Voice over IP portable transreceiver

Abstract

A portable transreceiver system transmitting voice communications over a data network is described. The system has a portable transreceiver (WT) mode where multiple users are connected using semi duplex communications, and a private mode in which pairs of users are connected using full duplex communications. Wireless voice enabled terminals are used by the users, and are interconnected via a network such as the Internet.

1 . A system to provide voice communication over a data network, comprising: 
 wireless voice enabled terminals;    access points connected to the data network adapted to exchange network messages over the data network:    a transmitter component of each of the terminals adapted to exchange wireless messages with the access points over a wireless network: and    a software module executing on each of the terminals configured to provide a plurality of virtual channels, each of the virtual channels being carried over the wireless network and the data network, wherein    the software module is 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 software module is configured to enable half duplex transmission and reception on the virtual channels.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a speaker and a PTT switch of each of the terminals.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1 . wherein the software module is configured to prevent collision of transmissions on each of the virtual channels.  
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein transmission on an active channel is disabled when the active channel is in use.  
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 4 , 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 , wherein the software module is configured to prioritize simultaneous transmissions on each of the selected channels, such that only one of the simultaneous transmissions is enabled.  
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 1 . further providing a priority channel enabled to override transmission and reception on the plurality of virtual channels.  
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the software module is configured to initiate a peer to Deer full-duplex call with a selected one of the terminals.  
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the selected one of the terminals originates a voice transmission received over one of the plurality of virtual channels.  
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the peer to peer full duplex call overrides reception and transmission of the voice communication over the plurality of virtual channels.  
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 1 . further comprising a memory of each of the terminals adapted to store and replay a portion of the voice communication.  
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the software module is configured to transmit redundant data packets representing the voice communication.  
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a directory service of the data network adapted to associate names with the virtual channels.  
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the associated name is displayed on the terminals.  
   
   
       16 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the software module compresses data packets representing the voice communication before transmission.  
   
   
       17 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the software module is configured to operate the voice enabled terminals at a reduced power level.  
   
   
       18 . A method of transmitting voice communications between users, comprising: 
 establishing a half duplex connection between wireless terminals of the users over a data network;    establishing a full duplex connection between a pair of the wireless terminals over the data network;    sending the voice communications from a sender of the wireless terminals to receivers of the wireless terminals; and    reproducing the voice communications at the receivers.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 sending the voice communications as data packets.    
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising: redundantly sending the data packets.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising providing a plurality of virtual channels over which to establish the half duplex connection.  
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising prioritizing the voice communications taking place over a selected one of the plurality of virtual channels.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising preventing the sending of the voice communications over a selected one of the virtual channels if the selected virtual channel is in use.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising providing power management for the wireless terminals.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising storing the voice communications at the receivers.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the full duplex communication is established between a selected one of the receivers and the sender.  
   
   
       27 . A portable voice enabled terminal comprising: 
 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 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.    
   
   
       28 . The voice enabled terminal according to  claim 27 , wherein the processor further comprises instructions to establish semi duplex communications over selected ones of the virtual channels.  
   
   
       29 . The voice enabled terminal according to  claim 27 , wherein the processor further comprises instructions to establish a full duplex communication with a selected addressee.  
   
   
       30 . The voice enabled terminal according to  claim 27 , wherein the instructions further comprise disabling transmission of the data packets over a virtual channel that is in use.  
   
   
       31 . The voice enabled terminal according to  claim 27 , wherein the instructions further comprise transmitting the data packets redundantly.  
   
   
       32 . The voice enabled terminal according to  claim 27 , further comprising instructions to monitor selected ones of the virtual channels for the data packets.  
   
   
       33 . The voice enabled terminal according to  claim 27 , further comprising a digital signal processor adapted for compressing the data packets.  
   
   
       34 . The voice enabled terminal according to  claim 27 , further comprising a dedicated push to talk button.  
   
   
       35 . The voice enabled terminal according to  claim 27 , further comprising a memory module adapted for storing the inbound voice communication  
   
   
       36 . The voice enabled terminal according to  claim 27 , further comprising a display adapted to show a user interface of the software instructions.  
   
   
       37 . The voice enabled terminal according to  claim 36 , wherein the display shows an origin identification of the inbound voice transmission.