PoC Relay-Mode WiFi Direct Communication for Limited Network Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Push-to-talk-over-Cellular (PoC) systems face limitations in providing a superior user experience and efficient delivery of advanced voice services, especially in scenarios with limited wireless network access, leading to inferior user experiences and network resource strain.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Relay-Mode and Direct-Mode operations using WiFi technologies, where mobile units communicate locally via WiFi or WiFi-Direct, enabling advanced voice services even with limited wireless network access, and utilizing servers to manage call sessions and message switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PoC systems rely on traditional cellular network infrastructure, then service coverage is limited to areas with network access, but user experience deteriorates in areas with limited wireless network access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces WiFi networks as an intermediary communication path between mobile units and the PoC server. When cellular network access is limited or unavailable, mobile units can establish communication through WiFi networks, allowing the PoC service to continue functioning. This intermediary path resolves the contradiction by providing an alternative route that maintains service availability while adapting to different network access conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between cellular network mode and WiFi network mode based on network availability and conditions. Mobile units can transition between different communication modes seamlessly, adapting to the available network infrastructure. This dynamic behavior ensures service reliability while providing flexibility in network access methods.
2Device complexity
If all mobile units communicate through the cellular network, then network control is centralized, but network resource strain increases in areas with limited access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication path into two parts: control signaling through the cellular network (maintaining centralized control) and voice/data traffic through local WiFi networks (reducing cellular network load). This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple centralized architecture while significantly reducing network resource consumption in areas with limited cellular access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts voice traffic from the cellular network and routes it through local WiFi networks. By taking out the bulk data/voice traffic from the cellular network infrastructure, the system reduces network resource strain and energy consumption on cellular networks, while maintaining essential control functions through the cellular network.
3Loss of energy
If mobile units use local WiFi communication, then network resource strain is reduced, but service coverage is limited to areas with WiFi infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes mobile units universally capable of communicating through multiple networks - both cellular and WiFi. The system can adaptively select the appropriate communication mode based on availability, making the communication infrastructure multi-functional. This universality resolves the contradiction by allowing WiFi to reduce network strain when available, while maintaining the ability to switch to cellular mode when needed, thus preserving service coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for relay-mode and direct-mode operations for Push-to-talk-over-Cellular (PoC) using WiFi technologies. One or more servers interface to a wireless communications network to perform advanced voice services for mobile units therein, wherein the advanced voice services include an instant two-way half-duplex voice call within a group of the mobile units comprising a PoC call session. Both the servers and the mobile units that use the advanced group services communicate with each other using control messages within the wireless communications network. At least one of the servers switches voice messages for the advanced group services between the mobile units across the wireless communications network. At least one of the servers manages the call session by acting as an arbitrator for the call session and by controlling the sending of the control messages and the voice messages to and from the mobile units. At least one of the mobile units performs Relay-Mode or Direct-Mode operations using WiFi communications for delivery of the control messages and the voice messages to and from others of the mobile units, thereby enabling the advanced voice services when access to the wireless communications network by the others of the mobile units is limited.