FIFO Audio Queue for Scalable Voice Group Sessions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current group communication services in telecommunication networks, such as internet chat rooms and push-to-talk services, are limited by being text-based, not scalable for large groups, and require specific devices or software, while IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) networks aim to provide multimedia services but lack effective voice and multimedia data exchange methods.
Innovation Solution
A method for providing group sessions over telecommunication networks that queues and plays out real-time voice media in the order received, allowing for easy scaling and participation without specialized devices or software, using a first-in-first-out (FIFO) audio media queue and visual media queue to manage multimedia data exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If push-to-talk service is used for group communication, then real-time voice communication is achieved, but device complexity and service subscription requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables voice group sessions to operate over standard IP networks using conventional communication devices, eliminating the need for specialized PTT handsets. The system uses existing SIP telephony infrastructure and web browser access, making the service universally accessible without requiring dedicated hardware or proprietary subscriptions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If sophisticated floor control process is implemented for PTT calls, then orderly communication is maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic floor control through a simplified queue-based mechanism where speakers are selected automatically based on queue position rather than requiring complex negotiation protocols. The system self-manages turn-taking by playing queued audio segments in sequence, eliminating the need for sophisticated floor granting and switching processes while maintaining orderly communication.
3Ease of operation
If internet chat rooms are used for group communication, then text-based messaging is achieved, but voice and multimedia support is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ease of web browser access from chat rooms with full multimedia capabilities including voice, video, and data sharing. By combining SIP telephony with web-based access and HTML5 media elements, the system provides both the simplicity of internet chat rooms and the versatility of native multimedia applications.
4Speed
If instant messaging is used for group communication, then real-time text communication is achieved, but scalability to large groups is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server-mediated architecture using SIP and WebSocket protocols to enable scalable group communication. The server acts as an intermediary that manages media distribution, floor control, and participant coordination, allowing the system to scale to large groups without requiring direct peer-to-peer connections between all participants.
Data Source
AI summary
Telecommunication networks and methods are disclosed for providing a group session service for a plurality of participants. An application server in the telecommunication network receives a plurality of real-time media streams from the participants of the group session, and identifies voice media in the individual media streams. The voice media represents the spoken voice of the participants, and includes talking intervals separated by idle intervals (i.e., pauses in the spoken voice). The application server inputs the talking intervals as audio media elements into an audio media queue in the order received, and also outputs the audio media elements from the audio media queue in the order in which the audio media elements were inputted (i.e., in a first-in-first-out (FIFO) fashion) to generate a collective media stream for the group session. The collected audio stream is then provided to the participants of the group session.