KR101092366B1 - Method and apparatus for push to talk service on group communication - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a group communication technology using a push-to-talk (PTT) method, while communicating between workers using a PTT terminal in an infrastructure configured as a network, a speaker can check a reception state of his or her contents. In this regard, the speech listener is directed to a group communication technique that enables the speaker to grasp more accurate statements from the speaker. According to the present invention, a user who presses the PTT button and speaks can proceed to speak while checking how much the contents of his speech are delivered to the other party, and the listeners of the speech contents are unclear by the voice signal in a poor environment. In order to complement one communication hearing, by viewing and determining important judgment characters displayed on the terminal together, more secure communication is possible, thereby increasing user safety.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUSH TO TALK SERVICE ON GROUP COMMUNICATION

The present invention relates to push-to-talk-based group communication for providing a multi-party call. In particular, the present invention can more clearly communicate a speaker's voice to listeners using a push-to-talk service method in a network environment. And a speaker suitable for monitoring a state in which his or her speech is received by a listener.

The present invention is derived from a study conducted as part of the IT growth engine technology development project of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and ICT. [2008-S-038-01, Development of IT-based Total Solution for Ship]

Push To Talk (hereinafter referred to as PTT) is a call method used in walkie-talkie type walkie-talkie type radios. over Cellular) When a terminal needs to deliver something quickly to the other party, the user presses the PTT button, speaks, releases the PTT button, and listens to the other party. This PTT service method enables simple communication immediately after pressing the PTT button without any connection procedure between 1: 1 or 1: N.

The PTT service is a one-way service in which only users who have a voice, that is, a voice data transmission opportunity among the users belonging to the group, may transmit voice data. That is, when any user of the group participant requests a talk right to the group communication server to obtain a talk right, the server grants a talk right to the user who requested the talk right, and the user who has obtained the talk right proceeds. The terminal that has obtained the speaking right transmits the contents of the speech only to the terminals belonging to the group and listening to the speaking through the group communication server.

The current PTT service is widely used for group communication where several workers work together, but the PTT service only delivers what is said to the other party, and does not know the status or result of the delivery. Until now, there is no way to ensure that the remarks are well communicated to the members of the group.

In addition, when working with a PTT service on a poor site, such as a construction site or a ship, a situation in which the speaker's voice cannot be accurately delivered to the listener due to ambient noise, etc., causes communication to be clarified during the work. May occur frequently.

Therefore, the present invention monitors the state of delivery of the contents of the speech delivered by the speaker to the listener, and transmits the words which are important judgment grounds of the contents of the speech together with the text through voice recognition in a group communication server, thereby communicating between the speaker and the listener. The aim of this group is to establish a group communication technology that enables clearer communication.

According to an aspect of the present invention, if a push-to-talk call between a speaker-side client terminal and a listener-side client terminal is connected, receiving a push-to-talk message of the speaker-side client terminal, and the received push Recognizing spoken speech information in a two-talk message, extracting keyword information from the recognized spoken speech information, mixing the spoken speech information and keyword information into a push-to-talk message for transmission, and delivering the same to a listener-side client terminal. Monitoring a speech voice reception rate of the listener-side client terminal according to a process, and a response message from the listener-side client terminal, and transmitting speech voice reception state information corresponding to the monitored speech voice reception rate to the speaker-side client terminal. Including the process of transmitting Provides a group communication method.

According to another aspect for solving the problems of the present invention, the client terminal group for receiving the push-to-talk service through the network, and the speech voice information and keyword information between the speaker side client terminal and the listener side client terminal in the client terminal group It provides a group communication device comprising a group communication server for processing a call to push message including a.

According to the present invention, in a group communication system using a PTT method, a speaker monitors his or her content delivery state, and a listener configures a work group by judging the voice content of the speaker with important keyword words displayed on the screen of the terminal. Therefore, it is possible to increase the safety of the user by enabling more accurate and clear communication between the users who communicate with the group by the PTT method.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail an embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a group communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and includes a client terminal group 100, a network 200, a group communication server 300, and a client information DB 400.

The client terminal group 100 includes a plurality of client terminals 100/1 to 100 / N for receiving a communication service applied to the present embodiment, for example, a push to talk (PTT) service. It includes, and connects to the network 200 to be described later to provide a PTT service to the user. In the present embodiment, the client terminal group 100 is limited to the terminal group for the PTT service, but this is merely illustrative for the description of the exemplary embodiment and does not characterize the present invention. For example, the client terminal group 100 may include a second generation client terminal supporting a CDMA scheme in addition to a PTT service function, a third generation client terminal supporting a WCDMA scheme, or a wireless communication client terminal environment supporting a mobile communication technique; It may include a wired communication client terminal environment.

At this time, the client terminal 1 (100/1) in the client terminal group 100, the user can deliver a voice by pressing the PTT button (not shown) on the client terminal 1 (100/1) to receive the PTT service It may be a caller terminal, the client terminal 2 (100/2) may be a listener terminal that can receive voice without pressing the PTT button.

The network 200 serves to support a communication environment between the client terminal group 100 and the group communication server 300, and comprises a wired communication network composed of a wired infrastructure and / or a wireless communication network composed of a wireless infrastructure. Can be.

Here, the wired communication network is, for example, the Internet, and various services existing in the TCP / IP protocol and its upper layers, namely, HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Telnet, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and Domain Name System (DNS). ), An open computer network structure that provides Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Network File Service (NFS), and Network Information Service (NIS). The client terminal of, for example, the client terminal 1 (100/1) provides an environment that can be connected to the group communication server 300.

In addition, the wireless communication network serves to provide a PTT service according to the present embodiment while ensuring mobility of the client terminal group 100, and performs handover and radio resource management functions. Such a wireless communication network includes a base station and a base station controller and supports both synchronous and asynchronous. Here, in the case of synchronous, the base station will be a base transceiver station (BTS), the base station controller will be a base station controller (BSC), in the case of asynchronous, the base station is a Node B (Node B), and the base station controller is a Radio Network Controller (RNC). Will be. Of course, the wireless communication network is not limited to this, but a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network, a wireless broadband (WiBro), a wireless fidelity (WiFi), and all future mobile communication, not a code division multiple access (CDMA) network. It may include the access network of the system.

Meanwhile, the group communication server 300 performs a group communication call processing service, a group voice transmission, and a voice transmission state monitoring function of the PTT function of the client terminal group 100.

In detail, the group communication server 300 uses the PTT service method to listen to the voice of the speaker side client terminal (eg, client terminal 1 (100/1)) through the network 200. For example, it performs a function of delivering to the client terminal 2 (100/2).

In addition, the group communication server 300 recognizes the contents of the speech of the speaker side of the speaker by applying a speech recognition technique, extracts a keyword from the contents of the recognized speech, and extracts the extracted keyword. Along with the spoken voice, it transmits to the listener-side client terminal. At this time, the transmission of the keyword may be implemented using, for example, a Short Message Service (SMS).

In addition, the group communication server 300 serves to enable the speaker side client terminal to monitor the state in which the voice of the speaker side client terminal is received by the listener side client terminal.

In addition, the group communication server 300 serves to manage user information, that is, client information, of the client terminal group 100, and the managed client information may be stored in the client information DB 400.

FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed configuration of an arbitrary client terminal, for example, client terminal 1 (100/1) in the group communication device of FIG. In this case, the client terminal 1 (100/1) may be the speaker terminal of the speaker according to the user's service function selection, or may be the client terminal of the listener.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the client terminal 1 (100/1) includes a PTT transceiver 102, a controller 104, an audio processor 106, a screen display unit 108, and an input unit 110.

The PTT transceiver 102 communicates with the network 200 through the antenna 10 to transmit a PTT message to the group communication server 300, or transmits a PTT message from the group communication server 300 to the antenna 10. It serves to receive through. At this time, the PTT transceiver 102 may transmit the received state of the spoken voice information to the group communication server 300 at regular time intervals if the received PTT message includes the spoken voice information.

The controller 104 controls to display an operation state, user input information, and the like of the client terminal 1 (100/1) through the screen display unit 108 according to a user input through the input unit 110, and the PTT transceiver unit 102 ) And the audio processor 106 to control the PTT message transmission or reception using the PTT service method.

Herein, when the PTT button is input through the input unit 110, the controller 104 causes the PTT transceiver 102 to operate in the PTT transmission mode, and when the PTT button is not input, the PTT transceiver 102 is input. It can be controlled to operate in PTT reception mode.

In addition, the controller 104 may separate the speech voice information and the keyword information from the received PTT message by mixing the speech voice information and the keyword information received from the PTT transmission / reception unit 102. The separated speech voice information may be an audio processor. Sound information is output through 106, keyword information is displayed on the screen display 108, and PTT voice reception status information for the listener can be displayed on the screen display 108.

The audio processor 106 outputs the voice information generated through the client terminal 1 (100/1), for example, the spoken voice information, to the outside under the control of the controller 104.

The screen display unit 108 serves to display input information, operation information, text message information, etc. of the client terminal 1 (100/1) on the screen. In particular, the screen display unit 108 serves to display keyword information in the received PTT message or to display PTT voice reception status information for the listener.

The input unit 110 serves to generate a key signal according to a user's input action and apply it to the control unit 104. In particular, a PTT button is provided so that the corresponding key signal is transmitted to the control unit 104 when the user presses the PTT button. Can be applied.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the group communication server 300 of FIG. 1, which includes a PTT receiver 302, a PTT call processor 304, a PTT voice processor 306, and speech to text. The list DB 308 includes a PTT voice reception state processor 310, a mixer 312, and a PTT transmitter 314.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the PTT receiving unit 302 performs a function of receiving a PTT message from a speaker side client terminal of the client terminal group 100, for example, the client terminal 100/1.

The PTT call processing unit 304 performs a PTT call processing function for the speech voice information in the PTT message of the speaker side client terminal received through the PTT receiving unit 302, for example, the PTT message of the client terminal 1 (100/1).

The PTT voice processing unit 306 recognizes speech voice information from the PTT message of the client terminal 1 (100/1) received through the PTT receiving unit 302 and extracts keyword information from the recognized speech voice information. Extraction of the keyword information at this time may include, for example, a function of mapping a keyword registered in the speech-to-text list DB 308, that is, a key word, through the mixing unit 312.

The PTT voice reception state processor 310 performs a processing function on voice signal reception state information of the PTT message of the client terminal 1 (100/1) received through the PTT receiver 302. That is, the PTT message reception state from the client terminal 1 (100/1) is identified, and the PTT message reception state information is transmitted to the PTT transmitter 314. The PTT message reception state information may be used as information for monitoring the state in which the speaker's speech is received at the listener-side client terminal in the speaker terminal as described below.

The PTT transmitter 314 receives speech voice information from the PTT call processor 304, keyword information through the mixer 312 through the PTT voice processor 306, and the PTT message reception state of the PTT voice reception state processor 310. It transmits the information to the listener-side client terminal, for example, client terminal 2 (100/2). In this case, the transmission of the keyword information may be implemented using, for example, a short message service (SMS).

Hereinafter, the group communication method according to the embodiment of the present invention together with the above-described configuration will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the speaker side client terminal of the client terminal group 100, for example, the client terminal 1 (100/1) is requested for the PTT speaking right by a PTT button input or the like, the client terminal 1 (100 /). The PTT speak right request message may be transmitted from 1) to the group communication server 300 (S400).

The group communication server 300 receiving the PTT talk right request message determines whether to use the PTT talk right by the PTT talk state management function (S402), and if the PTT talk right is in an idle state, a response message thereto, for example, a PTT talk right acquisition The signal is transmitted to the client terminal 1 (100/1) (S404).

The client terminal 1 (100/1) acquiring the PTT speaking right acquisition signal transmits a PTT call connection request message to the listener-side client terminal of the client terminal group 100, for example, the client terminal 2 (100/2). In step (S406).

The group communication server 300 receiving the PTT call connection request message transmits the PTT call connection request message to the listener-side client terminal belonging to the client terminal group 100, that is, the client terminal 2 (100/2) (S408).

When the client terminal 2 (100/2) receiving the PTT call connection request message responds to the PTT call connection request message, the client terminal 2 (100/2) transmits the PTT call connection message to the group communication server 300. It becomes (S410).

The group communication server 300 receiving the PTT call connection message from the client terminal 2 (100/2) transmits the PTT call connection message to the client terminal 1 (100/1) that has made the PTT call connection request. The PTT call between the 100/1) and the client terminal 2 (100/2) is connected (S412).

After the PTT call is connected, the client terminal 1 (100/1) can transmit the PTT message including the spoken voice information to the group communication server 300 (S414).

When the PTT message is received from the client terminal 1 (100/1), the group communication server 300 recognizes the speech voice information from the received PTT message, and extracts a key word, that is, keyword information from the recognized speech voice information ( S416).

The recognized speech voice information and the keyword information may be mixed together in a PTT message and transmitted to the client terminal 2 (100/2) (S418).

The listener-side client terminal receiving the PTT message, that is, client terminal 2 (100/2), receives and outputs speech voice information and keyword information from the received PTT message, and outputs the result as a response message as a response message. Transfer to step (S420). At this time, through the client terminal 2 (100/2), it is possible to output the speech voice information from the received PTT message, and to output the corresponding keyword information (S422).

When the response message is transmitted from the client terminal 2 (100/2), the group communication server 300 monitors the speech voice reception rate (S424). For example, the group communication server 300 separates the speech voice information from the PTT message received through the PTT receiving unit 302, monitors the separated speech voice information at predetermined time intervals, and monitors the result of the PTT voice reception. The processor 310 may output the spoken voice reception state information through the processor 310.

In this way, the information on monitoring the speech voice reception rate, that is, the speech voice reception state information may be transferred from the group communication server 300 to the speaker side client terminal, that is, the client terminal 1 (100/1) (S426). In this case, the spoken voice reception state information may be delivered to the client terminal 1 (100/1) at a predetermined time interval.

The client terminal 1 (100/1), which has received such speech voice reception state information, displays the speech voice reception state information on the screen so that the user (speaker) receives the current speech voice reception state, that is, the speech voice of the listener side client terminal. The state may be confirmed (S428).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible for the speaker to monitor the delivery state of the contents of the speech delivered to the listener, that is, the state of the speech speech reception of the listener, and the words which are important judgment grounds of the contents of the speech in the group communication server. By using voice recognition together with voice as text, more clear communication between speakers and listeners can be achieved.

The foregoing embodiments are intended to illustrate, not limit, the invention, and those skilled in the art should note that many other embodiments can be designed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. do. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed to limit the invention. The expression “comprising”, “comprising” and the like does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in all the claims or the specification as a whole. The singular references of components do not exclude a plurality of references of such components, and vice versa. The invention may be practiced by means of hardware comprising several distinct components and by means of suitably programmed computer means. In the claims enumerating several means, some of these means may be embodied by the same item of hardware. The simple fact that certain means are described in different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these means cannot be used.

1 is a schematic structural block diagram of a group communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the client terminal of FIG. 1 in detail; FIG.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a group communication server of FIG. 1 in detail;

4 is a flowchart illustrating a group communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

102: PTT transceiver 104: control unit

106: audio processing unit 108: screen display unit

110: input unit 302: PTT receiving unit

304: PTT call processing unit 306: PTT voice processing unit

308: Speech to text list portion

310: PTT voice reception state processing unit

312 mixing unit 314 PTT transmission unit

Claims (11)

Receiving a push-to-talk message of the speaker-side client terminal when a push-to-talk call between the speaker-side client terminal and the listener-side client terminal is connected; Recognizing speech voice information from the received push-to-talk message and extracting keyword information from the recognized speech voice information; Mixing the spoken voice information and the keyword information into a push-to-talk message for transmission and transmitting the same to the listener-side client terminal; Monitoring a speech voice reception rate of the listener-side client terminal according to a response message from the listener-side client terminal; Transmitting speech voice reception state information corresponding to the monitored speech voice reception rate to the speaker side client terminal; Group communication method comprising a. The method of claim 1, The method, Transmitting a push-to-talk call connection request message to the listener-side client terminal when the push-to-talk call connection request message is transmitted from the speaker side client terminal; Connecting the push-to-talk call between the speaker-side client terminal and the listener-side client terminal when the listener-side client terminal responds to the push-to-talk call connection request message. Group communication method further comprising. The method of claim 2, The delivery process, Receiving a push-to-talk speaking right request message from the speaker-side client terminal when a push-to-talk speaking right is requested by the speaker-side client terminal; Determining whether to use the push-to-talk speaking right of the speaker-side client terminal in response to the received push-to-talk speaking right request message; Transmitting a push-to-talk speaking right acquisition signal to the speaker-side client terminal when the push-to-talk speaking right is in an idle state. Group communication method comprising a. The method of claim 1, And the listener-side client terminal voice outputs the speech voice information in the received push-to-talk message, and outputs the keyword information. The method of claim 1, The speech voice reception state information is transmitted to the speaker side client terminal at a predetermined time interval. A client terminal group for receiving push-to-talk service through a network; A group communication server for processing a call-to-talk message including speech voice information between a speaker-side client terminal and a listener-side client terminal and keyword information on the speech-voice information in the client terminal group Group communication device comprising a. The method of claim 6, The speaker side client terminal, A push-to-talk transceiver for transmitting and receiving the push-to-talk message; A screen display unit configured to screen-out speech voice information reception ratio information of the listener-side client terminal in a push-to-talk message received through the push-to-talk transceiver; A control unit configured to operate the push-to-talk transmission / reception unit in a transmission mode and to control screen output of the screen display unit Group communication device comprising a. The method of claim 6, The listener-side client terminal, A push-to-talk transceiver for transmitting and receiving the push-to-talk message; An audio processor for audio outputting speech voice information in a push-to-talk message received through the push-to-talk transceiver; A screen display unit which outputs keyword information in a push-to-talk message received through the push-to-talk transceiver; A control unit which operates the push-to-talk transmission / reception unit in a reception mode and controls the audio processor and the screen display unit Group communication device comprising a. The method of claim 6, The group communication server, A push-to-talk receiver which receives a push-to-talk message from the speaker side client terminal; A push-to-talk call processing unit that performs a push-to-talk call processing function for speech voice information in a push-to-talk message of the speaker side client terminal received through the push-to-talk receiver; A push-to-talk voice processing unit for recognizing speech voice information from the push-to-talk message of the speaker side client terminal received through the push-to-talk receiving unit, and extracting keyword information from the recognized speech voice information; A push-to-talk voice reception state processing unit for generating speech voice signal reception state information of a push-to-talk message of the speaker-side client terminal received through the push-to-talk reception unit; A push-to-talk transmitter configured to transmit the speech voice information, the keyword information, and the speech voice signal reception state information to the listener-side client terminal. Group communication device comprising a. The method of claim 9, And the keyword information is extracted by mapping word information of a speech to text list database. The method of claim 9, And the keyword information is transmitted using a short message service.

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