Group communication device and method

• US 20040219941A1
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haaramo Ville, Harri Wikberg, Johanna Fraki, Jyri Rauhala, Panu Korhonen, Raimo Backstrom, Tatu Tahkokallio, Turkka Keinonen
• Original Assignee: Haaramo Ville, Harri Wikberg, Johanna Fraki, Jyri Rauhala, Panu Korhonen, Raimo Backstrom, Tatu Tahkokallio, Turkka Keinonen
• Inventors: Rauhala, Jyri, Keinonen, Turkka, Korhonen, Panu, Backstrom, Raimo, Haaramo, Ville, Wikberg, Harri, Tahkokallio, Tatu, Fraki, Johanna
• Granted Patent: US 7,046,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/519
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A method for voice based communication between a number of mobile terminals of a telecommunication network, the method comprising the steps of creating a group of said number of terminals and storing group information in each of the number of terminals, recording a voice message in one of the terminals of the group, dispatching the voice message to the terminals of the group from the one of the terminals, and receiving the voice message at at least all other terminals of the group. The step of creating a group of terminals further comprises the steps of coupling together a number of mobile terminals, intiating a group creation command from at least one of the terminals, sending predetermined information from terminal to terminal to each terminal of the number of terminals for forming a group information, and transmitting the group information to all of the terminals thus forming a group of the terminals.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a group of mobile terminals said method comprising:

coupling together a number of mobile terminals;

initiating a group creation command from at least one of said terminals by providing information including own identity code and a reference of the group to a next terminal in a sequence via at least one coupling consisting of one of physical contact, magnetic coupling, contactless coupling, and wireless link;

adding, at said next terminal, to the information received from the first terminal its own identity code and repeating this until a last terminal of the sequence of terminals receives the information;

collecting all information at said last terminal into a group information; and

transferring said group information to all other terminals of the group via a low power RF interface (LPRF) connection.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of:

coupling together the number of terminals by getting together the terminals to a local direct communication distance; and

detecting at each of said terminals that they are in a situation to form a group before initiating said group creation command.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, said method further comprising the step of transmitting said group information from one said terminals to a communication server connected to a telecommunication network.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile terminals are mobile radio terminals.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising upon detecting the group forming state:

transmitting idle characters messages from terminal to terminal in a sequence, creating a bi-directional data path between two consecutive terminals,

causing each terminal to request a user to input a group creation mode, and upon receiving said input causing the terminal to send identity data to at least one of the terminals that it is having a bi-directional data path with.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said inputting is done by pressing a certain key on said terminal.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said key relates to the formed group.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein visible or invisible (infrared) light sources are used as data transmitters

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless coupling comprises at least one of infrared and radio.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the physical coupling comprises galvanic contacts.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contactless coupling comprises at least one of inductive coupling, capacitive coupling, and optical coupling.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein each mobile terminal comprises one dedicated illuminated button for each communication group.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein stickers are added to each dedicated illuminated button identifying the communication group.

14. A mobile terminal, the terminal capable of establishing a group of mobile terminals, the terminal comprising:

means for coupling together a number of mobile terminals;

means for selecting an initiator terminal from the number of mobile terminals;

means for initiating a group creation command by transmitting own identity code and a reference of the group to a next terminal in a sequence if it is determined that said terminal is the initiator terminal;

means for adding to information received from the initiator terminal its own identity code and forwarding the information to a next terminal if it is determined that said terminal is an intermediate terminal until a last terminal of the sequence of terminals receives the information;

means for collecting all information at said terminal, if it is determined that said terminal is the last terminal of the sequence of terminals, into a group information; and

means for transferring said group information to all other terminals of said group.

15. A terminal as claimed in claim 14, said terminal further comprising the steps of:

coupling together the number of terminals by getting together the terminals to a local direct communication distance; and

detecting at each of said terminals that they are in a situation to form a group before initiating said group creation command.

16. A terminal as claimed in claim 14, said terminal further comprising the step of transmitting said group information from one said terminals to a communication server connected to a telecommunication network.

17. A terminal as claimed in claim 14, wherein the mobile terminals are mobile radio terminals.

18. A terminal as claimed in claim 14, wherein the step of coupling the terminals together comprises coupling by a wireless link or physical contact.

19. A terminal as claimed in claim 14, and further comprising upon detecting the group forming state:

means for transmitting idle characters messages from said terminal to a terminal in a sequence, creating a bi-directional data path between two consecutive terminals, and

means for causing a terminal to request a user to input a group creation mode, and upon receiving said input causing the terminal to send identity data to at least one of the terminals that it is having a bi-directional data path with.

20. A terminal as claimed in claim 19, wherein said inputting is done by pressing a certain key on said terminal.

21. A terminal as claimed in claim 20, wherein said key relates to the formed group.