Communications system having pre-defined calling group

• US 6,073,023 A
• Filed: 01/07/1998
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cellular Communications Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Goldberg, Andrew, Coppola, Andrew, Tirabassi, Karen, Melampy, Patrick, Stanhope, Mary, Butz, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Armstrong, Darnell
• Application Number:
  US09/004,106
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432, 455/433, 455/434, 455/435, 455/428, 455/426, 455/519, 455/418, 455/455, 455/458
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data

Abstract

A communications system having a pre-defined calling group with a plurality of members is disclosed. A plurality of personal communication devices (PCDs) each have a system ID and a group ID, and each member of the group is assigned one of the PCDs. The system ID and the group ID both have a predetermined characteristic, where each system ID has a first variation thereof and each group ID has a second variation. A first group member having a first PCD contacts a second member having a second PCD by entering into the first PCD the second PCD group ID. The first PCD transmits the first PCD system ID and the second PCD group ID to a communications switch. Based on the first PCD system ID, the communications switch locates a record for the first PCD in a switch database and determines therefrom that the first PCD can contact the second PCD by way of the second PCD group ID. A group database in switchable communication with the communications switch has the system ID and group ID for each group member PCD. The communications switch forwards the contact and the second PCD group ID to the group database for further processing. The group database determines that the second PCD group ID is located therein, locates the second PCD system ID based on the second PCD group ID, and forwards the attempted contact and the second PCD system ID to an appropriate communications switch for further processing.

Claims

1. A communications system having a pre-defined calling group with a plurality of members, the system comprising:

a plurality of personal communication devices (PCDs), each member of the group being assigned one of the PCDs, each PCD having a system ID and a group ID, the system ID and the group ID both having a predetermined characteristic, each system ID having a first variation with respect to the characteristic, each group ID having a second variation with respect to the characteristic, a first member of the group having a first PCD and attempting to contact a second member of the group having a second PCD by entering into the first PCD the group ID of the second PCD;

a communications switch for allowing the first PCD to access the communications system thereby, the first PCD transmitting information to the communications switch, the transmitted information including the system ID of the first PCD and the group ID of the second PCD;

a switch database in communication with the communications switch, the switch database including a record for the first PCD, the record including information that the first PCD is assigned to a member of the group, the communications switch locating the record for the first PCD based on the system ID of the first PCD, the communications switch determining based on the record for the first PCD that the first PCD is allowed to contact the second PCD by way of the group ID of the second PCD; and

a group database in switchable communication with the communications switch, the group database having the system ID and the group ID for the PCD of each member of the group, the communications switch forwarding the attempted contact and the group ID of the second PCD to the group database for further processing, the group database determining that the group ID of the second PCD is located therein, locating the system ID of the second PCD based on the group ID of the second PCD, and forwarding the attempted contact and the system ID of the second PCD to an appropriate communications switch for further processing.

2. The communications system of claim 1 for restricting communications within each of a plurality of pre-defined groups, each group including restricted members and non-restricted members, each restricted member of a first group being restricted to contacting non-restricted members and other restricted members within the first group, wherein the group database has a partition for each group, each partition including the system ID and the group ID for the PCD of each member of the respective group, the communications switch forwarding the attempted contact, the system ID of the first PCD, and the group ID of the second PCD to the group database for further processing, the group database locating the partition for the group of the first member based on the system ID of the first PCD, determining that the group ID of the second PCD is in the partition for the group of the first member, locating the system ID of the second PCD based on the group ID of the second PCD, and forwarding the attempted contact and the system ID of the second PCD to an appropriate communications switch for further processing.

3. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the members of the group include restricted members and non-restricted members, each restricted member being restricted to contacting non-restricted members and other restricted members, the first member of the group being a restricted member, the record for the first PCD in the switch database including information that the first PCD is assigned to a restricted member of the group, the communications switch locating the record for the first PCD based on the system ID of the first PCD, the communications switch determining that the attempted contact by the first, restricted PCD is allowed to proceed since the group ID of the second PCD has the second variation.

4. The communications system of claim 3 wherein each non-restricted member may contact restricted members, other non-restricted members, and non-group individuals, each non-group individual having a non-group PCD, each non-group PCD having an ID, a non-restricted member of the group having a non-restricted PCD and attempting to contact a non-group individual having a non-group PCD by entering into the non-restricted PCD the ID of the non-group PCD;

the communications switch for allowing the non-restricted PCD to access the communications system thereby, the non-restricted PCD transmitting information to the communications switch, the transmitted information including the system ID of the non-restricted PCD and the ID of the non-group PCD;

the switch database including a record for the non-restricted PCD, the record including information that the non-restricted PCD is assigned to a non-restricted member of the group, the communications switch locating the record for the non-restricted PCD based on the system ID of the non-restricted PCD, the communications switch determining based on the record for the non-restricted PCD that the non-restricted PCD is authorized to contact the non-group individual by way of the ID of the non-group PCD; and

the communications switch forwarding the attempted contact and the ID of the non-group PCD to an appropriate communications switch for further processing.

5. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the characteristic is a number of digits, each system ID has ten digits, and each group ID has a number of digits other than ten digits.

6. In a communications system, a calling group having a plurality of members including restricted members and non-restricted members, each restricted member being restricted to contacting non-restricted members and other restricted members within the group, each non-restricted member being able to contact restricted members, other non-restricted members, and non-group individuals,

each member of the group being assigned a personal communication device (PCD), each PCD having a system ID and a group ID, the system ID and the group ID both having a predetermined characteristic, each system ID having a first variation with respect to the characteristic, each group ID having a second variation with respect to the characteristic, a first member of the group having a first PCD and attempting to contact an individual having a communications device by entering into the first PCD a number of the communications device,

the communications system having a communications switch for allowing the first PCD to access the communications system thereby, the first PCD transmitting information to the communications switch, the transmitted information including the system ID of the first PCD and the number of the communications device,

the communications system also having a switch database in communication with the communications switch, the switch database including a record for the first PCD, the record including a first designator designating that the first PCD is assigned to a member of the group and a second designator indicating whether the first PCD is assigned to a restricted member or a non-restricted member, the communications switch locating the record for the first PCD based on the system ID of the first PCD,

the communications switch, if determining based on the record for the first PCD that the first PCD is assigned to a restricted member, allowing the attempted contact to proceed if the number of the communications device has the second variation,

the communications switch, if determining based on the record for the first PCD that the first PCD is assigned to a non-restricted member, allowing the attempted contact to proceed if the number of the communications device has the first or the second variation,

the communications switch, if determining based on the record for the first PCD that the first PCD is a non-restricted member and if the number of the communications device has the first variation, forwarding the attempted contact and the number of the communications device to an appropriate communications switch for further processing,

the communications system also having a group database in switchable communication with the communications switch, the group database having the system ID and the group ID for the PCD of each member of the group, the communications switch, if the number of the communications device has the second variation, forwarding the attempted contact and the number of the communications device to the group database for further processing,

the group database, if the number of the communications device is located therein as a group ID, determining that the individual having the communications device with the number thereof is a member of the group having a PCD, locating the system ID of the PCD of the individual based on the group ID of the PCD of the individual, and forwarding the attempted contact and the system ID of the PCD of the individual to an appropriate communications switch for further processing.

7. In the communications system of claim 6, a plurality of the calling groups, each restricted member of a first group being restricted to contacting non-restricted members and other restricted members within the first group, wherein the group database has a partition for each group, each partition including the system ID and the group ID for the PCD of each member of the respective group,

the communications switch, if the number of the communications device has the second variation, forwarding the attempted contact, the first number of the first PCD, and the number of the communications device to the group database for further processing,

the group database locating the partition for the group of the first member based on the system ID of the first PCD,

the group database, if the number of the communications device is located therein as a group ID in the partition for the group of the first member, determining that the individual having the communications device with the number thereof is a member of the group of the first member and that the individual has a PCD, locating the system ID of the PCD of the individual based on the group ID of the PCD of the individual, and forwarding the attempted contact and the system ID of the PCD of the individual to an appropriate communications switch for further processing.

8. The communications system of claim 6 wherein the characteristic is a number of digits, each system ID has ten digits, and each group ID has a number of digits other than ten digits.

9. A method of communicating within a pre-defined calling group having a plurality of members, the method comprising the steps of:

assigning a personal communication device (PCD) to each member of the group;

assigning a system ID and a group ID to each PCD, the system ID and the group ID both having a predetermined characteristic, each system ID having a first variation with respect to the characteristic, each group ID having a second variation with respect to the characteristic;

entering, into a first PCD of a first member of the group, the group ID of a second PCD of a second member of the group in an attempt to contact the second member;

allowing the first PCD to access a communications system by way of a communications switch;

transmitting, by the first PCD, information to the communications switch, the transmitted information including the system ID of the first PCD and the group ID of the second PCD;

locating, by the communications switch, a record for the first PCD in a switch database based on the system ID of the first PCD, the record including information that the first PCD is assigned to a member of the group;

determining, by the communications switch, based on the record for the first PCD, that the first PCD is allowed to contact the second PCD by way of the group ID of the second PCD;

forwarding, by the communications switch, the attempted contact and the group ID of the second PCD to a group database for further processing, the group database having the system ID and the group ID for the PCD of each member of the group;

determining, by the group database, that the group ID of the second PCD is located therein;

locating, by the group database, the system ID of the second PCD based on the group ID of the second PCD; and

forwarding, by the group database, the attempted contact and the system ID of the second PCD to an appropriate communications switch for further processing.

10. The method of claim 9 for each of a plurality of pre-defined groups, each group including restricted members and non-restricted members, each restricted member of a first group being restricted to contacting non-restricted members and other restricted members within the first group, the method comprising the steps of:

forwarding, by the communications switch, the attempted contact, the system ID of the first PCD, and the group ID of the second PCD to the group database for further processing, the group database having a partition for each group, each partition including the system ID and the group ID for the PCD of each member of the respective group;

locating, by the group database, the partition for the group of the first member based on the system ID of the first PCD;

determining, by the group database, that the group ID of the second PCD is in the partition for the group of the first member;

locating, by the group database, the system ID of the second PCD based on the group ID of the second PCD; and

forwarding, by the group database, the attempted contact and the system ID of the second PCD to an appropriate communications switch for further processing.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the members of the group include restricted members and non-restricted members, each restricted member being restricted to contacting non-restricted members and other restricted members, the first member of the group being a restricted member, the method comprising the steps of:

locating, by the communications switch, a record for the first PCD in the switch database based on the system ID of the first PCD, the record including information that the first PCD is assigned to a restricted member of the group;

determining, by the communications switch, based on the record for the first PCD, that the attempted contact by the first, restricted PCD is allowed to proceed since the group ID of the second PCD has the second variation.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein each non-restricted member may contact restricted members, other non-restricted members, and non-group individuals, each non-group individual having a non-group PCD, each non-group PCD having an ID, a non-restricted member of the group having a non-restricted PCD, the method comprising the steps of:

entering into the non-restricted PCD the ID of a non-group PCD in an attempt to contact a non-group individual having the non-group PCD;

allowing the non-restricted PCD to access a communications system by way of a communications switch;

transmitting, by the non-restricted PCD, information to the communications switch, the transmitted information including the system ID of the non-restricted PCD and the ID of the non-group PCD;

locating, by the communications switch, a record for the non-restricted PCD in the switch database based on the system ID of the non-restricted PCD, the record including information that the non-restricted PCD is assigned to a non-restricted member of the group;

determining, by the communications switch, based on the record for the non-restricted PCD, that the non-restricted PCD is authorized to contact the non-group individual by way of the ID of the non-group PCD;

forwarding, by the communications switch, the attempted contact and the ID of the non-group PCD to an appropriate communications switch for further processing.

13. The method of claim 9 comprising the step of assigning the system ID and the group ID to each PCD, wherein the characteristic is a number of digits, each system ID has ten digits, and each group ID has a number of digits other than ten digits.

14. A method of communicating within a calling group having a plurality of members including restricted members and non-restricted members, each restricted member being restricted to contacting non-restricted members and other restricted members within the group, each non-restricted member being able to contact restricted members, other non-restricted members, and non-group individuals, the method comprising the steps of:

assigning a personal communication device (PCD) to each member of the group;

assigning a system ID and a group ID to each PCD, the system ID and the group ID both having a predetermined characteristic, each system ID having a first variation with respect to the characteristic, each group ID having a second variation with respect to the characteristic;

entering, into a first PCD of a first member of the group, a number of the communications device of an individual in an attempt to contact the individual;

allowing the first PCD to access a communications system by way of a communications switch;

transmitting, by the first PCD, information to the communications switch, the transmitted information including the system ID of the first PCD and the number of the communications device;

locating, by the communications switch, a record for the first PCD in a switch database based on the system ID of the first PCD, the record including a first designator designating that the first PCD is assigned to a member of the group and a second designator indicating whether the first PCD is assigned to a restricted member or a non-restricted member;

allowing, by the communications switch, the attempted contact to proceed if the communications switch determines based on the record for the first PCD that the first PCD is assigned to a restricted member and if the number of the communications device has the second variation;

allowing, by the communications switch, the attempted contact to proceed if the communications switch determines based on the record for the first PCD that the first PCD is assigned to a non-restricted member and if the number of the communications device has the first or the second variation;

forwarding, by the communications switch, the attempted contact and the number of the communications device to an appropriate communications switch for further processing, if the first PCD is a non-restricted member and if the number of the communications device has the first variation;

forwarding, by the communications switch, the attempted contact and the number of the communications device to a group database for further processing, the group database having the system ID and the group ID for the PCD of each member of the group;

determining, by the group database, that the individual having the communications device with the number thereof is a member of the group having a PCD if the number of the communications device is located therein as a group ID;

locating, by the group database, the system ID of the PCD of the individual based on the group ID of the PCD of the individual; and

forwarding, by the group database, the attempted contact and the system ID of the PCD of the individual to an appropriate communications switch for further processing.

15. The method of claim 14 for each of a plurality of calling groups, each restricted member of a first group being restricted to contacting non-restricted members and other restricted members within the first group, the method comprising the steps of:

forwarding, by the communications switch, the attempted contact, the first number of the first PCD, and the number of the communications device to the group database for further processing if the number of the communications device has the second variation, the group database having a partition for each group, each partition including the system ID and the group ID for the PCD of each member of the respective group;

locating, by the group database, the partition for the group of the first member based on the system ID of the first PCD;

determining, by the group database, that the individual having the communications device with the number thereof is a member of the group of the first member and that the individual has a PCD if the number of the communications device is located therein as a group ID in the partition for the group of the first member;

locating, by the group database, the system ID of the PCD of the individual based on the group ID of the PCD of the individual; and

forwarding, by the group database, the attempted contact and the system ID of the PCD of the individual to an appropriate communications switch for further processing.

16. The method of claim 14 comprising the step of assigning the system ID and the group ID to each PCD, wherein the characteristic is a number of digits, each system ID has ten digits, and each group ID has a number of digits other than ten digits.

17. A communications system having a pre-defined calling group with a plurality of members, each member having a communications device with an ID, the members of the group including restricted members, each restricted member being restricted from being contacted by a non-group individual, the non-group individual having a first communications device (CD1) with a first ID (ID1) and attempting to contact a restricted member of the group having a second communications device (CD2) with a second ID (ID2) by entering ID2 into CD1, the system comprising:

a communications switch for allowing CD2 to access the communications system thereby, CD1 being switchably connected to and transmitting information to the communications switch, the transmitted information including ID2 of CD2 and ID1 of CD1;

a switch database in communication with the communications switch, the switch database including a record for CD2, the record including information that CD2 is assigned to a restricted member of the group, the communications switch locating the record for CD2 based on ID2; and

a group database in switchable communication with the communications switch, the group database having the ID of the communications device of each member of the group, the communications switch determining based on the record for CD2 that the attempted contact is to be forwarded to the group database for further processing since the record for CD2 includes the information that CD2 is assigned to a restricted member of the group, the forwarded attempted contact including information on the ID1 of CD1, the group database preventing the attempted contact from being completed upon determining that ID1 of CD1 is not located therein.

18. A method of restricting communications to a restricted member of a pre-defined calling group with a plurality of members, each member having a communications device with an ID, the restricted member being restricted from being contacted by a non-group individual, the non-group individual having a first communications device (CD1) with a first ID (ID1) and attempting to contact a restricted member of the group having a second communications device (CD2) with a second ID (ID2) by entering ID2 into CD1, the method comprising the steps of:

allowing CD2 to access a communications system by way of a communications switch;

switchably connecting CD1 to the communications switch;

transmitting, by CD1, information to communications switch, the transmitted information including ID2 of CD2 and ID1 of CD1;

locating, by the communications switch, based on ID2, a record for CD2 in a switch database in communication with the communications switch, the record including information that CD2 is assigned to a restricted member of the group;

determining, by the communications switch, based on the record for CD2, that the attempted contact is to be forwarded to a group database for further processing since the record for CD2 includes the information that CD2 is assigned to a restricted member of the group, the group database being in switchable communication with the communications switch and having the ID of the communications device of each member of the group, the forwarded attempted contact including information on the ID1 of CD1; and

preventing, by the group database, the attempted contact from being completed upon the group database determining that ID1 of CD1 is not located therein.