Push-to-talk-over-cellular (PoC) service in heterogeneous networks (HETNETS) and multimode small cell environments

• US 9,510,165 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2015
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kodiak Networks (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kodiak Networks (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Krishnakant M., Vempati, Brahmananda R., Ayyasamy, Ravi, Negalaguli, Harisha M., Kandula, Ramu, Biswal, Bibhudatta
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US14/639,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20150256984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 455/416, 455/419, 455/518, 455/519
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system and method for supporting multiple simultaneous connections to different access networks for use in Push-to-talk-over-Cellular (PoC). One or more servers interface to a plurality of wireless communications networks to perform advanced voice services for mobile units therein, including the PoC call session. The servers and mobile units communicate with each other using control messages, and the servers switch voice frames between the mobile units. At least one of the servers manages the PoC call session by acting as an arbitrator, and controls the sending of the control messages and the voice frames to and from the mobile units. At least one of the mobile units and at least one of the servers use multiple simultaneous connections to the plurality of wireless communications networks to communicate with each other.

Claims

1. A system for providing communications services in a plurality of wireless communications networks, comprising:

one or more servers that interface to the plurality of wireless communications networks to perform communications for one or more mobile units, wherein the communications services include an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of the one or more mobile units comprising a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) call session;

wherein both the one or more servers and the one or more mobile units communicate with each other using control messages transmitted over the plurality of wireless communications networks, and at least one of the one or more servers switches voice frames for the communications services between the one or more mobile units across the plurality of wireless communications networks;

wherein at least one of the one or more servers manages the PoC call session by acting as an arbitrator for the PoC call session and controls sending of the control messages and the voice frames to and from the one or more mobile units;

wherein at least one of the one or more mobile units and at least one of the one or more servers use multiple simultaneous connections to the plurality of wireless communications networks to communicate with each other; and

wherein the multiple simultaneous connections comprise;

a first connection between a first mobile unit of the one or more mobile units and a first server of the one or more servers over a first network of the plurality of wireless communications networks; and

a second connection between the first mobile unit and the first server over a second network of the plurality of wireless communications networks, wherein the first connection and the second connection are maintained simultaneously, and wherein the first network is separate from the second network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control messages and the voice frames are transported simultaneously across each of the plurality of wireless communications networks.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control messages and the voice frames are duplicated to provide duplicated control messages and duplicated voice frames, wherein the control messages and the voice frames are transmitted over the first connection to the first mobile unit simultaneously while the duplicated control messages and the duplicated voice frames are transmitted over the second connection to the first mobile unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more mobile units transition between the multiple simultaneous connections to the plurality of wireless communications networks.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network is selected as a primary network and the second network is selected as a secondary network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein selection of the primary network and the secondary network is performed dynamically by at least one of the one or more mobile units or the one or more servers based on information reported by or to the one or more mobile units or the one or more servers.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the primary network and the secondary network are selected in accordance with decision factors, wherein the decision factors comprise network latency, packet loss, signal strength transport cost, or a combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the selection of the primary network and the secondary network comprises applying thresholds to the decision factors, normalizing values observed for the decision factors, and applying weightings to the decision factors.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the PoC call session includes a pre-established PoC call session over the primary network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the PoC call session includes an on-demand PoC call session established simultaneously over the secondary network.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein an error correction level is determined heuristically by at least one of the mobile units or servers based on reports for a specified location made during previous PoC call sessions.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein an adaptive jitter buffer is used to homogenize the voice frames transmitted simultaneously over the first connection and the second connection.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the adaptive jitter buffer removes duplicate voice frames received over the first connection and the second connection.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the adaptive jitter buffer reorders voice frames received over the first connection and the second connection.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first network is a different type of network than the second network, wherein first packets transmitted in the first network comprise a different number of voice frames than second packets transmitted in the second network, and wherein the adaptive jitter buffer homogenizes the first packets and the second packets containing the different number of voice frames received over the first connection and the second connection.

16. A method of providing communications services in a plurality of wireless communications networks, comprising:

interfacing one or more servers to the plurality of wireless communications networks to perform communications services for one or more mobile units, wherein the communications services include an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of the one or more mobile units comprising a Push-to-Talk-over-Cellular (PoC) call session;

wherein both the one or more servers and the one or more mobile units communicate with each other using control messages transmitted over the plurality of wireless communications networks, and at least one of the one or more servers switches voice frames for the communications services between the one or more mobile units across the plurality of wireless communications networks;

wherein at least one of the one or more servers manages the PoC call session by acting as an arbitrator for the PoC call session and controls sending of the control messages and the voice frames to and from the one or more mobile units; and

wherein at least one of the one or more mobile units and at least one of the one or more servers use multiple simultaneous connections to the plurality of wireless communications networks to communicate with each other; and

wherein the multiple simultaneous connections comprise;

a first connection between a first mobile unit of the one or more mobile units and a first server of the one or more servers over a first network of the plurality of wireless communications networks; and

a second connection between the first mobile unit and the first server over a second network of the plurality of wireless communications networks, wherein the first connection and the second connection are maintained simultaneously, and wherein the first network is a different type of network than the second network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the control messages and voice frames are transported simultaneously across each of the plurality of wireless communications networks.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the control messages and the voice frames are duplicated to provide duplicated control messages and duplicated voice frames, wherein the control messages and the voice frames are transmitted over the first connection simultaneously while the duplicated control messages and the duplicated voice frames are transmitted over the second connection.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more mobile units transition between the multiple simultaneous connections to the plurality of wireless communications networks.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first network is selected as a primary network and the second network is selected as a secondary network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein selection of the primary network and the secondary network is performed dynamically by at least one of the one or more mobile units or the one or more servers based on information reported by or to the one or more mobile units or the one or more servers.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the primary network and the secondary network are selected in accordance with decision factors, wherein the decision factors comprise network latency, packet loss, signal strength, transport cost, or a combination thereof.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the selection of the primary network and the secondary network comprises applying thresholds to the decision factors, normalizing values observed for the decision factors, and applying weightings to the decision factors.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the PoC call session includes a preestablished PoC call session over the primary network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the PoC call session includes an on-demand PoC call session established simultaneously over the secondary network.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein an error correction level is determined heuristically by at least one of the one or more mobile units or the one or more servers based on reports for a specified location made during previous PoC call sessions.

27. The method of claim 16, an adaptive jitter buffer is used to homogenize the voice frames transmitted simultaneously over the first connection and the second connection.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the adaptive jitter buffer removes duplicate voice frames received over the first connection and the second connection.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the adaptive jitter buffer reorders voice frames received over the first connection and the second connection.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein first packets transmitted in the first network comprise a different number of voice frames than second packets transmitted in the second network, and wherein the adaptive jitter buffer homogenizes the first packets and the second packets containing the different number of voice frames received over the first connection and the second connection.