/push-to-talk-workflow

name: push-to-talk-workflow
description: Build an Apple Push to Talk channel experience with system controls, ephemeral PTT pushes, audio-session ownership, and an app-owned communication backend.
metadata:
  hermes:
    category: apple-development
    tags: [push-to-talk, ptt, audio, apns, channels]

Push To Talk Workflow

Purpose

Build a walkie-talkie-style application using PushToTalk. The framework supplies system controls and channel lifecycle; the app still owns identity, membership, audio transport, encryption, moderation, and backend behavior.

Workflow

1. Model a channel with stable app-owned identity, membership authorization, transmission mode, and explicit join/leave lifecycle. 2. Use `PTChannelManager` and its delegate for system-visible channel state and begin/end transmission events. Treat half-duplex and full-duplex as product decisions, not interchangeable audio modes. 3. Configure the app's audio session only in response to the applicable PTT lifecycle event; preserve interruptions, Bluetooth routing, and privacy indicators. 4. Use the channel's ephemeral push token only for that channel lifetime. Send APNs PTT pushes with `pushtotalk`, the `.voip-ptt` topic suffix, immediate priority, and no stale-delivery window when the event is time-sensitive. 5. Keep transport, codec, encryption, recording, retention, and moderation as explicit app/backend responsibilities.

Validation

Validate on physical iPhone/iPad hardware with multiple participants, lock screen controls, join/leave churn, token rotation, delayed audio, interruptions, Bluetooth accessories, denied microphone permission, and expired-channel push delivery.

References

• [Creating a Push to Talk app](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/pushtotalk/creating-a-push-to-talk-app)
• [Push to Talk framework](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/pushtotalk)