Media Resource Function Entity for PoC Floor Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of control and media planes in PoC services hinders technology evolution and flexible service implementation, and lacks a detailed floor control procedure after separation.

Innovation Solution

A floor control method and apparatus that separates the control plane and media plane, using a media resource function entity to manage floor requests, grants, releases, and notifications over a Long Term Evolution network, enabling flexible service configuration and extension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the control plane and media plane are integrated in PoC service, then the system structure is simple, but technology evolution and service flexibility are hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structureVSAvoidservice flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the integrated PoC service into separate control plane and media plane components. The control plane handles signaling and control messages (floor requests, grants, releases), while the media plane handles actual voice data transmission. This separation allows independent evolution and optimization of each plane, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and service flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the control plane and media plane are separated, then service flexibility and technology evolution are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice flexibilityVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a floor control function as an intermediary component that mediates between the control plane and media plane. This mediator manages floor requests, grants, and releases, coordinating control signals with media transmission. By introducing this intermediary layer, the system achieves plane separation and service flexibility while managing complexity through a dedicated coordination mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If floor control is implemented using RTCP and dedicated unicast connection, then floor control functionality is achieved, but system extension and flexible service implementation are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefloor control functionalityVSAvoidsystem extension
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal floor control mechanism that works across multiple planes and service types. The floor control function is designed to be plane-agnostic, supporting both control plane and media plane operations, and can be applied to various PoC service scenarios including group calls, point-to-point calls, and broadcast services. This multi-functional design enables system extension while maintaining ease of floor control operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3229503B1Method and device for transmission-priority control
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3229503B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3229503B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3229503B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a floor control method and apparatus, so as to resolve a prior-art problem: a control plane and a media plane of a PoC service are not separated, and this causes difficulty in subsequent technology evolution and is not conducive to either flexible implementation of services or system extension; and there is no detailed floor control procedure after the control plane and the media plane are separated. The method includes: receiving, by a media resource function entity, a first floor application message sent by UE; generating, by the media resource function entity, a second floor application message according to the first floor application message; sending, by the media resource function entity, the second floor application message to an MCPTT server; receiving, by the media resource function entity, a first floor grant message that is in response to the second floor application message and that is sent by the MCPTT server; generating, by the media resource function entity, a second floor grant message according to the first floor grant message; and sending, by the media resource function entity, the second floor grant message to the UE.