KR20090000387A - Portable terminal and method for communicating using push to talk protocol thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a PTT communication method thereof, and, in the PTT communication mode, determining whether a voice for requesting a voice of a PTT communication is input by checking whether a voice exists, a location where a voice is input, and a power of the input voice. And if it is determined that the voice of the request for the voice of the PTT communication is input, requesting the voice of the voice of the PTT server. According to the present invention, when the PTT communication, it is possible to obtain the right to speak quickly and conveniently, even if the user in a difficult state to enter the PTT button can conveniently perform PTT communication, user convenience can be improved .

Description

PORTABLE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING USING PUSH TO TALK PROTOCOL THEREOF

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a communication relationship between a mobile terminal and a push-to-talk server for push-to-talk communication according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a portable terminal for push-to-talk communication according to the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating a portable terminal for push-to-talk communication according to the present invention.

4 is a view schematically showing a voice detector of a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a push-to-talk communication method of a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a process of determining whether a voice input from a portable terminal according to the present invention is a voice requesting voice for PTT communication.

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a push to talk (PTT) communication method thereof, and in particular, a mobile terminal capable of requesting and obtaining a voice through recognition of an input voice during PTT communication. And its PTT communication method.

In general, a mobile communication system of a mobile terminal divides an entire service area into a plurality of base station (BS) areas to configure cells, which are small service areas. The base stations are centrally controlled by a mobile switching center (MSC) to allow subscribers to make calls while moving between cells.

As a mobile communication technology is developed, various technologies for combining an IP (Internet Protocol) network and a mobile communication network using an Internet-based protocol have been developed. One such technology is called VoIP (Voice over IP), a packet-based voice service using IP.

This packet-based call service has a disadvantage in that a call setup time is relatively long because a call must be established through a mobile communication network and an IP network. In order to solve this disadvantage, it is possible to provide an interactive call service such as a group call and a private call by using the multi-cast function of the IP network. In this case, the interactive call service is a kind of call in which calls are made by users' interactions, for example, a PTT function as in a walkie-talkie. The group call refers to a multi-party call between users in a predetermined group of users, and the personal call refers to a one-to-one call between users in a predetermined group of users.

In the PTT communication, a user selects a group or a group of colleagues or friends displayed on the mobile terminal or a user who wants to make a voice call and then presses the PTT button while the user is logged in. Thereafter, after establishing a one-to-one or group communication path in a network providing PTT communication, it is possible to communicate with each other through the established communication path.

This PTT communication must press the PTT button to obtain a voice. However, this method frequently causes errors for users who have inconvenient fingers. And it is inconvenient to press the PTT button every time to obtain the right to speak.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal and a PTT communication method thereof, which can obtain a voice through voice recognition during PTT communication.

Another object of the present invention is to check the presence of the voice, the input position of the voice, the power of the voice of the mobile terminal and the PTT communication method for requesting the right to speak to the PTT server if the input voice is a voice for requesting the voice of the PTT communication To provide.

The present invention for achieving the above object is a PTT communication method of a mobile terminal, in the PTT communication mode, by checking the presence of the voice, the position where the voice is input and the power of the input voice, the right to speak PTT communication And determining whether a request voice of the PTT communication is input, and requesting a talk right from the PTT server.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal, comprising: a key input unit including a PTT button, a presence of a voice, a position at which the voice is input, and a power of the input voice, And a voice detector for determining whether a voice for requesting PTT communication is voice, and a PTT module for requesting a voice for the PTT server when the input voice is a voice for requesting voice for PTT communication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before the detailed description of the present invention, the portable terminal will be described by way of example and for convenience of description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the portable terminal according to the embodiments of the present invention provides a convenience to the user and enables PTT communication. Preferably, the portable terminal is a mobile terminal, a mobile phone, a portable multimedia player (PMP), an individual. Applicable to all information communication devices and multimedia devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, notebooks and personal computers, and applications thereof. will be.

Example

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a communication relationship between a portable terminal for PTT communication and a PTT server according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the configuration of a system for PTT communication according to the present invention comprises a plurality of mobile terminals (100a, 100b, 100c), base stations (BS; Base Station, 130a, 130b), mobile switching center (MSC; Mobile) It is configured to include the Switching Center, 150) and the PTT server 170.

The mobile terminal 100 may use a voice call, a short message service (SMS), a multimedia message service (MMS), a built-in camera, and shoot a subject according to a user's request. Built-in MP3 player can play music according to user's needs.

In addition, the portable terminal 100 includes a PTT button according to the present embodiment, and PTT communication is possible according to the input of the PTT button. The mobile terminal 100 includes a PTT module that performs a PTT related operation including a PTT communication request to the PTT server 170. In addition, when the PTT communication is performed, the mobile terminal 100 wirelessly transmits a PTT communication request of an appropriately set format to the base station 130. In addition, the mobile terminal 100 may access the PTT server 130 and perform modifications such as creating, changing, and deleting group list information and personal information set by the user of the mobile terminal 100.

The base station 130 is connected to the switching center system 150, and the switching center system 150 is connected to the PTT server 170 through the data network. The switching center system 150 provides the PTT server 170 with the PTT communication request from the mobile terminal 100 through the base station 130, and the switching center system 150 includes the PTT communication request. And an IWF (Inter Working Function) for processing data packets.

The PTT server 170 performs a real time management operation of the PTT user group. That is, the PTT server 170 performs not only overall control of the PTT user group, but also mediates, maintains, and distributes a registration list for each user, and sets up and separates calls between necessary systems and network resources. In addition, the PTT server 170 may allow a right to speak to any one of the mobile terminals 100 currently connected.

The PTT server 170 includes a PTT Over Cellular (POC) server 171 and a Group and List Management Server (GLMS) 173. The POC server 171 performs a communication function for a PTT service in a mobile communication network, and the GLMS 173 manages information of a PTT user and a group list of each user.

Hereinafter, a portable terminal for PTT communication according to the present embodiment will be described. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a portable terminal for PTT communication according to the present invention. 3 is a diagram illustrating a portable terminal for push-to-talk communication according to the present invention.

2 and 3, the portable terminal 100 according to the present invention includes an RF unit 101, a display unit 103, a key input unit 105, a memory unit 109, a microphone unit 111, and a speaker unit. It has the structure of the 112 and the control part 113.

The RF unit 101 performs a wireless communication function of the mobile terminal 100. The RF unit 101 includes an RF transmitter for upconverting and amplifying a frequency of a transmitted signal, and an RF receiver for low noise amplifying and downconverting a received signal.

The RF unit 101 starts an operation in response to a user's manipulation signal input through the PTT button 107 and performs PTT data processing for providing a PTT service. For example, when the PTT button 107 is input, the RF unit 101 waits for the reception of the PTT data and transmits the voice of the user input through the microphone unit 111.

The display unit 103 visually displays various information related to the state and operation of the portable terminal 100. The display unit 103 may use an LCD, in which case the display unit 103 includes an LCD control unit, an LCD display element, and the like. When the LCD is implemented using a touch screen method, the display unit 103 may operate as an input unit. The display unit 103 displays this when acquiring a voice in the PTT communication mode according to the present embodiment. The display unit 103 displays a group list provided from the PTT server 170 in the PTT communication mode.

The key input unit 105 receives a user's operation signal for controlling the operation of the portable terminal 100. The key input section 105 has a PTT button 107 according to the present embodiment. The PTT button 107 transmits a user's operation signal for using the PTT service to the control unit 111. To this end, the PTT button 107 is a dedicated key and may be provided separately in the portable terminal 100. 3 is a diagram in which the PTT button 107 is separately provided in the portable terminal 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the PTT button 107 may be provided at a location different from the keys of the other key input unit 105, for example, on the side of the portable terminal 100. Alternatively, the PTT button 107 may be any one of the keys included in the key input unit 105.

The key input unit 105 performs an operation such as a PTT connection request, a double click of the PTT button 107 for setting an automatic talk right request mode according to voice recognition, and an end of the PTT communication. Here, it is described that a double input of the PTT button 107 is used to set the automatic speaking mode according to the voice recognition, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The memory unit 109 stores programs and information necessary for the operation of the portable terminal 100. The memory unit 109 has a voice buffer 119 according to the present embodiment. The voice buffer 119 temporarily stores the input voice when the voice is input to the microphone 111 and the input voice is determined by the voice detector 115 to be a voice for requesting the voice of the PTT communication.

The microphone unit 111 collects the surrounding sound signals and transmits them to the control unit 113. The microphone section 111 is composed of a first microphone section 111a and a second microphone section 111b according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, two microphone units 111a and 111b are provided on the left side and the right side from the center of the portable terminal 100, respectively.

The speaker unit 112 outputs a voice signal under the control of the controller 113. The speaker unit 112 outputs a voice signal received through PTT communication according to the present embodiment.

The controller 113 controls the overall operation of each component of the mobile terminal 100. The control unit 113 controls the PTT communication function of the mobile terminal 100 according to the present embodiment. The controller 113 includes a voice detector 115 and a PTT module 117. 4 is a view schematically showing a voice detector of a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the voice detector 115 includes a beamformer 401, a direction of arrival (DOA) 403, an active voice detector (VAD), and a power calculator. and a power calculator 407 and a discriminating unit 409. The beam former 401 is a spatial filter that processes several input signals to extract a desired signal to provide one output while filtering out signals coming from different directions. That is, the beam former 401 removes noise from a signal input through the microphone 111 and transmits the signal to the active voice detector 405 and the power calculator 407.

The angle of arrival measurement unit 403 estimates a voice input position of the user of the mobile terminal 100 using the voices input from the first microphone unit 111a and the second microphone unit 111b. The angle of arrival measurement unit 403 may estimate a voice input position of the user by using voices inputted from the two microphone units 111a and 111b having different phase differences according to input positions. In general PTT communication, a user inputs a voice in front of the mobile terminal 100. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the angle of arrival measurement unit 403 has a predetermined angle from a center of the mobile terminal 100 to a left (DL) degree and a right (DR) degree from the center of the mobile terminal 100. Check if it is inside (DL <DGR (DeGRee) <DR). If the input angle of the voice measured from the angle of arrival measurement unit 403 is within a predetermined angle, the determination unit 409 may determine that the input voice is the voice of the voice requesting voice of the PTT communication according to the present embodiment.

The active voice detector 405 detects a section in which the voice is present in the input signal and checks the presence of the voice. When the active voice detector 405 transmits a signal from which the noise is removed from the beam former 401, the active voice detector 405 checks whether a voice exists in the signal.

The power calculator 407 calculates the power of the voice input from the microphone 111. The power calculator 407 calculates whether the power of the input voice is equal to or greater than a specific level P_TH (Power_THreshold). If the power of the voice calculated from the power calculator 407 is equal to or greater than a certain level, the determination unit 409 may determine that the input voice is the voice of the voice requesting voice of the PTT communication according to the present embodiment.

In the determination unit 409, the angle measured by the angle of arrival measurement unit 403 is within a predetermined angle, the voice is detected by the active voice detector 405, and the power of the voice input from the power calculator 407 is a specific level. It is determined whether or not it is abnormal. If the determination unit 409 satisfies the respective criterion, the determination unit 409 determines that the voice is the voice for requesting the voice of the PTT communication according to the present embodiment (VOICE_ON = TRUE). In this case, if it does not meet the respective criterion, the determination unit 409 determines that the voice of the talk request request voice of the PTT communication is not the voice (VOICE_ON = FALSE). The determination unit 409 transmits the determination result according to the above-described determination criteria to the control unit 113.

In the present embodiment, the voice inputted when the determination unit 409 satisfies all three determination criteria through the angle of arrival measurement unit 403, the active voice detection unit 405, and the power calculation unit 407 is the right to speak in PTT communication. Determine that it is the request voice. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the user may selectively select the criterion.

The PTT module 117 requests a PTT connection to the PTT server 170. The PTT module 117 is driven by the controller 113 when the PTT button 107 is input from the user. If the voice detector 115 determines that the voice input from the user in the PTT communication mode is the voice of the voice of the PTT communication, the PTT module 117 requests the voice of the voice of the PTT server 170. Upon obtaining a voice from the PTT server 170, the PTT module 117 transmits the voice stored in the voice buffer 119.

As described above, the embodiment has been described as separating the controller 113, the voice detector 115 and the PTT module 117 to perform functions related to the PTT service, but is not limited thereto. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 113 includes the voice detector 115 and the PTT module 117, or the voice detector 115 and the PTT module 117 are separate from the control unit 113. It may be provided at 100 to perform functions related to the PTT service as described above.

Hereinafter, the PTT communication method of the portable terminal according to the present embodiment will be described. 5 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a push-to-talk communication method of a mobile terminal according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a process of determining whether a voice input from a portable terminal according to the present invention is a voice requesting voice for PTT communication.

1 to 6, referring to the PTT communication method of the mobile terminal according to the present embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 5, the controller 113 recognizes that the PTT communication mode is performed (S501). For example, the PTT communication mode is performed by the user of the mobile terminal 100 inputting the PTT button 107 and the controller 111 driving the PTT module 113 to request a PTT connection to the PTT server 170.

Subsequently, the controller 113 checks whether the PTT button 107 is single input (S503). The user may input the PTT button 107 once to obtain a voice during PTT communication. Here, when a single input of the PTT button 107, the PTT module 117 requests the right to speak to the PTT server 170 in the same manner as conventional.

If the single input of the PTT button 107 is not confirmed, the controller 113 checks whether the PTT button 107 is a double input (S505). According to the present exemplary embodiment, the user may double input the PTT button 107 in order to set the automatic speaking voice request mode according to the voice recognition. In the present exemplary embodiment, the automatic speaking mode request mode according to voice recognition is set as a double input of the PTT button 107. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a user may select a menu and select an auto-speak right request mode based on voice recognition among functions provided by selecting a menu, and set the mode.

When the double input of the PTT button 107 is confirmed, the control unit 113 sets the auto-speak right request mode according to voice recognition (S507).

Next, the control unit 113 confirms that the voice request voice of the PTT communication according to the present embodiment is input (S509). This process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 6, when the auto-speak right request mode based on voice recognition is set in step S507, the controller 113 checks whether a voice is input (S601).

When it is confirmed that the voice is input, the controller 113 temporarily stores the input voice in the voice buffer 119 of the memory unit 109 (S603).

At the same time, the controller 113 checks through the voice detector 115 whether the input voice is a voice for requesting a voice for PTT communication (S605). That is, as described above with reference to FIG. 4, the angle of arrival of the voice input to the microphone 111 through the angle of arrival measurement unit 403 is measured, and noise is removed through the beam former 401. The active voice detector 405 detects the voice in the signal, and the power calculator 407 calculates the power of the input voice. Subsequently, the determination unit 409 determines whether the input voice exists, whether the input position of the voice is within a specific angle from the center of the mobile terminal 100, and whether the power of the input voice is above a certain level. do.

The determination unit 409 has a voice through the active voice detector 405, a voice input from the angle of arrival measurement unit 403 exists within a specific angle, and a level of the voice input through the power calculator 407. If it is confirmed that the specific level or more, it is determined that the voice input through the microphone 111 in the above-described step S601 is the voice request voice of the PTT communication (S607). Here, if each of the above-described determination criteria are not appropriate, the determination unit 409 determines that the input voice is not the voice for requesting the voice of the PTT communication (S609).

As described above, if the voice input through the microphone unit 111 is the voice of the voice of the request for PTT communication, the controller 113 requests the voice of the voice of the PTT server 170 by driving the PTT module 117 (S511). .

Next, the control unit 113 checks whether or not to obtain a speaking right (S513). The PTT module 117 transmits a signal for requesting a voice to the PTT server 170, and the PTT server 170 approves this. In addition, the PTT server 170 approves the requested voice, and transmits it to the mobile terminal 100. Here, the GLMS 173 interworking with the PTT server 170 transmits the group list of the user who obtained the speaking right to the mobile terminal 100.

Here, when the right to speak is not obtained, the control unit 113 is shown to return to the above-described step S511, but is not limited thereto. The controller 113 may return to the above-described step S507 when the right to speak is not obtained for a specific time or more after the voice input or the right to speak is obtained even for the voice inputted a certain number of times.

When acquiring the right to speak, the controller 113 drives the PTT module 117 to transmit the voice stored in the voice buffer 119 (S515). In the present embodiment, since the right to speak of PTT communication is made through voice input rather than a physical operation such as the input of the PTT button 117, the right to speak may not be obtained immediately. Accordingly, when there is a voice input to the microphone 111 as in the above-described step S603, the voice is stored in the voice buffer 119, and when the voice is obtained, the stored voice is transmitted as in this process.

Subsequently, the controller 113 confirms whether the right to speak is canceled (S517). Here, if the right to speak is not canceled, the control unit 113 returns to the above-described step S515. In the present embodiment, only the voice input for the talk request of the PTT communication is described as though it is transmitted through the PTT communication, but is not limited thereto. When the user transmits the stored voice through PTT communication, the user may continuously input the voice to be transmitted in real time through the microphone 111 and transmit the same.

Next, the controller 113 checks whether the PTT communication is terminated (S519). If the PTT communication is not terminated, the process returns to the above-described step S507, and continues the PTT communication in the automatic speaking right request mode according to voice recognition.

Meanwhile, the portable terminal and the PTT communication method thereof according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments and may be variously modified within the scope not departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. This will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

According to the present invention, when the PTT communication, it is possible to obtain a right to speak quickly and conveniently, even if the user in a difficult state to enter the PTT button can conveniently perform the PTT communication, user convenience can be improved .

Claims (10)

In Push To Talk (PTT) communication mode, whether voice is present, the voice is input, and the power of the input voice is checked to determine whether a voice for requesting a voice for PTT communication is input. To determine the process, If it is determined that the voice of the request for speech of the PTT communication is input, requesting a voice of the speaking rights to the PTT server, characterized in that the PTT communication method of the mobile terminal. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining process, Characterized in that whether the angle of arrival of the voice input to the two microphones provided on the left and right from the center of the portable terminal is within a specific angle from the center to the left and right, it is determined whether or not the voice of the request to speak the PTT communication input PTT communication method of a mobile terminal. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining process, The PTT communication method of the portable terminal, characterized in that whether the power of the input voice is a certain level or more, and determines whether or not the voice of the voice request for the PTT communication is input. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining process, And determining whether the voice of the voice request for the PTT communication is input by checking whether the power of the voice is above a certain level in a state in which the input voice is removed through a beam former. The method of claim 3, wherein If it is determined that the input voice is a voice requesting voice of the PTT communication, storing the input voice in a voice buffer; Requesting a talk right from the PTT server and confirming whether a talk right is obtained from the PTT server; And when the voice is obtained from the PTT server, transmitting a voice stored in the voice buffer. A key input unit including a PTT button, A voice detector for checking whether a voice is present, a location at which the voice is input, and a power of the input voice to determine whether the input voice is a voice for requesting a voice of a PTT communication; And a PTT module for requesting a talk right from the PTT server when the input voice is a talk right request voice of a PTT communication. The method of claim 6, The microphone unit further comprises a voice input, The voice detector further comprises an active voice detector for checking whether a voice is input through the microphone unit. The method of claim 7, wherein The microphone unit is provided on the left and right sides from the center of the portable terminal, The voice detection unit further comprises a arrival angle measuring unit for checking whether the angle of arrival of the voice input to the two microphone units is within a specific angle from the center to the left and right sides. The method of claim 8, wherein the voice detector, And a power calculator for checking whether the power of the input voice is equal to or higher than a specific level. The method of claim 9, If it is determined that the input voice is a voice request voice of the PTT communication, further comprising a voice buffer for storing the input voice, The PTT module transmits the voice stored in the voice buffer when the voice is obtained from the PTT server.

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