Group communication device and method

• US 6,757,531 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1999
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Bäcström, Raimo, Rauhala, Jyri, Keinonen, Turkka, Korhonen, Panu, Haaramo, Ville, Wikberg, Harri, Tahkokallio, Tatu, Fräki, Johanna
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chow, Ming
• Application Number:
  US09/442,466
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/413, 455/550, 455/517, 455/518, 455/519, 379/88.25, 379/88.26, 379/88.18, 379/88.23, 379/67.1, 379/68, 340/7.2, 340/7.21
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• 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, initiating 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 the steps of:

coupling together a number of mobile terminals;

initiating a group creation command from at least one of said terminals;

sending predetermined information from terminal to terminal to each terminal of said number of terminals for forming a group information;

transmitting the group information to all of said terminals thus forming a group of said terminals;

transmitting own identity code and a reference of a first terminal to a next terminal in a sequence;

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 so formed group.

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, wherein the step of coupling the terminals together comprises coupling by a wireless link or physical contact.

6. 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.

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

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said key relates to the formed group.

7. A method for establishing a group of mobile terminals said method comprising the steps of:

coupling together a number of mobile terminals;

initiating a group creation command from at least one of said terminals;

sending predetermined information from terminal to terminal to each terminal of said number of terminals for forming a group information; and

transmitting the group information to all of said terminals thus forming a group of said terminals,

wherein a last terminal of said number of terminals transmits said group information to a server.