System and method for dynamic mobile communication

• US 7,782,890 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MAGIX Software GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bellevue Investments GmbH & Co. KGaA
• Inventors: Herberger, Tilman, Tost, Titus
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US11/615,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20080153518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 370/315
• US Class Current: 370/432
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

There is provided herein a system and method for dynamically creating and/or joining multi-user text communication groups, wherein the user is not restricted to the technical limitations of standard communications protocols and wherein the user is able to create and/or join this multi-user group without a need for elaborate installation or configuration steps. The system and method will primarily be intended for the market of mobile devices and the instant disclosure is generally directed to users who have modern mobile devices that feature support for the Bluetooth communication protocol or have support for Wi-Fi technology and that furthermore allow the user to use that communication protocol/technology for communications with other users.

Claims

1. A method of local text communication between a plurality of mobile communications devices, comprising the steps of:

(a) broadcasting via Bluetooth an electronic invitation from a first mobile communication device,

wherein said electronic invitation comprises at least a group ID, and

wherein said first mobile communications device has a group communications program stored therein;

(b) receiving via Bluetooth a representation of said electronic invitation within a second mobile communications device proximate to said first mobile communications device;

(c) determining whether said second mobile communications device will enter into a communications group along with at least said first mobile communications device;

(d) if it is determined that said second mobile communications device will enter said communications group,

(d1) forming a communications group with comprising at least said first and second mobile communications devices, said communications group being identified by said group ID;

(d2) determining whether said group communications program is resident within said second mobile communications device,

(d3) if said group communications program is not resident within said second mobile communications device,

(i) transmitting via Bluetooth a request for said group communications program to at least said first mobile communications device,

(ii) receiving via Bluetooth said transmitted request for said group communications program at least within said first mobile communications device,

(iii) transmitting via Bluetooth from said first mobile communications device said group communications program,

(iv) receiving via Bluetooth within said second mobile communications device said transmitted group communications program,

(v) installing said group communications program within said second mobile communications device, and,

(vi) executing said group communications program within said second mobile communications device, thereby joining said second mobile communications device to said communications group;

(e) if it is determined that said group communications program is resident within said second mobile communications device, executing said group communications program within said second mobile communications device, thereby joining said second mobile communications device to said communications group; and

,

(f) using at least said group communications program and said group ID to establish a Bluetooth connection between the mobile communication devices and to transmit an item of text from a selected one of said mobile communications devices in said communications group to every other mobile communications devices in said communications group.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

(g) repeatedly broadcasting said electronic invitation via Bluetooth at a predetermined time interval from at least one of said mobile communications devices in said communications group;

(h) bringing a third mobile communications device proximate to at least one of said mobile communications devices in said communications group;

(i) receiving via Bluetooth a representation of said electronic invitation within said third mobile communications device;

(j) determining whether said third mobile communications device will enter into said communications group along with at least said first mobile communications device; and

,

(k) if it is determined that said third mobile communications device will enter into said communications group, adding said third mobile communications device to said communications group by performing at least steps (d) and (e).

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

(g) receiving said item of text within each of said other mobile communications devices in said communications group; and

,

(h) reading of said item of text via each of said other mobile communications devices in said communications group by a plurality of users.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (f) comprises the steps of:

(f1) obtaining an item of text,

(f2) compressing said item of text, thereby producing a compressed item of text,

(f3) using at least said group communications program and said group ID to transmit said compressed item of text from one of said mobile communications devices in said communications group to each of said other mobile communications devices in said communications group and,

(f4) within each of said other mobile communications devices in said communications group decompressing said compressed item of text.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

(g) receiving said item of text within another mobile communications device;

(h) using said group ID to determine if said another mobile communications device is in said communications group;

(i) displaying said item of text on said another mobile communications device only if said another mobile communications device is determined to be in said communications group; and

,

(j) reading by a user of said item of text.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication device is selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, PDA, handheld, notebook, and a portable music player.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein

said first mobile communications device has a first user ID associated therewith,

said electronic invitation comprises at least said first user ID and said group ID, and,

said second mobile communications device has a second user ID associated therewith, and,

wherein claim 1 further comprises the step of:

(g) using at least said group communications program, said group ID, said first user ID, and said second user ID to transmit an item of text from said first mobile communications device to only said second mobile communications device.