KR100677704B1 - Mobile communication terminal providing push-to-talk service and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal and a method for providing a push-to-talk service, and the mobile communication terminal of the present invention uses a push-to-talk service (hereinafter, referred to as a 'PTT') service. PTT signal input unit for inputting a user's operation signal for; A PTT processor performing data processing for providing a PTT service; A wireless communication unit providing a communication interface through a wireless network; A switch unit for selecting and activating any one of a transmission path using the PTT processing unit and a transmission path using the wireless communication unit; And a control unit controlling the switch unit in response to a user's operation signal input through the PTT signal input unit, and the method of the present invention transfers any one of the plurality of transmission paths in response to a user's operation signal. Decide to use and release the service. Therefore, the present invention does not add a separate fee when using the PTT service, there is an effect that the waiting time is shortened. In addition, by not using the base station of the communication network, the call load of the base station can be reduced.

Description

Mobile communication terminal providing push-to-talk service and its method {MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PUSH-TO TALK SERVICE}

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a general network for providing a push-to-talk service in a CDMA 2000 1x system;

2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure for providing a push-to-talk service using the network system illustrated in FIG. 1;

3 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of a CDMA 2000 1x system that provides a push-to-talk service using a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic block diagram of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a diagram illustrating a process for providing a push-to-talk service using the mobile communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a push-to-talk service provision procedure between mobile communication terminals illustrated in FIG. 4.

The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile communication terminal that provides a push-to-talk service without a separate server interworking with a communication network (eg, a mobile communication network, a wireless communication network, etc.).

In general, a mobile communication terminal includes a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal communication services phone (PCS), an IMT-2000 terminal (International Mobile Telecommunication-2000), A device, such as a GSM (Global System For Mobile Communication) terminal, that is portable and allows a user to use a communication service (eg, a call or a text message exchange) while moving.

In the early stages of development, these mobile communication terminals were merely means for exchanging currency or text. Recently, however, due to the development of mobile communication technology and wireless communication technology, data communication speed has been greatly improved and wireless data communication service network has been established. Therefore, the mobile communication terminal does not simply perform a one-to-one voice call, but transmits multimedia information, receives a broadcast service, and provides a push-to-talk (PTT) service. It was done.

PTT service refers to a service in which each individual in a group presses a send button and communicates with other participants in the group depending on a single frequency or a dedicated channel. In general, a telephone call requires a high cost because two callers share a transmission channel and a reception channel, but the PTT service communicates at a low cost because many participants in the group communicate by sharing one broadcast channel. There are features that can be done. Group calls by three or more participants are also possible. Therefore, these PTT services are of interest from mobile communication terminal users.

For this reason, methods for providing a PTT service using a mobile communication terminal have been proposed. In particular, in the related art, a separate server (for example, PTT server) interworking with a communication network (for example, a mobile communication network, a wireless communication network, etc.) is established, and a call channel between subscribers of the PTT service is formed using the server, and then the call channel is used. A method for providing a PTT service has been proposed.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a general network configuration for providing a PTT service in a CDMA 2000 1x system. Referring to FIG. 1, a CDMA 2000 1x system for providing a PTT service includes a plurality of mobile communication terminals (eg, terminal 1 (10) and terminal 2 (20)), a CDMA 2000 1x radio access network, A packet data service node (hereinafter referred to as "RAN") 30 and a packet data service node connecting the RAN 30 to a packet network 50 using an Internet Protocol (IP) or the like. PDSN ') and a PTT server 60 connected to a packet communication network (IP network) 50 to manage PTT sessions and to relay voice packets from talkers to listener groups. ).

At this time, the plurality of mobile communication terminals 10 and 20 include a PTT button, provide a PTT service in response to the pressing of the PTT button, and enable wireless connection according to the CDMA 2000 1x standard.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure for providing a PTT service using the network system illustrated in FIG. 1. In particular, FIG. 2 shows an example of a case where the terminal 1 (10) requests a call by the PTT service to the terminal 2 (20).

Referring to FIG. 2, when the PTT button provided in the terminal 1 (10, also known as a transmitting terminal) is pressed (S11), the terminal 1 (10) checks whether the traffic channel is connected and if the traffic channel is not connected to the wireless communication network. 50 (ie, an IP network) and a traffic channel are set (S14). Then, the PTT server 60 delivers the PTT request message to the terminals of the corresponding group (terminal 2 (20, so-called, receiving terminal) in the example of FIG. 2) (S13, S15). Then, in response to the terminal 2 (20) establishes a traffic channel with the wireless communication network 50 (ie, IP network) (S16) and delivers a PTT confirmation message to the terminal 1 (10) via the PTT server 60 ( S18).

As described above, PTT service subscribers have to establish a mutual traffic channel using the wireless communication network 50 to perform a call by the PTT service. Therefore, call setup time for starting PTT service is delayed. That is, the waiting time becomes long. In addition, the call load of the base station is increased. In addition, conventionally, by establishing a separate PTT server and using the server, a usage fee (for example, information usage fee, etc.) for the PTT server occurs.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is to provide a PTT service providing method and a mobile communication terminal for minimizing the waiting time for PTT communication.

In addition, the present invention is to provide a PTT service providing method and a mobile communication terminal for the PTT service to prevent the call load is generated in the base station of the mobile communication network for PTT communication.

In addition, the present invention is to provide a PTT service providing method and a mobile communication terminal for minimizing the PTT communication charges.

In order to achieve the above object, the mobile communication terminal provided by the present invention is a PTT signal input unit for inputting a user's operation signal for using Push-To-Talk (hereinafter, referred to as 'PTT') service. ; A PTT processor performing data processing for providing a PTT service; A wireless communication unit providing a communication interface through a wireless network; A switch unit for selecting and activating any one of a transmission path using the PTT processing unit and a transmission path using the wireless communication unit; And a control unit controlling the switch unit in response to a user's operation signal input through the PTT signal input unit.

In this case, the PTT signal input unit preferably includes any one of a separate PTT button or a button included in the keypad of the mobile communication terminal.

In addition, the PTT processing unit modulates and outputs the voice of the input caller to the carrier frequency of the 2.4GHz band.

In addition, the PTT processing unit is preferably configured with any one of a ZIGBEE processing module, a Bluetooth processing module, and an ultra wide band (UWB).

The controller may activate the transmission path using the PTT processing unit when the PTT service use is selected through the PTT signal input unit, and activate the transmission path using the wireless communication unit when the PTT service usage is released.

In addition, when the transmission path using the PTT processor is activated, the controller periodically activates the transmission path using the wireless communication unit to continuously monitor data transmitted through the wireless communication network.

On the other hand, the PTT service providing method provided by the present invention in order to achieve the above object provides a PTT transmission path and a wireless communication service for providing Push-To-Talk (hereinafter referred to as 'PTT') service A PTT service providing method of a mobile communication terminal including a wireless communication transmission path for a first step, the method comprising: receiving a request signal of a user for using a PTT service; A second step of activating the PTT transmission path in response to the request signal; A third step of transmitting PTT data using the PTT transmission path; A fourth step of receiving a user's request signal for releasing a PTT service; And a fifth step of activating the wireless communication transmission path in response to the request signal.

At this time, the mobile communication terminal preferably activates the wireless communication transmission path in the air.

In the third process, the PTT data to be transmitted is modulated to a carrier frequency of the 2.4 GHz band.

In the third process, it is preferable to periodically monitor the data transmitted through the wireless communication network by activating the wireless communication transmission path periodically.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. At this time, it should be noted that the same elements in the accompanying drawings are represented by the same reference numerals wherever possible. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

3 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of a CDMA 2000 1x system that provides a PTT service using a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the CDMA 2000 1x system of the present invention for providing a PTT service includes a plurality of mobile communication terminals (eg, terminal 1 (100) and terminal 2 (200)), and a CDMA 2000 1x radio access network (Radio). Access Network (hereinafter referred to as "RAN") 300, and a packet communication network (IP network) 500 and the RAN 300 using the Internet Protocol (IP) and the like. That is, the CDMA 2000 1x system providing the PTT service according to an embodiment of the present invention does not include a separate PTT server.

At this time, the plurality of mobile communication terminals (100, 200) is provided with a PTT button and provides a PTT service in response to the pressing of the PTT button, it is also possible to wireless connection according to the CDMA 2000 1x standard. In particular, the mobile communication terminals 100 and 200 include a processing module for a PTT service therein and directly perform PTT service communication with each other. That is, PTT service communication is performed directly between each other without passing through the mobile communication network (300, 400, 500).

To this end, the plurality of mobile communication terminals (100, 200) preferably comprises a switch unit for separately configuring the transmission path of the PTT data and wireless data, and switching the two transmission paths in response to a user's request. A configuration example of such a mobile communication terminal of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.

4 is a schematic block diagram of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the mobile communication terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a keypad unit 105, a PTT signal input unit 110, a controller 115, a switch unit 120, a PTT processing unit 125, The wireless communication unit 130, a memory unit 135, a microphone unit 140, a speaker unit 145, and a display unit 150 are included.

The keypad 105 inputs a key signal according to the user's operation. To this end, the keypad 105 includes hardware buttons or soft buttons using a touch screen, and inputs a corresponding key signal to the controller 105 according to a user's manipulation.

The PTT signal input unit 110 inputs a user's manipulation signal for using the PTT service. For example, the PTT signal input unit 110 transmits a user's manipulation signal for using the PTT service to the controller 115. For this purpose, the PTT signal input unit 110 preferably includes one button. In addition, the PTT signal input unit 110 may use one of the keys included in the keypad 105.

The controller 115 controls the mobile communication terminal 100 based on a signal input through the keypad 105 or the PTT signal input unit 110 or an operation program pre-stored in the memory unit 135. For example, the controller 115 controls each unit of the mobile communication terminal 100 so that the mobile communication terminal 100 transmits / receives PTT data based on a user's manipulation signal input through the PTT signal input unit 110. . In particular, the control unit 115 preferably controls the switch unit 120 in response to a user's manipulation signal input through the PTT signal input unit 110. For example, when the button of the PTT signal input unit 110 is pressed, the switch unit 120 is controlled to form a transmission path through the PTT processing unit 125, and when the button of the PTT signal input unit 110 is released, the wireless communication unit 130 is released. It is preferable to control the switch unit 120 to form a transmission path through the ().

In addition, the controller 115 may periodically monitor the data transmitted through the wireless communication network by activating a transmission path through the wireless communication unit 130 even when using the PTT service.

The switch unit 120 determines the transmission path of the mobile communication terminal based on the control signal of the controller 115. For example, one of the transmission path using the PTT processor 125 and the transmission path using the wireless communication unit 130 is selected and activated. To this end, the switch unit 120 connects one of the PTT processing unit 125 and the wireless communication unit 130 to the antenna under the control of the control unit 115.

The PTT processing unit 125 performs all processing for providing a PTT service. In particular, the PTT processor 125 starts an operation in response to a user's manipulation signal input through the PTT signal input unit 110 and performs PTT data processing for providing a PTT service. For example, when the button of the PTT signal input unit 110 is pressed, the PTT processing unit 125 is connected to the antenna by the switch unit 120 to wait for reception of the PTT data, and the voice of the caller input through the microphone unit 140. Is modulated to a carrier frequency of 2.4 GHz band and transmitted through the antenna. In addition, the received PTT data is demodulated and output to the speaker unit 145. At this time, the PTT processing unit 125 is preferably configured as a local area network processing module. To this end, the PTT processor 125 may be configured as one of a ZIGBEE processing module, a Bluetooth processing module, and an ultra wide band (UWB) processing module.

The wireless communication unit 130, the wireless communication unit 150 provides a communication interface through a wireless network. For example, it controls data communication through a wireless network. The operation is controlled by the control of the control unit 115 and transmits wireless communication network data received through the antenna to the control unit 115.

The memory unit 135 stores information related to the operation of the mobile communication terminal 100 (eg, a drive program for controlling the mobile communication terminal drive, data related to the program, a phone book, an address book, and a short message). . In particular, the memory unit 135 preferably stores the PTT group information of the user of the mobile communication terminal 100 and transfers the PTT group information to the PTT processing unit 125 for reference when requesting a PTT service.

The microphone unit 140 collects the surrounding sound signals (eg, a user's voice, etc.) and transmits them to the controller 115, and the speaker unit 145 outputs the sound signal under the control of the controller 115. In addition, the display unit 150 outputs an image signal under the control of the controller 115.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure for providing a PTT service using the mobile communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 4. 4 and 5, a method of providing a PTT service using a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

First, the mobile terminal 100 operates in a wireless communication network reception standby state. That is, when no special operation is input from the user, the switch unit 120 connects the antenna to the wireless communication unit 130 to allow the mobile communication terminal 100 to wait for data reception from the wireless communication network.

When the button (aka PTT button) of the PTT signal input unit 110 is pressed in the standby state (S205), the controller 115 activates the PTT processing path (S210). For example, when the PTT button is pressed, the controller 115 transfers a control signal (that is, a path switching signal) to the switch unit 120 to switch the transmission path connected to the wireless communication unit 130 to the PTT processing unit 125. That is, the antenna is connected to the PTT processor 125. The PTT data is transmitted / received through the activated PTT processing path (S215). That is, the received data is processed by the PTT processing unit 125 and then transferred to the speaker unit 145 via the control unit 115, and the PTT processing unit 125 processes the voice of the caller input through the microphone 140. It is desirable to transmit via. At this time, the controller 115 periodically connects the antenna to the wireless communication unit 130 to monitor whether data is received through the wireless communication network.

On the other hand, when the PTT button is pressed during the PTT data transmission / reception (S220), the controller 115 activates the wireless communication processing path (S225). For example, when the PTT button is released, the control unit 115 transfers a control signal (that is, a path switching signal) to the switch unit 120 to switch the transmission path connected to the PTT processing unit 125 to the wireless communication unit 130. do. That is, the antenna is connected to the wireless communication unit 130. The wireless communication data is transmitted / received through the activated wireless communication processing path (S230).

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a PTT service providing procedure between mobile communication terminals illustrated in FIG. 4. In particular, FIG. 6 illustrates a PTT service providing procedure between mobile communication terminals (eg, terminal 1 (100) and terminal 2 (200)) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the terminal 1 100 and the terminal 2 200 may directly transmit PTT data without using a separate communication network or a PTT server. For example, when the terminal 1 (100) wants to transmit PTT data to the terminal 2 (200), the terminal 1 (100) transmits the PTT data by switching only the internal transmission path in response to the PTT service request through the PTT signal input unit. (S305). Meanwhile, even when the terminal 2 200 intends to transmit the PTT data to the terminal 1 100, the terminal 2 200 transmits the PTT data by switching only the internal transmission path in response to the PTT service request through the PTT signal input unit ( S310).

As described above, the present invention does not add an additional charge when using the PTT service by directly transmitting PTT data between mobile communication terminals that want to use the PTT service, thereby reducing the waiting time.

In the above, specific preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention attached to the claims. .

As described above, the present invention does not add an additional charge when using the PTT service by directly transmitting PTT data between mobile communication terminals that want to use the PTT service, thereby reducing the waiting time. In addition, by not using the base station of the communication network, the call load of the base station can be reduced.

Claims (10)

A PTT signal input unit for inputting a user's manipulation signal for using Push-To-Talk (hereinafter, referred to as 'PTT') service; A PTT processor for forming a transmission path and processing data for providing a PTT service; A wireless communication unit for forming a transmission path through a wireless network and providing a communication interface; A switch unit for selecting and activating any one of a transmission path using the PTT processing unit and a transmission path using the wireless communication unit; And And a controller for controlling the switch in response to a user's manipulation signal input through the PTT signal input unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the PTT signal input unit A mobile communication terminal comprising any one of a separate PTT button or a button included in the keypad of the mobile communication terminal. The method of claim 1, wherein the PTT processing unit And a modulator outputs the voice of the input caller to a carrier frequency of the 2.4 GHz band. The method of claim 1, wherein the PTT processing unit A mobile communication terminal comprising any one of a ZIGBEE processing module, a Bluetooth processing module, and an ultra wide band processing module. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit And when the use of the PTT service is selected through the PTT signal input unit, activating a transmission path using the PTT processing unit, and activating a transmission path using the wireless communication unit when the use of the PTT service is released. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit And when the transmission path using the PTT processor is activated, periodically activating the transmission path using the wireless communication unit to continuously monitor data transmitted through the wireless communication network. In the PTT service providing method of a mobile communication terminal including a PTT transmission path for providing Push-To-Talk (hereinafter referred to as 'PTT') service and a wireless communication transmission path for providing a wireless communication service , A first step of receiving a user's request signal for using the PTT service; A second step of activating the PTT transmission path in response to the request signal; A third step of transmitting PTT data using the PTT transmission path; A fourth step of receiving a user's request signal for releasing a PTT service; And And a fifth step of activating the wireless communication transmission path in response to the request signal. The method of claim 7, wherein The mobile communication terminal provides a PTT service, characterized in that for activating the wireless communication transmission path. The method of claim 7, wherein the third process is Method for providing a PTT service characterized in that for modulating the PTT data to be transmitted to a carrier frequency of the 2.4GHz band. The method of claim 7, wherein the third process is And periodically activating the wireless communication transmission path to continuously monitor data transmitted through a wireless communication network.

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