DEVICES AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A GROUP AND FOR DETERMINING INFORMATION RELATED TO GROUP ENTRIES

• US 20090327415A1
• Filed: 06/25/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Newell, Michael A., Olson, William L., Vook, Frederick W., Grube, Gary W., Bunch, Steve R., O'Dea, Robert J., ALBERTH, WILLIAM P. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,954,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls

Abstract

Described are methods and devices for identifying a group that include various methods to determine a group. Also described are devices and methods for attempting communication with a missing member of the group include different manners in which to determine information related to an entry of a group. The described devices and methods may be particularly beneficial at the particular time the certain group members plan to be or are in communication with one another. In this way, in the event that two or more entries of a group planned to be in communication or are in communication in-real time, in accordance with the disclosed devices and methods, the parties may be able to bring one or more other entries of the group into the communication as needed or desired.

Claims

1. A method of a communication device, comprising:

determining at least one group of entries in a database, the group of entries being a division, class, or distinct portion of the entries of the database as a whole, wherein each of entries of the at least one group is correlated to a communication address; and

attempting to determine information related to at least one entry of the at least one group.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining communication in real-time in accordance with respective communication addresses between at least two entries of the at least one group;

determining whether there is at least one additional entry of the at least one group of entries; and

determining whether the at least one additional entry is not in communication in real-time with the at least two entries of the at least one group that are in communication in real-time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein attempting to determine information related to the least one additional entry, comprises:

attempting to determine the potential communication status of the least one additional entry.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

prompting a user associated with at least one of the at least two entries to determine whether to initiate communication with the at least one additional entry based on the potential communication status and in accordance with a communication address correlated to the at least one additional entry.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

initiating communication with at least one of the additional entries based on the potential communication status.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining at least one group of entries in a database that is a division, class, or distinct portion of the entries of the database as a whole, comprises:

defining by a user at least one group of entries.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining at least one group of entries in a database that is a division, class, or distinct portion of the entries of the database as a whole, comprises:

determining by historical association of at least one group of entries.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining at least one group of entries in a database that is a division, class, or distinct portion of the entries of the database as a whole is in accordance with a particular manner in which a distinction originated.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein attempting to determine information related to at least one entry of the at least one group, comprises:

determining the status of a communication device correlated to the at least one entry.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein attempting to determine information related to at least one entry of the at least one group, comprises:

determining the proximity or location of a communication device correlated to the at least one entry.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein attempting to determine information related to at least one entry of the at least one group, comprises:

accessing a calendar correlated to the at least one entry.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein attempting to determine information related to at least one entry of the at least one group, comprises:

searching public information correlated to the at least one entry.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein, comprises:

searching information correlated to the at least one entry stored in a memory of the device.

14. A method of a communication device, comprising:

determining at least one group of entries in a database that is a division, class, or distinct portion of the entries of the database as a whole, wherein each of the at least one group is correlated to a communication address; and

determining the proximity or location of a communication device correlated to at least one entry of the group.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining communication in real-time in accordance with respective communication addresses between at least two entries of the at least one group;

determining whether there is at least one additional entry of the at least one group of entries;

determining whether the at least one additional entry is not in communication in real-time with the at least two entries of the at least one group that are in communication in real-time.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining the status of a communication device correlated to the at least one entry of the group.

17. A communication device, comprising:

a controller configured to execute instructions;

a memory in communication with the controller;

a determining module including instructions stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the controller to determine at least one group of entries in a database that is a division, class, or distinct portion of the entries of the database as a whole, wherein each of the at least one group is correlated to a communication address and is stored in the memory; and

an attempting module including instructions stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the controller to attempt to determine information related to at least one entry of the group.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the information related to the at least one entry of the group includes the proximity or location of a communication device associated with the at least one entry.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the information related to the at least one entry of the group includes the information obtained from a search of public records associated with the at least one entry.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein the information related to the at least one entry of the group includes the information obtained from a calendar associated with the at least one entry.