Device to device grouping of personal communication nodes

• US 10,542,084 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2018
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orion Labs
• Original Assignee: Orion Labs
• Inventors: Robbins, Jesse, Albrecht, Greg, Juhlin, Ellen, Wood, Roger, Girling, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Miah, Liton
• Application Number:
  US15/880,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20180159925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1044 Group management mechanisms management of multicast group membership H04L12/185; reconfiguring of node membership in a computing system to eliminate errors G06F11/1425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/566 Grouping or aggregating service requests, e.g. for unified processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/00 Details of television systems scanning details or combination thereof with generation of supply voltages H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems, methods, software and apparatus enable device to device grouping of personal communication nodes include managing a communication node group having communication node members. Attribute information from the communication nodes is provided to a management system that defines communication group membership based on the received attribute information. The management system transmits group membership status notifications to the communication nodes. Membership status controls a node'"'"'s participation in group communications. Attribute information can include changes (such as dynamic changes) in one or more communication node attributes, such as location, proximity to other communication nodes, speed, etc.

Claims

1. A method of operating a group communication management system to control a plurality of communication node groups, each group comprising a plurality of communication nodes, wherein the plurality of communication nodes of a first communication node group comprises a first communication node and a second communication node, at least one of the first and second communication nodes being an end user device linked to an intermediate device, the method comprising:

the management system receiving attribute information from the first communication node and the second communication node;

the management system determining communication node group membership based on the received attribute information;

the management system updating the communication node group membership based on changes to at least one of;

either of the first and second communication nodes operation; and

either of the first and second communication nodes membership in the first communication node group;

the management system controlling operation of the plurality of communication nodes based on the attribute information; and

the management system transmitting a group membership status notification to the communication group membership once membership of the first communication node group changes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the attribute information comprises at least one of the following:

first communication node attribute data;

second communication node attribute data;

changes in one or more first communication node attribute data

changes in one or more second communication node attribute data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each communication node comprises computing system executing a communication software application.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the intermediate communication device is at least one of the following:

a smartphone,

a tablet device,

a personal computer,

a gaming device, and

a laptop computer.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the end user device comprises a wearable personal communication device wirelessly linked to the intermediate communication device.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the attribute data comprises data for time, location, communication state, network state, physical proximity to other members of the first communication group, traveling speed, duration limit, node identity.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the end user device comprises a wearable personal electronic device and further wherein the intermediate communication device comprises a smartphone, tablet, gaming device, or laptop.

8. A method of operating a first communication node in a communication node group controlled by a management system, wherein the communication node group comprises a plurality of communication nodes, wherein the plurality of communication nodes comprises the first communication node, the first communication node being an end user device linked to an intermediate device, the method comprising:

the first communication node transferring first communication node attribute information to the management system; and

the first communication node receiving a group membership status notification from the management system, wherein the group membership status notification comprises changes to at least one of;

communication node operation; and

communication node membership in the communication node group and wherein the management system controls operation of the first

communication node in communication node group communications based on the attribute information.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the attribute information comprises one or more of the following:

first communication node attribute data; and

changes in one or more first communication node attribute data.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the communication node group comprises at least one communication node comprising a computing system executing a communication software application.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the intermediate communication device is at least one of the following:

a smartphone,

a tablet device,

a personal computer,

a gaming device, and

a laptop computer.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the end user device comprises a wearable personal communication device wirelessly linked to the intermediate communication device.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the attribute data comprises data for time, location, communication state, network state, physical proximity to other members of the first communication group, traveling speed, duration limit, node identity.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the end user device comprises a wearable personal electronic device and further wherein the intermediate communication device comprises a smartphone, tablet, gaming device, or laptop.

15. A method of operating a group communication management system to control establishing, updating, and terminating membership in a communication node group, wherein the communication node group comprises a plurality of communication nodes, wherein the plurality of communication nodes comprises a first communication node and a second communication node, at least one of the first and second communication nodes being an end user device linked to an intermediate device, the method comprising:

the management system receiving attribute information from the first communication node and the second communication node;

the management system determining a change to the first communication node group membership based on the received attribute information;

the management system controlling operation of the first communication node based on the attribute information; and

the management system transmitting a group membership status notification to the first communication node.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the attribute information comprises one or more of the following:

first communication node attribute data; and

changes in one or more first communication node attribute data.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein each communication node comprises a computing system executing a communication software application.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the intermediate communication device is at least one of the following:

a smartphone,

a tablet device,

a personal computer,

a gaming device, and

a laptop computer.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the end user device comprises a wearable personal communication device linked to the intermediate communication device.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the intermediate communication device comprises a smartphone, tablet, gaming device, or laptop.