SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING MEDIA IN A GROUP COMMUNICATION AMONG WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES

• US 20130040687A1
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Brewer, Beth Ann, Lindner, Mark Aaron, Bhaskaran, Hamsini, Rosen, Eric Carl
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A system, method, and wireless communication device for sharing media in a group communication among a plurality of wireless communications devices, such as among a Push-to-Talk (PTT) group. A wireless communication device that is a member of the communication group can send group-directed media, such as graphics, multimedia and applications, to other members of the communication group, either during a ongoing PTT communication, or independently there from. In one embodiment, a communication computer device stores information on communication groups on the wireless communication network that includes the member wireless communication devices of one or more communication groups, and receives group-directed media from a sending wireless communication device sends the group-directed media either directly to the other member wireless communication devices of the communication group or stores the group-directed media such that the other member devices can access and download the group-directed media.

Claims

1. A communication computer device for sharing media in a group communication among a plurality of wireless communications devices on a wireless communication network, the communication computer device configured to:

communicate with one or more of the plurality of wireless communications devices through the wireless communication network;

store information identifying the plurality of wireless communication devices as members of the group communication;

receive group-directed media from a first wireless communication device identified as a first one of the members of the group communication for delivery to a second wireless communication device identified as a second one of the members of the group communication; and

send the group-directed media to the second wireless communication device.

2. The communication computer device of claim 1, further configured to:

send the group-directed media to a data store;

communicate with the data store; and

selectively permit a third wireless communications device identified as a third one of the members of the group communication to access the group-directed media stored at the data store.

3. The communication computer device of claim 1, wherein the group-directed media sent to the second wireless communication device includes a hyperlink providing a link to the group-directed media stored at the data store.

4. The communication computer device of claim 1, wherein the group-directed media is configured to direct the members of the group communication to an interactive session on another communication computer device on the wireless communication network, and the communication computer device is configured to control access to the interactive session by the plurality of wireless communications devices.

5. The communication computer device of claim 1, further configured to send the information to the first wireless communication device in response to receiving a request from the first wireless communication device for the information.

6. The communication computer device of claim 1, further configured to send group-directed media when the wireless communication device is engaged in a group communication with the member wireless communication devices of the communication group.

7. The communication computer device of claim 2, further configured to determine whether to send the group-directed media to the data store based upon the group-directed media being of a predetermined type.

8. The communication computer device of claim 2, further configured to determine whether to send the group-directed media to the data store based upon the group-directed media being of a predetermined size.

9. The communication computer device of claim 1, further configured to send an acknowledgment to the first wireless communication device in response to receipt of the group-directed media by at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

10. The communication computer device of claim 1, further configured to send a preview of the group-directed media to at least one of the members of the group communication.

11. The communication computer device of claim 1, further configured to determine whether the group-directed media can be shared on a single floor control mechanism.

12. The communication computer device of claim 11, further configured to initiate a single floor control mechanism for both voice and the group-directed media.

13. The communication computer device of claim 1, further configured to determine whether the group-directed media can be sent to at least one of the members of the group communication.

14. The communication computer device of claim 1, further configured to determine whether the group-directed media can be sent to all of the members of the group communication.

15. The communication computer device of claim 1, further configured to determine whether the group-directed media is available for download by at least one of the members of the group communication.

16. The communication computer device of claim 1, further configured to filter a potential further group communication based upon a capability of the plurality of wireless communications devices to receive the group-directed media.

17. The communication computer device of claim 1, wherein the communication computer device includes a series of computer devices controlling communications between the plurality of wireless communications devices.

18. The communication computer device of claim 17, wherein the series of computer devices are operatively connected to a group communication server, and wherein the series of computer devices are configured to receive a request for packet data sessions from at least one of the plurality of wireless communications devices.

19. A communication computer device accessible to one or more wireless communication devices through a wireless communication network, comprising:

means for storing information identifying the plurality of wireless communication devices as members of the group communication;

means receiving group-directed media sent from a first wireless communication device identified as a first one of the members of the group communication for delivery to a second wireless communication device identified as a second one of the members of the group communication; and

means for sending the group-directed media to the second wireless communication device.

20. The communication computer device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for sending the group-directed media to a data store; and

means for selectively permitting a third wireless communications device identified as a third one of the members of the group communication to access the group-directed media stored at the data store.

21. The communication computer device of claim 19, wherein means for sending the group-directed media to the second wireless communication device comprises means for sending a hyperlink to the second wireless communication device, the hyperlink providing a link to the group-directed media stored at the data store.

22. The communication computer device of claim 19, wherein the group-directed media is configured to direct the members of the group communication to an interactive session on another communication computer device on the wireless communication network.

23. The communication computer device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for receiving the information identifying the plurality of wireless communication devices as members of the group communication from the first wireless communication device.

24. The communication computer device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for receiving a request from the first wireless communication device for the information identifying the plurality of wireless communication devices as members of the group communication; and

means for sending the information to the first wireless communication device.

25. The communication computer device of claim 19, further comprising means for sending group-directed media when the first wireless communication device is engaged in a communication session with at least some of the members of the group communication.

26. The communication computer device of claim 20, further comprising:

means for determining that the group-directed media received from the first wireless communication device is of a predetermined type,

wherein means for sending the group-directed media to the data store comprises means for sending the group-directed media to the data store in response to a determination the group-directed media matches the predetermined type.

27. The communication computer device of claim 20, further comprising:

means for determining that the group-directed media received from the first wireless communication device is of a predetermined size limit,

wherein means for sending the group-directed media to the data store comprises means for sending the group-directed media to the data store in response to a determination the group-directed media meets the predetermined size limits.

28. The communication computer device of claim 20, further comprising:

means for sending an acknowledgement to the first wireless communication device in response to receipt of the group-directed media by at least one of the plurality of wireless communications devices.

29. The communication computer device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for sending a preview of the group-directed media to at least one of the members of the group communication.

30. The communication computer device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for receiving a request from at least one of the members of the group communication to share voice with at least one other of the members of the group communication; and

means for determining whether the group-directed media can be shared on a single floor control mechanism during a talk burst.

31. The communication computer device of claim 30, further comprising:

means for initiating a single floor control for both the voice and the group-directed media.

32. The communication computer device of claim 30, further comprising:

means for initiating a different floor control for the voice from that of the group-directed media.

33. The communication computer device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for determining whether group-directed media can be sent to at least one member of the communication group.

34. The communication computer device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for determining whether group-directed media can be sent to all of the members of the group communication.

35. The communication computer device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for determining whether group-directed media is available for download by at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

36. The communication computer device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for filtering the group directed media based on at least one of size, device capabilities and media player availability on at least one of the plurality of wireless communications devices.

37. A method for sharing media in a group communication among a plurality of wireless communications devices on a wireless communication network, comprising:

storing at a communication computer device information identifying the plurality of wireless communication devices as members of the group communication;

receiving at the communication computer device group-directed media sent from a first wireless communication device identified as a first one of the members of the group communication for delivery to a second wireless communication device identified as a second one of the members of the group communication; and

sending the group-directed media to the second wireless communication device.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

sending the group-directed media to a data store; and

selectively permitting a third wireless communications device identified as a third one of the members of the group communication to access the group-directed media stored at the data store.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein sending the group-directed media to the second wireless communication device comprises sending a hyperlink to the second wireless communication device, the hyperlink providing a link to the group-directed media stored at the data store.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the group-directed media is configured to direct the members of the group communication to an interactive session on another communication computer device on the wireless communication network.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving at the communication computer device the information identifying the plurality of wireless communication devices as members of the group communication from the first wireless communication device.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving at the communication computer device a request from the first wireless communication device for the information identifying the plurality of wireless communication devices as members of the group communication; and

sending the information to the first wireless communication device.

43. The method of claim 37, further comprising sending the communication computer device group-directed media when the first wireless communication device is engaged in a communication session with at least some of the members of the group communication.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the sending the group-directed media to the data store occurs in response to a determination that the group-directed media received from the first wireless communication device is of a predetermined type.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the sending the group-directed media to the data store occurs in response to a determination that the group-directed media received from the first wireless communication device is of a predetermined size.

46. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

sending an acknowledgement to the first wireless communication device in response to receipt of the group-directed media by at least one of the plurality of wireless communications devices.

47. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

sending a preview of the group-directed media to at least one of the members of the group communication.

48. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving at the communication computer device a request from at least one of the members of the group communication to share voice with at least one other of the members of the group communication; and

determining whether the group-directed media can be shared on a single floor control mechanism during a talk burst.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

initiating a single floor control mechanism for both the voice and the group-directed media.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

initiating a different floor control mechanism for the voice from that of the group-directed media.

51. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

determining whether the group-directed media can be sent to at least one of the members of the group communication.

52. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

determining whether the group-directed media can be sent to all of the members of the group communication.

53. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

determining whether the group-directed media is available for download by at least one of the members of the group communication.

54. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

filtering the group-directed media based on at least one of size, device capabilities and media player availability on at least one of the plurality of wireless communications devices.

55. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a communication computer device to perform operations, comprising:

storing information identifying the plurality of wireless communication devices as members of the group communication;

receiving group-directed media sent from a first wireless communication device identified as a first one of the members of the group communication for delivery to a second wireless communication device identified as a second one of the members of the group communication; and

sending the group-directed media to the second wireless communication device.

56. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer device to perform operations further comprising:

sending the group-directed media to a data store;

communicating with the data store; and

selectively permitting a third wireless communications device identified as a third one of the members of the group communication to access the group-directed media stored at the data store.

57. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer device to perform operations such that sending the group-directed media to the second wireless communication device comprises sending a hyperlink to the second wireless communication device, the hyperlink providing a link to the group-directed media stored at the data store.

58. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer device to perform operations such that the group-directed media is configured to direct the members of the group communication to an interactive session on another communication computer device on the wireless communication network.

59. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer device to perform operations further comprising:

receiving the information identifying the plurality of wireless communication devices as members of the group communication from the first wireless communication device.

60. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer device to perform operations further comprising sending group-directed media when the first wireless communication device is engaged in a communication session with at least some of the members of the group communication.

61. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer device to perform operations such that the sending the group-directed media to the data store occurs in response to a determination that the group-directed media received from the first wireless communication device is of a predetermined type.

62. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer device to perform operations such that the sending the group-directed media to the data store occurs in response to a determination that the group-directed media received from the first wireless communication device is of a predetermined size.

63. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer to perform operations further comprising:

sending an acknowledgement to the first wireless communication device in response to receipt of the group-directed media by at least one of the plurality of wireless communications devices.

64. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer to perform operations further comprising:

sending a preview of the group-directed media to at least one of the members of the group communication.

65. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer to perform operations further comprising:

receiving a request from at least one of the members of the group communication to share voice with at least one other of the members of the group communication; and

determining whether the group-directed media can be shared on a single floor control mechanism during a talk burst.

66. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 65, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer to perform operations further comprising:

initiating a single floor control mechanism for both the voice and the group-directed media.

67. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 65, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer to perform operations further comprising:

initiating a different floor control mechanism for the voice from that of the group-directed media.

68. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether group-directed media can be sent to at least one of the members of the group communication.

69. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether the group-directed media can be sent to all of the members of the group communication.

70. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether the group-directed media is available for download by at least one of the members of the group communication.

71. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the communication computer to perform operations further comprising:

filtering the group-directed media based on at least one of size, device capabilities and media player availability on at least one of the plurality of wireless communications devices.