Push-to-Talk (PTT) & Mission Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT)

With dedicated PTT buttons and support for numerous (carrier-specific) PTT platforms and over-the-air PTT platforms, including MCPTT, Kyocera devices offer smartphones and feature phones with the ultimate in utility and flexibility. Our devices also include PTT design enhancements like loud clear audio, powerful batteries and support for PTT accessories.

Push-to-Talk allows for instant communication one-to-one or one-to-many over Cellular or Wi-Fi networks and utilizes the many productivity features of Kyocera devices. And with One Touch Action you can configure quick access to the most commonly used PTT functions like recent call, specific contacts, call groups or landing page options. PTT allows you to do more than talk, you can track and share your location, share texts, alerts, photos, videos, voice messages and documents (PDFs) – all without leaving the app.

MCPTT TARGET USERS, CAPABILITIES & PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

MCPTT Target Users

• MCPTT is primarily targeting to provide professional Push-to-Talk (PTT) services to Mission Critical users (e.g., public safety, transportation,  health care, utilities, industrial services and energy).
• Commercial users of PTT service for non-critical use (e.g., private parties, small business, etc.) may also be delivered through an MCPTT system.
• Performance and MCPTT features in use vary per user organization. Mission Critical functions such as Priority Access, Preemption, Ambient Listening and Imminent Peril Calls are not typically available to commercial users.
• MCPTT Users expect to communicate with other MCPTT users as well as non-MCPTT users. MCPTT enabled devices are expected to operate equally for normal telephony services.

MCPTT Key Capabilities

• MC Services are based on 3GPP Evolved Packet System (EPS) services to support enhanced PTT services suitable for mission critical scenarios as well as consumer use cases.
• MC Services are built on service enablers: Group Call System Enablers (GCSE). Traditionally, LTE has been one-to-one communication, GCSE enables the fundamental requirement for efficient and dynamic group  communications such as one-to-many calling and broadcast capabilities over LTE.
• MCPTT supports several different types of group calls, users in groups are granted the ability to talk in an arbitrated manner based on Floor control (e.g., queue in priority order requests to speak, limit the time a user  talks, etc.).
• MCPTT supports Private Calls between pairs of users as well as broadcast calls (one to many).
• MCPTT Service provides a means for a user with higher priority to override based on their priority (e.g., the head of an operation can obtain the floor at any time, Emergency requests are granted immediate floor  access) to override (interrupt) the current talker.
• MCPTT Service supports a mechanism to limit the time a user talks (holds the floor) thus permitting users of the same or lower priority a chance to gain the floor.
• The MCPTT Service provides the means for a user to monitor activity on any number of separate calls (groups) and enables the user to switch focus to a specific call.
• An MCPTT Service user may join an already established MCPTT Group call (Late call entry).
• MCPTT Service provides the User ID of the current speaker(s) and their location determination features.

MCPTT Performance Indicators

• Access Time (KPI 1) is one of the most important performance criteria. Access time is defined as the time between when a MCPTT User requests to speak (normally by pressing the MCPTT control on the MCPTT UE) and  when this user gets a signal to start speaking.
• End-to-End Access Time (KPI 2) is defined as the time between when a MCPTT User requests to speak (normally by pressing the MCPTT control on the MCPTT UE) and when this user gets a signal to start speaking,  including MCPTT call establishment (if applicable) and possibly acknowledgement from first receiving user before voice can be transmitted.
• Mouth-to-Ear Latency (KPI 3) is the time between an utterance by the transmitting user, and the playback of the utterance at the receiving user's speaker.
• The MCPTT Service shall provide an MCPTT Access time (KPI 1) of less than 300 ms for 95% of all MCPTT Requests.
• For MCPTT Emergency Group Calls and Imminent Peril Calls the MCPTT Service shall provide an MCPTT Access time (KPI 1) less than 300 ms for 99% of all MCPTT Requests.
• The MCPTT Service shall provide an End-to-end MCPTT Access time (KPI 2) less than 1000 ms for users under coverage of the same network when the MCPTT Group call has not been established prior to the initiation  of the MCPTT Request.
• The MCPTT Service shall provide a Mouth-to-ear latency (KPI 3) that is less than 300 ms for 95% of all voice bursts.