METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR WALKIE-TALKIE COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20160100295A1
• Filed: 10/02/2015
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloomerang LLC
• Original Assignee: Deborah Lynn Pinard
• Inventors: PINARD, DEBORAH LYNN
• Granted Patent: US 9,756,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services

Abstract

Walkie-talkies are a common means of coordinating activities at events but must be handed out, transferred as shifts and personnel in roles change, and collected. Further, walkie-talkies have a set range and the bigger the range the more expensive the walkie-talkie. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide individuals, enterprises, organizers, etc. with the ability to establish communications to individuals or group of individuals rapidly, with low complexity and management overhead, exploiting walkie-talkie style communications upon mobile devices connected to wireless networks over varying geographical areas without requiring distribution of walkie-talkies etc. as the mobile device is the user'"'"'s own smartphone or cellphone. Further, it would be beneficial for such communications to be managed through a software application such that the user'"'"'s virtual walkie-talkie automatically assigns channels etc. based upon the user'"'"'s role, the event, their location etc.

Claims

1. A method of mobile communications comprising:

receiving content within a software application in execution upon an electronic device;

associating the received content with a communication based upon a filter defined by a policy chain established within the software application; and

presenting the information upon the electronic device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the communication is a conference call between a group of users absent any continuously open communication channels between members of the group of users.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the communications mimic use of walkie-talkies by participants.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the communications mimic use of walkie-talkies by participants;

and

a channel of a plurality of channels upon which a message is at least one of received and transmitted is established in dependence upon a policy chain.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the policy chain establishes the channel in dependence upon at least one of a role, a location, a venue, a shift, a shift status, and event of the participant.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the filter is established in dependence upon at least one of a role, a location, a venue, a shift, a shift status, and event of the participant.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic device upon which the content is provided may be either a walkie-talkie or an electronic device comprising a display and at least one of an audio input interface, an audio output interface, and a keyboard.

8. Computer readable instructions for execution by a microprocessor stored in a non-volatile, non-transitory memory, the instructions when executed relating to a process comprising:

receiving content within a software application in execution upon an electronic device;

associating the received content with a communication based upon a filter defined by a policy chain established within the software application; and

presenting the information upon the electronic device.

9. The instructions according to claim 8, wherein

the communication is a conference call between a group of users absent any continuously open communication channels between members of the group of users.

10. The instructions according to claim 8, wherein

the communications mimic use of walkie-talkies by participants.

11. The instructions according to claim 8, wherein

the communications mimic use of walkie-talkies by participants;

and

a channel of a plurality of channels upon which a message is at least one of received and transmitted is established in dependence upon a policy chain.

12. The instructions according to claim 8, wherein

the policy chain establishes the channel in dependence upon at least one of a role, a location, a venue, a shift, a shift status, and event of the participant.

13. The instructions according to claim 8, wherein

the filter is established in dependence upon at least one of a role, a location, a venue, a shift, a shift status, and event of the participant.

14. The instructions according to claim 8, wherein

the electronic device upon which the content is provided may be either a walkie-talkie or an electronic device comprising a display and at least one of an audio input interface, an audio output interface, and a keyboard.