Push to talk user interface

• US 20050143135A1
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Tony, Schumann, David, O'Neill, Rory, Brems, Doug
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27457 Management thereof, e.g. manual editing of data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A push to talk (PTT) user interface for a wireless communications device utilizes a single all contacts database. The database is updated and utilized by the user in either a “PTT contacts” list screen or in an “all contacts” list screen. These screens are used for direct PTT calls, group PTT calls, alert calls, and standard cellular voice calls. Push to talk contacts are defined by the user and are stored on the wireless device. A direct PTT call allows a user to place a PTT call to another party or to a group with more than one party. The user can create a group “ad hoc” PTT call by selecting multiple contacts from the PTT contacts list screen. The PTT contact screen also is utilized to send an “alert” message to an individual with a PTT contact number. The alert message is either a brief text message or simply an “Alert” without text. During a PTT call, the user can view a variety of screens to add another party to the active PTT call and to save or edit participant information. When a user has missed a group call, the user can join the call late by using a call history list. During an active PTT call, the wireless communications device provides notification of other incoming PTT calls, and allows the user to “answer”, i.e., switch, to the new call.

Claims

1. A method for participating in a direct PTT call on a wireless communications device, the method comprising the steps of:

adding contact information to a single contacts database, the contact information comprising a plurality of contact names, and at least one of a PTT contact number and a standard phone number associated with each contact name of the plurality of contact names;

displaying a selection screen comprising one of a contacts list screen and a PTT contacts list screen, the contacts list screen for displaying the plurality of contact names, the PTT contacts list screen for displaying the each contact name having the PTT contact number;

selecting a contact to be called from the plurality of contact names on the one of the contacts list screen and the PTT contacts list screen; and

initiating a PTT call to the selected contact to be called.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the standard phone number is a land line number or a cellular number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a contact to be called comprises scrolling through the one of the contacts list screen and the PTT contacts screen to the contact to be called

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adding contact information comprises the steps of:

creating a PTT group contact comprising a subset of the plurality of contact names having the PTT contact number; and

assigning a name to the PTT group contact;

wherein the contacts list screen and the PTT contacts list screen display the PTT group contact name.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selected contact to be called is the PTT group contact.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a contact to be called comprises selecting a plurality of contacts to be called to form an ad hoc group to be called.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step for initiating comprises pushing a PTT button on the wireless communications device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying a selection screen comprises the step of:

display a selection screen comprising one of a contacts list screen, a PTT contacts list screen, and a call history screen.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying in-call screens when the initiated PTT call is connected to the selected contact to be called, the in-call screens providing type of call information, call status information, and soft key options.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

selecting a soft key option comprising at least one of a menu option, a contacts option, and a group option;

displaying a contacts management screen in response to the selection of the soft key; and

updating the single contacts database through the contacts management screen while continuing to participate in the connected PTT call.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of initiating a PTT call to the selected contact to be called further comprises the step of:

selecting an alert option to send an alert to the selected contact to be called.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the alert message comprises a text message.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying in-call screens when the initiated PTT call is connected to the selected contact to be called, the in-call screens providing type of call information, call status information, and a plurality of soft key options;

selecting a soft key option of the plurality of soft key options, the soft key option calling up the PTT contacts lists screen;

selecting an additional contact to be called from the plurality of contact names on the PTT contacts list screen;

selecting a join soft key to add the additional contact to be called to the direct PTT call.

14. A method for participating in a direct PTT call on a wireless communications device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a direct PTT call from a calling party;

displaying in-call screens to provide call status information comprising a listening status, a talking status, and a floor free status;

pressing a PTT button to “

seize the floor” and

to enter into the talking status;

releasing the PTT button to enter into one of the listening status and the floor free status; and

updating contact information for the calling party in a single contacts database, the contact information comprising a name for the calling party and at least one of a PTT contact number and a standard phone number associated with the calling party.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

verifying the contact information on a selection screen comprising one of a contacts list screen and a PTT contacts list screen, the contacts list screen for displaying the contact name, the PTT contacts list screen for displaying the contact name if an associated PTT contact number exists.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the calling party is a single party, and the method of updating contact information comprises updating the contact information for the single party.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the calling party is a group, and the method of updating contact information comprises:

adding group contact information to the single contacts database for the group.

18. A wireless communications device for participating in a direct push to talk (PTT) call, the wireless communications device comprising:

a single native database for storing contact information, the contact information comprising a plurality of contact names, and at least one of a PTT contact number and a standard phone number associated with each contact name of the plurality of contact names;

a native user interface comprising;

a contacts list screen for displaying the plurality of contact names, the contacts list screen having means for selecting at least one contact name of the plurality of contact names;

a PTT contacts list screen for displaying a plurality of PTT contact names, the plurality of PTT contact names comprising the each contact name having the PTT contact number, the PTT contacts list screen having means for selecting at least one PTT contact name of the plurality of PTT contact names;

at least one manage contacts screens for adding a new contact names to the plurality of contact names, and for editing an existing contact name of the plurality of contact names; and

a means for initiating one of an alert call and a PTT call to one of the selected at least one contact name and the selected at least one PTT contact name.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the contact information further comprises at least one group contact name, the group contact name associated with a group subset of the plurality of contact names.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein The PTT contacts list screen further comprises means for selecting a group of PTT contact names from the plurality of PTT contact names;

and

wherein the means for initiating the PTT call is utilized to initiate a group ad hoc PTT call to the selected group of PTT contact names.