Packet mode speech communication

• US 7,386,000 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Lopponen, Jussi, Toyryla, Hannu, Vimpari, Markku, Bontempi, Richard, Rajahalme, Jarno
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mais; Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US09/835,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20020150091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,611 Days
• Field of Search: 370229-230, 370/310, 370/389, 370/310.1, 370/316, 370/327, 370328-329, 370340-341, 370/395.1, 370431-433, 370464-465, 370/468, 370/480, 370492-493, 370/498, 370/501, 455/411, 455/426, 455/428, 455/430
• US Class Current: 370/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A packet mode (e.g. IP) group communication service layer is provided on top of a standard mainstream cellular radio network. Conceptually, the group communication layer includes a pair of basic logical entities, an application bridge and a call processing server (CPS). The bridge and the CPS run group service applications which communicate with group service application(s) in a mobile station MS over the IP connections provided by the radio network. The CPS is responsible for control plane management of group communications. The bridge is responsible for the real-time distribution of VoIP packets to the user terminals according to their group memberships over valid connections programmed by the CPS.

Claims

1. A method, comprising

providing a group server layered on top of a communications system for packet mode group communication,

providing said group server with individual addresses of group members in at least one group communication group,

receiving real-time transfer protocol voice packets from one of said group members to said group server, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to said at least one group with a port number,

forwarding said real-time transfer protocol voice packets individually to each receiving one of said group members on the basis of said individual addresses.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said forwarding comprises forwarding said real-time transfer protocol voice packets individually via user servers provided on top of the said mobile communications system, said user sewers managing user specific real-time transfer protocol voice packet streams to and from users.

3. A method, comprising

providing a group server layered on top of a communications system for packet mode group voice communication,

providing said group sewer with individual addresses of group members of a group communication group,

creating an individual logical connection from each group member to said group server by means of outband signaling,

starting a speech item in said group in response to receiving a leader packet from one of said group members to said group server over said individual logical connection, each leader packet containing the identifier of the respective group member,

said group server either i) rejecting said staffed speech item, or ii) granting the stated speech item to said one group member and forwarding said leader packet and subsequent voice packets individually to each receiving one of said group members in said group on the basis of said individual addresses, and wherein said leader packet and said subsequent voice packets received from one of said group members to said group server are real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to said at least one group with a port number.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising

allocating an uplinik bearer for said one group member in an air interface of said communications system prior to said one group member sends said leader packet and prior to said granting of said speech item, and

allocating a downlinik bearer in an air interface for each receiving group member in response to receiving a leader packet forwarded by said group server and addressed to said respective group member.

5. A method, comprising

providing a group server layered on top of a communications system and configured to serve a group communication group for a packet mode group voice communication,

granting a speech item to one group member of said group communication group,

setting a first timer to measure a predetermined idle period in response to said granting,

resetting said first timer each time a voice packet is received from said one of said group members to said group server,

ending said granted speech item if said first timer expires indicating that said predetermined idle period has elapsed from said granting or from last reception of a voice packet from said one group member, and wherein said voice packets are real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to said at least one group with a port number.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising

ending said granted speech item if a maximum allowed period of time has elapsed from the granting.

7. A method according to claim 5, further comprising

said one group member sends a trailer packet having a predetermined payload in order to indicate the end of sending,

the group server ends said speech item in response to receiving said trailer packet.

8. A method, comprising

providing a server layered on top of the communications system and configured to manage traffic streams addressed to a user who is active in at least one group communication group for a packet mode group voice communication or in a packet mode one-to-one voice communication,

receiving at said user specific server a first voice packet stream related to a first group or one-to-one communication and forwarding said first voice packet stream to said respective user, said first voice packet stream received at said user specific server comprising real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to said first group or one-to-one communication with a port number,

monitoring at said user specific server continuity of said first voice packet stream,

receiving at said user specific server at least one further voice packet stream related to at least one farther group or one-to-one communication, said further voice packet stream received at said user specific sewer comprising real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to said at least one further group or one-to-one communication with a port number,

forwarding no one of said at least one further voice packet streams to said user if said first voice packet data stream is continuous,

forwarding one of said at least one farther voice packet streams to said user if said first voice traffic stream has been discontinued for a predetermined period of time.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said monitoring further comprises

setting a timer to measure said predetermined period of time when a first packet of said first voice packet stream is forwarded to said user,

resetting said timer each time a new packet of said first voice packet stream is forwarded to said user,

determining said first voice packet stream to be discontinued if said timer expires.

10. A method according to claim 8 or 9, said method further comprising

interrupting said first voice packet stream immediately when a voice packet stream having higher priority is received at said server.

11. A server system, comprising a group server provided on a layer on top of a communications system for providing a packet mode group communication service, said group server further comprising:

a data memory storing individual addresses of group members in at least one group communication group,

said group server being configured to receive voice packets from said group members, each received voice packet containing information identifying the communication group which the respective packet is addressed to, wherein said voice packets received from one of said group members to said group server are real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to said at least one group with a port number,

said group server being configured to forward each voice packet received from said group member having a speech item in a group communication group separately to each receiving member in said respective group communication group on the basis of said individual addresses.

12. A server system according to claim 11, wherein said information identifying the communication group identify a port assigned to said group in said group server.

13. A server system according to claim 11, further comprising

a call processing server provided on top of said mobile communications system, said call processing server being responsible for control plane management of the group communications in said group server.

14. A server system according to claim 11, wherein said group server configured to grant a speech item further comprises

a first timer responsive to said granting the start of the measurement of a predetermined idle period from said granting,

said group server being configured to reset said first timer each time a voice packet is received from said one group member having said granted speech item,

said group server being configured to end said granted speech item if said first timer expires indicating that said predetermined idle period has elapsed from said granting or from the last reception of a voice packet from said one group member.

15. A server system according to claim 13, wherein said call processing server is configured to establish an individual logical connection from each group member to said group server by means of outband signaling carried out between said call processing server and each group member, and wherein said group server configured to grant a speech item further comprises

said group server being configured to receive a leader packet starting a speech item in said group from one of said group members to said group server over respective said individual logical connection, said leader packet containing identifier of the respective group member,

said group server being configured to either i) reject said started speech item, or ii) grant said staffed speech item to said one group member and forward said leader packet and subsequent voice packets individually to each receiving one of said other members in said group on the basis of said individual addresses.

16. A server system according to claim 11, wherein said voice packets are VoIP packets.

17. A server system according to claim 11, said server system further comprising group management server providing a user interface for a remote creation and management of group communications group in said server system.

18. A server system according to claim 17, wherein said user interface is based on one of the World Wide Web (WWW) and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) technologies.

19. A server system according to claim 11, wherein said group server is interconnected to said mobile communications network by an Internet Protocol (IP) based network.

20. A server system according to claim 11, wherein said group server is configured to grant a speech item to one group member per a communication group in turn.

21. A server systems, comprising a group server provided on a layer on top of a communications system for providing a packet mode group communication service, wherein

said group server is configured to a mechanism which identifies identify and authenticate a source of group communication,

said group server is configured to control that only one group member in a group talks at a time,

said group server is configured to receive voice packets from at least one of said group members to said group server, said voice packets received from one of said group members to said group server being real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to said at least one group with a port number,

said group server is configured to check active group members in a group to which voice packets from a previously talking group member are destined to and generate from an incoming voice packet an outgoing packet to be forwarded separately to each of said active group members, and

said group server is configured select one traffic stream among possible multiple incoming traffic streams destined to one group member and to forward the selected traffic stream to said one group member.

22. A server system, comprising:

at least one first server provided on a layer on top of the communications system and configured to provide group specific communications functions for a packet mode group communication,

said first server further comprising a data memory storing individual addresses of group members in at least one group communication group,

said first server being configured to receive voice packets from said group members, said voice packets received from said group members to said group server being real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to said at least one group with a port number,

said first server being configured to grant a speech item to one group member per communication group in turn,

said first server being configured to unicast each voice packet received from said group member having a speech item in a group communication group separately to each receiving member in said respective group communication on the basis of said individual addresses,

a second server providing user-specific communications functions, any group related communication from a user managed by said second server being routed first to said second server and then forwarded to an appropriate first server, and any unicast voice packet from said at least one first server being routed first to said second server prior to sending the voice packet to the respective user.

23. A server system according to claim 22, wherein said information identifying the communication group identify a port assigned to said group in said group server.

24. A server system according to claim 23, said server system further comprising group management server providing a user interface for a remote creation and management of group communications group in said server system.

25. A server system according to claim 24, wherein said user interface is based on one of the World Wide Web (WWW) and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) technologies.

26. A server systems, comprising:

at least one group server provided on a layer on top of the communications system and configured to provide group specific communications functions for a packet mode group voice communication, said group server further comprising

said group server being configured to control that only one group member in a group talks at a time,

said group server is configured to receive voice packets from of said group members to said group server, said voice packets received from said group members to said group server being real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to said at least one group with a port number,

said group server being configured to check active group members in a group to which voice packets from a currently talking group member is destined to and generates from an incoming voice packet an outgoing packet to be forwarded separately to each of said active group members,

a user server providing user-specific communications functions on a user plane, said user server further comprising

said user server being configured to identify and authenticate a source of group communication,

said user server being configured to select one traffic stream among possible multiple incoming traffic streams destined to one group member and to forward the selected traffic stream to said one group member.

27. A server system according to claim 26, said system further comprising

a group call processing server provided on top of the said communications system, said group call processing server being responsible for control plane management of the group communications in said group server, and

a user call processing server provided on top of said communications system, said user call processing server being responsible for control plane management of the communications in said user server.

28. A server system according to claim 26, wherein said group server configured to manage that only one group member in a group talks at a time further comprises

a first timer responsive to a grant of a speech item for starting to measure a predetermined idle period from said granting,

said group server being configured to reset said first timer each time a voice packet is received from said one group member having said granted speech item,

said group server being configured to end said granted speech item, if said first timer expires indicating that said predetermined idle period has elapsed from said granting or from last reception of a voice packet from said one group member.

29. A server system according to claim 26, wherein said user call processing server is configured to establish an individual logical connection between each group member and said user server by means of outband signaling carried out between said user call processing server and each group member, and wherein said group server configured to manage that only one group member in a group talks at a time further comprises

said group server being configured to receive a request for a speech item in said group from one of said group members to said group server over respective said individual logical connection, said request being in form of a leader packet containing identifier of the respective group member,

said group server being configured to either i) reject said request for a speech item, or ii) grant the speech item to said one group member and forward said leader packet and subsequent voice packets individually to each receiving one of said other members in said group.

30. A server system according to claim 26, wherein said voice packets are VoIP packets.

31. A server system according to claim 26, wherein said group server is interconnected to said mobile communications network by an Internet Protocol (IP) based network.

32. A server system, comprising:

at least one group server provided on a layer on top of the communications system for a packet mode group communication service and configured to provide group specific communications functions in a user plane, a data memory storing individual addresses of group members in at least one group communication group in said group server,

said group server being configured to receive voice packets from said group members, said voice packets received from said group members to said group server being real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to one of said communication groups with a port number

said group server being configured to grant a speech item to one group member per communication group in turn,

said group server being configured to unicast each voice packet received from said group member having a speech item in a group communication group separately to each receiving member in said respective group communication on the basis of said individual addresses,

a user server providing user-specific communications functions on a user plane, any group related communication from a user managed by said user server being routed first to said user server and then forwarded to an appropnate group server, and any unicast voice packet from said at least one group server being routed first to said user server prior to sending the voice packet to the respective user,

a group call processing server responsible for control plane management of the group communications in said group server, and

a user call processing server responsible for control plane management of the communications in said user server.

33. A devices, comprising

said device being configured to grant a speech item to one group member in group communication group at time in a packet mode group voice communication,

a first timer responsive to said granting for starting to measure a predetermined idle period from said granting,

said device being configured to receive voice packets from said group members, said voice packets received from said group members to said group server being real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to said communication group with a port number,

said device being configured to reset said first timer each time a voice packet is received from said one of said group members,

said device being configured to end said granted speech item, if said first timer expires indicating that said predetermined idle period has elapsed from said granting or from last reception of a voice packet from said one group member.

34. A device, comprising:

said device being configured to manage traffic streams addressed to a user who is active in at least one group communication group or in one-to-one communication in a mobile communications system having a packet mode group voice communication feature,

said device being configured to receive at least two voice packet streams addressed to a user who is active in at least two packet mode group or one-to-one voice communications, each of said at least two said voice packet streams received to said device comprising real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to one of said at least two group or one-to-one communications with a port number,

said device being configured to monitor continuity of said forwarded voice packet streams,

said device being configured to forward no other one of said received voice packet streams related to at least one further group or one-to-one communication, if said first voice packet stream is continuous, and to select and forward other one of said voice packet streams to said user if said previous selected and forwarded voice traffic stream has been discontinued for a predetermined period of time.

35. A device according to claim 34, further comprising

a timer which is set to measure said predetermined period of time when a first packet of said selected voice packet stream is forwarded to said user,

said device being configured to reset said timer each time a new packet of said selected voice packet stream is forwarded to said user,

said device being configured to determine said selected voice packet stream to be discontinued if said timer expires.

36. A device according to claim 34, said device being configured to interrupt said first voice packet stream immediately when a voice packet stream having higher priority is received.

37. A method, comprising

providing a communication server layered on top of a mobile communications system,

creating an individual logical connection between said communication server and each user having an active communication service in said communication server,

starting a communication in response to receiving a leader packet from a sending user to said communication server over respective said individual logical connection, each leader packet containing an identifier of said sending user and a receiving user,

said communication server either i) rejects said staffed speech item, or ii) grants the staffed speech item to said sending user and forwards said leader packet and subsequent voice packets to said receiving user on the basis of said received identifier of said receiving user, and wherein said leader packet and said subsequent voice packets received from said sending to said communication server are real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to a specific one-to-one voice communication with a port number.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein said forwarding further comprises

inquiring an IP address of said receiving user from a communication control server on the basis of said received identity of said receiving user,

forwarding said leader packet and subsequent voice packets to said IP address of said receiving user.

39. A method according to claim 37, wherein said sending user sends the leader packet and the subsequent packets to a specific port assigned for one-to-one communication in said communication sewer.

40. A subscriber equipment, comprising

said subscriber equipment being configured for packet data communication over a mobile communications system having a packet mode group voice communication service,

a group communication application layered on top of said packet data communication,

said application being configured to establish a logical packet connection to a group communication server,

said application being configured to send and receive voice packets to and from said group communications server,

and wherein said voice packets sent from said subscriber equipment to said group communication sewer are real-time transfer protocol voice packets, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to a group communication group with a port number.

41. A subscriber equipment according to claim 40, said equipment further comprising

a push-to-talk switch,

said subscriber equipment being configured, reactive to activation of said push-to-talk switch by a user, to send a leader packet followed by voice packets to said group communication server over said logical connection and thereby staffs a speech item,

said subscriber equipment being configured, reactive to receiving an indication that a speech item is not granted to the user is received from said group communication server after sending said leader packet, to stop sending further packets and stop the speech item although the push-to-talk switch is still activated,

said subscriber equipment being configured mechanism, reactive to deactivation of said push-to-talk switch by the user, to stop the speech item and stop sending further voice packets.

42. A subscriber equipment according to claim 41, wherein said-subscriber equipment being configured, reactive to deactivation of said push-to-talk switch by the user, to send a trailer packet to said group communication server over said logical connection and thereby stop the speech item.

43. A subscriber equipment according to claim 41, wherein said indication is a reception of a voice or leader packet originating from another user in a group communication group after sending said leader packet.

44. A subscriber equipment according to claim 41, wherein said indication is the reception of a voice packet having predetermined payload type after sending said leader packet.

45. A subscriber equipment according to claim 41, wherein said subscriber equipment is configured in response to the reception of said indication, alert the user of the fact the speech item was not granted.

46. A subscriber equipment according to claim 41, wherein said subscriber equipment is configured, reactive to deactivation of said push-to-talk switch by the user, sends a trailer packet to said group communication server over said logical connection and thereby stops the speech item.

47. A subscriber equipment according to claim 41, wherein said subscriber equipment is configured to give an audible indication to the user start speaking after the activation of said push-to-talk switch.

48. A subscriber equipment according to claim 47, comprising a timer enabling said audible indication after a predetermined period of time has expired from said activation of said push-to-talk switch.

49. A subscriber equipment according to claim 47, wherein said subscriber equipment is configured to give said audible indication after one of the connection setup phases has been reached;

1) after an uplink bearer has been allocated,

     2) after said leader packet has been sent,

     3) after said group communication server has processed said leader packet and granted a speech item,

     4) after a receiving party has acknowledged said leader packet.

50. A server system, comprising

a group server provided on a layer on top of a communications system for providing a packet mode group voice communication service for said communications system,

a data memory storing individual addresses of group members in at least one group communication group,

said group server being configured to receive real-time transfer protocol voice packets from one of said group members to said group server, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to at least one group with a port number,

said group server being configured to forward said real-time transfer protocol voice packet individually to each receiving one of said group members on the basis of said individual addresses.

51. A method, comprising

configuring subscriber equipment for packet data communication over a mobile communications system having a packet mode group voice communication service,

providing said subscriber equipment with a group communication application layered on top of said packet data communication,

establishing by said group communication application a logical packet connection to a group communication server,

sending and receiving by said group communication application real-time transfer protocol voice packets to and from said group communications server, each real-time transfer protocol voice packet being addressed to a group communication group with a port number.