Methods and apparatus for automatically recording push-to-talk (PTT) voice communications for replay

A mobile station, comprising:

• a wireless transceiver adapted to operate within a wireless communication network;
• one or more processors;
• memory coupled to the one or more processors;
• a user interface which includes:
• a Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch for transmitting a PTT voice communication through the wireless transceiver;
• a PTT replay switch for replaying a PTT voice communication previously received through the wireless transceiver and stored in the memory;
• a speaker for outputting audible voice signals;
• the wireless transceiver being operative to:
• receive a PTT key message via the wireless communication network;
• receive, via the wireless communication network, voice data of a PTT voice communication of the PTT communication session, the voice data of the PTT voice communication following the PTT key message;
• receive, via the wireless communication network, a PTT dekey message following the voice data;
• the one or more processors being operative to:
• receive, via the user interface, an end-user selectable setting for enabling or disabling PTT recording;
• causing the end-user selectable setting to be stored in memory of the mobile station;
• if the end-user selectable setting indicates that PTT recording is enabled, perform the following PTT recording acts for the PTT communication session:
• cause the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be recorded in the memory based on receiving the PTT key message;
• cause the recording of voice data of the PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the PTT dekey message;
• and
• if the end-use selectable setting indicates that PTT recording s disabled, refrain from recording the voice data of the PTT voice communication of the PTT communication session in the memory.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a storage medium;
• computer instructions stored in the storage medium;
• and
• the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors for:
• receiving, via a user interface, an end-user selectable setting for enabling or disabling PTT recording;
• causing the end-user selectable setting to be stored in memory;
• if the end-user selectable setting indicates that PTT recording is enabled, performing the following PTT recording acts during a PTT communication session:
• receiving a PTT key message via a wireless communication network;
• receiving, via a wireless communication network, voice data of a PTT voice communication of the PTT communication session, the voice data of the PTT voice communication following the PTT key message;
• causing the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be recorded in memory based on receiving the PTT key message;
• receiving, via the wireless communication network, a PTT dekey message following the voice data;
• causing the recording of voice data of the PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the PTT dekey message;
• and
• if the end-user selectable setting indicates that PTT recording s disabled, refraining from recording the voice data of the PTT voice communication of the PTT communication session in the memory.

A wireless communication system, comprising:

• a wireless communication network;
• a Push-to-talk (PTT) server coupled in the wireless communication network;
• one or more mobile stations adapted to operate in the wireless communication network, each mobile station including:
• a wireless transceiver adapted to operate within the wireless communication network;
• one or more processors;
• memory coupled to the one or more processors;
• a user interface which includes:
• a Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch for transmitting a PTT voice communication through the wireless transceiver;
• a PTT replay switch for replaying a PTT voice communication previously received through the wireless transceiver and stored in the memory;
• a speaker for outputting audible voice signals;
• the wireless transceiver being operative to:
• receive, a PTT key message via the wireless communication network;
• receive via the wireless communication network, voice data of a PTT voice communication of a PTT communication session, the voice data of the PTT voice communication following the PTT key message;
• receive a PTT dekey message following the PTT voice communication;
• the one or more processors being operative to:
• receive, via the user interface, an end-user selectable setting for enabling or disabling PTT recording;
• cause the end-user selectable setting to be stored in memory of the mobile station;
• if the end-user selectable setting indicates that PTT recording is enabled, perform the following PTT recording acts for the PTT communication session:
• cause the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be recorded in the memory based on receiving the PTT key message;
• cause the recording of voice data of the PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the PTT dekey message;
• and
• if the end-user selectable setting indicates that PTT recording is disabled, refrain from recording the voice data of the PTT voice communication of the PTT communication session in the memory.