Setting up a full-duplex communication session and transitioning between half-duplex and full-duplex during a communication session within a wireless communications system

• US 9,520,982 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Razdan, Ashu, Rosen, Eric, Ross, David, Brewer, Beth, Ananthanarayanan, Arulmozhi, Shuman, Mohammed Ataur Rahman
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anh Ngoc
• Application Number:
  US13/955,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20130315110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• 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

Abstract

In an embodiment, an originating device sends a request, to a server, to initiate a full-duplex session with a target device. Responsive to the full-duplex request, a half-duplex session is set-up from the originating device to the target device before the full-duplex session is set-up. The target device indicates its acceptance of the half-duplex session, receives half-duplex media from the originating device and selectively indicates its acceptance of the full-duplex session. In another embodiment, during a session currently supported either by half-duplex or full-duplex, the server arbitrating the session receives a request from one of the session participants to transition the session to another duplex-type. The server then selectively transitions the duplex-type of the session.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a full-duplex communication session within a wireless communications system, comprising:

receiving an announce message that announces at least a half-duplex communication session;

selectively accepting the announced half-duplex communication session;

establishing the half-duplex communication session by setting up a half-duplex communication channel from an originating device;

determining whether the announced half-duplex communication session is associated with a potential full-duplex communication session;

selectively accepting the full-duplex communication session;

receiving media from the originating device over the half-duplex communication channel before the full-duplex communication session is established.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received announce message announces both the half-duplex and full-duplex communication sessions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the received announce message indicates that a first call accept message accepts the announced half-duplex communication session and a second call accept message accepts the full-duplex communication session.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the received announce message is configured to force acceptance of the half-duplex and full-duplex communication sessions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing the full-duplex communication session by setting up a full-duplex communication channel with the originating device;

exchanging media with the originating device over the full-duplex communication channel after the full-duplex communication session is established.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein sending media to the originating device on the full-duplex communication channel implicitly indicates that the full-duplex communication session is accepted.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein a call accept message indicates that the full-duplex communication session is accepted.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the potential full-duplex communication session is rejected either by sending a call reject message or failing to send a call accept message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the half-duplex communication session and full-duplex communication session are announced in different announce messages.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the different announce messages are configured to force acceptance of the half-duplex and full-duplex communication sessions, respectively.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively accepting the full-duplex communication session includes:

prompting a user to determine if the user wishes to answer the announce message in order to join the full-duplex communication session; and

receiving a response to the prompt from the user,

wherein the full-duplex communication session is established if the response indicates that the user wishes to answer the announce message, and

wherein the full-duplex communication session is not established if the response indicates that the user does not wish to answer the announce message.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the media corresponds to device-captured media that is captured by the originating device before the full-duplex communication session.

11. A method of transitioning between half-duplex and full-duplex within a wireless communications system, comprising:

conducting a half-duplex communication session between an originating device and at least one target device;

receiving a request, from a requesting device that corresponds to either the originating device or the at least one target device, to transition the half-duplex communication session to a full-duplex communication session;

determining that the requesting device does not hold a floor for the half-duplex communication session;

in response to the determining, setting up a uni-directional communication link from the requesting device to at least a current floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session, and forwarding media from the requesting device over the uni-directional communication link before a transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session is completed; and

selectively transitioning the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session in response to the received request.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

terminating the uni-directional communication link after the selectively transitioning completes the transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transitioning from the full-duplex communication session back to the half-duplex communication session by buffering media from a given floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session under transition, and

sending the buffered media to each non-floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session under transition when a threshold number of non-floor-holders of the half-duplex communication session under transition become available.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

notifying each device that is participating in the half-duplex communication session that a duplex-transition has been requested,

wherein the selectively transitioning is conditioned upon a threshold number of devices agreeing to the duplex-transition.

15. A method of transitioning between half-duplex and full-duplex within a wireless communications system, comprising:

participating in a half-duplex communication session between an originating device and at least one target device;

sending, by a requesting device that corresponds to either the originating device or the at least one target device, a request to transition the half-duplex communication session to a full-duplex communication session;

if the requesting device does not hold a floor for the half-duplex communication session, setting up a uni-directional communication link from the requesting device to at least a current floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session, and forwarding media from the requesting device over the uni-directional communication link before a transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session is completed; and

transitioning the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session if the sent request is granted.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

terminating the uni-directional communication link after the transitioning completes the transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session.

17. A method of transitioning between half-duplex and full-duplex within a wireless communications system, comprising:

participating in a half-duplex communication session between an originating device and at least one target device;

receiving a notification that another session participant has requested to transition the half-duplex communication session to a full-duplex communication session;

if the other session participant that requested the transition does not hold a floor for the half-duplex communication session, setting up a uni-directional communication link from the other session participant to at least a current floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session, and receiving media from the other session participant over the uni-directional communication link before a transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session is completed; and

selectively transitioning the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session in response to the notification.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

terminating the uni-directional communication link after the selectively transitioning completes the transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the selectively transitioning forces a device receiving the notification to perform the transition.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the selectively transitioning establishes a full-duplex communication channel at the device receiving the notification, further comprising:

muting a communication interface at the device receiving the notification upon establishment of the full-duplex communication channel;

prompting a user of the device receiving the notification to accept the full-duplex communication session; and

selectively un-muting the communication interface based on the whether the user responds to the prompt by accepting the full-duplex communication session.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the selectively transitioning includes:

determining whether to accept the duplex-transition.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the selectively transitioning further includes:

if the determining determines to accept the duplex-transition, accepting the duplex-transition either by (i) sending a message to a server controlling the full-duplex communication session indicating that the full-duplex communication session is accepted, or (ii) sending media to the server.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the selectively transitioning further includes:

if the determining determines not to accept the duplex-transition, rejecting the duplex-transition either by (i) sending a message to a server controlling the full-duplex communication session indicating that the full-duplex communication session is rejected, or (ii) refraining from sending a message to the server controlling the full-duplex communication session indicating that the full-duplex communication session is accepted.

24. An access terminal configured to participate in server-arbitrated communication sessions within a wireless communications system, comprising:

means for receiving an announce message that announces at least a half-duplex communication session;

means for selectively accepting the announced half-duplex communication session;

means for establishing the half-duplex communication session by setting up a half-duplex communication channel from an originating device;

means for determining whether the announced half-duplex communication session is associated with a potential full-duplex communication session;

means for selectively accepting the full-duplex communication session;

means for receiving media from the originating device over the half-duplex communication channel before the full-duplex communication session is established.

25. A server configured to arbitrate communication sessions between access terminals within a wireless communications system and to transition communication sessions between half-duplex and full-duplex, comprising:

means for conducting a half-duplex communication session between an originating device and at least one target device;

means for receiving a request, from a requesting device that corresponds to either the originating device or the at least one target device, to transition the half-duplex communication session to a full-duplex communication session;

means for setting up, in response to a determination that the requesting device does not hold a floor for the half-duplex communication session, a uni-directional communication link from the requesting device to at least a current floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session;

means for forwarding media from the requesting device over the uni-directional communication link before a transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session is completed; and

means for selectively transitioning the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session in response to the received request.

26. An access terminal configured to participate in server-arbitrated communication sessions within a wireless communications system, comprising:

means for participating in a half-duplex communication session between an originating device and at least one target device;

means for sending, by the access terminal as a requesting device that corresponds to either the originating device or the at least one target device, a request to transition the half-duplex communication session to a full-duplex communication session;

means for setting up a uni-directional communication link from the requesting device to at least a current floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session if the requesting device does not hold a floor for the half-duplex communication session;

means for forwarding media from the requesting device over the uni-directional communication link before a transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session is completed; and

means for transitioning the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session if the sent request is granted.

27. An access terminal configured to participate in server-arbitrated communication sessions within a wireless communications system, comprising:

means for participating in a half-duplex communication session between an originating device and at least one target device;

means for receiving a notification that another session participant has requested to transition the half-duplex communication session to a full-duplex communication session;

means for setting up a uni-directional communication link from the other session participant to at least a current floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session if the other session participant that requested the transition does not hold a floor for the half-duplex communication session;

means for receiving media from the other session participant over the uni-directional communication link before a transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session is completed; and

means for selectively transitioning the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session in response to the notification.

28. An access terminal configured to participate in server-arbitrated communication sessions within a wireless communications system, comprising:

logic configured to receive an announce message that announces at least a half-duplex communication session;

logic configured to selectively accept the announced half-duplex communication session;

logic configured to establish the half-duplex communication session by setting up a half-duplex communication channel from an originating device;

logic configured to determine whether the announced half-duplex communication session is associated with a potential full-duplex communication session;

logic configured to selectively accept the full-duplex communication session;

logic configured to receive media from the originating device over the half-duplex communication channel before the full-duplex communication session is established.

29. A server configured to arbitrate communication sessions between access terminals within a wireless communications system and to transition communication sessions between half-duplex and full-duplex, comprising:

a processor, a memory and a communications interface configured to;

conduct a half-duplex communication session between an originating device and at least one target device;

receive a request, from a requesting device that corresponds to either the originating device or the at least one target device, to transition the half-duplex communication session to a full-duplex communication session;

determine that the requesting device does not hold a floor for the half-duplex communication session;

setup, in response to the determination, a uni-directional communication link from the requesting device to at least a current floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session;

forward media from the requesting device over the uni-directional communication link before a transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session is completed; and

selectively transition the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session in response to the received request.

30. An access terminal configured to participate in server-arbitrated communication sessions within a wireless communications system, comprising:

logic configured to participate in a half-duplex communication session between an originating device and at least one target device;

logic configured to send, by the access terminal as a requesting device that corresponds to either the originating device or the at least one target device, a request to transition the half-duplex communication session to a full-duplex communication session;

logic configured to setup a uni-directional communication link from the requesting device to at least a current floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session if the requesting device does not hold a floor for the half-duplex communication session;

logic configured to forward media from the requesting device over the uni-directional communication link before a transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session is completed; and

logic configured to transition the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session if the sent request is granted.

31. An access terminal configured to participate in server-arbitrated communication sessions within a wireless communications system, comprising:

logic configured to participate in a half-duplex communication session between an originating device and at least one target device;

logic configured to receive a notification that another session participant has requested to transition the half-duplex communication session to a full-duplex communication session;

logic configured to setup a uni-directional communication link from the other session participant to at least a current floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session if the other session participant that requested the transition does not hold a floor for the half-duplex communication session;

logic configured to receive media from the other session participant over the uni-directional communication link before a transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session is completed; and

logic configured to selectively transition the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session in response to the notification.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by an access terminal configured to participate in server-arbitrated communication sessions within a wireless communications system, cause the access terminal to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to receive an announce message that announces at least a half-duplex communication session;

program code to selectively accept the announced half-duplex communication session;

program code to establish the half-duplex communication session by setting up a half-duplex communication channel from an originating device;

program code to determine whether the announced half-duplex communication session is associated with a potential full-duplex communication session;

program code to selectively accept the full-duplex communication session;

program code to receive media from the originating device over the half-duplex communication channel before the full-duplex communication session is established.

33. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a server configured to arbitrate communication sessions between access terminals within a wireless communications system and to transition communication sessions between half-duplex and full-duplex, cause the server to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to conduct a half-duplex communication session between an originating device and at least one target device;

program code to receive a request, from a requesting device that corresponds to either the originating device or the at least one target device, to transition the half-duplex communication session to a full-duplex communication session;

program code to determine that the requesting device does not hold a floor for the half-duplex communication session;

program code to setup, in response to the determination, a uni-directional communication link from the requesting device to at least a current floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session;

program code to forward media from the requesting device over the uni-directional communication link before a transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session is completed; and

program code to selectively transition the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session in response to the received request.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by an access terminal configured to participate in server-arbitrated communication sessions within a wireless communications system, cause the access terminal to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to participate in a half-duplex communication session between an originating device and at least one target device;

program code to send, by the access terminal as a requesting device that corresponds to either the originating device or the at least one target device, a request to transition the half-duplex communication session to a full-duplex communication session;

program code to setup a uni-directional communication link from the requesting device to at least a current floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session if the requesting device does not hold a floor for the half-duplex communication session;

program code to forward media from the requesting device over the uni-directional communication link before a transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session is completed; and

program code to transition the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session if the sent request is granted.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by an access terminal configured to participate in server-arbitrated communication sessions within a wireless communications system, cause the access terminal to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to participate in a half-duplex communication session between an originating device and at least one target device;

program code to receive a notification that another session participant has requested to transition the half-duplex communication session to a full-duplex communication session;

program code to setup a uni-directional communication link from the other session participant to at least a current floor-holder of the half-duplex communication session if the other session participant that requested the transition does not hold a floor for the half-duplex communication session;

program code to receive media from the other session participant over the uni-directional communication link before a transition of the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session is completed; and

program code to selectively transition the half-duplex communication session to the full-duplex communication session in response to the notification.