Role-Based Operational Communications Directory

• US 20090276461A1
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kuehner, Nathanael P., Leigh, Todd A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,244,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A role-based operational directory capable of facilitating identification of and communication with key contact personnel during an operation is disclosed. Role-specific directory instances are created in the directory. The role-specific instances are created by a system operator and list the roles involved in an operation and the associations between the roles. The role-specific directory instance is advertised to a selected user, and the selected user associates with the role-specific directory instance. If the user is a key contact for the operation or is otherwise required or allowed to be associated with a role in the operation, the user also associates with a role from the list of roles in the role-specific directory instance. The directory instance is dynamically updated, modified, and tailored as necessary, and transmitted to the communication devices of the selected users of the role-specific directory instance.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating identification of and communication with key contact personnel during an operation, the method comprising:

providing a directory;

creating a role-specific directory instance in the directory;

configuring the role-specific directory instance with a list of roles and associations between roles from the list of roles;

advertising the role-specific directory instance; and

associating with the role-specific directory instance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the directory is managed by a system operator and provides role-specific contact information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the role-specific directory instance is advertised over a selected geographical region.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the role-specific directory instance is advertised to selected communication devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein information regarding the role-specific directory instance is transmitted over a narrowband communications network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein information regarding the role-specific directory instance is transmitted over a broadband communications network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the role-specific directory instance includes an identifier.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a communication device records the role-specific directory instance identifier upon receiving the role-specific directory instance advertisement.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication device displays the role-specific directory instance identifier on the communication device'"'"'s graphical user interface.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the directory provides the communication device with the list of possible roles in the role-specific directory instance and the communication device enables association with a role from the list of roles.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of associating with a role from the list of roles in the role-specific directory instance.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the directory requires authentication or authorization prior to associating with the role from the list of roles.

13. A system capable of facilitating identification of and communication with key contact personnel during an operation, the system comprising:

a directory; and

a role-specific directory instance created in the directory, the role-specific directory instance configured with a list of roles in the operation and associations between roles and wherein the role-specific directory instance is advertised, and an association forms with the role-specific directory instance.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein an association is formed with a role from the list of roles in the role-specific directory instance.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the directory is managed by a system operator and provides role-specific contact information.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the role-specific directory instance is advertised over a selected geographical region.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein a user associates with the role-specific directory instance and the user associates with a role from the list of roles.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the role-specific directory instance has identifier.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the role-specific directory instance is advertised to selected communication devices and wherein the role-specific directory instance identifier is displayed on the communication devices.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the directory provides the communication device with the list of possible roles in the role-specific directory instance and the communication device enables a user to associate with a user role.