Abstract: A system receives an audio nickname tag related to a push-to-talk (PTT) user, and associates the audio nickname tag with the PTT user.

Abstract: A device and method for of synchronizing a MAC superframe of a wireless device is disclosed. The wireless device can be located within a chain of a plurality of other wireless devices. The method includes receiving beacons from at least one other device during a superframe of the wireless device, determining a superframe offset for each of the other wireless devices based on timing of the received beacons, determining a corrective delay based on the superframe offsets, inserting the corrective delay within a current superframe of the wireless device, and inserting a predictive delay within the current superframe, the predictive delay being determined by an estimate of a difference between a frequency a clock of the wireless device and a frequency of a slowest clock of the other wireless devices within the chain.

Abstract: A communications system includes a plurality of radios that form a CSMA wireless communications network to communicate none-packetized digital voice with each other. Each radio is operative for dividing the period following the end of a received transmission into a sequence of time slots, each having a duration at least equal to an effective end-to-end traffic latency. In each time slot, the radio decides randomly with probability p whether to start transmitting on the channel in that slot, provided that a new transmission has not been detected on the channel prior to the start of the slot.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system of group communication and a method of group call processing based on CDMA2000 high-rate packet data network. The group communication system based on CDMA2000 high-rate packet data network includes: base station, packet control function module, packet data service node and AAA (authentication, authorization, accounting) server. The system further includes: multiple accessing terminals for making or responding the service request of group talk; group dispatching server for providing centralized control of group talk service, implementing the entire group talk service procedure from group user authentication to transmission of voice service package; group dispatch user side, which is an accessing gateway of group communication system, for providing signaling and service link between the base station and the group dispatching server.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting group communications are provided. A group list management server (GLMS) stores communications group definitions in documents, such as extensible mark-up language (XML) documents. The communications group can include communication addresses for different types of communication applications, including electronic mail, voice telephone, data, instant messaging, voice dispatch, short messaging service (SMS), and multimedia service (MMS). Various methods for joining communications groups are provided.

Abstract: In a push-to-talk communication system, frames are sent by a talking device before confirmation that the device has the floor. These are flagged, sent for a limited duration and buffered in a listening device. Playback is triggered either by receipt of frames flagged as ‘confirmed’ or by receipt of the ‘receiving talk burst’ message from a server.

Abstract: A group communications switching method is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: maintaining a voice call between a first subscriber terminal and a second subscriber terminal when it becomes necessary to perform group communications while the voice call is in progress; starting a group communications call by the first subscriber terminal so as to call at least a group communications member other than the first subscriber terminal and the second subscriber terminal; and disconnecting the voice call between the first subscriber terminal and the second subscriber terminal when the group communications call is established.

Abstract: In one illustrative example of the present disclosure, a mobile communication device has one or more processors and a wireless transceiver adapted to provide communications through a wireless communication network. The one or more processors are operative to produce a mobile device indication message which indicates whether the mobile device supports buffering of Push-To-Talk (PTT) communications from the mobile device. This message is transmitted by the wireless transceiver to a PTT service entity through the wireless network. The one or more processors may be further operative to receive, from the PTT service entity through the wireless network, a network indication message which instructs the mobile device whether to use buffering for the PTT communications from the mobile device (assuming a buffer memory for PTT buffering is available in the mobile device).

Abstract: A method for providing information about a push-to-talk communication session includes facilitating a push-to-talk communication session among a plurality of endpoints and receiving from a first endpoint of the plurality of endpoints a request for floor control comprising a request to transmit communications in the communication session. The method includes, in response to receiving the request for floor control, providing to the first endpoint a signal communication indicating a status message and that the first endpoint has been granted floor control in the push-to-talk communication session.

Abstract: In the IP adapted mobile body communication system, a call receiving procedure according to a paging area providing method is provided, and an existing mobile body communication system and a VoIP-based mobile body communication system can be used at the same time. The mobile body communication system includes subnet forming means for forming a broadcast domain with at least one base station device (2), and simultaneous call means for transmitting a call signal to the broadcast address of said subnet when calling a mobile station device (1).

Abstract: A method for establishing a call using a mobile terminal includes receiving a message. The method includes receiving a user input based on information in the message. The method includes accessing a communication identifier for a sending party identified in the message based on the user input. The method includes establishing a call using the communication identifier.

Abstract: A push-to-talk (PTT) method for optimizing talk burst control in a PTT communication network is provided. The method comprises transmitting a talk burst inquiry from a first PTT terminal to a PTT server requesting a talk burst control message to determine a talk burst state of the first PTT terminal; and receiving from the PTT server the talk burst control message providing the talk burst state of the first PTT terminal, in response to the talk burst inquiry, wherein the talk burst state indicates whether a talk burst request is granted to a second PTT terminal.

Abstract: To communicate in a press-to-talk (PTT) session, a message for requesting a right to talk in the PTT session is sent over a wireless link between a mobile station and a base station system. The message for requesting the right to talk in the PTT session is sent in wireless signaling over the wireless link. An acknowledgment of the wireless signaling carrying the message is received, with the acknowledgment sent by the base station system in response to the control signaling. An indication is provided at the mobile station of the right to talk in response to the acknowledgment.

Abstract: A communication system comprising: at least one first communication device configured to communicate in half duplex mode using a first encoding-decoding format; at least one second communication device configured to communicate in half duplex mode using a second encoding-decoding format; a third communication device configured to communicate in half duplex mode using the first format; a fourth communication device configured to communicate in half duplex mode using the second format; wherein the third and fourth communication devices are configured to communicate with each other in half duplex mode using a third encoding decoding format.

Abstract: Forwarding liveness, such as the ability of an interface to send and receive packets and forwarding capabilities of the interface, is determined. The determined forwarding liveness may be sent in a single message, allowing forwarding liveness information to be sent more frequently which permits fast detection of failures. The message may also include aggregating liveness information for multiple protocols.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users.

Abstract: There is provided a wireless communication apparatus configured to perform wireless communications with a counterpart apparatus by use of a data frame including a data transmission indication period and a data transmission period following the indication period. In the apparatus a normal power state and a low power consumption state are set as the operating states, and a normal power mode and a low power consumption mode are set as the power management modes. Further, in the normal power mode, the wireless communication apparatus is operated in the normal power state; and in the low power consumption mode, the wireless communication apparatus is operated in the normal power state during the data transmission indication period and in the low power consumption state during the data transmission period.

Abstract: A transmission capability of a mobile station that requests to be affiliated with a talk group is received. It is then determined whether to alter a current transmission mode of the talk group based at least in part upon the transmission capability of the mobile station, the current transmission mode of the talk group, and the transmission mode of one or more radio frequency (RF) sites associated with the talk group.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a network protocol for utility services are disclosed are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises discovering a utility network, wherein a constant powered meter sends network discovery messages to find the utility network. Neighboring meters are discovered, wherein the constant powered meter sends hello messages periodically. The constant powered meter is registered with the utility network. Further, the battery powered meter finds and associates itself with a constant powered meter. The constant powered meter also registers its associate battery powered meter with the utility network. The constant powered meter sends a node registration message to the gateway of the utility network. The constant powered meter can sense outage problems with the gateway and the neighbors of its network, and search and migrate to an alternate network.

Abstract: The present invention aims at permitting users of the equipments to exchange mutually their own wills easily in a PoC service not to take a floor. In a PoC service that attains a half duplex talk session using a packet communication between the plurality of equipments via a PoC server, a PoC server 20 for controlling a communication relay among a plurality of equipments includes a managing unit 20a for managing the user equipments connected to the PoC server 20, an acquiring unit 20b for acquiring a key operation of each equipment as operation information, and a transmitting unit 20c for transmitting the acquired operation information to the equipments that the managing unit 20a manages.

Abstract: A method and system for guaranteeing a seamless session when replacing a PoC terminal in a PoC system is provided, in which a currently busy PoC client can be replaced in an existing busy PoC session using a PoC compliant client capable of connecting the PoC session, thereby preventing a transmitted media stream of the running PoC session from being lost when the PoC client is replaced. The method includes transmitting, by an arbitrary PoC user, a message for replacing a terminal from a user terminal to a session management server while maintaining the session; receiving, by the session management server, the replacement request message, and transmitting an INVITE message to a terminal to be replaced, or a target terminal; and receiving, by the target terminal, the INVITE message, and media through an existing session. In a situation where there is a need to replace the PoC terminal according to change of the media for the PoC call, request of mobility, etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing access delay in push-to-talk (PTT) over Cellular (PoC) communication sessions is provided in a wireless communication device (120) including a quality level controller (230) which controls the quality level at which the transmit talkburst controller (226) provides talkbursts to transmitter circuitry (206). A processor (208) signals the quality level controller (230) and the transmit talkburst controller (226) to provide a first talkburst to the transmitter circuitry (206) for transmitting at a first quality level (310), and thereafter signals the quality level controller (230) to adjust the quality level from the first quality level to a second quality level (314) so that the transmit talkburst controller (226) will provide at least one subsequent talkburst to the transmitter circuitry (206) for transmitting at the second quality level (316).

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting group communications are provided. A group list management server (GLMS) stores communications group definitions in documents, such as extensible mark-up language (XML) documents. The communications group can include communication addresses for different types of communication applications, including electronic mail, voice telephone, data, instant messaging, voice dispatch, short messaging service (SMS), and multimedia service (MMS). Various methods for managing communications groups and features provided for communications groups are provided.

Abstract: To enable both point-to-multipoint and point-to-point communication services in an existing cellular communication system infrastructure, a apparatus and system for channel management and overhead functions associated with use of the assigned channels for point-to-multipoint services in the cellular communication system infrastructure are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wireless communications system comprising a first radio transceiver configured to communicate on a first radio channel, a second radio transceiver configured to communicate on a second radio channel, a first base transceiver unit (BTU) configured to communicate with the first radio transceiver, a second BTU configured to communicate with the second radio transceiver, and a client transceiver unit (CTU) configured to communicate with both the first BTU and the second BTU. The CTU is thereby configured to communicate on the first radio channel via the first radio transceiver and the first BTU. The CTU is also configured to communicate on the second radio channel via the second radio transceiver and the second BTU. The CTU comprises at least one speaker for enabling a user to listen to communications on the first and second radio channels concurrently.

Abstract: A communications system includes a plurality of radios that form a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) wireless communications network and communicate non-packetized digital voice with each other. Each radio is operative for dividing the period following the end of a transmission into a sequence of time slots and determining whether an end of a conversation has occurred. If an end of a conversation has occurred, the system decides randomly or pseudo-randomly with probability p to start transmitting on the channel in that slot.

Abstract: The floor in a network-based instant connect communication session is managed such that a mobile device user can cause voice data to be transmitted to a remote party without the remote party giving consent to relinquishing the floor. After the network-based instant connect communication session is established, and as the remote party holds the floor, the mobile device user presses a talk button on the mobile device or otherwise provides input. The input causes the network-based instant connect communication session to transition from the original half-duplex communication to full-duplex communication. The mobile device user can then cause voice data to be sent to the remote device. In this manner, the mobile device user can interrupt or spontaneously respond to the remote party without waiting for the remote party to relinquish the floor. This facilitates comfortable two-way communication in a network-based instant connect communication session.

Abstract: The present invention relates to synchronizing a terminal and a server in a shadow area of service in a push-to-talk (PTT) service system. An alive report packet is periodically transmitted to a server by a terminal having no permission to send a talk burst. A talk burst idle packet is periodically transmitted to each session-established terminal by the server in an idle state. Sessions are ended between each terminal and server if either the alive report packet or the talk burst idle packet are not received for a certain time. Accordingly, synchronization between the server and the terminal is periodically certified, unnecessary traffic generated due to inconsistent synchronization is decreased, and quality of service is enhanced.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling transmit channel utilization in systems providing walkie-talkie-like communications to wireless devices. Parameters such as a maximum talk time and back off time are provided to each wireless device to control how long they can continuously occupy the talk channel, and to control how soon after releasing the talk channel they can again access the talk channel.

Abstract: A system and method of creating affinity groups of portable communication device users, and distributing targeted content to said users is disclosed. The user affinity groups may be formed by comparing user profiles with each other or with a predefined affinity group profile definition.

Abstract: To reduce a delay between a time that a user of an originating mobile station (MS) requests to set up a Push-To-Talk (PTT) call and the time that the user may begin to speak, a communication system provides a ‘wake up list’ of other mobile stations (MSs) that may be awakened prior to the originating MS requesting to set up a PTT call. To further reduce the delay, the user may begin speaking prior to completion of the call setup. The speech is stored and is conveyed to a called MS when the call is setup. If the call does not get setup or a user of the called MS is not present, the stored speech may be conveyed to the called MS as a voice message. The stored speech, or new speech, may also be used as an announcement of a call instead of the typical “beep” or “chirp.

Abstract: There is provided herein a system and method for dynamically creating and/or joining multi-user text communication groups, wherein the user is not restricted to the technical limitations of standard communications protocols and wherein the user is able to create and/or join this multi-user group without a need for elaborate installation or configuration steps. The system and method will primarily be intended for the market of mobile devices and the instant disclosure is generally directed to users who have modern mobile devices that feature support for the Bluetooth communication protocol or have support for Wi-Fi technology and that furthermore allow the user to use that communication protocol/technology for communications with other users.

Abstract: A public safety communications network uses asymmetric channels for receiving requests for data from a mobile client over a narrowband land mobile radio system (LMRS) channel and delivering wideband data over a digital television (DTV) network channel to a DTV datacast receiver with the mobile client. An emergency operations center connected to the LMRS receives and processes the data requests and forwards the requested data. DTV network stations have a data multiplex insertion system for inserting the requested data into a DTV signal. The DTV network may be a public television network. An addressing system identifies unique mobile client addresses and unique mobile client group addresses and selects a DTV transmitter for delivering response messages in accordance with the addresses. A forward error correction (FEC) regulation system is used in transmitting requested data with FEC strength regulated as a function of historical bit-error-rate or receive power for a geographical location.

Abstract: A digital trunked communication network which supports roaming, includes a plurality of trunked communication systems, each of which comprises a base station subsystem and a dispatching subsystem; wherein base station subsystem is used to access various services of a terminal, and to forward trunked service to dispatching subsystem; dispatching subsystem is used to control and manage the trunked service of terminal which locates in its service area, and dispatching subsystems are connected together by IP network. The present invention divides the single control center of existing system into several independent subsystems by employing modularized network organization, thereby making the design and realization of various services clearer and more independent and effectively reducing the complexity of the system and coupling among various services.

Abstract: A mobile communications terminal, and method and system for controlling a floor during a PT session, are discussed. According to one aspect of the present invention, the terminal includes a PT client. The PT client includes a controller to request a user's confirmation of media burst for a PT session when the PT client receives a media burst confirmation request. The controller selectively starts encoding of media data of the PT session depending on the user's response to the controller's request.

Abstract: A group management framework and methodology for managing symmetric groups using peer-to-peer network communications. Group management is distributed throughout the group members of the peer-to-peer network, and group information is mirrored in each of the members of the group. The framework facilitates management of group member lists, provides group communication capabilities for external applications, and security for the group communication without the need for intermediary servers to provide services.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, a User Equipment (UE) and a system for providing a simultaneous multiple session Push-to-talk over Cellular (PoC) multimedia service. A PoC client performing a PoC multimedia communication service participates in multiple sessions according to the setup of a user, and can simultaneously receive the same media streams without filtering in a PoC server when the same media streams are transmitted. Further, the PoC client can set a session, to which filtering is to be applied, from among a plurality of sessions and media types.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a gateway which interconnects public safety wireless networks and commercial wireless networks that support push-to-talk group calls. The gateway translates Real Time Protocol (RTP), Session Invitation Protocol (SIP), and Talk Burst Control Protocol (TBCP)/Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP) messages received from the commercial wireless network and RTP and SIP messages received from the public safety wireless network into a format of the receiving network. The gateway has a call control component operable to set up and tear down RTP connections between the networks, a push-to-talk control component operable to arbitrate calls between wireless communications handsets of both networks, and a transmission control component operable to transfer media packets between the networks. The gateway reduces the number of call set ups required when a caller wants to speak because connections may remain active until the talk group participants leave the push-to-talk group call.

Abstract: A video baby monitor system has a child unit with a back-up battery, a video camera, a microphone, and a transmitter configured to transmit video signals representing video images sent from the camera and audio signals representing sounds sent from the microphone. A parent unit having a receiver for receiving the video signals and the audio signals, a video screen for displaying the video images, and a speaker for emitting the sounds. The child unit is configured to operate on primary power from an external power source and to operate on back-up power from the back-up battery source. The monitor system is configured to switch from the primary power to the back-up power and to deactivate at least one video function upon detecting a loss of the primary power.

Abstract: The liveness of routing protocols can be determined using a mechanism to aggregate liveness information for the protocols. The ability of an interface to send and receive packets and the forwarding capability of an interface can also be determined using this mechanism. Since liveness information for multiple protocols, the liveness of interfaces, the forwarding capability of interfaces, or both, may be aggregated in a message, the message can be sent more often than could individual messages for each of the multiple protocols. This allows fast detection of failures, and sending connectivity messages for the individual protocols, such as neighbor “hellos,” to be sent less often.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a set of procedures that a push-to-talk (PTT) server can use to control multiple simultaneous media streams within a talk group. The present invention provides floor control messages and protocols for identifying, transmitting, and distributing the simultaneous media streams. The invention may be used with any real-time protocol (RTP) payload format as long as the encoding allows a receiver of the packets means to distinguish between the transmitting clients. Although the present invention provides server-based control of multiple transmissions, end-point-based transmission control procedures are supported.

Abstract: A chat group system and method are provided that permit a communications system to implement an easy-to-use, multi-user, push-to-talk, instant communications functionality with heterogeneous access devices.

Abstract: A method for managing a talk burst in a PTT service system comprises: allocating, by a PTT server, master authority to a particular PTT client; and controlling, by the PTT server, another PTT clients according to a talk burst management procedure selected by the PTT client having the master authority. The PTT server allocates the master authority to the PTT client initiating a session and the PTT client having the master authority freely controls the talk burst management procedure, so that session establishment can be smoothly controlled.

Abstract: A method, computer readable media, and apparatus of hierarchical-based communication session and data distribution management that indexes client's communication preferences and network attribute information. Indexing is used to generate dynamic group membership lists that map into communication groups. Indexing is replicated at control nodes in the network overlay to allow distributed management of group membership. Send/receive operations are decoupled through data distribution and the indexing structure. Senders and receivers register their group communication interests to a parent node in the hierarchy. The session control structure aggregates client interest and dynamically updates replicas at control nodes which are selected according to the changes in registered client interest. The indexing structure has self-managing properties for automatic clustering based on client session and data interests, and dynamic partitioning of the session/data interest attribute space.

Abstract: Systems of methods for performing queued and moderated communication groups in a system featuring network provided half duplex communications communication group sessions are provided. According to one aspect, a first mobile terminal provides the network with an identification of a second mobile terminal so that the network may automatically grant the transmit capability to the second mobile terminal after a transmitting mobile has finished transmitting communications. Therefore, the second mobile terminal receives the transmit capability without even requesting it, or without the network having to wait to receive a request for the transmit capability. According to another aspect, priority information is pre-assigned during creation of the communication group or dynamically assigned by another mobile user during the talk group session. Granting of the transmit capability and the time duration of the transmit capability is dependent upon the priority information.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method of operation for managing a push-to-talk (PTT) session involving a plurality of participants includes applying a first floor control algorithm at a PTT server. The first floor control algorithm being selected from a plurality of algorithms that arbitrate among talk requests received from the participants. The method further includes changing, during the PTT session, from the first floor control algorithm to a second floor control algorithm at the PPT server. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A method and system for notifying a push-to-talk enabled user of an event. The method includes the steps of: receiving event data to be provided to a user; determining a push-to-talk configuration including carrier information for the user; and based on the push-to-talk configuration, providing the event data and user identification information to a carrier identified in the carrier information. The system may include an aggregation service controller; a text to speech converter; a user PTT connection mapping database; an online service interface; and a PTT service provider interface.

Abstract: Which device in a first home network is a master device is dynamically established based on the device reporting successful communication with a master device in a second home network, to ensure that the networks have master devices that can “se” each other for, e.g., managing bandwidth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a PoC system (push-to-talk over cellular system) and a method for distributing media data in PoC. The PoC system includes a plurality of clients, a controlling server and a first participating server. In the present invention, since a media receiving port is established in the first participating server which manages at least two clients at the same time, and when a media data is going to be distributed to the clients managed by the first participating server, the controlling server delivers the media data to the media receiving port only. In addition, a multicast addressing technology is further used in the first participating server, therefore, the path of delivering media data is changed and the efficiency of media data delivery during a communication is improved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for establishing a session for a Push to Talk (PTT) over Cellular call (PoC). In the method, when an answer (response) mode of a PoC server and a PoC client are not in accordance with each other, an error message is transmitted to the receiving PoC server Moreover, call processing for a PoC call is improved by inserting a new data field indicating an automatic answer of a server into a payload of a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTCP) message, and a function of the terminal is extended using an added data field when the answer modes of the corresponding PoC server and PoC client are not in accordance with each other.