Push-to-Talk Floor Control via Automatic Transmit Granting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In half-duplex wireless communication systems, such as push-to-talk (PTT) services, there are delays in speaker transitions due to the large IP packet overhead in narrow band networks, leading to inefficiencies in group communication where only one device can transmit at a time.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for managing push-to-talk communications in a group of mobile terminals, where a transmitting terminal identifies a responding terminal, and the network grants transmit capability to the responding terminal only after the initial transmitter has finished, allowing seamless transitions and prioritization of talk order.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If IP based messaging (RTCP) is used for talk burst control in narrow band wireless networks, then communication session establishment is achieved, but transmission delays occur due to large IP packet overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing communication channels and pre-configuring floor control parameters before actual talk bursts occur. The network server pre-establishes the floor control mechanism using optimized protocols, so that when a user wants to speak, the handover can occur rapidly without waiting for standard IP packet processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the protocol parameters by implementing a customized floor control protocol that uses smaller, more efficient packet structures compared to standard RTCP. This parameter change reduces the overhead size and transmission time while maintaining the essential floor control functionality needed for push-to-talk operations.
2Reliability
If one mobile terminal transmits communications in a half-duplex system, then transmit capability is granted to that terminal, but other terminals must wait to transmit
Solution Approach 1:
The network server implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors the floor control state and rapidly communicates availability to waiting terminals. When the current speaker releases the floor, the server immediately notifies the next terminal in queue, enabling rapid handover and improving overall group communication efficiency while maintaining reliable transmit capability control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the floor control state based on real-time communication conditions. The network server manages a dynamic queue of terminals waiting to transmit and can rapidly reassign floor rights based on who is ready to speak next, making the half-duplex system more responsive and efficient while maintaining proper transmit capability control.
Data Source
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AI summary
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 communication. 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. In this manner, priority information is group-specific.