Synchronizing floor control and media sharing in a half-duplex ptt system

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to synchronizing media sharing in a communication group. An embodiment transmits one or more media files to one or more members of the communication group, receives, after the transmitting, a selection of one of the one or more media files, and transmits, in response to the receiving, a request to start a group call with the one or more members of the communication group or a request to acquire the floor of the group call. An embodiment receives, at a user device, one or more media files from a member of the communication group, receives, after the receiving the one or more media files, a talk spurt from the member and a reference to one of the one or more media files, and displays the one of the one or more media file during the talk spurt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for selectively sending one or more group-directed media originated from an originating wireless communication device to one or more target wireless communication devices across a wireless communication network, comprising:
 receiving a data notification at a group communication server that is configured to control group communications between a group of wireless communication devices that are members of a communication group, wherein the data notification has the one or more group-directed media embedded within, and is received from the originating wireless communication device and directed to the one or more target wireless communication devices of the members of the communication group across the wireless communication network;   determining a media-handling capability of the one or more target wireless communication devices,
 wherein upon a determination that a group-directed media sent from the originating wireless communication device to at least one target wireless communication device of the members of the communication group is not of a type known as receivable by the at least one target wireless communication device, the method further comprises:
 not distributing the group-directed media to the at least one target wireless communication device; 
 sending the group-directed media to a data store; and 
 sending a link to the stored group-directed media to the at least one target wireless communication device. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending the data notification received from the originating wireless communication device to the one or more target wireless communication devices across the wireless communication network. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending the group-directed media from a computer device on the wireless communication network through a dispatch call handler (DCH) to the at least one target wireless communication device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing, by a computer device on the wireless communication network, information on the media-handling capability of each of the target wireless communication devices; and   retrieving, by a dispatch call handler (DCH), the information on the media-handling capability of the at least one target wireless communication device upon receiving the data notification containing the one or more group-directed media intended for the at least one target wireless communication device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a preview of the group-directed media to the at least one target wireless communication device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to add a new media type to a group communication from the originating wireless communication device;   verifying the at least one target wireless communication device supports the new media type; and   notifying the at least one target wireless communication device of addition of the new media type to the group communication.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selectively permitting the at least one target wireless communication device to access the stored group-directed media based on identifiying the at least one target wireless communication device as a member of the communication group. 
     
     
         8 . A group communication server configured for selectively sending one or more group-directed media originated from an originating wireless communication device to one or more target wireless communication devices across a wireless communication network, the group communication server configured to:
 receive a data notification that is configured to control group communications between a group of wireless communication devices that are members of a communication group, wherein the data notification has the one or more group-directed media embedded within, and is received from the originating wireless communication device and directed to the one or more target wireless communication devices of the members of the communication group across the wireless communication network;   determine a media-handling capability of the one or more target wireless communication devices,
 wherein upon a determination that a group-directed media sent from the originating wireless communication device to at least one target wireless communication device of the members of the communication group is not of a type known as receivable by the at least one target wireless communication device, the group communication server is further configured to:
 not distribute the group-directed media to the at least one target wireless communication device; 
 send the group-directed media to a data store; and 
 send a link to the stored group-directed media to the at least one target wireless communication device. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The group communication server of  claim 8 , further configured to send the data notification received from the originating wireless communication device to the one or more target wireless communication devices across the wireless communication network. 
     
     
         10 . The group communication server of  claim 8 , further configured to send the group-directed media through a dispatch call handler (DCH) to the at least one target wireless communication device. 
     
     
         11 . The group communication server of  claim 8 , further configured to:
 store information on the media-handling capability of each of the target wireless communication devices; and   retrieve the information on the media-handling capability of the at least one target wireless communication device upon receiving the data notification containing the one or more group-directed media intended for the at least one target wireless communication device.   
     
     
         12 . The group communication server of  claim 8 , further configured to send a preview of the group-directed media to the at least one target wireless communication device. 
     
     
         13 . The group communication server of  claim 8 , further configured to:
 receive a request to add a new media type to a group communication from the originating wireless communication device;   verify the at least one target wireless communication device supports the new media type; and   notify the at least one target wireless communication device of addition of the new media type to the group communication.   
     
     
         14 . The group communication server of  claim 8 , further comprising selectively permitting the at least one target wireless communication device to access the stored group-directed media based on identifying the at least one target wireless communication device as a member of the communication group. 
     
     
         15 . A group communication server configured for selectively sending one or more group-directed media originated from an originating wireless communication device to one or more target wireless communication devices across a wireless communication network, the group communication server comprising:
 means for receiving a data notification that is configured to control group communications between a group of wireless communication devices that are members of a communication group, wherein the data notification has the one or more group-directed media embedded within, and is received from the originating wireless communication device and directed to the one or more target wireless communication devices of the members of the communication group across the wireless communication network;   means for determining a media-handling capability of the one or more target wireless communication devices,
 wherein upon a determination that a group-directed media sent from the originating wireless communication device to at least one target wireless communication device of the members of the communication group is not of a type known as receivable by the at least one target wireless communication device, the group communication server further comprises:
 means for not distributing the group-directed media to the at least one target wireless communication device; 
 means for sending the group-directed media to a data store; and 
 means for sending a link to the stored group-directed media to the at least one target wireless communication device. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The group communication server of  claim 15 , further comprising means for sending the data notification received from the originating wireless communication device to the one or more target wireless communication devices across the wireless communication network. 
     
     
         17 . The group communication server of  claim 15 , further comprising means for sending the group-directed media through a dispatch call handler (DCH) to the at least one target wireless communication device. 
     
     
         18 . The group communication server of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 means for storing information on the media-handling capability of each of the target wireless communication devices; and   means for retrieving the information on the media-handling capability of the at least one target wireless communication device upon receiving the data notification containing the one or more group-directed media intended for the at least one target wireless communication device.   
     
     
         19 . The group communication server of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 means for sending a preview of the group-directed media to the at least one target wireless communication device; and   means for selectively permitting the at least one target wireless communication device to access the stored group-directed media based on identifying the at least one target wireless communication device as a member of the communication group.   
     
     
         20 . The group communication server of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 means for receiving a request to add a new media type to a group communication from the originating wireless communication device;   means for verifying the at least one target wireless communication device supports the new media type; and   means for notify the at least one target wireless communication device of addition of the new media type to the group communication.