Systems and methods for delivering information within a group communications system

• US 20020151321A1
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Winchell, Diane, Kirby, Miles, Korecki, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 6,788,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/519
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering information include a communications network defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, where the communications network is associated with a plurality of communication devices that define a group communications net. A communications manager is operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one of the other members of the group communications net. A message module having a plurality of informational messages is associated with the communications manager, and a delivery module is coupled to each of the message module, the communications manager, and the communications network. The delivery module is operable to monitor the group communication session and to deliver one of the plurality of informational messages to the group communications net. Further, methods of billing a user for participation in the group communications session include discounting an amount due based on receipt of informational messages.

Claims

1. A system for delivering information, comprising:

a communications network defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, the communications network associated with a plurality of communication devices that define a group communications net;

a communications manager operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one of the other members of the group communications net;

a message module having a plurality of informational messages; and

a delivery module coupled to each of the message module, the communications manager, and the communications network, the delivery module operable to monitor the group communication session and to deliver one of the plurality of informational messages to the group communications net.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data packet and each of the plurality of informational messages comprise datagrams formatted according to a predetermined protocol suitable for transmission over the computer network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the predetermined protocol comprises an internet protocol.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer network comprises the Internet and wherein the predetermined protocol comprises an internet protocol.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein both the data packet and the plurality of informational messages comprise audio data.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications system is operable to transmit and receive the data packet in real-time.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of informational messages comprise messages selected from the group consisting of weather information, news information, advertising information, and educational information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication network further comprises a network selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a land mobile radio network, and a satellite communications network.

9. A system for delivering information, comprising:

a communications network defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, the communications network associated with a plurality of communication devices that define a group communications net;

a message module having a plurality of informational messages;

a controller module coupled to each of the message module and the communications network, the controller module operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one of the other members of the group communications net, and the controller module further operable to monitor the group communication session and to deliver a predetermined one of the plurality of messages to the group communications net; and

a delivery manager coupled to the controller module, the delivery manager operable to schedule the delivery of the predetermined message based on predetermined delivery characteristics.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined delivery characteristics comprise a predetermined time interval measured from a time of the last-delivered message or from a time of an initiation of the group communications session.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of informational messages have an associated timing status indicating that the respective message is time-sensitive or non-time-sensitive, and wherein the predetermined delivery characteristics comprise the timing status.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined delivery characteristics further comprise a predetermined time interval measured from a time of a last-delivered message or from a time of an initiation of the group communications session, and wherein the delivery manager is operable to schedule delivery of the predetermined message according to the timing status if the timing status is time-sensitive or according to the predetermined time interval if the timing status is non-time-sensitive.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising formatting the one of the plurality of informational messages according to a predetermined format suitable for transmission over the computer network.

17. The method of claim 16, where the predetermined protocol comprises an internet protocol.

18. The method of claim 16, where the computer network comprises the Internet and where the predetermined protocol comprises an internet protocol.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of informational messages comprises a data packet including audio data.

20. The method of claim 15, where the plurality of informational messages comprise messages selected from the group consisting of weather information, news information, advertising information, and educational information;

and where the communication network further comprises a network selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a land mobile radio network, and a satellite communications network.

21. The method of claim 15, where monitoring the group communication session further comprises tracking communications between the communications devices.

22. The method of claim 15, where delivering one of the plurality of informational messages further comprises interrupting communications between the communications devices and simultaneously delivering the informational message to the communications devices.

23. The method of claim 15, where delivering one of the plurality of informational messages further comprises prioritizing the delivery of the informational message over the delivery of other communications between the communications devices.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined delivery characteristics comprise a predetermined time interval measured from a time of the last-delivered message or from a time of an initiation of the group communications session.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of informational messages have an associated timing status indicating that the respective message is time-sensitive or non-time-sensitive, and wherein the predetermined delivery characteristics comprise the timing status.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the predetermined delivery characteristics further comprise a predetermined time interval measured from a time of a last-delivered message or from a time of an initiation of the group communications session, and where delivering the one of plurality of informational messages further comprises scheduling delivery of the predetermined message according to the timing status if the timing status is time-sensitive or according to the predetermined time interval if the timing status is non-time-sensitive.

30. The method of claim 29, where generating the bill further comprises discounting the amount due by a predetermined amount for each informational message received.

31. The method of claim 29, where each informational message comprises has an associated time duration, and where generating the bill further comprises discounting the amount due by predetermined amount based on the time duration of the received informational messages.

13. A system for delivering information, comprising:

a communications network defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, the communications network associated with a plurality of communication devices that define a group communications net;

a message module having a plurality of informational messages;

a controller module coupled to each of the message module and the communications network, the controller module operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one other member of the group communications net, the controller module further operable to monitor the group communication session and deliver a predetermined one of the plurality of messages to the group communications net at a predetermined time, and the controller module further operable to generate an activity log for each of the plurality of communication devices tracking participating in the group communication session and receipt of the predetermined message; and

a billing module operable to receive the activity log and generate a bill having an amount due for each of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the amount due is discounted based on the tracked receipt of the predetermined message associated with the respective communication device.

14. A system for delivering information via a communications network to a plurality of communications devices defining members of a group, comprising:

a communications manager connectable to the communications network and to at least two members of the group, the communications manager operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a transmission from one member of the group and forwarding the transmission through the communications network to at least one other member of the group, wherein the communications network is defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, wherein the transmission comprises a data packet;

a message module having a plurality of informational messages each comprising a data packet; and

a controller module connectable to each of the message module and the at least two members of the group, the controller module operable to monitor the group communication session and deliver a predetermined one of the plurality of messages to the group according to a predetermined delivery instruction.

15. A method for delivering information, comprising:

monitoring a group communication session among a plurality of communications devices associated with a communications network, the communications network defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network; and

delivering one of a plurality of informational messages via the communications network to the plurality of communications devices.

24. A method for delivering information, comprising:

receiving identification of a plurality of communications devices to be included in a group communications session, where each of the plurality of communications devices is associated with a communications network that includes at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network;

establishing the group communications session by receiving a data packet from one communications device and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one of the other communications devices; and

delivering according to predetermined delivery characteristics one of a plurality of informational messages via the communications network to the communications devices participating in the group communications session.

28. A method for delivering information, comprising:

receiving identification of a plurality of communications devices to be included in a group communications session, where each of the plurality of communications devices is associated with a communications network that includes at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network;

establishing the group communications session by receiving a data packet from one communications device and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one of the other communications devices;

delivering according to predetermined delivery characteristics one of a plurality of informational messages via the communications network to the communications devices participating in the group communications session;

generating an activity log for each of the plurality of communication devices, the activity log tracking participation in the group communication session and receipts of the informational messages; and

generating a bill having an amount due for each of the plurality of communication devices, where the amount due is a function of the participation in the group communication session and the receipt of the informational message associated with the respective communication device.

29. A method of charging a user for use of a communications device, comprising:

receiving an activity log for each communication device of a plurality of communications devices, where each of the plurality of communications devices is associated with a communications network that includes at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, where the plurality of communications devices define a communications net, where transmissions of packet data between at least two members of the communications net defines a group communications session, and where the activity log tracks participation in group communication sessions and receipts of informational messages delivered from an informational message server associated with the communications net; and

generating a bill having an amount due for each of the plurality of communication devices, where the amount due is a function of the participation in the group communication sessions and the receipt of the informational messages associated with the respective communication device.

32. A system for delivering information, comprising:

a means for networking communications devices defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, the means for networking associated with a plurality of communication devices that define a group communications net;

a means for storing a plurality of informational messages;

a means for controlling communications coupled to each of the means for storing and the means for networking, the means for controlling communications operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the means for networking to at least one other member of the group communications net, the means for controlling communications further operable to monitor the group communication session and deliver a predetermined one of the plurality of messages to the group communications net at a predetermined time, the means for controlling communications further operable to generate an activity log for each of the plurality of communication devices that tracks participation in the group communication session and receipt of the predetermined message; and

a means for billing operable to receive the activity log and generate a bill having an amount due for each of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the amount due is discounted based on the tracked receipt of the predetermined message associated with the respective communication device.

33. A system for delivering information via a communications network to a plurality of communications devices defining members of a group, comprising:

a means for transmitting communications connectable to the communications network and to at least two members of the group, the means for transmitting communications operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a transmission from one member of the group and forwarding the transmission through the communications network to at least one other member of the group, wherein the communications network is defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, wherein the transmission comprises a data packet in an internet protocol format;

a means for storing a plurality of informational messages each comprising a data packet; and

a messaging means connectable to each of the means for storing and the at least two members of the group, the messaging means operable to monitor the group communication session and deliver a predetermined one of the plurality of messages to the group according to a predetermined delivery instruction.