Methods and terminal devices

• US 20060234723A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Pedersen, Jens Ulrik
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• 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

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. 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 talk button, the message including a geographical location of the second terminal device; and

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

17. A method for receiving location information as claimed in claim 15, wherein the message is a Push-to-Talk over Cellular message.

18. A method for receiving location information as claimed in claim 17, wherein the Push-to-Talk over Cellular message is one of a REFER message, a Floor taken message and a Talk burst.

16. A method for receiving location information as claimed 15, wherein the step of indicating further comprises one of:

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.

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

writing information into a message, in response to a user of a first terminal device pressing a talk button, the information describing a geographical location of the first terminal device; and

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

20. A method for transmitting location information as claimed in claim 19, 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 may be indicated.

21. A method for transmitting location information as claimed in claim 19, 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 may be indicated to another terminal device to which the message is to be sent.

22. A method for transmitting location information as claimed in claim 19, wherein the message is a Push-to-Talk over Cellular message.

23. A method for transmitting location information as claimed in claim 22, wherein the Push-to-Talk over Cellular message is one of a REFER message, a Floor taken message and a Talk burst.

24. A terminal device, comprising:

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

parts for indicating the geographical location of the further terminal device to a user of the terminal device.

25. A terminal device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the parts for indicating the geographical location of the further terminal device are designed to one of:

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

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

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

indicate coordinates of both the terminal device and the further terminal device.

26. A terminal device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the message is a Push-to-Talk over Cellular message.

27. A terminal device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the Push-to-Talk over Cellular message is one of a REFER message, a Floor taken message and a Talk burst.

28. A terminal device, comprising:

parts for writing information into a message, responsive to a user of the terminal device pressing a talk button, the information describing a geographical location of the terminal device; and

parts for transmitting the message to one of a further terminal device and a communications network.

29. A terminal device as claimed in claim 28, 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 may be indicated.

30. A terminal device as claimed in claim 28, 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 may be indicated to another terminal device to which the message is to be sent.

31. A terminal device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the message is a Push-to-Talk over Cellular message.

32. A terminal device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the Push-to-Talk over Cellular message is one of a REFER message, a Floor taken message and a Talk burst.