Simulated Citizens' Band Conferencing System

• US 20140378109A1
• Filed: 09/16/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward J. Perez
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Perez
• Inventors: Perez, Edward J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• 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: H04M 2203/2088 Call or conference reconnect, e.g. resulting from isdn terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

An internet-based conferencing system simulates the experience of Citizens'"'"' Band (CB) radio communications without the use of CB radio transceivers. Instead of direct RF links between participants, the CBI system employs a combination of user-resident application software, central server-based conferencing software, GPS location data, and Voice over IP (VoIP) or voice over cellular technology. In the set-up procedure of the application software, the participant selects an alias CB-style “handle” and a caricature picture, neither of which disclose the true identity or location of the participant. Since the participants are known only by their alias and caricature, their anonymity is preserved, thereby enabling greater freedom of expression and interpersonal tolerance. Participants do not select the other participants in their conference, but are assigned to a virtual “channel” based on a selected conference category and proximity criteria, thereby simulating the serendipity of CB radio communications.

Claims

1. A method of establishing and conducting a conference between and among multiple participants, consisting of the following steps:

(a) providing each participant with an initiating device, wherein each initiating device is capable of accessing a wireless telecommunications network, accessing the internet and receiving satellite GPS location data;

(b) providing each participant with an application software that is downloaded to each initiating device, wherein the application software, upon being downloaded, initiates a setup procedure whereby the participant selects an alias and a display picture, and wherein neither the alias nor the display picture reveals the actual identity or location of the participant;

(c) incorporating in the application software a menu system, wherein each participant uses the menu system to select a conference category from among multiple conference categories and to select a maximum distance range between the participants in the conference, and wherein each of the conference categories describes either the subject matter of the conference or a characteristic of the participants in the conference;

(d) from each initiating device, transmitting the participant'"'"'s alias, display picture, GPS location data, selected conference category, and selected distance range via the wireless telecommunications network to a central server, wherein the central server uses a conference bridge software to assign each participant to one of multiple virtual conference domains based the participant'"'"'s selected conference category and selected distance range;

(e) assignment by the central server of the participants to a common conference domain based on the participants'"'"' selection of a common conference category and a coextensive distance range, thereby establishing the conference between and among the participants;

(f) configuring the conference bridge software so that only one participant at a time can speak in the conference, such that at any time there is one speaking participant and one or more non-speaking participants, and such that the no voices of non-speaking participants are audible, and such that the speaking participant is identified to the non-speaking participants only by his/her alias and display picture;

(g) transmitting utterances of the speaking participant from the initiating device of the speaking participant to the central server via the wireless telecommunications network, or via the internet, using a VoIP protocol; and

(h) using the conference bridge to re-transmit the utterances of the speaking participant from the central server via the wireless telecommunications network, or via the internet, using the VoIP protocol, to the initiating devices of the non-speaking participants, and using the conference bridge to simultaneously transmit the alias and the display picture of the speaking participant via the wireless telecommunications network, or via the internet, using the VoIP protocol, to the initiating devices of the non-speaking participants.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application software enables the participant to switch conference categories from a first selected conference category to a second selected conference category, whereupon the conference bridge software reassigns the participant from a first conference domain, corresponding to the first selected conference category, to a second conference domain, corresponding to the second selected conference category.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the application software enables the participant to designate one of more blocked individuals, and wherein the application software notifies the participant before the participant is assigned to a conference domain to which one or more of the blocked individuals have been assigned, so that the participant can switch conference categories to avoid interaction with the blocked individual(s).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the application software is configured to detect an involuntary disconnection of the participant from the conference and to automatically reconnect the participant to the conference, or offer the participant the option of being reconnected to the conference.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the application software is configured to enable the participant to engage in a one-on-one private discussion with one of the other participants in the conference.