PUSH-TO-COMMUNICATE SERVICE IN A CELLULAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
A cellular communication system comprises a push-to-communicate server ( 117 ) which comprises a PTC controller ( 203 ) which supports a push-to-communicate service for a group of remote terminals ( 101, 103, 115 ). The remote terminals ( 101, 103, 115 ) measure a radio quality indication and transmit this to the push-to-communicate server ( 117 ) where a quality processor ( 205 ) determines a radio quality characteristic for the remote terminals ( 101, 103, 115 ) based on the received measurements. The radio quality characteristic for the remote terminal ( 101, 103, 115 ) relates to an air interface communication link which supports the push-to-communicate service for that remote terminal ( 101, 103, 115 ). The PTC controller ( 203 ) controls a transmit controller ( 207 ) to transmit the radio quality characteristic to at least one other remote terminal ( 101, 103, 115 ) of the group of remote terminals ( 101, 103, 115 ). When receiving the radio quality indication for another remote terminal ( 101, 103, 115 ), a remote terminal ( 101, 103, 115 ) may present a perceived end-quality indication for the other remote terminal ( 101, 103, 115 ) to the user.
1 . A cellular communication system comprising:
means for supporting a push-to-communicate service for a group of remote terminals;
determining means for determining a radio quality characteristic for an air interface communication link of a first remote terminal of the group of remote terminals; the air interface communication link supporting the push-to-communicate service for the first remote terminal; and
first transmitting means for transmitting the radio quality characteristic to a second remote terminal of the group of remote terminals.
2 . The cellular communication system of claim 1 wherein the first transmitting means is arranged to transmit the radio quality characteristic of the first remote terminal to all other remote terminals of the group of terminals.
3 . The cellular communication system of claim 1 wherein the second remote terminal comprises:
storage means for storing data associated with the group of remote terminals; and
means for updating a stored characteristic for the second remote terminal in response to the radio quality characteristic.
4 . The cellular communication system of claim 1 wherein the second remote terminal comprises means for presenting an indication of the radio quality characteristic to a user.
5 . The cellular communication system of claim 1 wherein the second remote terminal comprises:
means for receiving radio quality characteristics from a plurality of the remote terminals of the group of remote terminals; and
means for presenting communication quality indications for each of the plurality of remote terminals, the communication quality indication being determined in response to the radio quality characteristics.
6 . The cellular communication system of claim 1 wherein the first remote terminal comprises the determining means and means for including the radio quality characteristic in one of the group of; a user data packet, a signalling data packet a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) data packet, a Real Time Protocol (RTP) data packet, and an idle mode link maintenance transmission.
7 . The cellular communication system of claim 1 further comprising:
a push-to-communicate server comprising the means for supporting the push-to-communicate service and the first transmitting means, wherein the push-to communicate server comprises means for requesting the radio quality characteristic from the first remote terminal; and
wherein the first remote terminal comprises the determining means and second transmitting means for transmitting the radio quality characteristic to the push-to-communicate server.
8 . The cellular communication system of claim 7 wherein the second remote terminal is arranged to transmit the radio quality characteristic in response to one of the group of; receiving an invitation to join a push-to-communicate service, and receiving a presence update message.
9 . The cellular communication system of claim 1 wherein the radio quality characteristic comprises a radio link error rate parameter.
10 . A method of operation in a cellular communication system, the method comprising:
supporting a push-to-communicate service for a group of remote terminals;
determining a radio quality characteristic for an air interface communication link of a first remote terminal of the group of remote terminals; the air interface communication link supporting the push-to-communicate service for the first remote terminal; and
transmitting the radio quality characteristic to a second remote terminal of the group of remote terminals.