Method for Minimizing Message Collision in a Device

• US 20090010403A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: CHRISTOFFERSEN, MICHAEL, JORGENSEN, NIELS ERIK
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS

Abstract

A method for minimizing message collision in a device is presented. Two or more overlapping real-time streaming simplex audio messages are received. One of the audio messages is forwarded to be reproduced while the other is stored. Forwarding of the delayed audio message is delayed such that overlapping reproduction of the audio messages is minimized. Reproduction is delayed until a predetermined clock time expires or is dependent on one or more of: the length of the second audio message or the amount of overlap of the first and second audio messages.

Claims

1. A method for minimizing message collision in a device, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of overlapping real-time streaming simplex audio messages;

forwarding a first of the messages to reproduction components of the device;

storing a second of the messages, the second message subsequent to the first message; and

delay-forwarding the second message to the reproduction components such that forwarding of the second message commences at a selected time that is a predetermined clock time or is dependent on at least one of;

the length of the second message or the amount of overlap of the first and second messages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected time follows the end of forwarding of the first message by a selected clock period.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected time is the first to occur of:

a. a fixed clock period after commencement of forwarding of the first message,

b. a preset clock period following the end of forwarding of the first message, or

c. a maximum delay period that is dependent on the length of the second message and the amount of overlap of the first and second messages.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the storing comprises storing at least a portion of the second message in a buffer, the maximum delay period being the time it takes the buffer to be filled.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second messages is forwarded at an increased speed such that reproduction of the at least one of the first or second messages is speeded up.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically setting playback volumes of the first and second messages at different levels if forwarding of the first and second messages overlap.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the playback volume of the higher priority message of the first and second messages is louder than that of the lower priority message of the first and second messages during overlapping forwarding of the first and second messages.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising restoring an original playback volume of a remaining non-overlapping forwarding portion of the first or the second message.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing subsequent messages received from different sources in different buffers.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a. storing the first message in a buffer; and

b. if forwarding of the first and second messages overlap, re-forwarding the first message in its entirety after the earlier of forwarding of the second message is completed or the buffer storing the first message is filled.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the first message in a buffer; and

if forwarding of the first and second messages overlap, re-forwarding only a portion of at least one of the first or second messages that was overlapped during forwarding after the forwarding of the second message is completed.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein reproduction of the first and second audio messages is temporally adjacent.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a preset time delay is present between reproduction of the first and second audio messages such that reproduction of the first and second audio messages is separated in time and not temporally adjacent.

14. A method for minimizing message collision in a device, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of overlapping streaming real-time simplex audio messages, a first of the messages being received by the device before a second of the messages;

forwarding the first message to reproduction components;

determining relative priorities of the first and second messages;

if the first message has a higher priority than the second message;

storing the second message in a second message buffer; and

forwarding the second message to the reproduction components after the earlier of;

forwarding of the first message has been completed or the second message buffer has been filled; and

if the second message has a higher priority than the first message;

interrupting forwarding of the first message to the reproduction components;

storing a pre-empted portion of the first message in a first message buffer; and

forwarding the second message to the reproduction components prior to the pre-empted portion being forwarded to the reproduction components.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising if the second message has a higher priority than the first message:

a. storing the first message in its entirety in the first message buffer; and

b. reforwarding the first message in its entirety after the earlier of forwarding of the second message is completed or the first message buffer is filled.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising if forwarding of the first and second messages overlap:

a. storing an overlapping portion of the higher priority message in an overlap buffer; and

b. reforwarding the overlapping portion after the earlier of forwarding of the lower priority message is completed or the overlap buffer is filled.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising forwarding the pre-empted portion of the first message after the earlier of:

forwarding of the second message has been completed or the first message buffer has been filled.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising forwarding the pre-empted portion of the first message after a preset clock time after the forwarding of the first message has been interrupted or the forwarding of the second message has commenced.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising automatically setting playback volumes of the first and second messages at different levels if forwarding of the first and second messages overlap.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the playback volume of the higher priority message of the first and second messages is louder than that of the lower priority message of the first and second messages during the overlapping forwarding of the first and second messages.

21. A device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive overlapping real-time first and second simplex streaming audio messages;

reproduction components configured to play the first and second messages;

a buffer configured to store one of the first and second messages; and

a processor forwarding the other of the first and second messages to the reproduction components, the processor forwarding the one of the first and second messages to the reproduction components at a predetermined clock time, after forwarding of the other of the first and second messages has been completed, or after the buffer has been filled.