System, Method, and Device for Providing Temporary Communication and Calendaring Applications in a Private Network

• US 20110158207A1
• Filed: 12/26/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: King, Kristie, Robb, Patti, King, Wayne, Alberth, William P. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• 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 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A communication device (100) and method (700) are disclosed for providing temporary communication features, temporary scheduling features, or combinations thereof associated with temporary membership in a private network (101), such as that associated with a hotel (102), resort (103), or cruise ship (105). An association module (209) can register (701) the communication device (100) with the private network (101) as a temporary member device. A private network information retriever (210) can then retrieve (702) one or both of private network directory information (109) and private network scheduling information (110). An integrator (211) can then integrate this information into an address book application (212) or a calendaring application (215) to provide additional functionality for the communication device (100).

Claims

1. A method in a wireless communication device of providing temporary communication features with a private network in an application of the wireless communication device, the method comprising:

registering, with one or more processors and a communication circuit, the wireless communication device as a temporary member device with the private network;

receiving private network directory information from the private network with the one or more processors and the communication circuit;

storing, in a memory of the wireless communication device, the private network directory information; and

presenting, on a user interface of the wireless communication device, the private network directory information for selection by a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the private network comprises a network associated with one of a cruise ship, an airplane, a resort property, a convention center, or a hotel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the private network comprises the cruise ship, wherein the private network directory information comprises at least a listing of passengers and corresponding stateroom extensions.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a user passenger selection; and

initiating communication with through the private network with a passenger communication device corresponding to the user passenger selection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing comprises integrating the private network directory information with a locally stored address book directory of the wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the presenting comprises presenting at least directory entries common to both the private network directory information and the locally stored address book directory.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the integrating comprises substituting a number associated with a directory entry, common to both the private network directory information and the locally stored address book directory, with a stateroom extension for the directory entry when the wireless communication device is within communication proximity of the private network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the private network directory information comprises only a predetermined subset of members of the private network.

9. A method in a wireless communication device of providing temporary scheduling features with a private network in an application of the wireless communication device, the method comprising:

registering, with one or more processors and a communication circuit, the wireless communication device as a temporary member device with the private network;

receiving private network scheduling information with the one or more processors and the communication circuit;

storing, in a memory of the wireless communication device, the private network scheduling information; and

integrating, within a calendaring application of the wireless communication device, the private network scheduling information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving updated private network scheduling information, wherein the updated private network scheduling information includes a tagged event.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the private network corresponds to a network on a transport vessel or vehicle, wherein the private network scheduling information comprises a transport itinerary, further comprising presenting a message alert corresponding to an itinerary event on a user interface of the wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the private network scheduling information comprises a transport itinerary of a transport vessel or vehicle, further comprising selecting, with the one or more processors, a communication network for the wireless communication device based upon a scheduled location of the transport vessel or vehicle as set forth in the transport itinerary.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the private network scheduling information comprises a transport itinerary of a transport vessel or vehicle, further comprising selecting, with the one or more processors, further comprising changing, with the communication circuit, from a first communication network for the wireless communication device to a second communication network for the wireless communication device in response to a scheduled location change of the transport vessel or vehicle as set forth in the transport itinerary.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the transport vessel or vehicle comprises a cruise ship;

the first communication network comprises a public land mobile network;

the second communication network comprises a wide area network of the cruise ship; and

the scheduled location change comprises a departure from a port.

15. A communication device configured for at least temporary communication with a private network, comprising:

one or more processors;

a communication circuit operable with the one or more processors;

an association module, operable with the one or more processors, and configured to establish a temporary membership with the private network;

a private network information retriever, operable with the one or more processors, and configured to retrieve at least one of private network directory information or private network scheduling information from the private network; and

an integrator, operable with the one or more processors, configured to one of integrate the private network directory information into an address book application of the communication device or integrate the private network scheduling information into a calendaring application of the communication device.

16. The communication device of claim 15, further comprising a soft subscriber identification module configured to change network credentials of the communication device based upon the private network scheduling information.

17. The communication device of claim 15, further comprising an alerting module configured to present an alarm on a user interface of the communication device corresponding to one or more activity events of the private network scheduling information.

18. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the private network comprises a communication network on a ship, wherein the private network scheduling information comprises at least port departure times.

19. The communication device of claim 15, wherein the integrator is configured to both integrate the private network directory information into the address book application and integrate the private network scheduling information into the calendaring application, and, where one or more entries are common to both the private network directory information and address information of the address book application, to present contact information for the one or more entries, wherein the contact information is dependent upon location information from the private network scheduling information.

20. The communication device of claim 15, wherein each of the private network directory information and the private network calendaring information corresponds to a predetermined group having the temporary membership in the private network.