System and method for groups comprising non-communication address objects

• US 7,738,899 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nextel Communications Inc (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Nextel Communications Inc (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Choksi, Ojas, Manroa, Arun
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/693,140
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 455/518, 455/519, 455/456.5, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/552.1, 705/14, 705/26, 705/41, 705/5, 705/3, 705/80, 705/37, 705/27, 707/9, 709/203, 709/245, 709/223
• US Class Current: 455/519
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history

Abstract

Systems and methods of supporting groups that include non-communication address objects are provided. The non-communication address objects can be, for example, items on a shopping list or items on a task list. An application server can receive an unstructured list of non-communication address objects and generate a structured list. The application server sends a request to a group server to create a group that includes non-communication address objects. The group server generates a globally unique group identification and then distributes the globally unique group identification to members of the group.

Claims

1. A method of supporting groups comprising non-communication address objects, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a request to create a group comprising a list of non-communication address objects;

generating a unique group identification for the group;

storing the unique identification, an identification of a creator of the group and the list of the non-communication address objects; and

managing the group,

wherein the list of non-communication address objects is a shopping list, and a subscriber of the group has a subscription to an item in the shopping list, a category of the item in the shopping list or to groups of the creator of the group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of managing the group comprises at least one of the acts of:

responding to a request for the list of non-communication address objects;

modifying a status of one of the non-communication address objects;

providing the unique group identification and at least one of the non-communication address objects to the subscriber of the group of the at least one of the non-communication address objects;

or

providing the unique group identification and at least one of the non-communication address objects to a user identified in the request, in response to a request for the list from a subscriber of the group of the at least one of the non-communication address objects.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identification, identification of the group creator and the list of non-communication address objects are stored in an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) document.

4. A method of supporting groups comprising non-communication address objects, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a request to create a group comprising a list of non-communication address objects;

generating a unique group identification for the group;

storing the unique identification, an identification of a creator of the group and the list of the non-communication address objects; and

managing the group,

wherein the list of non-communication address objects is a task list, and the method further comprises the acts of;

receiving a request to delegate a task;

receiving authorization to delegate the task; and

modifying the status of the task to indicate delegation of the task.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the status is one of completed, pending, or tentative.

6. A method of supporting groups comprising non-communication address objects, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a request to create a group comprising a list of non-communication address objects;

generating a unique group identification for the group;

storing the unique identification, an identification of a creator of the group and the list of the non-communication address objects; and

managing the group,

wherein the request to create the group is received by a group server from an application server, and the application server performs the acts of;

receiving an unstructured list of the non-communication address objects;

structuring the list of non-communication address objects; and

transmitting the structured list to the group server.

7. A method for supporting groups comprising non-communication address objects, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a request to create a group comprising a list of non-communication address objects;

obtaining a unique group identification for the group;

receiving a request to modify a status of at least one of the non-communication address objects; and

notifying a group member of the modification.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the list of non-communication address objects is a shopping list, and the request to modify the status of the at least one of the non-communication address objects is an offer for sale for the at least one of the non-communication address objects.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the list of non-communication address objects is a task list, and the request to modify the status of the at least one of the non-communication address objects is a request to modify the status to one of completed, pending, or tentative.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the list of non-communication address objects is a task list, and the request to modify the status of the at least one of the non-communication address objects is a request to delegate a task.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein when the request to modify the status of the task is received from a communication unit other than one associated with a creator of the group, the group member notified of the modification is the creator of the group, and the method further comprises the acts of:

receiving, from the creator of the group, an authorization message for the delegation of the task;

allowing the delegation of the task when the authorization message authorizes the delegation; and

denying the delegation of the task when the authorization denies the delegation.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the request is received from a first group member and the notified group member is a second group member.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising the act of:

sending a notification of the group creation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the notification is sent to a communication unit identified in the request to create the group.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the notification is sent to a communication unit that subscribes to groups of a communication unit that requested the group creation.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein a status of at least one of the non-communication address objects is updated based upon presence information indicating a current geographical location of a member of the group.