Call processing method and apparatus

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DESCRIPTION

Call processing method and device.

Background of the invention

Scope of the invention

The invention relates generally to wireless communication, more specifically to the process of wireless communication calls.

Background

Consumers are increasingly demanding Push to Talk (PTT) functionality in wireless communication devices. The wireless communication infrastructure dedicated to PTT is expensive. But customers want an affordable PTT solution. A way to make PTT calls over a voice network is required.

Changing the network infrastructure is costly, even if the change is limited to just one software change. It would be preferable, if possible, to implement PTT functionality over a voice network without modifying the network too much, or even without modifying it at all.

A time division multiple access (TDMA) system providing a PTT mode is disclosed in US-6,751,468-B1. In such a system, two wireless units share a single communication channel to provide PTT mode.

One problem with PTT calls over a voice channel is that the wireless communication device can react in response to the PTT call as if it had received a standard voice call. This can lead to various problems. First, the wireless communication device could ring. The wireless communication device is not supposed to ring with a PTT call. Second, the wireless communication device may not be able to “speak” in the PTT session. To "take the floor" means to make the wireless communication device itself the sender (the speaker, for example), while oneself has "the floor". Typically, in a PTT session (call), only one PTT device can be the sender at a time.

The delay in establishing a PPT session is also a problem. Users want to be able to speak to the recipient of a PTT call as quickly as possible after the call has started. For some users, the delay in call setup time equates to time lost at work. Or even for some users, the delay in call setup time equates to wasted time when they want to communicate personally with someone.

Summary of the invention

The present invention presents a method for processing a call in a wireless communication device, and a wireless communication device for processing a call according to the main claims. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

In order to provide efficient and effective PTT calls over a voice network, systems and methods are provided to send caller identification information, including a PTT signal, to a user interface module quickly, rather than sending first an incoming call announcement or an incoming call announcement and caller identification information without PTT information, and then send the PTT information. A bypass announcement message may be included in the caller identification information in connection with the incoming call message sent from the main control task to the user interface module.

Other aspects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention are described from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

The preferred embodiments of the present invention shown here are illustrated by way of example, without being in any way limiting, in the figures of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a central control module reading an incoming call message and informing the user interface module about the incoming call message;

Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram illustrating an enlargement of the incoming call message of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram illustrating an incoming call signal;

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Figure 4 shows a diagram illustrating communication between a base station and a mobile station to inform the mobile station about an incoming call;

Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a wireless communication device.

Detailed description

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a main control module 103 that reads an incoming call message 106 and notifies the user interface module 109 of the incoming call message 106. After reading at least a portion of the message Incoming call 106, the main control module 103 sends an incoming call signal 11 to the user interface module 109. Advantageously, the incoming call signal 111 contains a PTT signal 180, as will be described later when referring to FIG. 3.

To ensure that the incoming call signal contains a PTT signal 180, the central control module 103 reads at least one PTT indicator before sending the incoming call signal 111 to the user interface module 109. The PTT indicator will be further described. below, when referring to FIG. 2. The main control module 103 includes the PTT signal 180 with the incoming call signal 111, which is sent to the user interface module 109. Incoming call message 106 contains a header 132, and one or more registers 135, 138, 141, and 144.

Referring to FIG. 2, header 132 contains an announcement 147 and an indication 150 of the number of records included in the incoming call message 106. The announcement includes an alert from the wireless communication device that an incoming call is arriving. to the wireless communication device. As indicated by arrows 113, 117, 121, 125, and 129, the main control module reads each header 132 and registers 135, 138, 141, and 144. Four specific records are shown, but there may be more or fewer records, as indicated by the 1n record series and the dotted lines 155a and 155b, and with regard to Figure 1, 160a and 160b. Referring to Figure 2, one of the registers 135, 138, 141 and 144 contains a caller ID 165. Register 1 136 is shown in Figure 2, but it will be understood that any register may be used in place of the register 1 136.

Caller ID 165 contains a Caller ID number 170 and a PTT indicator 175. Caller ID number 170 can be a 10-digit number, as is well known in the United States, like a normal telephone number, including wireless phone numbers. It will be understood that any caller identification that identifies a caller to the call communication device may be employed, such as an electronic serial number or the caller's number. The PTT indicator 175 can be any type of PTT indicator, such as one, two, three, or four unique digits added to the caller identification number 170.

Those skilled in the art will also understand that caller identification number 170 may be a 12-digit group caller identification number. Such a 12-digit group call identification number will be used to designate a PTT group, as is well known to those of skill in the art. The PTT group call will not be described in more detail here, for brevity and clarity. The PTT indicator 175 can be a 2-digit PTT group call indicator, added to the caller identification number 170.

Advantageously, the main control module 103 reads the PTT indicator 175 before sending an incoming call signal 111 to the user interface module. In this way, the main control module can send a PTT signal 180 to the user interface with the incoming call signal. This allows the user interface module to avoid going into a standard voice call mode. Common features of a standard voice call mode include (1) having the wireless communication device notify the user that a call is coming, for example by ringing or vibrating, and (2) not waiting for or answering a call. PTT attempt to speak, referring to what it would be like to speak. Upon receiving the PTT signal 180, the user interface module 109 knows that the incoming call is a PTT call. The user interface module can avoid one or more of the problems of mistaking a PTT call for a standard voice call.

To achieve this, the main control module can perform a two-step process, rather than a one-step process. That is, the main control module can process the incoming call message twice. In the first process step, the main control module looks for a PTT indicator. If there is a PTT indicator, the main control module can notify the user interface module that the incoming call message refers to a PTT call. In the second process step, the main control task can process the rest of the information in the incoming call message.

The two-step process is contrary to popular wisdom or generally accepted practice. The one-step process is normally preferred, as it seems more logical, and usually involves savings in power and process time. However, contrary to generally accepted practice, the two-step process might be best in this case to avoid the problem of interpreting a PTT call as a standard voice call.

If the user interface later receives caller identification information possibly including PTT information, the user interface may ignore either the caller identification information or the PTT information, or both, since the user interface has already led to Take steps to manage PTT information.

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Alternatively, by making minor modifications to the network, similar advantages can be achieved. As a first example, if the caller ID with PTT information has always been placed as the first record in an incoming call message, then the main control module will know if the call refers to a PTT call without performing the two-step process. . In this way, the user interface module can be notified of the incoming call message related to a PTT call at the same time as the caller ID is notified. A second example will be discussed later with reference to Figure 4.

With reference to FIG. 3, an incoming call signal 111 includes an incoming call announcement 182, a caller identification number 170, and a PTT signal 180. It will be understood that the incoming call announcement 182 may involve the number of Caller ID 170 or PTT signal 180. As such, the incoming call announcement cannot be included as separate data.

The PTT signal 180 could be any practical data to communicate to the user interface module that the incoming call message refers to a PTT call. For example, the PTT signal 180 may be the PTT indicator 175 described above with reference to Figure 2. Alternatively, for example, the PTT signal may include a bypass warning 186. Optionally, the PTT signal may be unique. the bypass warning sign. In certain circumstances, the user interface module may be programmed to interpret the diversion announcement as an indication that the incoming call is related to a PTT call.

As is well known in the art, a bypass alert signal is commonly used to inform a user interface module not to alert the user of an incoming call message. A diversion advisory message is commonly used for an incoming short message service (SMS) message, as is well known in the art. An SMS message is not a voice call. An SMS message usually carries an ASCII data message, like a written message, and has a limited message length. SMS messages are described by length in the industry standard "TIA / EIA-637-B Short Message Services for Wideband Spread Spectrum Systems".

Referring to Fig. 4, a messaging process is shown for receiving an information prompt containing a PTT indicator; messages are sent between a base station 190 and a mobile station 194. A mobile station is a mobile wireless communication device configured to communicate with a base station for connection to a communication network. A base station is a node in a communication network that is configured to communicate with more than one mobile station. Vertical line 198 represents a sequence of events from base station 198. Vertical line 205 represents a sequence of events from mobile station 205. Messages from base station 190 to mobile station 194 are shown as horizontal lines with arrows pointing from the base station sequence to the mobile station sequence. Messages from mobile station 194 to base station 190 are shown as horizontal lines with arrows pointing from the mobile station sequence to the base station sequence. Events are displayed only in a general way. It is understood that certain details are omitted for the sake of clarity.

Typically, to initiate a call from a third party (not shown), base station 190 will send a request message 210 to mobile station 194. Mobile station 194 will normally send an acceptance message 215, in response to receipt of the request. request. Next, base station 190 typically sends a channel assignment message 220 to mobile station 194. In response to the channel assignment message, mobile station 194 typically sends a channel assignment accept message 225 to the base station. Finally, and as might be expected, after some similar messages, the base station usually sends an incoming call message 106. The incoming call message 106 can be an announcement with information. The above messaging process may be similar to that described in “TIA / EIA / IS-2000-5-A Sig Layer 3, Upper Layer (Layer 3) Signaling Standard for cdma2000 Spread Spectrum Systems”. Advantageously, the informational announcement contains a PTT indicator 175. The PTT indicator can be included in the caller identification 165.

The following is a second example of how the main control module can tell if the call refers to a PTT call without going through the two-step process. Channel assignment message 220 can be changed to indicate bypass notice for the case of PTT. As a third example, a special PTT channel assignment message field could be assigned to indicate whether an incoming call refers to a PTT call. In that case, the central control task will know that the incoming call message refers to a PTT call even before the incoming call message arrives. Finally, as a fourth example, a new PTT Voice-overvoice (VoV) service option could be implemented at the base station through minor modifications to the base station software. Where the base station supports a message with the service option field present, it can also support a new 16-bit service option value for PTT VoV.

Figure 5 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a wireless communication device that can receive and process an incoming call message 106 containing a PTT indicator 175. The wireless communication device 230 has an antenna 234 for receiving radio frequency signals ( RF) electromagnetic from the air and transmits electromagnetic RF signals to the air, that is, for wireless communications. The antenna is coupled to RF circuit 238 to convert RF signals to digital signals and digital signals to RF circuits. The RF circuit will not be described in more detail for brevity. The RF circuit is connected to a processor 242 for receiving digital signals.

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Processor 242 processes the digital signals for presentation to user interface 244. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the process is connected to memory 246 for data and software storage. Some modules are shown in processor 242. It is assumed that the modules are stored in memory 246, but they are executed by the processor, thus their operation is shown in processor 242.

A receiver module (also known as an Rx module) 248 receives the digital signal from the RF circuit 238 and presents the digital signal to the main control module 103. There is also usually a transmit module 250 and a search module 255, to process the signal. information between the RF circuit and the main control module. The transmission module and the search module are not described in more detail for the sake of brevity. The main control module 103 typically presents the signals to the call management module 260 and acts as an interface between the main control module and the user interface module 109. Therefore, as described with respect to Figure 1, when the main control module sends an incoming call signal to the user interface module, this may include sending an incoming call signal to the call handling module, and also that the call management module sends the incoming call signal to the user interface module.

The user interface 244 includes a speaker 236 and a PTT key 266. It is understood that other possible features of the user interface, such as a microphone and a display, are not shown. To sound the wireless communication device, the user interface module will send a signal to the speaker and cause the speaker to sound to alert the user in an audible way. Whether the speaker is of the appropriate type, for example a quiet speaker or a loud speaker, will be an asset.

The PTT key 266 may be a dedicated PTT key, or a multi-function key, depending on the mode of operation of the wireless communication device. As those skilled in the art will understand, the PTT key can be used to “take the floor” on a PTT call.

Also, although embodiments and implementations of the present invention have been shown and described, it should be noted that the scope of the invention encompasses many more. For this reason, the present invention should not be limited, except as established in the claims and their equivalents.