Method and apparatus for creating a communication group using an address book

• US 20060009249A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Fu, Runbo, Zhao, Wen, Jin, Xin
• Granted Patent: US 8,909,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for creating a communication group using an electronic address book to facilitate Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) group communication sessions are disclosed. A group definition for determining members of the new PoC Group is composed from one or more contacts from the electronic address book such as by selecting from the address book using the mobile station. The group definition may include logical operators to define the combination of contacts. A name may be specified for the new group. The assembly of the PoC Group list of members may be performed by the mobile station, a communication network server for maintaining PoC Groups (e.g. a Group and List Management Server (GLMS)) or an email server.

Claims

1. A method of creating a Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) group for initiating PoC communication sessions among mobile stations, the method comprising:

defining a group definition from which to determine a PoC group list of members for the PoC group; and

assembling the PoC group list of members in accordance with the group definition for constructing the PoC group.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the group definition comprises at least one identifier, each identifier identifying one of a contact, a contact group or an existing PoC group from an electronic address book of contacts or existing PoC lists.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the group definition comprises at least two said identifiers and at least one logical operator for combining respective contacts and PoC groups identified by said at least two identifiers.

4. The method of claim 2 including determining respective information for particular contacts and PoC groups identified by said identifiers.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein determining respective information for a contact comprises obtaining the information from an electronic mail (email) server.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising excluding from said PoC group list of members at least one of:

(i) duplicate members; and

(ii) members having no PoC communication capabilities.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the PoC group list of members in a memory of a communication network server adapted for maintaining PoC groups.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the PoC group list of members is maintained for one of:

(i) a predetermined period;

(ii) removal by a user of the PoC group list; and

(iii) a single PoC communication session.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined period of time is measured relative to the time of creation of the PoC group.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined period of time is relative to a last use of the PoC Group, whereby a timer is reset upon each use and the group is removed if the group is no used before the reset timer expires.

11. The method of claim 1 including receiving a notification of the creation of the PoC Group at a one of the mobile stations.

12. The method of claim 1 including initiating a PoC communication session using said PoC group list of members.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of defining and assembling are performed by a one of said mobile stations.

14. The method of claim 13 including at least one of:

(i) storing said PoC group list of members to a memory of said one of said mobile stations; and

(ii) uploading said PoC group list of members to a communication network server adapted to maintain PoC Groups.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said assembling is performed by a communication network server adapted to maintain PoC Groups, said server receiving from a one of said mobile stations said group definition.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the group definition includes at least one identifier, each identifier identifying one of a contact, a contact group, or an existing PoC group from an electronic address book of contacts or existing PoC lists and wherein the method comprises obtaining information for particular contacts from an electronic mail (email) server.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said assembling is performed by an electronic mail (email) server of a communication network, said email server receiving from a one of said mobile stations said group definition.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the group definition includes at least one identifier, each identifier identifying one of a contact, a contact group, or an existing PoC group from an electronic address book of contacts or existing PoC lists and wherein the method comprises obtaining information for particular contacts from an address book coupled to the electronic mail (email) server.

19. The method of claim 18 including uploading said PoC group list of members to a communication network server adapted to maintain PoC Groups.

20. The method of claim 19 including excluding from said PoC group at least one of:

(i) duplicate members; and

(ii) members having no PoC communications capabilities.

21. The method of claim 1 including initiating a communication other than a PoC communication using the PoC group list of members.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the group definition comprises a name for naming the PoC group to be constructed;

and wherein the method comprises naming said PoC group using the name.

23. A mobile station for creating a Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) group for initiating PoC communication sessions, the mobile station comprising:

a user interface for defining a group definition from which to determine a PoC group list of members for the PoC group; and

a communications system for communicating the group definition to a server adapted to assemble the PoC group list of members in accordance with the group definition for constructing the PoC group.

24. The mobile station of claim 23 wherein the group definition comprises at least one identifier, each identifier identifying one of a contact, a contact group, or an existing PoC group from an electronic address book of contacts or existing PoC lists.

25. The mobile station of claim 24 including a memory;

and wherein the communications system receives said PoC group list of members for storing to the memory.

26. A mobile station for creating a Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) group for initiating PoC communication sessions, the mobile station comprising:

a user interface for defining a group definition from which to determine a PoC group list of members for the PoC group;

a user list determination unit for assembling the PoC group list of members in accordance with the group definition for constructing the PoC group; and

a communications system for communicating the PoC group list of members in accordance with the group definition to a server adapted to enable the PoC group.

27. The mobile station of claim 26 wherein the group definition comprises at least one identifier, each identifier identifying one of a contact, a contact group, or an existing PoC group from an electronic address book of contacts or existing PoC lists.

28. The mobile station of claim 26 wherein the user list determination unit excludes from said PoC group list of members at least one of:

(i) duplicate members; and

(ii) members having no PoC communication capabilities.

29. The mobile station of claim 26 wherein the communications system uploads said PoC group list of members to a communication network server adapted to maintain PoC Groups.

30. A communication network server for constructing a Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) group for initiating PoC communication sessions among mobile stations, the server comprising:

a communications system for receiving a group definition from a mobile station to determine a PoC group list of members for the PoC group; and

a user list determination unit for assembling the PoC group list of members in accordance with the group definition for constructing the PoC group.

31. The communication network server of claim 30 wherein the server comprises an electronic mail (email) server and wherein the communications system communicates the PoC group list of members in accordance with the group definition to a second communication network server for maintaining PoC groups to enable PoC group communications.

32. The communication network server of claim 30 including a PoC group construction unit for creating the PoC group from the PoC group list of members to enable PoC group communications.

33. The communication network server of claim 32 including a memory for maintaining the PoC group list of members.

34. The communication network server of claim 33 wherein the PoC group list of members is maintained for one of:

(i) a predetermined period;

(ii) removal by a user of the PoC group list; and

(iii) a single PoC communication session.

35. The communication network server of claim 34 wherein the predetermined period of time is measured relative to the time of creation of the PoC group.

36. The communication network server of claim 34 wherein the predetermined period of time is relative to a last use of the PoC Group, whereby a timer is reset upon each use and the group is removed if the group is no used before the reset timer expires.

37. The communication network server of claim 30 wherein the group definition includes at least one identifier, each identifier identifying one of a contact, a contact group, or an existing PoC group from an electronic address book of contacts or existing PoC lists and wherein the communication system obtains information for particular contacts from an electronic mail (email) server.

38. The communication network server of claim 30 wherein the group definition comprises a name for naming the PoC group to be constructed;

and wherein the communication network server names said PoC group using the name.