Communications restrictions for mobile group communication devices

• US 7,409,202 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: McClendon, Ginger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming; William D
• Application Number:
  US10/915,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 370/312, 455/519, 455/518, 455/404.1, 455/414, 455/436, 340/7.46, 379/106.04
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing a mobile communication device group. A communication device sends a message from a member of a sender group and a network transmits the message to the recipient group if the identity of the sender group exists in a communication permission parameter associated with the recipient group. Systems and methods for transmitting a message to a group of communication device users in an identified geographical area. A graphical display presents a geographical representation of an area. A selection tool for identifying one or more communication device users located within a defined area. The network transmits a message from a sender to the users located within the defined area.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device group management system, comprising:

a communication device for sending a message from a member of a sender group, the message comprising an identification of a recipient group and an identification of the sender group,

a network for receiving the message,

a system data store in electronic communication with the network for storing at least one communication permission parameter associated with the sender group and at least one communication permission parameter associated with the recipient group, and

a system processor in electronic communication with the system data store and configured to compare the identification of the sender group to the at least one communication permission parameter associated with the recipient group,

wherein the system processor is further configured to transmit the message to the recipient group if the identity of the sender group exists in the at least one communication permission parameter associated with the recipient group.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication permission parameter comprises at least one whitelist identity.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the recipient group inherits at least one communication permission parameter from a second group in a hierarchical relationship with the recipient group.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sender group inherits at least one communication permission parameter from a second group in a hierarchical relationship with the sender group.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system processor is configured to allow an administrator override at least one communication permission parameter for a selected group.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system processor is further configured to transmit a plurality of messages to the recipient group for a predetermined period of time if the identity of the sender group does not exist in the at least one communication permission parameter associated with the recipient group.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises an emergency group connect button for creating a message identifying a predetermined group as a recipient.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined group is a public service agency.

9. A system for transmitting a message to a group of communication device users in an identified geographical area comprising:

a graphical display for presenting a geographical representation of an area,

a selection tool for identifying a location boundary defining an area on the graphical display,

a system processor for comparing location data received from a communication device with the defined area and identifying at least one communication device user located within the defined area, and

a network for transmitting a message from a sender to the at least one user located within the defined area.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the network comprises an interworking device coupled to at least one dispatch network.

11. The system of claim 10, the at least one dispatch network being a radio access network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the radio access network further comprises a TDMA network and at least one other type of radio access network.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one user located within the defined area is defined as a recipient group.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an administrator for assigning at least one communication permission parameter for the recipient group.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the sender is a member of a sender group and the message comprises an identification of the sender group.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a system data store in electronic communication with the network for storing at least one communication permission parameter associated with the sender group and at least one communication permission parameter associated with the recipient group, and

the system processor being in electronic communication with the system data store and configured to compare the identification of the sender group to the least one communication permission parameter associated with the recipient group,

wherein the system processor is further configured to transmit the message to the recipient group if the identity of the sender group exists in the at least one communication permission parameter.

17. A method for managing mobile communication group communication, comprising:

sending a message from a member of a sender group,

embedding in the message an identification of a recipient group and an identification of the sender group,

transmitting the message to a network,

comparing the identification of the sender group with a communication permission parameter associated with the recipient group, and

transmitting the message to the recipient group if the identity of the sender group exists in the communication permission parameter associated with the recipient group.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the communication permission parameter comprises at least one whitelist identity.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the recipient group inherits at least one communication permission parameter from a second group in a hierarchical relationship with the recipient group.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the sender group inherits at least one communication permission parameter from a second group in a hierarchical relationship with the sender group.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein an administrator overrides at least one communication permission parameter for a selected group.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting a plurality of messages to the recipient group for a predetermined period of time if the identity of the sender group does not exist in the at least one communication permission parameter associated with the recipient group.

23. A method for managing mobile communication group communication, comprising:

sending a message from a member of a sender group,

embedding in the message an identification of a recipient group and an identification of the sender group,

transmitting the message to a network,

comparing the identification of the sender group with a communication permission parameter associated with the recipient group,

comparing the identification of the recipient group with a communication permission parameter associated with the sender group, and

transmitting the message to the recipient group if the identity of the sender group exists in the communication permission parameter associated with the recipient group and the identity of the recipient group exists in the communication permission parameter associated with the sender group.

24. A method for transmitting a message to a group of communication device users in an identified geographical area comprising:

presenting a geographical representation of an area on a graphical display,

identifying a location boundary defining an area on the graphical display with a selection tool,

comparing location data received from a communication device with the defined area and identifying at least one communication device user located within the defined area, and

transmitting a message over a network from a sender to the at least one user located within the defined area.