Method and device for providing a communication session

• US 7,558,220 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pugliese, Pierluigi, Chambers, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao; Kwang B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai; Andrew
• Application Number:
  US10/348,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,359 Days
• Field of Search: 370/349, 370/338, 370/353, 370/260, 370/261, 370/265, 370/270, 709/227, 709/203, 709/204, 455/466
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method and device for providing a communication or chat session with a plurality of users, in particular for mobile radio networks according to Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standards. A first user starts a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) session requesting an Internet Protocol (IP) address at the network. The first user then sends an initiation message including the IP address to a plurality of other users which preferably are selected from a mobile station'"'"'s telephone book. Addressed users also request IP addresses at the respective networks and send a reply including the respective IP address via GPRS to the first user. After receiving at least one reply, the first user activates a chat session and all participants can exchange messages, preferably text and images, via GPRS or another packet switched service.

Claims

1. A method for providing short message service chat sessions with at least a first, second and third user of a communications system including at least a first, second and third terminal assigned thereto, respectively, said second and third terminals forming at least part of a group of terminals, comprising:

generating a list of selected users for each short message service chat session;

transmitting an initiation message for a short message service chat session from said first terminal to said group of terminals, said initiation message including a first address assigned to said first terminal;

dividing a display of said first terminal to simultaneously display text to be transmitted from said first terminal and text received from a terminal of said group of terminals, said dividing based on if there is text to be transmitted by said first terminal;

receiving said initiation message at said second terminal and said third terminal of said group of terminals;

transmitting a first reply to said initiation message from said second terminal of said group of terminals to said first terminal;

receiving said first reply at said first terminal;

transmitting a second reply to said initiation message from said third terminal to said first terminal;

receiving said second reply at said first terminal;

said first terminal marking said second and third terminals as active;

activating said short message service chat session;

creating a list of active terminals of said communication session;

transmitting said list of active terminals to at least one of said second and third terminals; and

after said activating, employing said first terminal as a server for said communication short message service chat session to store messages of said short message service chat session or assign said messages to terminals assigned to participants of said short message service chat session,

wherein said first terminal can transfer responsibility as said server to said second or third terminal.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first reply includes a second address assigned to said second terminal.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein at least one of said first address and said second address is a packet data protocol address.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein at least one of said first address and second address is an Internet Protocol address.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising requesting said first address by said first terminal prior to transmitting said initiation message.

6. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising requesting said second address by said second terminal prior to transmitting said first reply.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said transmitting said initiation message is performed in conjunction with a circuit switched service.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said transmitting said first reply is performed in conjunction with a packet switched service.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said transmitting said first reply is performed in conjunction with a General Packet Radio Service.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said transmitting said first reply is performed in conjunction with using an Internet Protocol.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first terminal and said second terminal is selected from the group consisting of:

a mobile station,

a mobile phone,

a wirebound terminal,

a wirebound phone, and

a computer.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said communications system includes a network selected from the group consisting of:

a Global System for Mobile Communication, and

a Universal Mobile Telecommunications system.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and said second terminals enable at least one of said first and said second users to input data and said data is exchanged at least between said first and second terminals with a packet switched service after receiving said first reply at said first terminal.

14. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first address is requested at a stationary part of said communication system or, if said first terminal already has an existing address, using said existing address as said first address.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising selectively enabling at least one of said second and third users to input data and transmitting said data to each active terminal with a packet switched service.

16. A method for transmitting a circuit switched message from a first terminal assigned to a first user of a communications system to second and third terminals having second and third users, respectively, comprising:

providing via said first terminal an input by said first user for said circuit switched message;

defining a group of users including said second and third users;

generating and transmitting a list of selected terminals for each short message service chat session including said second and third terminals;

selecting a subscriber number for said second and third terminals;

transmitting said message to said second and third terminals;

employing said first terminal as a server for short message service chat session messages between said first, second and third terminals, wherein said first terminal can transfer responsibility as said server to said second or third terminal; and

dividing a display of said first terminal to simultaneously display text to be transmitted from said first terminal and text received from another terminal, said dividing based on if there is text to be transmitted by said first terminal.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein at least one of said subscriber numbers is a mobile subscriber number selected from a data base in said first terminal, said first terminal being a mobile station and said message being transmitted with short message service.

18. A mobile device for use with a communications system including said mobile device, a second terminal and a third terminal, comprising:

means for storing an initiator address;

means for transmitting an initiation message for a text chat session to receiving terminals wherein said initiation message includes said initiator address;

means for receiving a reply message from at least one of said receiving terminals,

means to activate said text chat session based on said reply message;

means for dividing a display of said mobile device to simultaneously display text to be transmitted from said mobile device and text received from another device of said communications system, said dividing based on if there is text to be transmitted by said mobile device; and

means to function as a server for said text chat session after said text chat session is activated, wherein said mobile device includes means to transfer responsibility as said server to said second or third terminal.

19. A device as recited in claim 18 further comprising means to transfer said function as said server to said at least one of said receiving terminals.

20. A device as recited in claim 18 further comprising means for storing a packet data protocol address and means for transmitting a packet data protocol address.

21. The device as recited in claim 18 further comprising means for storing an Internet Protocol address and means for transmitting an Internet Protocol address.

22. The device as recited in claim 18 further comprising means for requesting an address at said communications system.

23. The device as recited in claim 18 further comprising means for communicating an initiation message with a circuit switched service.

24. The device as recited in claim 18 further comprising means for communicating data employing a General Packet Radio Service.

25. The device as recited in claim 18 further comprising means for communicating data employing Internet Protocol.

26. The device as recited in claim 18 wherein said device is configured to communicate within a telecommunications network selected from the group consisting of:

a Global System for Mobile Communication, and

a Universal Mobile Telecommunications system.

27. The device as recited in claim 18 further comprising means for activating said communication session upon receiving said reply message.

28. The device as recited in claim 18 further comprising means for assigning said receiving terminals with an active status.

29. The device as recited in claim 18 further comprising:

means for handling a list of active terminals;

means for assigning each receiving terminal from which a reply message is received to said list of active terminals; and

means for transmitting said list of active terminals to substantially each active terminal employing a packet data protocol addressed service.

30. A telecommunications network providing packet data protocol addressed service, comprising:

a plurality of base transceiving stations,

a plurality of base station controllers,

at least a serving packet radio service support node; and

a device including;

means for storing an initiator address;

means for transmitting an initiation message to a receiving device wherein said initiation message includes said initiator address;

means for receiving a reply message from said receiving device;

means for dividing a display of said device to simultaneously display text to be transmitted from said device and text received from said receiving device, said dividing based on if there is text to be transmitted; and

means for functioning as a server for a text session after said text session is activated, wherein said mobile device can transfer responsibility as said server to said second or third terminal.

31. The telecommunications network as recited in claim 30 further comprising a gateway packet radio service support node for connecting said network to another packet data network.