Group communication device and method

• US 8,526,921 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Haaramo, Ville, Keinonen, Turkka, Korhonen, Panu, Wikberg, Harri, Fraki, Johanna, Backstrom, Raimo, Rauhala, Jyri, Tahkokallio, Tatu
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Hemant
• Application Number:
  US12/959,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20110136431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 370259-271, 370351-356, 37920201-20701, 4554141-420, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/445, 4554561-457, 455462-466, 455516-523, 4555501-560, 455 901- 903, 709201-207, 709217-248
• 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 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. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

detecting a mobile terminal within close proximity,

generating a group creation command, in response to the detection, to establish a group of a plurality of mobile terminals, wherein the command specifies information relating to the group and information relating to an identifier associated with one of the mobile terminals, and

determining to transmit the command to another one of the mobile terminals to form the group,

wherein information associated with the mobile terminals of the group is forwarded to a communication server by a last member of the group.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the group is formed sequentially with respect to the mobile terminals.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine to transmit the information to a communication server configured to store the information.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus resides within the mobile terminal.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the generation of the command is invoked in response to activation of a key associated with the mobile terminal.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the key is further associated with the formed group after the group is formed.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the detection is performed based on either magnetic coupling, inductive coupling, capacitive coupling, optical coupling, and non-wired terminal-to-terminal physical contact, or a combination thereof.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the command specifies a group size limitation, one or more identification length limitations for the mobile terminals, a length limitation of checksum data, or a combination thereof.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile terminals of the group are physically stacked in an array.

8. A method comprising:

detecting a mobile terminal within close proximity;

generating a group creation command, in response to the detection, to establish a group of a plurality of mobile terminals, wherein the command specifies information relating to the group and information relating to an identifier associated with one of the mobile terminals; and

determining to transmit the command to another one of the mobile terminals to form the group,

wherein information associated with the mobile terminals of the group is forwarded to a communication server by a last member of the group.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the group is formed sequentially with respect to the mobile terminals.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

determine to transmit the information to a communication server configured to store the information.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the generation of the command is invoked in response to activation of a key associated with the mobile terminal.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the key is further associated with the formed group after the group is formed.

13. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the detection is performed based on either magnetic coupling, inductive coupling, capacitive coupling, optical coupling, and non-wired terminal-to-terminal physical contact, or a combination thereof.

20. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the command specifies a group size limitation, one or more identification length limitations for the mobile terminals, a length limitation of checksum data, or a combination thereof.

21. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the mobile terminals of the group are physically stacked in an array.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first mobile terminal to be included in a group, collected information from a second mobile terminal of the group within close proximity, wherein the collected information includes an identification for each of the mobile terminals in the group and a reference to the group;

generating group information including the collected information and a reference to the first mobile terminal; and

transmitting the group information to a communication server,

wherein the first mobile terminal is the last member of the group.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

triggering an indicator either visually or aurally to indicate a group mode of operation by the first mobile terminal.

16. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive, at a first mobile terminal to be included in a group, collected information from a second mobile terminal of the group within close proximity, wherein the collected information includes an identification for each of the mobile terminals in the group and a reference to the group,

generate group information including the collected information and a reference to the first mobile terminal, and

transmit the group information to a communication server,

wherein the first mobile terminal is the last member of the group.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

trigger an indicator either visually or aurally to indicate a group mode of operation by the first mobile terminal.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the apparatus resides within the first mobile terminal.