Systems and methods for facilitating dispatch communications

• US 7,920,886 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Palacio, Julio, Lai, Duc Dinh
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego; Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US11/337,673
• Time in Patent Office: 1,897 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.2, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455518-520, 455/416, 370/352, 370/389, 370/338, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2753 providing data content
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating dispatch communications are provided. Buttons related to dispatch communications can be displayed when dispatch call addresses are received by a mobile station. Additionally, selection menus with options related to dispatch communications can be displayed in a call history display when a dispatch communication is selected. When a contact with a dispatch communication address is selected, a selection menu with options related to dispatch communications can be displayed.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a communications dialer, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving digits;

determining that the digits correspond to a dispatch communication address by analyzing the digits;

displaying the dispatch communication address; and

displaying a dispatch communication button on the communications dialer in response to the determination,

wherein, when the digits correspond to a dispatch private call address, the displayed dispatch communication button is a dispatch alert button that initiates a dispatch private call when pressed, and when the digits correspond to a dispatch group call address, the displayed dispatch communication button is a dispatch group call join button that initiates a dispatch group call when pressed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispatch communications button is displayed in a different color from other buttons of the communications dialer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispatch communication button is displayed on the communications dialer at a same height as the dispatch communication address.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of displaying a contact selection menu for the dispatch communication address in response to receiving a selection input for a predetermined amount of time.

5. A method for displaying dispatch communication information, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a selection;

determining whether the received selection corresponds to an entry with a dispatch communication address; and

displaying a dispatch communication selection menu in response to a determination that the received selection corresponds to the dispatch communications address, wherein the dispatch communication selection menu includes an option to initiate a dispatch communications call, and the dispatch communications call is initiated by selecting the option in the dispatch communication selection menu.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the entry is in a contacts list.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the dispatch communication address is a dispatch private call address and the dispatch communication selection menu further includes an alert option.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the dispatch communication address is a dispatch group call address and the option to initiate the dispatch communication call is a group join option.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the contact includes an interconnect communication address and the dispatch communication selection menu includes an interconnect communication initiation option.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the contact does not include an interconnect communication address and the dispatch communication selection menu includes an interconnect communication initiation option displayed in a different manner from dispatch communication options.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the entry is in a call history list.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the dispatch communication address is a dispatch private call address and the dispatch communication selection menu includes an alert option.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the dispatch communication address is a dispatch group call address and the dispatch communication selection menu includes a group join option.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication is an outgoing communication.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication is an incoming communication.