Mobile community communicator

• US 6,941,372 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pearson, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): EL HADY, NABIL M
• Application Number:
  US09/773,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20020103863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-253
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for enabling individuals to communicate with each other to discuss predetermined topics of interest (e.g., health and fitness, weather, politics, science, etc.). In one embodiment, a mobile communicator enables a user to communicate with other participants on various predefined topics within a predetermined range of the device (e.g., five to ten miles). The mobile communicator includes a full-duplex transceiver which is able to send and receive signals on one or more channels, each channel corresponding to a predefined generic topic of interest. The mobile communicator further includes a channel selector operatively coupled to the transceiver for selecting a particular one of the transceiver channels and a corresponding discussion topic. In an illustrative application, the user selects a channel and may then participate in a discussion whose topic or subject matter corresponds to the selected channel. In this manner, the present invention enables users to participate in group discussions according to topic while the participants/users are engaged in a mobile activity, such as biking, driving, jogging, etc.

Claims

1. A portable communication device for facilitating group communications relating to predefined discussion topics between a user and one or more participants, the portable communication device comprising:

a full-duplex transceiver, the transceiver sending and receiving signals on a plurality of channels, the channels corresponding to respective predefined discussion topics; and

a channel selector operatively coupled to the transceiver for selecting a particular one of the transceiver channels and a corresponding discussion topic

wherein a user of said portable communication device can select a predefined discussion topic corresponding to the selected channel and participate in a discussion with undetermined number of participants without a need for connecting to a service provider.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises at least one user-definable channel, the user-definable channel being assigned to a particular discussion topic by the user.

3. The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising a processor operative to at least partially control one or more functions of the portable communication device.

4. The portable communication device of claim 3, further comprising a display operatively coupled to the processor, the display visually indicating at least one of:

(i) a selected channel;

(ii) a corresponding discussion topic assigned to the selected channel; and

(iii) a number of users participating in the selected discussion topic.

5. The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising voice recognition circuitry operatively coupled to the transceiver, the voice recognition circuitry being responsive to one or more audio input signals and at least partially controlling the transceiver for transmitting the audio input signals to the one or more participants.

6. The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the voice recognition circuitry is further operative to at least partially control the channel selector in response to the one or more audio input signals.

7. The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

menu circuitry operatively coupled to at least one of the transceiver and the channel selector, the menu circuitry providing an interface for indicating to a present setting of one or more predetermined functions of the portable communication device and for modifying the one or more predetermined functions; and

an indicator operatively coupled to the menu circuitry for indicating the one or more predetermined functions of the portable communication device.

8. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises:

an input for being operatively coupled to a microphone transducer;

an output for being operatively coupled to an earpiece transducer; and

an antenna connection for being operatively coupled to an antenna.

9. The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising an on-line indicator, the on-line indicator being responsive to at least one of (i) a participant entering a selected channel and (ii) a participant leaving the selected channel, the on-line indicator providing an indication in response thereto.

10. A mobile community communication system for facilitating group communications relating to predefined discussion topics between a plurality of participants, the mobile community communication system comprising:

a plurality of mobile communicator units, each of the mobile communicator units including;

a full-duplex transceiver, the transceiver sending and receiving signals on a plurality of channels, the channels corresponding to respective predefined discussion topics; and

a channel selector operatively coupled to the transceiver for selecting a particular one of the transceiver channels and a corresponding discussion topic

wherein a user of each of the portable communication units can select a predefined discussion topic corresponding to the selected channel and participate in a discussion with undetermined number of participants without a need for connecting to a service provider.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the mobile communicator units further comprise:

at least one user-definable channel, the user-definable channel being assigned to a particular discussion topic by one of the participants.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the mobile communicator units further comprises a processor operative to at least partially control one or more functions of the mobile communicator unit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the mobile communicator units further comprises a display operatively coupled to the processor, the display visually indicating at least one of:

(i) a selected channel;

(ii) a corresponding discussion topic assigned to the selected channel; and

(iii) a number of users participating in the selected discussion topic.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the mobile communicator units further comprises voice recognition circuitry operatively coupled to the transceiver, the voice recognition circuitry being responsive to one or more audio input signals and at least partially controlling the transceiver for transmitting the audio input signals to the plurality of participants.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the voice recognition circuitry is further operative to at least partially control the channel selector in response to the one or more audio input signals.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the mobile communicator units further comprise:

menu circuitry operatively coupled to at least one of the transceiver and the channel selector, the menu circuitry providing an interface for indicating a present setting of one or more predetermined functions of the portable communication device and for modifying the one or more predetermined functions; and

an indicator operatively coupled to the menu circuitry for indicating the one or more predetermined functions of the mobile communicator unit.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the transceiver in each mobile communicator unit further comprises:

an input for being operatively coupled to a microphone transducer;

an output for being operatively coupled to an earpiece transducer; and

an antenna connection for being operatively coupled to an antenna.

18. A method of facilitating group communications relating to predefined discussion topics between a user and one or more participants, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of portable communication devices, each of the portable communication devices being capable of transmitting and receiving signals on a plurality of channels, the channels corresponding to respective predefined discussion topics;

selecting one of the channels on which to initiate and/or participate in a discussion relating to the predefined discussion topic corresponding the selected channel

enabling a user of each of said plurality of portable communication devices to select a predefined discussion topic corresponding to the selected channel and participate in a discussion with undetermined number of participants without a need for connecting to a service provider.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

at least partially automating one or more portable communication devices in response to at least one of voice communication and sounds.