DEVICE TO DEVICE GROUPING OF PERSONAL COMMUNICATION NODES

• US 20180159925A1
• Filed: 01/25/2018
• Published: 06/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orion Labs
• Original Assignee: Orion Labs
• Inventors: Robbins, Jesse, Albrecht, Greg, Juhlin, Ellen, Wood, Roger, Girling, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 10,542,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1044 Group management mechanisms management of multicast group membership H04L12/185; reconfiguring of node membership in a computing system to eliminate errors G06F11/1425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/566 Grouping or aggregating service requests, e.g. for unified processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/00 Details of television systems scanning details or combination thereof with generation of supply voltages H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems, methods, software and apparatus enable device to device grouping of personal communication nodes include managing a communication node group having communication node members. Attribute information from the communication nodes is provided to a management system that defines communication group membership based on the received attribute information. The management system transmits group membership status notifications to the communication nodes. Membership status controls a node'"'"'s participation in group communications. Attribute information can include changes (such as dynamic changes) in one or more communication node attributes, such as location, proximity to other communication nodes, speed, etc.

Claims

1. A method of operating a management system to control a communication node group comprising a plurality of communication nodes, wherein the plurality of communication nodes comprises a first communication node and a second communication node, the method comprising:

the management system receiving attribute information from one or more communication nodes in the plurality of communication nodes;

the management system determining communication node group operation changes based on the received attribute information, the communication node group operation changes comprising changes to communication node operation and/or communication node membership in the communication node group; and

the management system transmitting a group membership status notification to each communication node in the plurality of communication nodes;

wherein each group membership status notification provides a group membership status that controls participation of the receiving communication node in group communications.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the attribute information comprises one or more of the following:

first communication node attribute data;

second communication node attribute data;

changes in one or more first communication node attributes; and

/or

changes in one or more second communication node attributes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each communication node comprises a computing system executing a communication software application.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each communication node comprises a wireless intermediate communication device linked to an end user device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the end user device comprises a wearable personal communication device wirelessly linked to the intermediate communication device.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein each communication node comprises a wireless intermediate communication device linked to an end user device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the end user device comprises a wearable personal electronic device and further wherein the intermediate communication device comprises a smartphone, tablet, gaming device, or laptop.

8. A method of operating a first communication node in a communication node group controlled by a management system, wherein the communication node group comprises a plurality of communication nodes, wherein the plurality of communication nodes comprises the first communication node, the method comprising:

the first communication node monitoring and/or collecting first communication node attribute information;

the first communication node transferring the first communication node attribute information to the management system;

the first communication node receiving a group membership status notification from the management system, wherein the group membership status notification comprises one or more changes to communication node operation and/or communication node membership in the communication node group and provides a group membership status that controls participation of the first communication node in communication node group communications; and

the first communication node changing communication node operation and/or communication node membership in the communication node group based at least on the group membership status notification.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the attribute information comprises one or more of the following:

first communication node attribute data; and

/or

changes in one or more first communication node attributes.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the communication node group comprises at least one communication node comprising a computing system executing a communication software application.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the communication node group comprises at least one communication node comprising a wireless intermediate communication device linked to an end user device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the end user device comprises a wearable personal communication device wirelessly linked to the intermediate communication device.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein each communication node comprises a wireless intermediate communication device linked to an end user device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the end user device comprises a wearable personal electronic device and further wherein the intermediate communication device comprises a smartphone, tablet, gaming device, or laptop.

15. A method of operating a management system to control establishing, updating and terminating membership in a communication node group, wherein the communication node group comprises a plurality of communication nodes, wherein the plurality of communication nodes comprises a first communication node, the method comprising:

the management system receiving attribute information from one or more communication nodes in the plurality of communication nodes;

the management system determining one or more communication node group membership changes based on the received attribute information; and

the management system transmitting a group membership status notification to the first communication node;

wherein the group membership status notification provides group membership status that controls membership and participation of the first communication node in group communications.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the attribute information comprises one or more of the following:

first communication node attribute data; and

/or

changes in one or more first communication node attributes.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein each communication node comprises a computing system executing a communication software application.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein each communication node comprises a wireless intermediate communication device linked to an end user device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the end user device comprises a wearable personal communication device linked to the intermediate communication device.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the intermediate communication device comprises a smartphone, tablet, gaming device, or laptop.