U.S. patent application number 14/264641 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-21 for continuous interface maintenance for group communications to a wireless communication device group.
This patent application is currently assigned to QUALCOMM Incorporated. The applicant listed for this patent is QUALCOMM Incorporated. Invention is credited to Harleen Kaur Gill, Bongyong Song.
Application Number | 20140235286 14/264641 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40472225 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140235286 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Song; Bongyong ; et
al. |
August 21, 2014 |
CONTINUOUS INTERFACE MAINTENANCE FOR GROUP COMMUNICATIONS TO A
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE GROUP
Abstract
A system, method, and computer device that selectively maintain
an open interface to a communication control device that is
controlling wireless communication to at least one of a plurality
of wireless communication devices that are in a communication
group, such as a push-to-talk (PTT) group. In one embodiment, the
wireless communication device registers at the communication
control device, such as a base station controller, and at least one
interface is established between the communication control device
and another computer device on the wireless communication network,
such as a broadcast A10 interface with a broadcast serving node
(BSN). The communication control device will then maintain the
interface while the at least one wireless communication device, or
at least one member device of the communication group, is
registered such that group communications can more rapidly be
delivered to the wireless communication device.
Inventors: |
Song; Bongyong; (San Diego,
CA) ; Gill; Harleen Kaur; (San Diego, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QUALCOMM Incorporated |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
QUALCOMM Incorporated
San Diego
CA
|
Family ID: |
40472225 |
Appl. No.: |
14/264641 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12212532 |
Sep 17, 2008 |
8761822 |
|
|
14264641 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/518 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/10 20130101; H04L
12/189 20130101; H04W 4/08 20130101; H04W 76/45 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/518 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/10 20060101
H04W004/10; H04W 4/08 20060101 H04W004/08 |
Claims
1. A method for selectively maintaining an open multicast interface
to a communication computer device that is controlling wireless
communication to at least one of a plurality of wireless
communication devices that are in a communication group, the method
comprising: registering at least one wireless communication device
that is a member of the communication group at the communication
computer device, the at least one wireless communication device
configured to receive group-directed communications for the
communication group, wherein the at least one wireless
communication device is configured to selectively unregister itself
from the communication computer device; establishing at least one
multicast interface between the communication computer device and
another computer device on a wireless communication network, the at
least one multicast interface permitting delivery of the
group-directed communications to the at least one wireless
communication device; determining whether any wireless
communication devices remain registered as members of the
communication group; and in response to the determining,
maintaining the at least one multicast interface so long as any
wireless communication device remains registered with the
communication computer device as a member of the communication
group after the group-directed communications have ended.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising releasing the at least
one multicast interface upon all wireless communication devices
that were previously registered as members of the communication
group becoming unregistered.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing at least one
multicast interface comprises establishing at least one multicast
interface for the communication group.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing at least one
multicast interface comprises establishing at least one multicast
interface for each registered wireless communication device.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining, with the
communication computer device, a list of currently registered
wireless communication devices that are members of the
communication group, wherein maintaining the list comprises
removing any wireless communication device that selectively
unregisters itself.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining comprises
determining, via the list of currently registered wireless
communication devices, whether any wireless communication devices
remain registered as members of the communication group.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the list of currently registered
wireless communication devices is updated upon a registration from
at least one other wireless communication device being received at
the communication computer device.
8. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining whether
the communication group for a registered wireless communication
device is on the list of currently registered wireless
communication devices.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the group-directed communications
to the at least one wireless communication device comprise a
push-to-talk (PTT) group call announcement to at least one PTT
group member.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one multicast
interface comprises a delay-sensitive, low-bandwidth call setup
interface.
11. An apparatus for selectively maintaining an open multicast
interface to a communication computer device that is controlling
wireless communication to at least one of a plurality of wireless
communication devices that are in a communication group, the
apparatus comprising: means for registering at least one wireless
communication device that is a member of the communication group at
the communication computer device, the at least one wireless
communication device configured to receive group-directed
communications for the communication group, wherein the at least
one wireless communication device is configured to selectively
unregister itself from the communication computer device; means for
establishing at least one multicast interface between the
communication computer device and another computer device on a
wireless communication network, the at least one multicast
interface permitting delivery of the group-directed communications
to the at least one wireless communication device; means for
determining whether any wireless communication devices remain
registered as members of the communication group; and means for
maintaining, in response to the determining, the at least one
multicast interface so long as any wireless communication device
remains registered with the communication computer device as a
member of the communication group after the group-directed
communications have ended.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for
releasing the at least one multicast interface upon all wireless
communication devices that were previously registered as members of
the communication group becoming unregistered.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for establishing
at least one multicast interface comprises means for establishing
at least one multicast interface for the communication group.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for establishing
at least one multicast interface comprises means for establishing
at least one multicast interface for each registered wireless
communication device.
15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for
maintaining, with the communication computer device, a list of
currently registered wireless communication devices that are
members of the communication group, wherein maintaining the list
comprises removing any wireless communication device that
selectively unregisters itself.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for determining
comprises means for determining, via the list of currently
registered wireless communication devices, whether any wireless
communication devices remain registered as members of the
communication group.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the list of currently
registered wireless communication devices is updated upon a
registration from at least one other wireless communication device
being received at the communication computer device.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for
determining whether the communication group for a registered
wireless communication device is on the list of currently
registered wireless communication devices.
19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the group-directed
communications to the at least one wireless communication device
comprise a push-to-talk (PTT) group call announcement to at least
one PTT group member.
20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for selectively
maintaining an open multicast interface to a communication computer
device that is controlling wireless communication to at least one
of a plurality of wireless communication devices that are in a
communication group, the non-transitory computer-readable medium
comprising: at least one instruction to register at least one
wireless communication device that is a member of the communication
group at the communication computer device, the at least one
wireless communication device configured to receive group-directed
communications for the communication group, wherein the at least
one wireless communication device is configured to selectively
unregister itself from the communication computer device; at least
one instruction to establish at least one multicast interface
between the communication computer device and another computer
device on a wireless communication network, the at least one
multicast interface permitting delivery of the group-directed
communications to the at least one wireless communication device;
at least one instruction to determine whether any wireless
communication devices remain registered as members of the
communication group; and at least one instruction to maintain, in
response to the determining, the at least one multicast interface
so long as any wireless communication device remains registered
with the communication computer device as a member of the
communication group after the group-directed communications have
ended.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
[0001] The present Application for Patent is a Continuation
Application of Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/212,532,
entitled "CONTINUOUS INTERFACE MAINTENANCE FOR GROUP COMMUNICATIONS
TO A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE GROUP," filed Sep. 17, 2008,
which claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/974,838,
entitled "CONTINUOUS INTERFACE MAINTENANCE FOR GROUP COMMUNICATIONS
TO A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE GROUP," filed Sep. 24, 2007, and
to Provisional Application No. 60/974,839, entitled "CONTINUOUS
BROADCAST INTERFACE MAINTENANCE FOR GROUP COMMUNICATIONS TO
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES," filed Sep. 24, 2007, each of which
is assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to point-to-point or
point-to-multipoint wireless communications systems. More
specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method
for maintaining an open and continuous interface for group
communications, such as push-to-talk (PTT) communications, to a
wireless communication device that is a member of a communication
group.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In cellular wireless telecommunications, there have been
several standards implemented regarding the creation and
functionality of the communication infrastructure. One of the more
recent standards is CDMA2000, where CDMA is an abbreviation for
"code division multiple access." CDMA2000 supports a
Broadcast-Multicast Service (BCMCS), which allows optimization of
the radio interface for delivery of BCMCS content stream(s) to one
or more wireless communication devices in one or more regions of an
cellular carrier's network. The CDMA2000 protocol allows for both
voice and data to be transmitted to and from wireless communication
devices and determines the appropriate resource allocation for
communications, both to and from the wireless telecommunication
device and the radio access network (RAN), and in between
communication control devices, such as base stations, packet data
serving nodes (PDSN), and broadcast serving nodes (BSN).
[0006] There exists a wireless telecommunication service that
provides a quick one-to-one or one-to-many communication that is
generically referred to as "Push-To-Talk" (PTT) capability. The
specific PTT group of recipient devices for the communicating
wireless device is commonly set up by the carrier. A PTT
communication connection is typically initiated by a single
button-push on the wireless device that activates a half-duplex
link between the speaker and each member device of the group and
once the button is released, the device can receive incoming PTT
transmissions once the button is released. In some arrangements,
the PTT speaker will have the "floor" where no other group member
can speak while the speaker is speaking. Once the speaker releases
the PTT button, any other individual member of the group can engage
their PTT button and they will have the floor.
[0007] It is important to have a very fast setup of the signal path
of the PTT call because of the desired immediacy of the voice
communication. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a
system and method to expedite PTT communication setup with a target
wireless communication device given the time-sensitivity of the
communication. Such system and method can advantageously utilize
existing cellular network infrastructure that would otherwise have
latency delays in PTT communications. It is thus to the provision
of such a system and method to expedite communications with a
wireless communication device that the present invention is
primarily directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Embodiments of the invention include systems, methods, and
computer devices that selectively maintain an open interface to a
communication control device that is controlling wireless
communication to at least one of a plurality of wireless
communication devices that are in a communication group, such as a
push-to-talk (PTT) group. In one embodiment, the wireless
communication device registers at the communication control device,
such as a base station controller, and at least one interface is
established between the communication control device and another
computer device on the wireless communication network, such as a
broadcast A10 interface with a broadcast serving node (BSN). The
communication control device will then maintain the interface while
the at least one wireless communication device, or at least one
member device of the communication group, is registered such that
group communications can more rapidly be delivered to the wireless
communication device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a representative diagram of a wireless network
with a designated PTT group of wireless telecommunication devices
communicating with a group communication server and other computer
devices across the wireless network.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a representative diagram of one embodiment of a
wireless network in a common cellular telecommunication
configuration, having a group communication server control
communications between the wireless telecommunication devices of
PTT group members.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the computer platform
of the wireless telecommunication device embodied with PTT
capability.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of
BCMCS data streaming in a CDMA2000 architecture.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a call flow diagram of one embodiment of the BCMCS
Flow Registration creating a broadcast A10 interface between the
BSC/PCF and the BSN.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the process on
the communication control device to maintain a continuous interface
while at least one member of a PTT communication group is
registered.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] In this description, the terms "communication device,"
"wireless device," "wireless communications device," "PTT
communication device," "handheld device," "mobile device," and
"handset" are used interchangeably. The terms "call" and
"communication" are also used interchangeably. The term
"application" as used herein is intended to encompass executable
and non-executable software files, raw data, aggregated data,
patches, and other code segments. The term "exemplary" means that
the disclosed element or embodiment is only an example, and does
not indicate any preference of user. Further, like numerals refer
to like elements throughout the several views, and the articles "a"
and "the" includes plural references, unless otherwise specified in
the description.
[0016] Furthermore, the present invention is shown in several
embodiments here as operating in a CDMA2000 network architecture.
Reference can be had to the known standards and construction of
CDMA2000 systems and network interfaces as would be known to one of
skill in the art.
[0017] With reference to the figures in which like numerals
represent like elements throughout, FIG. 1 illustrates one
embodiment of a system 10 for with a group communication server 32
to one or more wireless telecommunication devices in a PTT group
12, such as the wireless telephone 14, smart pager 16 and personal
digital assistant (PDA) 18, with other wireless telecommunication
devices across a wireless network 20. In the system 10, each
wireless telecommunication device 14,16,18 is capable of
selectively directly communicating across the wireless
communication network 20 with a target set of one or more other
wireless telecommunication devices of the plurality. For example,
the target set for mobile telephone 14 can be all devices in the
communication group 12 or a subset thereof, such as pager 16 and
PDA 18.
[0018] In this embodiment, the wireless telecommunication device
(such as mobile telephone 14) sends a flag to at least the group
communication computer device, shown here as server 32, which is
present on a server-side LAN 30 across the wireless network 20, to
indicate that the wireless device is present, i.e. accessible, on
the wireless network 20. The group communication computer device 32
can share this information with the set of target wireless
telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless
telecommunication device, or can also share is with other computer
devices resident on the server-side LAN 30 or accessible across the
wireless network 20. The group communication computer device 32 can
have an attached or accessible database 34 to store the group
identification data for the wireless devices. It should be
appreciated that the number of computer components resident on
server-side LAN 30, or across the wireless network 20, or Internet
generally, are not limited.
[0019] The direct communication, such as a PTT communication, can
be established through a half-duplex channel between the
communicating wireless telecommunication device 14,16,18 and the
one or more other wireless telecommunication devices of the target
set. Also, the group communication computer device 32 can attempt
to bridge the requested direct communication with the target set if
at least one of the wireless telecommunication devices of the
target set have informed the group communication computer device 32
of their presence on the wireless network 20.
[0020] The group communication computer device 32 can also inform
the wireless telecommunication device 14,16,18 of the inability to
bridge a direct communication to the target set 12 upon none of the
wireless telecommunication devices (or at least one) of the target
set not having informed the group communication computer device 32
of their presence on the wireless network 20. Further, while the
group communication computer device 32 is shown here as having the
attached database 34 of group identification data, the group
communication computer device 32 can have group identity data
resident thereupon, and perform all storage functions described
herein.
[0021] In overview, the system 10 selectively communicates to a
wireless communication device 14,16,18 for a group communication
across the wireless communication network 20 with the a group
communication server 32 configured to receive a request at to
establish a group communication with at least one target wireless
communication device (e.g. mobile telephone 14), and the group
communication server 32 send a request to the at least one target
wireless communication device across the wireless communication
network 20 indicating an incoming group communication. An
intermediate computer device (such as base station controller 64 in
FIG. 2) receives an access channel communication packet across an
access channel from the at least one target wireless communication
device that received the request to establish a group communication
from the group communication server 32. The access communication
packet indicates the whether or not there are bundled messages
present in the packet, such as messages indicating the resources
for the group communication to the at least one wireless
communication device 14. Through the bundling of messages, the
wireless communication device 14,16,18 can quickly send messages
indicating the ability to handle the incoming communication,
without the other computer device (such as base station 60) needing
to examine all messages send from the wireless communication device
14,16,18 for bundled messages.
[0022] The group communication can be voice, applications, graphic
media, such as pictures in JPEG, TIF, and the like, or audio files
such as MP3, MP4, WAV, and the like. The media can also be
streaming media, such as a multimedia application (Powerpoint, MOV
file, and the like). Also, the group communication is typically
half-duplex audio conferencing among members of the communication
group 12.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a representative diagram of one embodiment of a
wireless network in a common cellular telecommunication
configuration, having a series of group communication computer
devices, such as group communication server 32 that controls
communications between the wireless communication devices of set
group members (devices 70,72,74,76) in a PTT system. The wireless
network is merely exemplary and can include any system whereby
remote modules communicate over-the-air between and among each
other and/or between and among components of a wireless network 20,
including, without limitation, wireless network carriers and/or
servers. A series of group communication servers 32 are connected
to a group communication server LAN 50. Wireless telephones can
request packet data sessions from the group communication server(s)
32 using a data service option. Also shown on LAN 50 is a BCMCS
Controller 33, the functionality of which is more fully set forth
below in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0024] The group communication server 32 are connected to a
wireless service providers packet data service node (PDSN) such as
PSDN 52, and/or a broadcast serving node 53 shown here resident as
on a carrier network 54. Each PSDN 52 or BSN 53 can interface with
a base station controller 64 of a base station 60 through a packet
control function (PCF) 62. The PCF 62 is typically located in the
base station 60. The carrier network 54 controls messages
(generally in the form of data packets) sent to a messaging service
controller ("MSC") 58. The carrier network 30 communicates with the
MSC 32 by a network, the Internet and/or POTS ("plain ordinary
telephone system"). Typically, the network or Internet connection
between the carrier network 54 and the MSC 58 transfers data, and
the POTS transfers voice information. The MSC 58 can be connected
to one or more base stations 60. In a similar manner to the carrier
network, the MSC 58 is typically connected to the base transceiver
station (sometimes referred to as "branch-to-source")(BTS) 66 by
both the network and/or Internet for data transfer and POTS for
voice information. The BTS 66 ultimately broadcasts and receives
messages wirelessly to and from the wireless devices, such as
cellular telephones 70,72,74,76, by short messaging service
("SMS"), or other over-the-air methods known in the art. It should
also be noted that carrier boundaries and/or PTT operator network
boundaries do not inhibit or prohibit the sharing of data as
described herein.
[0025] Cellular telephones and mobile telecommunication devices,
such as wireless telephone 14, are being manufactured with
increased computing capabilities and are becoming tantamount to
personal computers and hand-held PDAs. These "smart" cellular
telephones allow software developers to create software
applications that are downloadable and executable on the processor
of the wireless device. The wireless device, such as cellular
telephone 14, can download many types of applications, such as web
pages, applets, MIDlets, games and data. In wireless devices that
have designated a communication group 12 (FIG. 1), the wireless
communication device can directly connect with the other member of
the set and engage in voice and data communication. However, all
such group-direct communications will occur through, or be at the
control of, the group communication server 32. All data packets of
the devices do not necessarily have to travel through the group
communication computer device 32 itself, but the group
communication computer device 32 must be able to ultimately control
the communication because it will typically be the only server-side
30 component that is aware of and/or can retrieve the identity of
the members of the communication group, or direct the identity of
the members of the communication group 12 to another computer
device.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the
wireless telecommunication device being a mobile telephone 14 with
a PTT button 78 that opens the direct communication to a target set
of devices, i.e. other members of the communication group 12. The
wireless device 14 is also shown as having a graphics display 80 to
the user of the wireless device 14. The wireless device 14 includes
a computer platform 82 that can handle voice and data packets, and
receive and execute software applications transmitted across the
wireless network 20 to include the group communications. The
computer platform 82 includes, among other components, an
application-specific integrated circuit ("ASIC") 84, or other
processor, microprocessor, logic circuit, programmable gate array,
or other data processing device. The ASIC 84 is installed at the
time of manufacture of the wireless device and is not normally
upgradeable. The ASIC 84 or other processor executes an application
programming interface ("API") layer 86, which includes the resident
application environment, and can include the operating system
loaded on the ASIC 84. The resident application environment
interfaces with any resident programs in the memory 88 of the
wireless device. An example of a resident application environment
is the "binary runtime environment for wireless" (BREW) software
developed by QUALCOMM.RTM. for wireless device platforms.
[0027] As shown here, the wireless device can be a mobile telephone
14, with a graphics display 80, but can also be any wireless device
with a computer platform 82 as known in the art, such as a personal
digital assistant (PDA), a pager with a graphics display 26, or
even a separate computer platform that has a wireless communication
portal, and may otherwise have a wired connection to a network or
the Internet. Further, the memory 88 can be comprised of read-only
or random-access memory (RAM and ROM), EPROM, EEPROM, flash cards,
or any memory common to computer platforms. The computer platform
82 can also include a local database 90 for storage of software
applications not actively used in memory 88. The local database 90
is typically comprised of one or more flash memory cells, but can
be any secondary or tertiary storage device as known in the art,
such as magnetic media, EPROM, EEPROM, optical media, tape, or soft
or hard disk.
[0028] In this embodiment of the wireless device, the computer
platform 82 also includes a direct communication interface 92 that
can open the direct communication channel from the wireless device,
typically for the half-duplex voice communication in a PTT call.
The direct communication interface 92 can also be part of the
standard communication interface for the wireless device which
ordinarily carries the voice and data transmitted to and from the
wireless device. The direct communication interface 92 typically is
comprised of hardware as is known in the art.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of
BCMCS data streaming in a CDMA2000 architecture. Shown here are the
potential home network, serving network, and third party locations
with various resident elements. A BCMCS Controller 110 is
responsible for managing and providing the BCMCS session
information to the BSN 122 (via the SAAA 112), the BCMCS Content
Server, the mobile station 126 (via the PDSN 120 function) and the
RAN (via the BSN 122 function). The BCMCS Controller 110 may
perform discovery operations to assist the mobile station 126 to
find desired content.
[0030] BCMCS Content Server 114 makes BCMCS content available
within an IP Multicast stream. It should be noted that the BCMCS
Content Server 114 in the serving network is not necessarily the
creator or source of the content, but is the last application level
entity to manipulate (e.g., reformat) the content prior to the
content reaching the BSN 122. The BCMCS Content Server 114 may
store and forward the content from the BCMCS Content Provider
100,108, and/or merge the content from the multiple content
providers. If higher layer encryption is enabled, the BCMCS Content
Server 114 encrypts the stream content. In this embodiment, the
BCMCS Content Provider 108 at a third party location is the creator
or source of the content.
[0031] The BCMCS Subscriber Profile Manager 104 is an application
that updates the subscriber profile in the Subscriber Profile
Database 102 regarding subscribed BCMCS services. The user may
interface to this application directly, or the carrier operator may
reserve access to this application to their customer service
agents. The interface between the user and the BCMCS Subscriber
Profile Manager 104, and the interface between the BCMCS Subscriber
Profile Manager 104 and the Subscriber Profile Database 102 are
shown only for illustrative purposes of a common network
configuration. The H-AAA 106 and S-AAA 112 are elements responsible
for BCMCS authentications, authorizations, and accounting, and
access the Subscriber Profile Database 102 to obtain information
from the BCMCS user profile.
[0032] The PDSN 120 communicates using the unicast packet data
service for packet data session establishment, to add and remove IP
flows, etc., and acts as the first-hop router for IP traffic to and
from the mobile station (MS) 126. The BSN 122 communicates with the
BSC/PCF 124 to add and remove Multicast IP Flows. The BSN 122 may
use IP multicast protocols to manage bearers supporting Multicast
IP Flow between itself and the nearest router connecting back to
the BCMCS Content Server 114. It also applies the flow treatment
received from the BCMCS Controller 110 to the Multicast IP Flows.
The multicast router MR 118 is optional entity used if the content
is transmitted over a provisioned tunnel between the BSN 122 and
the BCMCS Content Server 114. In this embodiment, this entity is
responsible for performing the BCMCS Information Acquisition, BCMCS
registration, and receiving Multicast IP flows. The BSC/PCF 124 are
responsible for signaling, establishing, and tearing down bearer
channels between the BSN 122 and the MS 126. The BSC 124 chooses
the "best" bearer channel to the MS 126 based on considerations
such as optimization of resources, required quality-of-service
("QoS"), etc.
[0033] The interface between BCMCS Controller 110 and BSN 122 via
S-AAA 112 provides BCMCS session related information such as Flow
Treatment (e.g., Header Compression), relevant QoS parameters such
as required bandwidth, the mapping between BCMCS Flow ID and
Multicast IP address and port number from the BCMCS Controller 110
to the BSN 122 via a predefined protocol. This interface also
exchanges the BCMCS authorization information for BCMCS
registration. The interface between BSN 122 and S-AAA 112 the BSN
122 will typically generate accounting information for the content
flows. And the interface between BCMCS Controller and SAAA. This
interface provides the BCMCS Controller 110 with authentication and
authorization information. The S-AAA 112 may send BCMCS user
profile received from the H-AAA 106 to the BCMCS Controller 110
during BCMCS Information Acquisition triggered by the MS 126. The
BCMCS Controller 110 may also send accounting information to the
S-AAA 112. The S-AAA 112 may also be used to relay the BCMCS
session related information between the BSN 122 and BCMCS
Controller 110.
[0034] The interface between BCMCS Controller 110 and BCMCS Content
Provider 100,108 interface exchanges information including Content
Provider Name, Program Name, session description (e.g., codec
type), and security information, etc. This interface may also
exchange the start time of the BCMCS session and duration of the
BCMCS session. The interface between BCMCS Controller 110 and BCMCS
Content Server 114 may exchange the security information, multicast
IP Address and port number, and content management information
(e.g., the start time of the BCMCS session and duration of the
BCMCS session). The BCMCS Controller 110 uses this interface to
add, modify, or remove BCMCS flows and this interface also provides
a mechanism for message authentication of the BCMCS Content Server
114 and BCMCS controller 110 and protects integrity of its
messages.
[0035] The interface between BCMCS Controller 110 and MS/UIM 126
provides the BCMCS client application in the MS 126 with access to
information about available BCMCS sessions: typically including a
Program Name, BCMCS Flow ID(s), broadcast access key (BAK)(s) and
BAK Expiry time if the Multicast IP Flow(s) are encrypted, start
time of the BCMCS session, duration of the BCMCS session, flow
treatment (e.g., header compression), and session description
(e.g., 36 codec type), etc. The PCF 124 initiates setup of an A10
connection by sending an A11-Registration Request message to the
PDSN 129. The All-Registration Request message contains the
extensions specified in the CDMA2000 standard. The All-Registration
Request message may be retransmitted a configurable number of
times, and if the connection setup request is acceptable, the PDSN
120 updates its binding record for the A10 connection by creating
an association between the PDSN Session Identifier (PDSN SID) and
the IMSI address, PCF-Address and PDSN-Address information. The
PSDN SID is identical to the PCF Session Identifier (PCF SID). If
the either the PCF or the PDSN does not support the appropriate
Session Identifier Version, the PDSN may choose any PDSN SID.
[0036] The PCF 124 and the PDSN 120 use the PCF-IP-Address and the
PDSN-IP-Address returned in the All- Registration Reply message as
the A10 connection for the transport of user traffic. The PCF-IP
Address and the PDSN-IP-Address form the unique link layer ID for
each A10 connection. The PCF 124 and the PDSN 120 maintain an
association of the mobile's IMSI address with the A10 connection.
The release of an A10 connection is typically controlled by the PCF
124, however, the PDSN can also initiate A10 connection release,
the PDSN 120 can requests that the PCF 124 release the
connection.
[0037] FIG. 5 is shows one embodiment of the BCMCS Flow
Registration creating a broadcast A10 interface between the BSC/PCF
142 and the BSN 144. The MS 140 receives content availability and
radio parameter and information from the overhead messages. The MS
140 performs a BCMCS registration for BCMCS_FLOW_ID(s) with the
authorization signature included. If the BSC/PCF 142 has BAK
information, the RAN may check BAK_HASH. The BSC/PCF 142 sends the
A11 BC Service Request to the BSN 144 to request RAN session
information and includes the BCMCS_FLOW_ID and the authorization
signature.
[0038] The BSN 144 sends the remote authentication dial in user
service ("RADIUS") Access-Request message to the S-AAA/BCMCS
Controller 146. The message includes the BCMCS_FLOW_ID,
Authorization Parameters, and Reason Code. In this example, the BSN
144 sets Reason 1 Code to 3 to indicate both authorization and BSN
session information are needed. The BCMCS Controller 146 performs
the authorization. Then the BCMCS Controller 146 sends the RADIUS
Access-Accept message to the BSN 144 including BCMCS session
information. The BSN 144 sends BC Service Response to the BSC/PCF
142 including BCMCS session information that the RAN needs. The RAN
sends BC Registration Request to the BSN 144 to set up a broadcast
A10 connection. The BSN 144 responds with BC Registration Response.
The RAN sends Registration Accept to the MS 140. The BSN 144 may
send an A11-BC-Registration Update message to the RAN in order to
terminate the BCMCS flow(s). If the mapping is pre-provisioned
information (BCMCSFlowID; multicast IP addr/port) at the BSN 144,
only the BC registration request and reply between the BSC/PCF 142
and BSN 144 are necessary.
[0039] Typically, the MS 140 is allowed to send a BCMCS Flow
Registration message around the time that the multicast flow (BCMCS
flow) begins. If a BCMCS Flow Registration message is not received
during the allowed registration period (e.g., too early or too
late), the RAN generally ignores the registration. For some
"dynamic" group communications, however, the start time of a flow
is not known to the MS 140. For example, the initiation of a PTT
group call is random and not known to the MS 140 in advance. The
first multicast message of a PTT group call is typically a call
announcement message that is sent by a PTT server to a plurality of
group members, e.g., wireless communication device 14, 16 and 18.
If the broadcast A10 connection between the BSN 53 and the base
station 60 is not open at the time of call announcement, the
message can be dropped or could be delayed. Therefore, it is
desirable to maintain a continuous broadcast A10 connection for
such dynamic BCMCS flows all the time as long as at least one group
member is present.
[0040] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the process on
the communication control device (such as BSC/PCF 124 in FIG. 4) to
maintain a continuous interface while at least one member of a PTT
communication group is registered. A registration is received from
a wireless communication device 14,16,18, as shown at step 150, and
then a determination is made as to whether the registration is for
the call announcement flow for a PTT group (or other dynamic
group), as shown at decision 152. If the registration is not for a
call announcement flow for a PTT group or other dynamic group as
decision 152, then an broadcast A10 connection is established only
if the registration is received during the allowed registration
time period, as shown at decision 164. In this case, the connection
will be opened at step 166. Otherwise, the registration is ignored
and the process terminates, as shown at termination 172.
[0041] Otherwise, if the registration is for the call announcement
flow for a PTT group at decision 152, then a determination is made
as to whether the PTT group has any members registered at the
communication control device, as shown at decision 154. In this
case, the interface for the group should be already open and the
RAN does not need to newly open an interface for the group. The RAN
only needs to add the wireless communication device to the group
member list of the group, as shown at step 156. If there are no
devices yet registered on the communication control device for that
communication group, then communication group for that wireless
communication device is stored on a list at the communication
control device, as shown at step 158, and then the interface is
opened for the wireless communication device, as shown at step
160.
[0042] After the interface, such as a broadcast A10 interface, is
opened for the wireless communication device, then a determination
is made as to whether the wireless communication device has
unregistered, as shown at decision 162. If the wireless
communication device has not unregistered at decision 162, a wait
state is entered and the interface remains open until the wireless
communication device has unregistered. Once the wireless
communication device has unregistered at decision 162, then a
determination is made as to whether there are any communication
group members left for the communication group of that wireless
communication device, as shown at decision 168. If there are
members of the communication group remaining registered, then the
process thread returns to decision 162 to await another wireless
communication device unregistering. Otherwise, if no members of the
communication group are registered on the list of the communication
control device (or if there was no communication group for the
wireless communication device as could occur at decision 154) at
decision 168, then the interface that was assigned to the wireless
communication device and/or the communication group is released as
shown at step 168, and then the process terminates as shown at
termination 170.
[0043] It can thus be seen that system provides, in one embodiment,
an inventive method for selectively maintaining an open interface
to a communication control device that is controlling wireless
communication to at least one of a plurality of wireless
communication devices 14,16,18 that are in a communication group
(PTT Group 12) through registering at least one wireless
communication device 14 that is a member of a communication group
(PTT Group 12) of wireless communication devices at the
communication control device (BSC/PCF 142), the at least one
wireless communication device 14 configured to receive
group-directed communications for the communication group, and the
at least one wireless communication device 14 selectively becoming
unregistered from the communication control device, then
establishing at least one interface between the communication
control device and another computer device on the wireless
communication network (such as a broadcast A10 being established
between BSC.PCF 142 and BSN 144), the at least one interface
permitting delivery of a group-directed communication (e.g., PTT
group call announcement) to the at least one wireless communication
device 14. Then maintaining the at least one interface while the at
least one wireless communication device 14 is registered with the
communication control device.
[0044] In one embodiment, the communication control device (BSC/PCF
142) can further maintain a list of registered wireless
communication devices, and upon a wireless communication device 14
being unregistered, remove the unregistered wireless communication
device from the list. The method can also further include releasing
the at least one interface upon the wireless communication device
14 becoming unregistered. Establishing at least one interface can
occur upon a group-directed communication directed to the at least
one wireless communication device 14 being received at the
communication control device (BSC/PCF 142), i.e. a incoming PTT
call announcement is being sent to the wireless communication
device 14. And if so embodied, at least one wireless communication
device 14 can be placed on the list upon a group-directed
communication directed to the at least one wireless communication
device 14 being received at the communication control device
(BSC/PCF 142). The establishment of at least one interface can
establishing at least one interface (such as a broadcast A10
interface) for each registered wireless communication device
14,16,18.
[0045] Is so embodied, the method can include determining if the
communication group (PTT Group 12) for the registered wireless
communication device 14 is on the list, and wherein maintaining at
least one interface is maintaining at least one interface for a
listed communication group as long at least one wireless
communication device 14 of the communication group (PTT group 12)
is registered. Where the communication control device is a base
station controller (BSC 142) and the other computer device is a
broadcast serving node (BSN 144), establishing at least one
interface can be establishing a broadcast A10 interface between the
BSN 144 and the BSC 142.
[0046] In view of the methods being executable on a mobile device
and other computer platforms, the method can accordingly be
performed by a program resident in a computer readable medium,
where the program directs the mobile device or other computer
device having a computer platform to perform the steps of the
method. The computer readable medium can be the memory of the
server, or can be in a connective database. Further, the computer
readable medium can be in a secondary storage media that is
loadable onto a wireless communications device computer platform,
such as a magnetic disk or tape, optical disk, hard disk, flash
memory, or other storage media as is known in the art.
[0047] In one or more exemplary embodiments, the functions
described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or
any combination thereof If implemented in software, the functions
may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or
code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media
includes both computer storage media and communication media
including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer
program from one place to another. A storage media may be any
available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of
example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can
comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage,
magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any
other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program
code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be
accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a
computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is
transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a
coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber
line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and
microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,
DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and
microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc,
as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical
disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc
where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs
reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above
should also be included within the scope of computer-readable
media.
[0048] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the
present invention as set forth in the following claims.
Furthermore, although elements of the invention may be described or
claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless
limitation to the singular is explicitly stated.
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