Private multicast networks

• US 10,349,225 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2013
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Kakadia, Deepak, Tan, Thomas H., Draznin, Sagiv
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiv, Backhean
• Application Number:
  US14/011,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20150063186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,142 Days
• Field of Search: 709228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A device is configured to receive registration information associated with a set of user devices, and to determine a group based on the registration information. The device is configured to generate a group identifier to transport a message through a network. The device is configured to determine a set of active user devices, of the set of user devices, associated with the group, and to determine a set of device identifiers associated with the set of active user devices. The device is configured to determine an association between the group identifier and the set of device identifiers, and to provide the association to a network device to cause the network device to deliver a message from a first user device, of the set of active user devices, to one or more other active user devices of the set of active user devices.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors to;

receive registration information associated with a plurality of user devices,

the registration information including;

preference information that indicates a preference for a user device, of the plurality of user devices, to be part of a group or to be grouped with one or more other user devices of the plurality of the user devices;

determine the group, based on the registration information, associated with the plurality of user devices;

determine that a storage device, which stores a history of messages sent from a plurality of active user devices, is to be a member of the group,

the storage device being separate from the device;

generate a group identifier based on determining the group,

the group identifier including an identifier to transport a message through a private wireless network;

determine the plurality of active user devices, of the plurality of user devices, that are currently connected via the private wireless network,

the group including the plurality of active user devices and one or more inactive user devices of the plurality of user devices;

determine a plurality of device identifiers associated with the plurality of active user devices and the storage device;

determine group information based on determining the plurality of device identifiers,

the group information including an association between the group identifier and the plurality of device identifiers;

provide the group information to a network device, associated with the private wireless network, to cause the network device to deliver the message from a first user device, of the plurality of active user devices, to one or more other active user devices of the plurality of active user devices and to the storage device without delivering the message to the one or more inactive user devices of the plurality of user devices; and

receive the history of messages from the storage device after the message is delivered to the storage device.

2. The device of claim 1,

where the one or more processors, when receiving registration information, are to:

receive information indicating that a user device, of the plurality of user devices, is to be associated with a preexisting group; and

where the one or more processors, when determining the group, are to;

determine the preexisting group based on the information indicating that the user device is to be associated with the preexisting group.

3. The device of claim 1, where the one or more processors, when determining the plurality of active user devices, are to:

determine an account associated with a user device of the plurality of user devices;

determine that the user device is logged into the account; and

determine that the user device is an active user device, of the plurality of active user devices, based on determining that the user device is logged into the account.

4. The device of claim 1,

where the one or more processors, when determining the plurality of active user devices, are to:

determine an account associated with a user device of the plurality of user devices;

determine that the user device is logged out of the account; and

determine the plurality of active user devices based on determining that the user device is logged out of the account; and

where the one or more inactive user devices include the user device.

5. The device of claim 1, where the one or more processors, when providing the group information, are to:

provide the group information to the network device to cause the network device to deliver the message to the storage device to permit the storage device to store the message with the history of messages.

6. The device of claim 1, where the one or more processors, when providing the group information, are to:

receive updated group information; and

provide the updated group information to the network device.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive registration information associated with a plurality of user devices,

the registration information including preference information that indicates a preference for the user device to be part of a group or to be grouped with one or more other user devices of the plurality of the user devices;

determine the group, based on the registration information, associated with the plurality of user devices;

determine that a storage device, which stores a history of messages sent from a plurality of active user devices, is to be a member of the group,

the storage device being separate from the one or more processors;

determine a group identifier for the group;

determine the plurality of active user devices, of the plurality of user devices, that correspond to users that are currently connected via a private wireless network,

the group including the plurality of active user devices and one or more inactive user devices of the plurality of user devices;

determine a plurality of device identifiers associated with the plurality of active user devices and the storage device;

determine group information based on determining the plurality of device identifiers,

the group information including an association between the group identifier and the plurality of device identifiers;

provide the group information to a network device, associated with the private wireless network, to cause the network device to deliver a message from a first user device, of the plurality of active user devices, to one or more other active user devices of the plurality of active user devices and to the storage device without delivering the message to the one or more inactive user devices of the plurality of user devices; and

receive the history of messages from the storage device after the message is delivered to the storage device.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7,

where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to receive the registration information, cause the one or more processors to:

receive information indicating that a user device, of the plurality of user devices, is to be associated with a preexisting group; and

where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to determine the group, cause the one or more processors to;

determine the preexisting group.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7,

where the group identifier is a multicast address;

and

where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to provide the group information, cause the one or more processors to;

provide the group information to cause the network device to deliver the message using broadcast multicasting.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, where the plurality of device identifiers comprise a plurality internet protocol addresses.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7,

where the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

determine group attribute information associated with the group,

the group attribute information including at least one of;

a group name associated with the group;

a group identification number associated with the group;

or

a plurality of group members associated with the group; and

where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to determine the group information, cause the one or more processors to;

determine the group information based on the group attribute information.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11,

where the plurality of group members is a first plurality of group members;

where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to determine the group attribute information associated with the group, cause the one or more processors to;

determine modified group attribute information associated with the group,

the modified group attribute information identifying at least one of;

a modified group name associated with the group;

a modified group identification number associated with the group;

or

a second plurality of group members associated with the group; and

where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to determine the group information, cause the one or more processors to;

determine the group information based on the modified group attribute information.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to provide the group information, cause the one or more processors to:

provide the group information to cause the network device to deliver the message using a multimedia broadcast multicast services network.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a device, registration information associated with a plurality of user devices;

determining, by the device, a group, based on the registration information, associated with the plurality of user devices;

determine that a storage device, which stores a history of messages sent from a plurality of active user devices, is to be a member of the group,

the storage device being separate from the device;

determining, by the device, a multicast address based on determining the group;

determining, by the device, the plurality of active user devices, of the plurality of user devices, that are currently connected via a private wireless network,

the group including the plurality of active user devices and one or more inactive user devices of the plurality of user devices;

determining, by the device, a plurality of device identifiers associated with the plurality of active user devices and the storage device;

determining, by the device, group information based on determining the plurality of device identifiers,

the group information including an association between the multicast address and the plurality of device identifiers;

providing, by the device, the group information to a network device, associated with the private wireless network, to cause the network device to deliver a message from a first user device, of the plurality of active user devices, to one or more other active user devices of the plurality of active user devices and to the storage device without delivering the message to the one or more inactive user devices of the plurality of user devices; and

receiving, by the device, the history of messages from the storage device after the message is delivered to the storage device.

15. The method of claim 14, where determining the plurality of active user devices comprises:

determining the plurality of active user devices based on determining that the plurality of user devices are connected to a multicast broadcast network.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

storing the group information in a data structure associated with the device.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the device, updated registration information associated with a user device of the plurality of user devices;

determining a second device based on the updated registration information,

the second device being associated with the user device; and

providing the updated registration information to the second device.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving updated group information; and

providing the updated group information to the network device.

19. The method of claim 14, where determining the plurality of active user devices comprises:

determining an account associated with a user device of the plurality of user devices;

determining that the user device is logged into the account; and

determining that the user device is an active user device based on determining that the user device is logged into the account.

20. The method of claim 14, where users, associated with the plurality of active user devices, share a type of occupation associated with the group.