US5953400A — Communication system for a closed-user group

Claim 1

Independent Claim 91 words

A method for configuring a membership of a group of users of a telecommunications network comprising the steps of: receiving from a network end-user data indicative of a time frame within which the group will be in existence and entering said data onto a storage device accessible to a node of the network; receiving enrollment information from one or more network end users who desire to become members of the group; and storing said enrollment information to facilitate the node in providing a mnemonic dialing service among members of the group.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 91 words

A method for configuring a membership of a group of users of a telecommunications network comprising the steps of: receiving from a network end-user data indicative of a time frame within which the group will be in existence and entering said data onto a storage device accessible to a node of the network; receiving enrollment information from one or more network end users who desire to become members of the group; and storing said enrollment information to facilitate the node in providing a mnemonic dialing service among members of the group.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of configuring a node as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enrollment information is received at an enrollment unit coupled to said node, the enrollment unit being configured to automatically detect an identification number of a telephone, and to issue programming signals to the node to enroll the telephone into the mnemonic dialing group.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 138 words

A method for automatic conference calling comprising the steps of: storing a configuration of a group of users of a telecommunications network in a memory of a node internal to the network, the node's stored group configuration of the group of users being accessible to members of the group of users and persisting beyond a single telephone call connected among the members of the group of users; at the node, receiving a signal from an end-user device of an initiating member of the group of users; without human supervision, sending from said node a supervisory signal to appropriate end-user devices of the remaining members of the group of users, and establishing a communication path to two or more of said devices of said remaining members of the group of users when said devices respond to said supervisory signals.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 138 words

A method for automatic conference calling comprising the steps of: storing a configuration of a group of users of a telecommunications network in a memory of a node internal to the network, the node's stored group configuration of the group of users being accessible to members of the group of users and persisting beyond a single telephone call connected among the members of the group of users; at the node, receiving a signal from an end-user device of an initiating member of the group of users; without human supervision, sending from said node a supervisory signal to appropriate end-user devices of the remaining members of the group of users, and establishing a communication path to two or more of said devices of said remaining members of the group of users when said devices respond to said supervisory signals.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for establishing a conference call, comprising the steps of: on detecting initiation of a telephone call, referencing a database to determine whether the initiating telephone line is a member of a closed-user group, the closed user group including at least three telephone lines of a telecommunications system; and automatically, and without further human intervention, establishing a conference call among the initiating telephone line and one or more members of the closed-user group by issuing supervisory signals directed to other member lines of the closed-user group as selected by the reference to the database and establishing a communication path interconnecting member devices of the closed-user group that respond to said supervisory signals.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for establishing a conference call, comprising the steps of: on detecting initiation of a telephone call, referencing a database to determine whether the initiating telephone line is a member of a closed-user group, the closed user group including at least three telephone lines of a telecommunications system; and automatically, and without further human intervention, establishing a conference call among the initiating telephone line and one or more members of the closed-user group by issuing supervisory signals directed to other member lines of the closed-user group as selected by the reference to the database and establishing a communication path interconnecting member devices of the closed-user group that respond to said supervisory signals.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 80 words

A method of operating a communications network, comprising: detecting a signal from a wireless telephone set, the detected signal including an identification number of the wireless telephone set; determining a pre-defined group network into which the identification number is to be enrolled as a member; transmitting the identification number to the communications network to enroll the identification number into said predefined group network, said group network being a group of telephone sets having reciprocal mnemonic dialing access to each other.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 80 words

A method of operating a communications network, comprising: detecting a signal from a wireless telephone set, the detected signal including an identification number of the wireless telephone set; determining a pre-defined group network into which the identification number is to be enrolled as a member; transmitting the identification number to the communications network to enroll the identification number into said predefined group network, said group network being a group of telephone sets having reciprocal mnemonic dialing access to each other.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 59 words

A telecommunication network, comprising: a node configured for use in said telecommunications network, the node being programmable to provide a mnemonic dialing service among members of a group; and an enrollment unit configured to automatically detect an identification number of a telephone, and to issue programming signals to the node to enroll the telephone into the mnemonic dialing group.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 59 words

A telecommunication network, comprising: a node configured for use in said telecommunications network, the node being programmable to provide a mnemonic dialing service among members of a group; and an enrollment unit configured to automatically detect an identification number of a telephone, and to issue programming signals to the node to enroll the telephone into the mnemonic dialing group.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 40 words

The telecommunication network of claim 6, the enrollment unit further comprising a clock, and being configured to consult said clock to determine one out of a plurality of such mnemonic dialing groups into which to enroll the detected telephone unit.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 41 words

The telecommunication network of claim 6, the enrollment unit being configured to establish a connection between the enrollment unit, a local cellular switch, and a database node to collect and process information to enroll the telephone into the mnemonic dialing group.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 86 words

A method for connecting a telephone call, comprising: consulting a group membership database to determine group membership of an initiator of the call, the group membership as stored in the group membership database having been configured by a member subscriber of the group via a subscriber-accessible interface, the group membership database being available to members of the group to identify the group's member lines; and connecting the call between the line at which the call is initiated and one or more member lines of the group.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 86 words

A method for connecting a telephone call, comprising: consulting a group membership database to determine group membership of an initiator of the call, the group membership as stored in the group membership database having been configured by a member subscriber of the group via a subscriber-accessible interface, the group membership database being available to members of the group to identify the group's member lines; and connecting the call between the line at which the call is initiated and one or more member lines of the group.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 9, wherein two member lines of the group reside on different local exchange carriers.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 10, wherein the call is connected between the initiating telephone line and a single member of the group selected from among all members of the group, the selecting being made by the initiating member's dialing or keypressing a small number of digits mnemonically indicating the single member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 11, wherein said small number of digits is configured by a member through the subscriber-accessible interface.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 9, wherein the call is connected between the initiating telephone line and a single member of the group selected from among all members of the group, the selecting being made by the initiating member's indication of a mnemonic designation of the single member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said mnemonic designation consists of a small number of digits dialed or keypressed.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 14, wherein said small number of digits is configured by a member through the subscriber-accessible interface.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said mnemonic designation consists of a voiced utterance.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of: establishing a conference call among the initiating telephone line and members of the user group, by issuing supervisory signals to two or more other member lines of the user group, and establishing a communication path interconnecting member devices of the user group that respond to said supervisory signals.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of: obtaining from the initiating telephone line an indication that the conference call is desired before initiating said supervisory signals.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 18, wherein the indication is a voice utterance.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of: initiating the conference call supervisory signals, without human intervention, immediately upon determining that the initiating telephone line is a member of said user group.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of: another member automatically joining a conference call already in progress.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 126 words

The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: obtaining from the initiating telephone line one of two indications, on obtaining a first of said two indications, establishing a conference call among the initiating telephone line and members of the user group, by issuing supervisory signals to two or more other member lines of the user group, and establishing a communication path interconnecting member devices of the user group that respond to said supervisory signals; or, alternatively, on obtaining a second of said two indications, connecting the call between the initiating telephone line and a single member of the group selected from among all members of the group, the selecting being made by the initiating member's indication of a mnemonic designation of the single member.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: consulting the group membership database to determine a time frame within which the group is to be in existence, the time frame having been configured via the subscriber-accessible interface.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 23, wherein the group membership database stores an expiration time for the group.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 23, wherein the group membership database stores an origination time for the group.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 23, wherein the group membership database stores an expiration event for the group.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 23, wherein the group membership database stores an origination event for the group.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of: receiving from a group member via the subscriber-accessible interface, an instruction to reconfigure the existence time frame for the group.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 9, wherein the telephone network between members of the group includes lines of at least two of a wireless carrier, a local exchange carrier, and an interexchange carrier.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: connecting a call to a network subscriber not a member of the group.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 9, wherein group membership of the initiating line is determined by reference to the ANI (automatic number identification) of the initiating line.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 9, wherein group membership of the initiating line is determined by reference to the MIN (mobile identification number) or ESN (electronic serial number) of a mobile communications unit.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 9, wherein group membership of the initiating line is determined by a telephone number dialed by the initiating caller.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 33, wherein: the initiating caller can originate the call from essentially any telephone of the network.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 9, wherein group membership of the initiating line is determined by a password indicated by the initiating line, after the initiating line is connected to a server node serving two or more reciprocal communication groups.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 9, wherein a recipient of the call receives a distinctive ring indicating a call originated by a group member.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: reconfiguring the group membership by a group member subscriber via the subscriber-accessible interface.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 37, wherein the reconfiguring group member is a different member subscriber than the configuring member subscriber.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: reconfiguring, by a group member subscriber via the subscriber-accessible interface, a telephone number associated with a group member.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 9, wherein the group membership is replicated in databases at two nodes of the communications network, the two nodes being connected over the lines of an interexchange carrier.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 40, wherein the two membership storage nodes are associated with two respective cellular switches, the two cellular switches being connected over the lines of an interexchange carrier.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 9, wherein: the configuration of the membership of each group is stored, respectively, at a single node of the communications network.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 9, wherein the group membership database is stored at a network node associated with a local exchange carrier.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 9, wherein the group membership database is stored at a network node associated with an interexchange carrier.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 9, wherein the group membership database is stored at a network node associated with a mobile carrier.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 9, wherein: the subscriber-accessible interface is implemented, at least in part, by an enrollment device configured to automatically detect an identification number of a telephone unit and, in response, to request reconfiguration of the group membership database to enroll the detected telephone unit.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 46, wherein: said enrollment device comprises a clock, and is configured to consult said clock to determine one out of a plurality of such user groups into which to enroll the detected telephone unit.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of: establishing a connection between the enrollment device, a local cellular switch, and a database node to collect and process information for said reconfiguration of the group membership database.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 46, wherein said enrollment device comprises a visual display for configuring the group membership database.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 95 words

A node of a telephone network, comprising: a subscriber-accessible user interface to a database, the interface enabling a subscriber to configure the membership attributes of a group, a group membership database reflecting the membership of the group being generally accessible to members of the group for reciprocal use; a call connector, for activation on recognition of a call initiated by a member of the group, and configured to receive a mnemonic indication of a group member and to connect the call between the initiator of the call and the indicated member based on the indication.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 95 words

A node of a telephone network, comprising: a subscriber-accessible user interface to a database, the interface enabling a subscriber to configure the membership attributes of a group, a group membership database reflecting the membership of the group being generally accessible to members of the group for reciprocal use; a call connector, for activation on recognition of a call initiated by a member of the group, and configured to receive a mnemonic indication of a group member and to connect the call between the initiator of the call and the indicated member based on the indication.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 22 words

The node of claim 50, wherein member lines of the mnemonic dialing group reside on at least two different local exchange carriers.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 55 words

The node of claim 50, wherein the call is connected between the initiating telephone line and a single member of the mnemonic dialing group selected from among all members of the mnemonic dialing group, the selecting being made by the initiating member's dialing or keypressing a small number of digits mnemonically indicating the single member.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 51 words

The node of claim 50, wherein the call is connected between the initiating telephone line and a single member of the mnemonic dialing group selected from among all members of the mnemonic dialing group, the selecting being made by the initiating member's uttering a mnemonic voiced utterance designating the single member.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 65 words

The node of claim 50, the call connector being further configured to: establish a conference call among the initiating telephone line and members of the mnemonic dialing group, by issuing supervisory signals to two or more other member lines of the user mnemonic dialing group, and establishing a communication path interconnecting member devices of the user mnemonic dialing group that respond to said supervisory signals.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 38 words

The node of claim 54, the call connector being further configured to: initiate said conference call supervisory signals, without human intervention, immediately upon determining that the initiating telephone line is a member of said user mnemonic dialing group.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 24 words

The node of claim 54, the call connector being further configured to: automatically connect another group member to a conference call already in progress.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 137 words

The node of claim 50, the node being further configured to: obtain from the initiating telephone line one of two indications, on obtaining a first of said two indications, establish a conference call among the initiating telephone line and members of the user mnemonic dialing group, by issuing supervisory signals to two or more other member lines of the user mnemonic dialing group, and establishing a communication path interconnecting member devices of the user mnemonic dialing group that respond to said supervisory signals; or, alternatively, on obtaining a second of said two indications, connect the call between the initiating telephone line and a single member of the mnemonic dialing group selected from among all members of the mnemonic dialing group, the selecting being made by the initiating member's indication of a mnemonic designation of the single member.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 40 words

The node of claim 50, being further configured to: consult the group membership database to determine a time frame within which the mnemonic dialing group is to be in existence, the time frame having been configured via the subscriber-accessible interface.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 34 words

The node of claim 50, wherein the telephone network between members of the mnemonic dialing group includes lines of at least two of a wireless carrier, a local exchange carrier, and an interexchange carrier.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 25 words

The node of claim 50, being further configured to: reconfigure the group membership at the request of a group member subscriber via the subscriber-accessible interface.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-09-13	2003-03-15	2003-09-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-09-13	2007-03-15	2007-09-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-09-13	2011-03-15	2011-09-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Communication system for a closed-user group

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