Method and system for providing a push-to-talk communication session

• US 7,751,348 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STA Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, Douglas J., Kalley, Yogesh, Shaffer, Shmuel, Metzger, Larry R., Talukder, Shah, Nagesh, Kittur V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHAU BA
• Application Number:
  US11/267,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20070104121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 370/297, 370/395.52, 370/230, 370/252, 370/395.32, 370/395.2, 370/428, 370/485, 370/260, 370/276, 375225-229, 455/518
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video

Abstract

A method for providing a push-to-talk communication session includes facilitating a push-to-talk communication session among a full duplex endpoint supporting simultaneous two-way communication and a plurality of half duplex endpoints. Communications are received from and transmitted to the full duplex endpoint along a two-way communications path. The method includes blocking communications received from the full duplex endpoint while one of the plurality of half duplex endpoints has floor control in the communication session and receiving from the full duplex endpoint in the two-way communications path a floor control signal comprising a request to transmit communications in the communication session. The method includes, in response to receiving the floor control signal, providing floor control to the full duplex endpoint and transmitting to the plurality of half duplex endpoints communications received from the full duplex endpoint.

Claims

1. A method for providing a push-to-talk communication session, comprising:

facilitating a push-to-talk communication session among a full duplex endpoint supporting simultaneous two-way communication and a plurality of half duplex endpoints, wherein communications are received from and transmitted to the full duplex endpoint along a two-way communications path;

blocking communications received from the full duplex endpoint while one of the plurality of half duplex endpoints has floor control in the communication session;

receiving from the full duplex endpoint in the two-way communications path a floor control signal comprising a request to transmit communications in the communication session;

in response to receiving the floor control signal;

providing floor control to the full duplex endpoint; and

transmitting to the plurality of half duplex endpoints communications received from the full duplex endpoint;

wherein the full duplex endpoint and the plurality of half duplex endpoints are of different communication networks and are part of a virtual talk group associated with an event; and

further comprising determining a maximum floor control amount of time for the full duplex endpoint according to an event type associated with the event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the floor control signal comprises a DTMF signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving the floor control signal, transmitting to the full duplex endpoint in the two-way communications path confirmation that the full duplex endpoint has floor control in the communication session.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that one of the plurality of half duplex endpoints has floor control in the communication session;

blocking communications received from the full duplex endpoint; and

transmitting to the full duplex endpoint communications received from the one of the plurality of half duplex endpoints with floor control.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating floor control of the full duplex endpoint after a maximum floor control amount of time.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting a notification to the full duplex endpoint that the maximum floor control amount of time is approaching.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining the maximum floor control amount of time according to a user of the full duplex endpoint.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving the floor control signal, transmitting to a user of the full duplex endpoint confirmation that the full duplex endpoint has floor control in the communication session by transmitting a floor control confirmation signal to a second endpoint of the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting a floor control confirmation signal to a second endpoint of the user comprises transmitting an audio signal to a second endpoint of the user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting a floor control confirmation signal to a second endpoint of the user comprises transmitting a visual signal to a second endpoint of the user.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting a floor control confirmation signal to a second endpoint of the user comprises transmitting an instant message to a PC of the user.

12. A system for providing a push-to-talk communication session, comprising:

a processor operable to;

facilitate a push-to-talk communication session among a full duplex endpoint supporting simultaneous two-way communication and a plurality of half duplex endpoints, wherein communications are received from and transmitted to the full duplex endpoint along a two-way communications path; and

block communications received from the full duplex endpoint while one of the plurality of half duplex endpoints has floor control in the communication session;

an interface coupled to the processor and operable to receive from the full duplex endpoint in the two-way communications path a floor control signal comprising a request to transmit communications in the communication session;

the processor further operable to, in response to the interface receiving the floor control signal;

provide floor control to the full duplex endpoint; and

transmit to the plurality of half duplex endpoints communications received from the full duplex endpoint;

wherein the full duplex endpoint and the plurality of half duplex endpoints are of different communication networks and are part of a virtual talk group associated with a event; and

wherein the processor is further operable to determine a maximum floor control amount of time for the full duplex endpoint according to an event type associated with the event.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the floor control signal comprises a DTMF signal.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to, in response to the interface receiving the floor control signal, transmit to the full duplex endpoint in the two-way communications path confirmation that the full duplex endpoint has floor control in the communication session.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine that one of the plurality of half duplex endpoints has floor control in the communication session;

block communications received from the full duplex endpoint; and

transmit to the full duplex endpoint communications received from the one of the plurality of half duplex endpoints with floor control.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to terminate floor control of the full duplex endpoint after a maximum floor control amount of time.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operable to transmit a notification to the full duplex endpoint that the maximum floor control amount of time is approaching.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operable to determine the maximum floor control amount of time according to a user of the full duplex endpoint.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to, in response to receiving the floor control signal, transmit to a user of the full duplex endpoint confirmation that the full duplex endpoint has floor control in the communication session by transmitting a floor control confirmation signal to a second endpoint of the user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein a processor transmitting a floor control confirmation signal to a second endpoint of the user comprises a processor transmitting an audio signal to a second endpoint of the user.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein a processor transmitting a floor control confirmation signal to a second endpoint of the user comprises a processor transmitting a visual signal to a second endpoint of the user.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein a processor transmitting a floor control confirmation signal to a second endpoint of the user comprises a processor transmitting an instant message to a PC of the user.

23. A system for providing a push-to-talk communication session, comprising:

means for facilitating a push-to-talk communication session among a full duplex endpoint supporting simultaneous two-way communication and a plurality of half duplex endpoints, wherein communications are received from and transmitted to the full duplex endpoint along a two-way communications path;

means for blocking communications received from the full duplex endpoint while one of the plurality of half duplex endpoints has floor control in the communication session;

means for receiving from the full duplex endpoint in the two-way communications path a floor control signal comprising a request to transmit communications in the communication session;

means for, in response to receiving the floor control signal;

providing floor control to the full duplex endpoint; and

transmitting to the plurality of half duplex endpoints communications received from the full duplex endpoint;

wherein the full duplex endpoint and the plurality of half duplex endpoints are of different communication networks and are part of a virtual talk group associated with an event; and

further comprising means for determining a maximum floor control amount of time for the full duplex endpoint according to an event type associated with the event.

24. A non transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions, the instructions operable, when executed, to:

facilitate a push-to-talk communication session among a full duplex endpoint supporting simultaneous two-way communication and a plurality of half duplex endpoints, wherein communications are received from and transmitted to the full duplex endpoint along a two-way communications path;

block communications received from the full duplex endpoint while one of the plurality of half duplex endpoints has floor control in the communication session;

receive from the full duplex endpoint in the two-way communications path a floor control signal comprising a request to transmit communications in the communication session;

in response to receiving the floor control signal;

provide floor control to the full duplex endpoint; and

transmit to the plurality of half duplex endpoints communications received from the full duplex endpoint;

wherein the full duplex endpoint and the plurality of half duplex endpoints are of different communication networks and are part of a virtual talk group associated with an event; and

wherein the code is further operable to determine a maximum floor control amount of time for the full duplex endpoint according to an event type associated with the event.

25. The medium of claim 24, wherein the floor control signal comprises a DTMF signal.

26. The medium of claim 24, wherein the code is further operable to, in response to receiving the floor control signal, transmit to the full duplex endpoint in the two-way communications path confirmation that the full duplex endpoint has floor control in the communication session.

27. The medium of claim 24, wherein the code is further operable to, in response to receiving the floor control signal, transmit to a user of the full duplex endpoint confirmation that the full duplex endpoint has floor control in the communication session by transmitting a floor control confirmation signal to a second endpoint of the user.

28. The medium of claim 27, wherein code operable to transmit a floor control confirmation signal to a second endpoint of the user comprises code operable to transmit an audio signal to a second endpoint of the user.

29. The medium of claim 27, wherein code operable to transmit a floor control confirmation signal to a second endpoint of the user comprises code operable to transmit a visual signal to a second endpoint of the user.

30. The medium of claim 27, wherein code operable to transmit a floor control confirmation signal to a second endpoint of the user comprises code operable to transmit an instant message to a PC of the user.