System for sending group messages

• US 20020161841A1
• Filed: 04/24/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kinnunen, Kimmo
• Application Number:
  US10/131,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161841A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/353 where the information comprises non-audio but is provided over voice channels protocols for multimedia information services per se H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• 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 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/06 between gateways and public network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for sending group messages in a network infrastructure (10). The parties to the system are the sender, who has means for sending group messages, and several recipients (16.1, 16.21, 16.22, 16.3), each of whom has a terminal (16.1′, 16.21′, 16.22′, 16.3′). In the network infrastructure (10) are the stages

the recipient (16.1) sets their terminal (16.1′) to listen to the group they select and an identifier corresponding to the group,

the terminal (16.1′) of the recipient (16.1) receives the said identifier and sets itself into a state corresponding to the transmission information defined in the identifier,

the sender sends a group message using the settings stated in the identifier,

the terminal (16.1′) of the recipient (16.1) receives and announces the arrival of the group message.

The system also includes

a subscription application (19) implemented using HTML or a similar technology in a second network (20) essentially separate from the said network infrastructure (10),

a group communication interface (12) belonging to the network infrastructure (10), and

a gateway (17), which creates a connection between the group-message subscription application (19) and the said group communication interface (12).

Claims

1. A system for sending group messages in a network infrastructure (10), in which the parties are the sender, preferably an operator, who has means for sending group messages, and several recipients (16.1, 16.21, 16.22, 16.3), each of whom has a terminal (16.1′

, 16.21′

, 16.22′

, 16.3′

) for receiving group messages, and in which said network infrastructure (10)

the recipient (16.1) sets their terminal (16.1′

) to listen to the group they select,

the sender sends an identifier corresponding to the group,

the terminal (16.1′

) of the recipient (16.1) receives the said identifier and sets itself into a state corresponding to the transmission information defined in the identifier,

the sender sends a group message using the settings stated in the identifier,

the terminal (16.1′

) of the recipient (16.1) receives and announces the arrival of the group message,

characterized in that the system includes

a subscription application (19) implemented using HTML or a similar technology in a second network (20) essentially separate from the said network infrastructure (10),

a group communication interface (12) (Group Communication API) belonging to the network infrastructure (10), and

a gateway (17), which creates a connection between the group-message subscription application (19) and the said group communication interface (12).

2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the said network infrastructure (10) has facilities for at least handling dynamic groups (DGNA) and for transmitting subscriber information through the said interface (12).

3. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the said second network (20) is an IP network.

4. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal (16.1′

) of the recipient (16.1) is able to communicate, for example, according to the WAP standard and that it includes a LAN/IP interface (15) to a subscription application (19) connected to the said second network (20) of a second gateway (18).

5. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged for the recipient (16.1) to subscribe to and remove groups on their terminal (16.1′

).

6. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission of the group messages is arranged to take place base-station-specifically (13.1, 13.2, 13.3).

7. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that loudspeaker devices for receiving speech messages are arranged in the terminal (16.1′

) of the recipient (16.1).

8. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of the recipients (16.1, 16.21, 16.22, 16.3) can be adjusted on the basis of a selected criterion.

9. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that recipient (16.1) can use their terminal (16.1′

) to control the reception of group messages.

10. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the provision of group messages to the network infrastructure (10) is performed by an external service provider (22).

11. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the subscription of group messages to the recipients (16.1) is arranged to take place externally in the said second network (20).

12. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged for the operator to perform charging, either in the network infrastructure (10), or in the said second network (20).