Systems and methods for facilitating push-to-talk (ptt) communications using sip-based messaging

Abstract

A method of facilitating push-to-talk (PTT) communications between a server device and a client device using SIP-based messaging, the server device being in communication with a media server. The method includes receiving in the server device from the client device a SUBSCRIBE message for subscription to a push-to-talk group, the SUBSCRIBE message including media information of the client device, storing in the server device the media information of the client device, and sending from the server device to the client device a NOTIFY message, the NOTIFY message including media information of the media server for storage by the client device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of facilitating push-to-talk (PTT) communications between a server device and a client device using SIP-based messaging, the server device being in communication with a media server, the method comprising:
 sending to the server device from the client device a SUBSCRIBE message for subscription to a push-to-talk group, the SUBSCRIBE message including media information of the client device for storage of the media information in the server device; and   establishing a PTT media session between the media server and the client device based on the stored media information of the client device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving in the client device from the server device a NOTIFY message, the NOTIFY message including media information of the media server; and   storing the media information of the media server in the client device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 sending to the server device from the client device a second SUBSCRIBE message for initiating the PTT media session, the second SUBSCRIBE message excluding media information.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving in the client device from the server device a second NOTIFY message for initiation of the PTT media session, the second NOTIFY message excluding media information.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the media information of the client device or the server device includes port information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the SUBSCRIBE or NOTIFY messages include an event package relating to push-to-talk. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the event package includes state information of the push-to-talk group. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the state information includes an active state when implementing a PTT media session and an idle state otherwise. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the SUBSCRIBE or NOTIFY message includes expiry information of the push-to-talk group subscription. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client device comprises part of an enterprise system. 
     
     
         11 . A method of facilitating push-to-talk (PTT) communications between a server device and a client device using SIP-based messaging, the server device being in communication with a media server, the method comprising:
 sending to the server device from the client device a SUBSCRIBE message for subscription to a push-to-talk group;   receiving in the client device from the server device a NOTIFY message, the NOTIFY message including media information of the media server;   storing the media information of the media server in the client device; and   establishing a PTT media session between the media server and the client device using the stored media information.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the SUBSCRIBE message includes media information of the client device for storage in the server device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 sending to the server device from the client device a second SUBSCRIBE message for initiating the PTT media session, the second SUBSCRIBE message excluding media information.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the media information of the client device or the server device includes port information. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the SUBSCRIBE or NOTIFY messages include an event package relating to push-to-talk. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the event package includes state information of the push-to-talk group. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the state information includes an active state when implementing a PTT media session and an idle state otherwise. 
     
     
         18 . A client device for facilitating push-to-talk (PTT) communications using SIP-based messaging with a server device, the server device being in communication with a media server, the client device comprising:
 a memory;   a controller for accessing the memory;   a communications module for communicating with the server device; and   the controller being configured to:   send to the server device a SUBSCRIBE message for subscription to a push-to-talk group, the SUBSCRIBE message including media information of the client device,   receive from the server device a NOTIFY message, the NOTIFY message including media information of the media server,   store the media information of the media server in the memory, and   establish a PTT media session between the media server and the client device using the stored media information of the media server.   
     
     
         19 . A client device for facilitating push-to-talk (PTT) communications using SIP-based messaging with a server device, the server device being in communication with a media server, the client device comprising:
 a memory;   a controller for accessing the memory;   a communications module for communicating with the server device; and   the controller being configured to:   send to the server device a SUBSCRIBE message for subscription to a push-to-talk group, the SUBSCRIBE message including media information of the client device for storage of the media information in the server device; and   establish a PTT media session between the media server and the client device based on the stored media information of the client device.