PTT Mobile Device Local Buffering for Network Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Push-To-Talk (PTT) communications experience delays due to network setup processes, and existing buffering techniques primarily focus on network-side buffering, leaving mobile devices unable to initiate talk immediately after activating the PTT switch, which can result in missed media data and increased infrastructure costs for higher-bandwidth communications.
Innovation Solution
A mobile communication device with processors and a wireless transceiver that sends a mobile device indication message to a PTT service entity to determine if it supports buffering, and receives a network indication message to control the use of buffer memory for PTT communications, allowing immediate data queuing and transmission after PTT switch activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If network-side buffering is used to work-around connection delay, then the terminating side can receive buffered media, but the originating side still experiences time delay between PTT switch actuation and talking
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device performs preliminary buffering of media data in its local buffer memory before the PTT communication is fully established with the network. This allows the device to prepare media data in advance, eliminating the delay between PTT switch actuation and talking by having data ready to transmit immediately when the communication channel is established.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device introduces a local buffer memory as an intermediary between the media source and the network transmission. This local buffer acts as a mediator that decouples the media generation from the network establishment process, allowing independent control of buffering at the device level without requiring complex network-wide coordination.
2Loss of time
If the network provides buffering for all mobile stations, then connection delay is reduced, but the network becomes overburdened and terminal supportability is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing uniform network-side buffering for all mobile stations, the invention enables individual mobile devices to perform local buffering within their own buffer memory. This distributes the buffering function from the network center to local devices, reducing the burden on network infrastructure and allowing the network to support more terminals simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Each mobile device independently manages its own buffering operations using its local buffer memory, without requiring network resources for buffering. The device autonomously controls when and how to buffer media data, eliminating the need for network-wide buffering infrastructure and reducing overall system resource requirements.
3Ease of operation
If mobile devices are equipped with buffer memory for PTT buffering, then immediate talk initiation is enabled, but control and coordination of buffering activities becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device autonomously manages its own buffering operations without requiring complex external coordination. The device independently decides when to buffer media data in its local buffer memory and when to transmit it, simplifying control by eliminating the need for complex network-device coordination protocols.
4Reliability
If higher-bandwidth media communications are supported, then communication quality improves, but the network becomes overburdened with buffering needs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention shifts the buffering function from network infrastructure to individual mobile devices. Each device uses its local buffer memory to handle media data, reducing the buffering burden on network infrastructure. This allows higher-bandwidth communications to be supported without proportionally increasing network resource requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Mobile devices independently manage their own media buffering without requiring network resources. The devices autonomously handle high-bandwidth media data in their local buffers, eliminating the need for network infrastructure to provide proportional buffering resources for higher-bandwidth communications.
Data Source
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AI summary
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). The mobile device may use the buffer memory for the buffering of the PTT communication based on the network indication message from the PTT service entity.