among the communications networking system and a plurality of communication platforms, including the first and the second communication platforms translate and control signaling among the communications networking system and the plurality of communication platforms, including the first and the second communication platforms exchange communications data among the communications networking system and the plurality of communication platforms, including the first and the second communication platforms. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 103)
-
Specification