Method and terminal devices

• US 8,131,313 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Pedersen, Jens Ulrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khai M
• Application Number:
  US12/977,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20110092224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 455/518, 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 455/457, 455/517
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A method and terminal device are provided which effect the steps of receiving a message indicating that a user of another terminal device has pressed a talk button, the message including a geographical location of the other terminal device, or any information derived therefrom; and indicating the geographical location of the other terminal device to a user of the terminal device. A further method and terminal device are provided which effect the steps of: in response to a user of a terminal device pressing a talk button, writing information describing the geographical location of the terminal device, or any information derived therefrom, into a message; and sending the message to another terminal device or to a communications network.

Claims

1. A method for receiving location information, the method comprising:

receiving a message at a first terminal device indicating that a user of a second terminal device has pressed a button, the message including a geographical location of the second terminal device;

indicating the geographical location of the second terminal device to a user of the first terminal device;

indicating a direction of the first terminal device from the geographical location of the second terminal device;

indicating a distance of the first terminal device from the second terminal device;

indicating a geographical location of the first terminal device on a map together with the geographical location of the second terminal device; and

indicating coordinates of both the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

2. A method for receiving location information as claimed in claim 1, wherein the message is a Push-to-Talk over Cellular message.

3. A method for receiving location information as claimed in claim 2, wherein the message is one of a REFER message and a Floor taken message.

4. A method for transmitting location information, the method comprising:

determining whether a parameter controllable by a user of a first terminal device allows for indicating a geographical location of the first terminal device to another terminal device to which a message may be sent;

writing information into the message, in response to the user of the first terminal device pressing a button, the information indicating the user pressed the button and, only if the parameter allows, indicating the geographical location of the first terminal device, wherein the information describing the geographical location of the first terminal device is written into the message only if a parameter controllable by the user of the first terminal device shows that the geographical location is indicatable; and

transmitting the message to one of a second terminal device and a communications network.

5. A method for transmitting location information as claimed in claim 4, wherein the message is a Push-to-Talk over Cellular message.

6. A method for transmitting location information as claimed in claim 5, wherein the Push-to-Talk over Cellular message is one of a REFER message and a Floor taken message.

7. A terminal device, comprising:

a receiver, the receiver receiving a message indicating that a user of a further terminal device has pressed a button, the message including a geographical location of the further terminal device; and

an indicator, the indicator indicating the geographical location of the further terminal device to a user of the terminal device, the indicator additionally indicating at least one of;

a direction of the terminal device from the geographical location of the further terminal device;

a distance of the terminal device from the further terminal device;

a geographical location of the terminal device on a map together with a geographical location of the further terminal device; and

coordinates of both the terminal device and the further terminal device,

wherein the message includes the geographical location of the further terminal device and the indicator only if a parameter controllable by the user of the further terminal device shows that the geographical location is indicatable.

8. A terminal device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the message is a Push-to-Talk over Cellular message.

9. A terminal device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the message is one of a REFER message and a Floor taken message.

10. A terminal device, comprising:

a parameter under control of a user of the terminal device for determining whether the terminal device allows for indicating a geographical location of the terminal device to another terminal device to which a message is to be sent;

a message generator, the message generator writing information into the message, responsive to a user of the terminal device pressing a button, the information indicating the user pressed the button and, only if the parameter allows, indicating the geographical location of the terminal device, wherein the information describing the geographical location of the terminal device is written into the message only if a parameter controllable by the user of the terminal device shows that the geographical location is indicatable; and

a transmitter, the transmitter transmitting the message to one of a further terminal device and a communications network.

11. A terminal device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the message is a Push-to-Talk over Cellular message.

12. A terminal device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the Push-to-Talk over Cellular message is one of a REFER message and a Floor taken message.