RU2351097C2 - Method of using signalling channell for configuring call request for talk-back half-duplex (ptt) communication in wireless communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics; communication.

SUBSTANCE: present invention pertains to communication. The technical outcome is achieved by that, messages associated with PTT set up are identified using a specially denoted header, and messages with the specially denoted header are sent through signaling channels from a radio transmission device to a mobile device.

EFFECT: provision for fast set up of talk-back half-duplex (PTT) communication in a wireless communication network.

34 cl, 7 dwg

Description

This application claims the priority of provisional patent application US serial number 60/581968, filed June 21, 2004, and provisional US patent application serial number 60 / 686,147, filed May 31, 2005. The contents of these documents are included in this document by reference.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to data transmission in a wireless telephone communication system and, more particularly, to identifying the type of data transmitted within a wireless telephone communication system.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In wireless telephone systems, half-duplex (PTT) communication capabilities are becoming popular with service sectors. PTT can support a “dispatching” voice service that operates over standard commercial wireless infrastructures such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and global system for mobile communications (GSM). In the dispatch model, the exchange of information between endpoints (end-user devices) occurs within virtual groups, with the speech of one “talking” subscriber being transmitted to one or more “listening” subscribers. A separate communication act of this type is usually called a supervisor call or simply a PTT call. A PTT call is an instantiation of a group that defines the characteristics of the call. A group is essentially defined according to a list of members that are members of that group and associated information such as a group name or group identifier. In the absence of a wireless multicast channel, each group is formed by combining separate point-to-point connections between each endpoint and the PTT servers that control the call. Each endpoint is also known as a client.

1 illustrates a prior art architecture 100 supporting a PTT communication system. This architecture includes the deployment of a single PTT server area along with carrier-related CDMA infrastructure and a packet-switched network. Each PTT server area is deployed on top of a specific part of the network with carrier data packet data. A push to talk server within an area can route traffic between one or more Packet Data Service (PDSN) nodes in a carrier network. A communication device 102 that supports the PTT functionality communicates with the base station 104. The base station 104 communicates with the high-speed network 106, and the PTT transmissions received from the communication device 102 are sent through the base station 104 and the network 106 to the packet service node data (PDSN). The PDSN communicates with the high speed network 106 and the PTT network 108, which is connected to the PTT network 110. The PDSN forwards the PTT transmissions to the PTT server 112 in the PTT network 110.

The PTT server 112 processes the PTT transmissions between members of the PTT group. The PTT server 112 receives the PTT transmission from one member and forwards it to all members of the PTT group. A PTT transmission is typically received as data packets from the network 110, and a PTT transmission sent by the PTT server 112 is also presented in a data packet format. The receiving mobile switching center (MSC) and the connected base station (BS) then set up a dedicated channel to transmit the PTT transmission to the receiving mobile client (PTT member).

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art message flow 200 for establishing a PTT call. When the PTT user (initiator) is ready to complete the PTT transmission, he presses the PTT activation button on his mobile device 102, and thus a PTT request is created. In response to the PTT request received by the mobile device 102, the mobile device sends a call request to the PTT server 112, which is also known as the PTT manager. The PTT server 112 receives the call request and processes the call request. Call request processing includes the identification of the PTT user, the identification of the PTT group to which the PTT user belongs, the identification of the member of this PTT group, and the preparation of call notification messages to be sent to each member of the PTT group.

After the PTT server 112 sends call notification messages, each call notification message is received by the MSC and forwarded by the MSC to the BS. The BS broadcasts the call notification message. If a mobile client that is the target recipient is available, then this mobile client sends a call acceptance message back to the PTT server 112. After receiving a call acceptance message from at least one mobile client, the PTT server 112 sends a talk right message back to the originating mobile client. There may be more than one target user in the initiator's PTT communication group, and the PTT server 112 will provide the right to talk to the initiator if at least one target mobile client is available. After receiving a conversation grant message, the mobile client (initiator) requesting the PTT can then perform push to talk transmissions.

The PTT communication establishment process described above is time sensitive, and the initial PTT delay shown in FIG. 2, is influenced by network traffic. The long delay directly affects the users of the PTT connection. Therefore, it is desirable to have a system and method for enabling the rapid establishment of PTT, and the present invention is primarily directed to such a system and method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device and method according to the invention enables quick response to PTT-related input from a PTT user. In one embodiment, a method is provided for providing quick half-duplex communication between a mobile device and a wireless network, the mobile device exchanging information with the wireless network via signaling and data channels. The method includes the step of receiving at the radio transmission point of the data packet containing the PTT message from the data network, the step of checking this data packet, and if the PTT message in the data packet is an establishment related message, the step of transmitting this PTT- messages to the mobile device through the signaling channel.

In another embodiment, a method is provided for quickly establishing half-duplex communication between a mobile device and a wireless communication network, the mobile device exchanging information with the wireless communication network via signaling and data channels. The method includes the step of receiving a PTT communication request in the mobile device and the step of transmitting the PTT message via the signaling channel to the radio transmission point, the radio transmission station communicating with the PTT server.

In a further embodiment, there is provided an apparatus for enabling fast half-duplex (PTT) communication between a mobile device and a wireless communication network that communicates with a mobile device via signaling and data channels. The proposed device includes a network interface unit for receiving a PTT message from a data network, a storage device for storing this PTT message, a controller unit for analyzing the PTT message, and a radio interface unit for transmitting the PTT message to a mobile device via a radio signal. If the PTT message in the storage device is a setup related message, the radio interface unit transmits the PTT message to the mobile device via the signaling channel.

In yet another embodiment, there is provided an apparatus for enabling fast half-duplex (PTT) communication between a mobile device and a wireless communication network that communicates with a mobile device through signaling and data channels. The proposed device includes a user interface for receiving a PTT message from a user, a memory device for storing a PTT message received from a user, a controller unit for analyzing a PTT message stored in a memory device, and a transceiver unit for transmitting this PTT message through signaling channel to the wireless network.

The present device and methods are therefore useful because they enable the wireless communication device to give preference to messages related to establishing a PTT call. By using the signaling channel to carry messages related to establishing a push to talk call, the push to talk delay can be reduced.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent after consideration of the following brief description of the drawings, detailed description of the invention and claims.

LIST OF DRAWINGS FIGURES

Figure 1 - architecture of a wireless communication network according to the prior art.

2 is a message flow for establishing a PTT call according to the prior art.

3 is a base station architecture in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

4 is an architecture of an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication device.

5 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a processing process performed by a wireless communication device.

6 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a processing process performed by a PTT server.

7 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a process performed by a base station for processing messages related to PTT.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the terms “communication device,” “wireless device,” “wireless communication device,” “PTT communication device,” “portable device,” “mobile device,” and “handset” are used interchangeably. The term “application,” as used herein, is intended to encompass executable and non-executable program files, raw data, aggregated data, program inserts, and other code segments. The term “exemplary” means that the disclosed element or embodiment is only an example and does not indicate any preference of the user. Next, end-to-end numbering is used. Mention of an element in the singular does not exclude the possibility of the presence of many such elements, unless otherwise specified in the description.

In general terms, the system and method provides the ability to quickly establish half-duplex (PTT) communications between a wireless device and a wireless communication network. Typically, when the wireless device is ready to transmit the PTT transmission to the base station (BS), the wireless device sends a channel request to the BS through the signaling channel in order to create a dedicated channel. The BS will create a reverse access channel, and the wireless device will then transmit PTT transmissions to the BS through this reverse access channel. Similarly, when the BS is ready to transmit PTT transmissions to the wireless device, the BS broadcasts the paging message through the signaling channel to the wireless device. After the wireless device acknowledges the paging message, the BS creates a direct access channel to the wireless device and transmits PTT transmissions to the wireless device through this direct access channel. The establishment process for PTT communication can be accelerated by transmitting establishment-related PTT messages through a signaling channel instead of waiting to connect to a dedicated access channel.

FIG. 3 shows a simplified architecture 300 of a BS server configured to transmit establishment-related PTT messages through signaling channels. The BS server 302 includes a network interface unit 304 for receiving data packets from a data network, a buffer 308 for storing PTT messages, a radio interface unit 306 for transmitting PTT messages in the form of radio signals to wireless devices, and a controller unit 310. A data packet received from a data network may include push to talk messages, in particular push to talk messages. When the PTT message is received, it is stored in the buffer 308. The controller unit 310 analyzes the PTT message located in the buffer 308. If the PTT message is a PTT message associated with the establishment, such as a call notification message or a call grant message, the controller will instruct the air interface unit 306 to embed the PTT message in the signaling message and transmit it via the signaling channel to the wireless device. The establishment-related push to talk messages are identified by packet headers.

In FIG. 4 shows a simplified architecture 400 of a wireless device. The wireless device includes a user interface unit 408 for interacting with a user, a memory device 404 for storing information, a transceiver unit 410 for receiving and transmitting information from / to the wireless communication network, and a controller 402. The user interface unit includes (not shown) display device, speaker device, microphone and PTT activation button. When the user is ready to complete the PTT transmission, the user presses the PTT activation button, and the controller 402 then generates a PTT call request. The PTT call request is embedded in the signaling message and transmitted through the signaling channel through the transceiver unit to the BS in the wireless communication network.

The wireless device may also transmit a set-up PTT message to the BS, regardless of any action from the user. When the power of the wireless device is turned on, the wireless device can receive a call notification push message from the BS. In response to the PTT call notification message, the controller unit 402 generates a PTT call acceptance message, and the transceiver unit 410 inserts the PTT call acceptance message into the signaling message and sends it back through the signaling channel to the BS.

5 is a flowchart 500 for one embodiment of a PTT processing process in a wireless device. The wireless device continuously monitors requests from either the user or the PTT server via a wireless network. When the PTT-related input is received by the wireless device, the PTT processing process checks if it is a PTT activation request, step 502. The PTT activation request is received during the PTT processing on the wireless device in response to a user activating the PTT function on the wireless device. If the PTT input is a PTT activation request, the wireless device generates a call request, step 504, and sends the call request to the PTT server over the wireless network, step 506. The call request is a message related to establishing a PTT call, and it is transmitted in a signaling message on the signaling channel to the base station, that is, the call request message is embedded in the signaling message. Instead of requesting a dedicated reverse channel, the wireless device transmits time-dependent PTT call setup messages, such as connection call request or call accept messages, through the signaling channel to the base station.

If the PTT input is a call notification from the base station, step 508, the wireless device generates a call accept message, step 510, and transmits the call accept message back to the base station via the signaling channel, step 512. By transmitting the call accept message through the signaling channel back to the base station, which forwards it to the PTT server, instead of sending it through a dedicated return channel, the PTT server can more quickly grant the right to talk to the PTT call initiator. According to the PTT process, other PTT-related inputs will also be processed, step 514.

6, a flowchart 600 for a PTT server is shown. The push to talk server receives push to talk messages from all push to talk subscribers. When the PTT server receives a push to talk message from the user, block 602, it checks to see if it is a push to talk call request, step 604. If the push to talk message is a call request, the push to talk server identifies the PTT members in the PTT group to which the user belongs, step 606. After identifying the PTT participants, the PTT server generates a call notification message for each PTT participant, step 608. The PTT server specifically marks the header of the PTT call notification message, step 610, so that the PTT call notification message is processed by the base station otherwise. After the PTT call notification message is generated with a special header, the PTT server sends it to the base station, step 612, and the base station then sends the PTT call notification message to the PTT participants.

If the received PTT message is not a PTT call setup message, the PTT server checks if the PTT message is a call accept message from the wireless device, step 614. If the PTT message is a call accept message, the PTT server identifies the user who requested the PTT call, step 618, and checks if a conversation grant message has been sent to the requesting user, step 620. The user can use the PTT functionality to communicate with multiple PTT participants, and Therefore, the push to talk server can receive several call accept messages. If the PTT server did not send a talk right message to the requesting user, that is, the received call accept message is the first call accept message, the PTT server generates the talk right message, step 622, and specifically marks the header of the talk right message, step 624, to indicate him as a message related to the establishment of the call. A specially marked talk grant message is sent as a data packet to the base station, step 626, which in turn will transmit it to the requesting wireless device. If a talk grant message has already been sent to the requesting wireless device, the PTT server will not send another talk grant message to the same requesting wireless device. The PTT server will also process other PTT related messages, block 616.

Data packets with special headers are processed by the base station in various ways. In FIG. 7 illustrates a process 700 for a base station processing incoming data packets. When the base station receives the data packet, step 702, it checks the header of the data packet, step 704. If the packet header is marked so that it should be sent to the target wireless device through the signaling channel, the base station transmits information of the data packet through the signaling channel, step 706 If the packet header is not specially marked, then the base station will create a dedicated channel, step 708, and sends a data packet to the target wireless device through this dedicated channel, step 710.

The following is a use case illustrating the invention. When the user wants to communicate via the PTT function with members of the PTT group, which includes his colleagues on the job site, the user presses the PTT button on his wireless device. The wireless device detects the activation of the PTT button, generates a call request message, and sends a call request message to the PTT server. The call request message is a call setup message, and the wireless device transmits it as a signaling message through the signaling channel to the base station. By transmitting the call request message through the signaling channel, the call request message can be received by the PTT server faster. The base station receives the signaling message and forwards it to the PTT server.

The push to talk server receives the call request message, identifies the requesting user and the push to talk group to which it belongs. The push to talk server also identifies the members of this push to talk group and generates a push notification call notification for each member. A call notification push to talk message is sent to the base station as a data packet with a header that is specially marked. The base station receives this PTT call notification message and qualifies it as a special data packet. The base station then, instead of creating a dedicated channel to the PTT participant’s target wireless device, inserts the PTT call notification message into the signaling message and transmits it through the signaling channel to the target wireless device.

If the target wireless device is available, it will reply to the push to talk call push message with a call accept message. The target wireless device transmits a call acceptance message via the signaling channel back to the base station. The base station forwards the call acceptance message in the data packet to the PTT server. After receiving the first call accept message, the PTT server grants the right to talk to the requesting wireless device and sends a talk right message to the requesting wireless device. The conversation grant message is sent as a data packet with a special header and is intended for the requesting wireless device.

The talk grant message is received by the base station serving the requesting wireless device, and the base station checks the header of the data packet. Having qualified it as a specially labeled data packet, the base station inserts the talk message into the signaling message and transmits the message through the signaling channel to the requesting wireless device. When the requesting wireless device receives a talk grant message, it notifies the user that it is ready to receive any message that the user wants to send to other PTT participants.

By transmitting a call request, accepting a call, and other messages related to making a call through a signaling channel instead of requesting and waiting for a dedicated channel to be created, the PTT system can provide a quick response to PTT-related requests from the user and thus make use of the functional PTT features are more enjoyable for the user.

From the point of view of a method executed on a computing device of a wireless service provider or a wireless communication device, the method can be executed according to a program located on a computer-readable medium, the program controlling a server or other computing device having a computer platform so as to perform the steps of the method. The computer-readable medium may be a server storage device or may be in the form of a connected database. Additionally, the computer-readable medium may be in the form of an external storage medium that is downloadable onto a computer platform of a wireless communication device, such as a magnetic disk or tape drive, optical disk, hard disk, flash memory, or other storage medium that is known in the field of technology.

In the context of FIG. 5-7, the method can be implemented, for example, by operating part (s) of a wireless network, such as a wireless communication device or server, in order to execute sequences of computer-readable instructions. Although the steps are illustrated in sequence, the method may be implemented in a different sequence or as an event-driven process. Commands can be in various types of signal-transporting media or intended for storing data on primary, secondary or tertiary media. The media may contain, for example, random access memory (RAM, RAM) (not shown), which is available to the components of the wireless network, or residing inside them. Regardless of whether it is contained in RAM, on a floppy disk, or other secondary storage media, instructions can be stored on a variety of computer-readable storage media such as direct access memory (DASD) (for example, a conventional “hard disk drive” or array of independent disk drives (RAID)), magnetic tape, electronic read-only memory (e.g. read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) or e Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)), flash memory cards, optical memory (e.g., ROM on CD-ROM (CD-ROM), read-only and read-only compact disc (WORM), digital multifunction disc ( DVD), digital optical drive), paper punched cards, or other suitable storage media, including digital and analog media.

While the invention has been specifically shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. For example, although the above description is based on PTT voice communication, it is understood that the device, system and method can be easily changed to support a different type of form of information, such as video, data, etc. Furthermore, although elements of the invention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly indicated.

Claims (34)

1. A method for quickly establishing half-duplex (PTT) communication between a mobile device and a wireless communication network, the mobile device communicating with a base station of a wireless communication network through at least a signaling channel and a graphics channel, the method comprising the steps of where
at the base station, a data packet containing a PTT message is received from the data network communicating with the PTT server;
checking the header of the data packet of this data packet; and
if the header of the data packet is marked in a special way to indicate a PTT message associated with the establishment, the data packet is transmitted to the mobile device via the signaling channel. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: if the PTT message associated with the establishment in the data packet does not have a specially marked header of the data packet, this PTT message associated with the establishment is transmitted to the mobile device via a dedicated traffic channel. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the PTT message is a PTT call notification message. 4. The method according to claim 1, in which the push to talk message is a push to talk message. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of inserting the PTT message into the signaling message. 6. A method for enabling the quick establishment of half-duplex (PTT) communication between a mobile device and a wireless communication network, the mobile device communicating with a base station of the wireless communication network through at least a signaling channel and a traffic channel, the method comprising the steps of where
receiving a PTT communication request associated with the establishment in the mobile device;
marking the header of the data packet in the data packet containing the PTT message associated with the establishment; and
transmit this specially marked header of the data packet data package of the PTT message through the signaling channel to the base station communicating with the PTT server. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the PTT communication request is a PTT activation request from a user. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the PTT message is a PTT call request message. 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the PTT communication request is a push to talk message from a base station. 10. The method according to claim 6, in which the PTT message is a push to talk message. 11. Equipment for providing the ability to quickly establish half-duplex (PTT) communication between a mobile device and a wireless network, communicating with the mobile device through at least a signaling channel and a traffic channel and containing a network interface unit for receiving a data packet at a base station containing a push to talk message from a data network communicating with a push to talk server;
a storage device for storing this PTT message;
a controller unit for analyzing the header of the data packet of this data packet to determine whether a given PTT message
related to the establishment of a PTT message; and
a transmission unit for transmitting said PTT message to a mobile device,
however, if the PTT message in the storage device is associated with the establishment of the PTT message, then the PTT message is transmitted to the mobile device via the signaling channel. 12. The equipment according to claim 11, in which, if the PTT message in the storage device is not associated with the establishment of the PTT message, then this PTT message is transmitted to the mobile device through a dedicated traffic channel. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the PTT message is a push to talk message notification. 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the push to talk message is a push to talk message. 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the PTT message is embedded in the signaling message. 16. Equipment for enabling the rapid establishment of half-duplex (PTT) communication, communicating with a base station of a wireless communication network, at least through a signaling channel and a traffic channel, and comprising
a receiver for receiving a data packet containing a PTT message;
a storage device for storing the received PTT message;
a controller unit for marking the header of the data packet in the data packet containing the associated PTT message stored in the storage device; and
a transceiver unit for transmitting this specially marked header of the PTT message data packet via the signaling channel to the base station of the wireless communication network. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the PTT message is a PTT activation request from a user. 18. Equipment for providing the ability to quickly establish half-duplex (PTT) communication between a mobile device and a wireless communication network, communicating with a mobile device through at least a signaling channel and a traffic channel and comprising:
means for receiving at the base station a data packet containing a PTT message from a data network communicating with a PTT server;
means for storing this PTT message;
means for analyzing the header of the data packet of this data packet for
determining whether the PTT message is associated with the establishment of the PTT message; and
means for transmitting said PTT message to a mobile device,
however, if the PTT message in the storage means is associated with the establishment of the PTT message, then the PTT message is transmitted to the mobile device via the signaling channel. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein if the PTT message in the storage means is not a message related to the establishment of the PTT message, then the PTT message is transmitted to the mobile device via a dedicated access channel. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the PTT message is a PTT message of a call notification. 21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the push to talk message is a push to talk message. 22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the PTT message is embedded in the signaling message. 23. Equipment for enabling the rapid establishment of half-duplex (PTT) communication, communicating with a base station of a wireless communication network through at least a signaling channel and a graph channel, and comprising:
means for receiving a data packet containing a PTT message;
means for storing the received PTT message;
means for marking the header of the data packet in the data packet containing the associated PTT message stored in the storage means; and
means for transmitting this specially marked header of the data packet of the PTT message packet through the signaling channel to the base station of the wireless communication network. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the PTT message is a PTT activation request from a user. 25. A computer-readable medium embodying a set of instructions executed by one or more processors, which comprises a set of instructions for receiving at a base station a data packet containing a PTT message from a data network communicating with a PTT server;
a set of commands for checking the header of the data packet of this data packet; and
a set of commands for transmitting a PTT message to a mobile device via a signaling channel, if the header of the data packet is marked in a special way to indicate a PTT message associated with the establishment. 26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the set of instructions further comprises a set of instructions for transmitting a PTT message to a mobile device through a dedicated traffic channel if the PTT message in the data packet is not a message associated with the establishment. 27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the PTT message is a PTT message of a call notification. 28. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the PTT message is a PTT message of a right to talk. 29. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the computer program further performs the step of embedding the PTT message in the signaling message. 30. A computer-readable medium embodying a set of instructions executed by one or more processors, which comprises a set of instructions for receiving in a mobile device a PTT communication request establishment request;
a set of commands for marking the header of the data packet in the data packet containing the PTT message associated with the establishment; and
a set of commands for transmitting this specially marked header of a data packet of a PTT message data packet through a signaling channel to a base station communicating with a PTT server. 31. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the PTT communication request is a PTT activation request from a user. 32. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the PTT message is a PTT call request message. 33. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the PTT communication request is a PTT message of a call notification from a broadcast center. 34. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the PTT message is a PTT call acceptance message.

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