Systems and methods for delivering information within a group communications system

• US 6,788,946 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Winchell, Diane, Kirby, Miles, Korecki, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US09/835,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/518, 455/517, 455/519, 455/509, 455/520, 455/406, 455/405, 455/408, 455/557, 455/556, 455/459, 455/3.03, 455/3.01, 455/414.1, 370/462, 370/409, 370/947, 370/461, 370/338, 370/352-354, 370/349, 370/356, 370/389, 370/401, 370/312, 709/223, 709/208, 709/238, 709/227, 709/214, 709/213, 709/249, 707/10, 707/104, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 455/459
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering information include a communications network defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, where the communications network is associated with a plurality of communication devices that define a group communications net. A communications manager is operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one of the other members of the group communications net. A message module having a plurality of informational messages is associated with the communications manager, and a delivery module is coupled to each of the message module, the communications manager, and the communications network. The delivery module is operable to monitor the group communication session and to deliver one of the plurality of informational messages to the group communications net. Further, methods of billing a user for participation in the group communications session include discounting an amount due based on receipt of informational messages.

Claims

1. A system for delivering information, comprising:

a communications network defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, the communications network associated with a plurality of communication devices that define a group communications net;

a message module having a plurality of informational messages;

a controller module coupled to each of the message module and the communications network, the controller module operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one of the other members of the group communications net, and the controller module further operable to monitor the group communication session and to deliver a predetermined one of the plurality of messages to the group communications net; and

a delivery manager coupled to the controller module, the delivery manager operable to schedule the delivery of the predetermined message based on predetermined delivery characteristics.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined delivery characteristics comprise a predetermined time interval measured from a time of the last-delivered message or from a time of an initiation of the group communications session.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of informational messages have an associated timing status indicating that the respective message is time-sensitive or non-time-sensitive, and wherein the predetermined delivery characteristics comprise the timing status.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the predetermined delivery characteristics further comprise a predetermined time interval measured from a time of a last-delivered message or from a time of an initiation of the group communications session, and wherein the delivery manager is operable to schedule delivery of the predetermined message according to the timing status if the timing status is time-sensitive or according to the predetermined time interval if the timing status is non-time-sensitive.

5. A system for delivering information, comprising:

a communications network defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, the communications network associated with a plurality of communication devices that define a group communications net;

a message module having a plurality of informational messages;

a controller module coupled to each of the message module and the communications network, the controller module operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one other member of the group communications net, the controller module further operable to monitor the group communication session and deliver a predetermined one of the plurality of messages to the group communications net at a predetermined time, and the controller module further operable to generate an activity log for each of the plurality of communication devices tracking participating in the group communication session and receipt of the predetermined message; and

a billing module operable to receive the activity log and generate a bill having an amount due for each of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the amount due is discounted based on the tracked receipt of the predetermined message associated with the respective communication device.

6. A method for delivering information, comprising:

receiving identification of a plurality of communications devices to be included in a group communications session, where each of the plurality of communications devices is associated with a communications network that includes at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network;

establishing the group communications session by receiving a data packet from one communications device and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one of the other communications devices;

delivering according to predetermined delivery characteristics one of a plurality of informational messages via the communications network to the communications devices participating in the group communications session;

generating an activity log for each of the plurality of communication devices, the activity log tracking participation in the group communication session and receipts of the informational messages; and

generating a bill having an amount due for each of the plurality of communication devices, where the amount due is a function of the participation in the group communication session and the receipt of the informational message associated with the respective communication device.

7. A system for delivering information, comprising:

a means for networking communications devices defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, the means for networking associated with a plurality of communication devices that define a group communications net;

a means for storing a plurality of informational messages;

a means for controlling communications coupled to each of the means for storing and the means for networking, the means for controlling communications operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the means for networking to at least one other member of the group communications net, the means for controlling communications further operable to monitor the group communication session and deliver a predetermined one of the plurality of messages to the group communications net at a predetermined time, the means for controlling communications further operable to generate an activity log for each of the plurality of communication devices that tracks participation in the group communication session and receipt of the predetermined message; and

a means for billing operable to receive the activity log and generate a bill having an amount due for each of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the amount due is discounted based on the tracked receipt of the predetermined message associated with the respective communication device.