Group communication device and method

• US 7,046,993 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Rauhala, Jyri, Keinonen, Turkka, Korhonen, Panu, Haaramo, Ville, Wikberg, Harri, Tahkokallio, Tatu, Bäckström, Raimo, Fräki, Johanna
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chow, Ming
• Application Number:
  US10/853,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20040219941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 340/7.1, 340/256, 340/235
• US Class Current: 455/414.4
• 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 comprising:

coupling together mobile terminals by placing the terminals in close proximity to each other;

initiating a group creation command from at least one of said terminals by provoking information including an identification code of the at least one of said terminals and a reference to the group to a next terminal in a sequence of one group of terminals by a coupling comprising at least one of physical contact, magnetic coupling, inductive coupling and capacitive coupling;

adding, at said next terminal, to the information received from a preceding terminal an identification code of the next terminal and repeating the addition of an identification code of a next terminal to the information until a last terminal of the sequence of terminals receives the information;

collecting all information at said last terminal into group information and

providing said group information to all other terminals of the group.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

coupling together the mobile terminals by gathering together the terminals within a direct communication distance; and

detecting at each of said terminals that each of said terminals are able to form the group before initiating said group creation command.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising transmitting said group information from one of said terminals of the group 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, comprising upon detecting a state of forming a group:

transmitting idle character messages from terminal to terminal in a sequence;

creating a bi-directional data path between at least two consecutive terminals; and

causing each terminal to request a user to input a group creation mode; and

upon receiving said input causing each terminal to send an identification to at least one of the terminals within the bi-directional data path.

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

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

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein light sources are used as data transmitters.

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

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein stickers are added to each dedicated illuminated button identifying the communication group.