Voice over IP portable transreceiver

Abstract

Described below is a system to provide voice communication over a data network. The system is described as an access point connected to the data network adapted to exchange network messages over the data network and a wireless terminal including a transmitter component and a software module, the transmitter component adapted to exchange wireless messages with the access point over a wireless network, and the software module configured to provide a plurality of virtual channels. Each of the virtual channels being carried over the wireless network and the data network, the software module being configured to enable reception of the voice communication and to enable transmission of the voice communication over selected virtual channels.

1 . A system to provide voice communication over a data network, comprising: 
 an access point connected to the data network adapted to exchange network messages over the data network; and    a wireless terminal including a transmitter component and a software module, the transmitter component adapted to exchange wireless messages with the access point over a wireless network, the software module configured to provide a plurality of virtual channels, each of the virtual channels being carried over the wireless network and the data network, the software module being configured to enable reception of the voice communication and to enable transmission of the voice communication over selected virtual channels.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the terminal are a voice-enabled terminal.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the software module is configured for at least one of (i) enabling half duplex transmission and reception on the virtual channels, (ii) preventing collision of transmissions on each of the virtual channels, (iii) prioritizing simultaneous transmissions on each of the selected channels, such that only one of the simultaneous transmissions is enabled, (iv) initiating a peer to peer full-duplex call with a further wireless terminal, (v) transmitting redundant data packets representing the voice communication.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the terminal includes at least one of a speaker and a PTT switch.  
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein transmission on an active channel is disabled when the active channel is in use.  
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein a user notification is generated when initiating transmission on one of the selected channels if the selected channel is in use.  
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 1 , further providing a priority channel enabled to override transmission and reception on the plurality of virtual channels.  
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the wireless terminal receives a voice transmission from the further wireless terminal over one of the plurality of virtual channels.  
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the peer to peer full duplex call overrides reception and transmission of the voice communication over the plurality of virtual channels.  
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless terminal includes a memory adapted to store and replay a portion of the voice communication.  
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a directory service of the data network adapted to associate names with the virtual channels.  
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the software module compresses data packets representing the voice communication before transmission.  
   
   
       13 . A portable terminal comprising: 
 a memory storing software instructions;    a transmitter section adapted for exchanging data with an access point via a wireless network, the access point being connected to a data network; and    a processor adapted to execute the software instructions, the software instructions comprising: 
 instructions to provide a plurality of virtual channels carried over the wireless network and the data network;  
 instructions to generate data packets representing an outbound voice communication, and transmit the data packets over selected ones of the virtual channels; and  
 instructions to receive data packets over the selected ones of the virtual channels and regenerate an inbound voice communication from the data packets.  
   
   
   
       14 . The terminal according to  claim 13 , wherein the processor further comprises instructions for at least one of (i) establishing semi duplex communications over selected ones of the virtual channels, (ii) establishing a full duplex communication with a selected addressee, (iii) disabling transmission of the data packets over a virtual channel that is in use, (iv) transmitting the data packets redundantly and (v) monitoring selected ones of the virtual channels for the data packets.  
   
   
       15 . The terminal according to  claim 13 , further comprising a digital signal processor adapted for compressing the data packets.  
   
   
       16 . The terminal according to  claim 13 , further comprising a push to talk button.  
   
   
       17 . The terminal according to  claim 13 , further comprising a memory module adapted for storing the inbound voice communication.  
   
   
       18 . The terminal according to  claim 13 , further comprising a display adapted to show a user interface of the software instructions.  
   
   
       19 . The terminal according to  claim 18 , wherein the display shows an origin identification of the inbound voice transmission.  
   
   
       20 . The system according to  claim 13 , Wherein the terminal is a voice-enabled terminal.  
   
   
       21 . A method for conducting voice communications over a data network, comprising: 
 providing a plurality of virtual channels carried over a wireless network and the data network;    transmitting data packets representing an outbound voice communication over a selected one of the virtual channels by a first wireless terminal;    receiving the data packets over the selected one of the virtual channels by a second wireless terminal; and    regenerating an inbound voice communication from the data packets by the second wireless terminal.    
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 establishing one of full duplex and semi duplex communications over the selected one of the virtual channels    
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 disabling transmission of the data packets over a virtual channel that is in use.    
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 transmitting the data packets redundantly.    
   
   
       25 . An arrangement for conducting wireless communications, comprising: 
 a storage means for storing software instructions;    a communication means for exchanging data with an access point via a wireless network, the access point being connected to a data network; and    a processing means adapted to execute the software instructions, the software instructions comprising: 
 instructions to provide a plurality of virtual channels carried over the wireless network and the data network;  
 instructions to generate data packets representing an outbound voice communication, and transmit the data packets over selected ones of the virtual channels; and  
 instructions to receive data packets over the selected ones of the virtual channels and regenerate an inbound voice communication from the data packets.