System and method for seamlessly switching a half-duplex session to a full-duplex session
View Patent ↗A communication system that is particularly suited to switch a half duplex session to a full duplex session. The system includes a dispatch call controller that sets up a half duplex session; and a VoIP server that receives a request to switch the half duplex session to a full duplex session; forwards the request to the target subscriber unit; receives an acceptance of the request; and sets up the full duplex session between the subscriber units. In another embodiment, the dispatch call controller receives the request to switch to the full duplex session; forwards the request to the target subscriber unit; receives an acceptance of the request; and instructs the VoIP server to set up the full duplex session. In yet another embodiment, a service broker receives the request, instructs the VoIP server to set up the full duplex session, and instructs the dispatch call controller to terminate the half duplex session.
1. A communication system, comprising:
a network;
a dispatch call controller coupled to the network to set up a half duplex communication session between a first subscriber unit and a second subscriber unit; and
a VoIP server coupled to the network, the VoIP server configured to:
receive a request from the first subscriber unit through said network to switch the half duplex communication session to a full duplex communication session while the half duplex communication session is active;
set up the full duplex communication session between the first and second subscriber units when an acceptance is received from the second subscriber unit; and
a service broker coupled to the network, the service broker configured to:
instruct the dispatch call controller to terminate the half duplex communication session after the VoIP server sets up the full duplex communication session.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the VoIP server forwards the received request to the service broker.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the service broker determines whether one of the first and second subscriber units are permitted to switch from the half duplex communication session to the full duplex communication session.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the service broker forwards the request to the second subscriber unit when the service broker determines that one of the first and second subscriber units are permitted to switch from the half duplex communication session to the full duplex communication session.
5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the service broker instructs the VoIP server to set up the full duplex communication session between the first and second subscriber units when the acceptance is received.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dispatch call controller creates a call record of the half duplex session after the half duplex session is terminated.
7. A method of switching a half duplex communication session to a full duplex communication session, comprising:
setting up by a dispatch call controller a half duplex communication session between a first subscriber unit and a second subscriber unit;
receiving by a VoIP server a request from the first subscriber unit through said network to switch the half duplex communication session to a full duplex communication session while the half duplex communication session is active;
setting up the full duplex communication session between the first and second subscriber units when an acceptance is received from the second subscriber unit; and
sending from a service broker an instruction to the dispatch call controller to terminate the half duplex communication session after the VoIP server sets up the full duplex communication session.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein after the act of receiving the method further comprises:
forwarding the received request from the VoIP server to the service broker.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining by the service broker whether one of the first and second subscriber units are permitted to switch from the half duplex communication session to the full duplex communication session.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
forwarding by the service broker the request to the second subscriber unit when the service broker determines that one of the first and second subscriber units are permitted to switch from the half duplex communication session to the full duplex communication session.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
sending an instruction from the service broker to the VoIP server to set up the full duplex communication session between the first and second subscriber units when the acceptance is received.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the dispatch call controller creates a call record of the half duplex session after the half duplex session is terminated.