CN101133620A - Method and apparatus for implicit floor control in push-to-talk over cellular systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for implicit floor control in push-to-talk over cellular system. A message is generated by a client in a communication system and is then streamed to a push-to-talk server. The server checks to see if the floor is idle, and if so, distributes the message to at least one other participant in the communication session. If the floor is not idle, the new message is stored and queued for distribution after all other messages ahead of the last received message have been distributed.

Description

The method and apparatus that is used for implicit floor control in push-to-talk over cellular

Priority request under 35U.S.C. § 119

Present patent application requires to submit and be transferred to the assignee of the present invention to and thereby clearly quoted the priority of No. the 60/648th, 341, the provisional application that is entitled as " Method and Apparatus for Implicit Floor Controlin Push-to-Talk Over Systems " that is contained in this on January 28th, 2005.

Invention field

The present invention relates generally to communication system, relate in particular to the method and apparatus that is used for implicit floor control in push-to-talk over cellular.

Background

Wireless communication technology has experienced alarming development in the past few years.This development part is encouraged by the freedom of movement that wireless technology provided and the raising greatly of the voice communications versus data communications quality on the wireless medium.The raising of voice service quality and the adding of data, services already and will continue the communication crowd is produced appreciable impact.

Fig. 1 illustrates all block diagrams of service of the Push to talk over Cellular (PoC) of operation and instant messaging (IM) service in wireless communication system 100.

Instant messaging (IM) service uses the IM service to come to exchange messages with other IM client computer 108.Although being originally to exchanging text based information, the IM service develops, also unrestricted for the information of carrying such as other types such as audio clips, images.And what the user transmitted and when transmit also without limits.Usually, information is not to spread from the sender to be passed to the recipient.The user can transmit at any time, because there is not the notion of right to speak control.

Push to talk over Cellular (PoC) service is set up half-duplex audio communication channel between as shown in fig. 1 one group of PoC user or client computer 104.At any time, have a member to have transmission route at the most in the PoC group, and other all members receive the information that is sent.Use right to speak controlling mechanism is arbitrated the request to transmission route from the different members of group.The talk burst that is generated by the sender is divided into grouping and is streamed to each recipient.

Because the explicit floor controlling mechanism of PoC service, the PoC service is difficult to the service-interworking with IM.Right to speak is controlled in the PoC service and is used to guarantee once have only a client transmits audio packets.Relative with it, the IM service does not have the notion of right to speak control, because at any time, each member of IM group can send.The PoC service is divided into grouping with audio frequency and then this audio stream is transferred to other participant.Really not so in the IM service, in the IM service, these audio packet of IM client buffers are also created an audio clips, and this audio clips then is distributed to other IM session participant.Because the user in a group may want with other service in telex network, so need a kind of method and apparatus that allow PoC service and IM service-interworking.This can realize with a kind of method and apparatus that is used for implicit floor control in push-to-talk over cellular.

Summary

In one aspect of the invention, provide a kind of method that is used for implicit floor control in push-to-talk over cellular.This method is included in the step that generates a message in the communication system, and wherein this communication system allows to have in the session a plurality of participants and comprises a right to speak.This message is streamed to a server in this communication system, and under the situation of this right to speak free time, this server is distributed at least one participant in this session with this message.Under the not idle situation of this right to speak, this message is lined up and is sent out when this right to speak transfers the free time to.

A kind of device also is provided.This device comprises: be used for generating in communication system the device of a message, wherein this communication system allows to have in the session a plurality of participants and comprises a right to speak; Be used for this message flow is transferred to the device of a server of this communication system; Be used for storing the device of this message at this server place; Be used under the situation of this right to speak free time, this message being distributed at least one participant's device; And be used under the not idle situation of this right to speak device with this message queueing.

The computer-readable instruction that is stored on the computer-readable medium also is provided.The generation of a message in these commands direct communication systems, wherein this communication system allows to have in the session a plurality of participants and comprises a right to speak; This message flow is transferred to a server in the communication system; Under the situation of this right to speak free time, this message is distributed at least one participant; And under the not idle situation of this right to speak with this message queueing.

Brief Description Of Drawings

Fig. 1 is the block diagram that illustrates according to service of the PoC in the wireless communication system of an embodiment and IM service.

Fig. 2 illustrates according to an embodiment and the block diagram mutual PoC service of PoC client computer and IM client computer.

Fig. 3 is the figure that illustrates according to the distribution of the talk burst of an embodiment.

Fig. 4 is the flow chart that illustrates according to the step of a kind of method of an embodiment.

Specify

Use " exemplary " speech to represent " as example, example or explanation " herein.Any embodiment that is described as " exemplary " herein not necessarily will be understood as that and be better than or surpass other embodiment.

Service waits some essential difference of existence between other service in the PoC service and such as IM.As mentioned above and as shown in Figure 1, right to speak control is used in the PoC service, thus make PoC server 102 only distribution from having an audio packet that the group membership receives of this right to speak.PoC server 102 will abandon the audio packet that receives from other member of this group.Client computer must ask earlier and be awarded the right to speak and just be allowed to send audio packet.Client computer can be portable terminal or other communication equipment.Relative with it, the IM service is not used right to speak control and is not had the notion of right to speak control.Each member of IM group can send at any time.IM client computer 108 these audio packet of buffering are also created an audio clips, and this audio clips then is distributed to other participant in the IM session.This with audio frequency is divided into grouping and these stream of packets is transferred to the PoC client computer of other participant in the PoC session different.Because these difference, IM client computer are usually than the bigger delay of PoC client computer experience.The method of the difficulty that the right to speak control protocol in allowing PoC service and the work of IM service collaboration then to need to overcome to be served by PoC and the properties of flow of audio frequency cause.

Fig. 2 is the block diagram that illustrates according to the PoC service in the wireless communication system 200 of an embodiment and IM and PoC client computer.As mentioned above, PoC server 202 and PoC client computer 204 interfaces.Each PoC client computer 204 is divided into grouping with audio frequency, then with their flow transmission to the PoC server to be distributed to other client computer 204 and IM client computer 208.The explicit floor controlling mechanism structure that uses with the PoC service is allowed to the implicit mechanism replacement that the participant needn't at first ask right to speak to converse.This is convenient to the PoC service and serves the operation that waits other service such as IM.Should be understood that the IM service among Fig. 2 can be any service of not adopting the right to speak control protocol.

The PoC service is the semi-duplex communication system of operating between a plurality of participants.At any given time, a user has transmission route at the most, promptly has right to speak.Other participant receives this transmission.The arbitration of right to speak control protocol is to the request of right to speak.From the viewpoint of PoC server, have only a participant sending, and this PoC server other participant in session send.This explicit floor controlling mechanism does not allow IM to serve participant and ongoing PoC session interface.

When using the explicit floor control protocol, it is (busy or idle that the PoC server is kept the state of right to speak always; Under busy situation, also has the current owner, current proprietorial the duration etc.).In addition, also can allow will be to the request queue of right to speak for the PoC server.PoC client computer 204 uses the right to speak control protocol to PoC server 202 request rights to speak.Then, PoC server 202 will and be confirmed this request to the request queue of right to speak.When PoC server 202 during to PoC client computer 204 floor grant, PoC server 202 notice PoC client computer 204, PoC client computer 204 begins to send then.

Fig. 3 illustrates the flow direction of message in one embodiment of the invention.The use of explicit floor controlling mechanism is eliminated, and replaces the implicit floor controlling mechanism.PoC client computer 302 and IM client computer 310 both all have message to send.Other client computer can be the client computer of IM client computer or different non-PoC system.Two client computer are all to their message of PoC server 304 flow transmission.Two client computer are not all made the request of right to speak and all are not awarded the right to speak.When PoC server 304 began to receive these message, it at first checked the state of right to speak.If right to speak is idle, then PoC server 304 begins to duplicate this message and it is distributed to other PoC client computer 306 and IM client computer 308.If right to speak is busy, promptly existing another talk burst or message are being distributed, and distribute when right to speak was idle after then talk burst or the message imported into of PoC server 304 bufferings and being placed on was treated in the formation.In case the right to speak free time, all participants that PoC server 304 just begins in session send this talk burst or message.When PoC server 304 receives the message imported into from different participants or client computer or talk burst, thereby it cushions these voice flows and makes their serializations not make listener's experience degradation.An advantage of client computer do not need to be to wait for and to be awarded the right to speak, but can begin conversation immediately.

Fig. 4 is illustrated in detail in the method that implicit floor control is provided in Push to talk over Cellular (PoC) system.This method 400 starts from that client computer begins to transmit a talk burst to the PoC server flows in step 402.In step 404, the PoC server is checked the state of right to speak.In judgement frame 406, the PoC server determines whether right to speak is idle.If right to speak is idle, then in step 408, this talk burst of PoC server replicates is distributed this talk burst then in step 410.

If right to speak is not idle in step 406, this talk burst of importing into of PoC server buffers and it is positioned in the formation in step 412 then, this queue stores is in the memory of PoC server.In judgement frame 214, the PoC server checks that this formation is to determine whether all talk burst before this talk burst that has just received all are sent out.If this talk burst is in this formation first, then the PoC server sends to other participant with this talk burst in step 416.If this talk burst is not in this formation first, then the PoC server continues to wait for that right to speak transfers the free time in step 418.In case right to speak transfers the free time to, this message promptly is sent out described in step 416.In case all talk burst are sent out, then this process stops in step 420.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that information and signal can represent with in various different science and technology and the technology any one.For example, running through data, instruction, order, information, signal, bit, code element and chip that above explanation may quote from can be made up by voltage, electric current, electromagnetic wave, electromagnetic wave, magnetic field or magnetic particle, light field or light particle or its and represent.

Those skilled in the art also will understand, and the various illustrative logical blocks, module, circuit and the algorithm steps that illustrate in conjunction with embodiment disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software or both combinations.For this interchangeability of hardware and software clearly is described, various example components, piece, module, circuit and step above generally be that form with its function illustrates.These functions are implemented as hardware or software depends on concrete application and the design constraint that is added on whole system.The technical staff can realize described function in a different manner at every kind of application-specific, should not be interpreted as causing departing from the scope of the present invention but this class realizes decision-making.

Can being designed to carry out herein with general processor, digital signal processor (DSP), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components or its in conjunction with various illustrative logical blocks, module and the circuit of embodiment disclosed herein explanation, the combination in any of described function realizes or carries out.General processor can be a microprocessor but in alternative, processor can be any conventional processors, controller, microcontroller or state machine.Processor can also be embodied as the combination of computing equipment, for example DSP and the combination of microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessor, one or more microprocessors of cooperating with the DSP core or any other this class configuration.

Can directly in hardware, in the software module of carrying out by processor, or in both combinations, implement in conjunction with the method for embodiment explanation disclosed herein or the step of algorithm.Software module can reside in the storage medium of RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, eprom memory, eeprom memory, register, hard disk, removable dish, CD-ROM or any other form as known in the art.Exemplary storage medium be coupled to processor coupling so that processor can from/to storage medium read/write information.In alternative, storage medium can be integrated into processor.Processor and storage medium can reside among the ASIC.ASIC can reside in the user terminal.In alternative, processor and storage medium can be used as discrete assembly and reside in the user terminal.

It is in order to make any technical staff in this area can both make or use the present invention that above explanation to disclosed embodiment is provided.Various modifications to these embodiment will be conspicuous for those skilled in the art, and the general principle of definition herein can be applied to other embodiment and can not deviate from the spirit or scope of the present invention.Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be defined to embodiment illustrated herein, and should be consistent with the scope of the broad sense that meets principle disclosed herein and novel feature.

Claims (8)

1. method comprises:

Generate a message in communication system, wherein said communication system allows to have in the session a plurality of participants and comprises a right to speak;

Message flow is transferred to a server in the described communication system;

Under the situation of described right to speak free time, described message is distributed at least one participant in the described session; And

Under the not idle situation of described right to speak with described message queueing.

2. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, described communication system is Push to talk over Cellular (PoC) system.

3. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, at least one participant in the described session is instant messaging (IM) client computer.

4. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, at least one participant in the described session is the client computer of a different system.

5. device comprises:

Be used for generating in communication system the device of a message, wherein said communication system allows to have in the session a plurality of participants and comprises a right to speak;

Be used for message flow is transferred to the device of a server of described communication system;

Be used for storing the device of described message at described server place;

Be used under the situation of described right to speak free time, described message being distributed at least one participant's of described session device;

The device that is used for storing message; And

Under the not idle situation of described right to speak with described message queueing.

6. device as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, described communication system is Push to talk over Cellular (PoC) system.

7. device as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, also comprises:

Be used for making the device of at least one participant of described session as instant messaging (IM) client computer.

8. computer-readable medium that comprises computer executable instructions comprises:

Generate a message in communication system, wherein said communication system allows to have in the session a plurality of participants and comprises a right to speak;

Message flow is transferred to a server in the described communication system;

Under the situation of described right to speak free time, described message is distributed at least one participant in the described session; And

Under the not idle situation of described right to speak with described message queueing.

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