User group indication and status change in radiocommunications systems

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: encrypting said indicator such that only member terminals associated with said user group can decode said indicator.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: encrypting said one or more auxiliary information elements such that only member terminals associated with said user group can decode said one or more auxiliary information elements.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 , wherein said one or more auxiliary information elements are associated with at least one of: a number of active member terminals currently connected to said established group call, a user identity, an identity associated with each of said active member terminals currently connected to said established group call, a priority level of said established group call, a time since said established group call was initiated, an urgency level associated with unconnected members joining said established group call, a user group identifier associated with said established group call, and a user sub-group identifier associated with said established group call.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: reading said indicator at a member terminal; comparing a user group identity associated with said indicator to at least one stored user group identity associated with a user identity associated with one or more users of said member terminal; and presenting a result of said comparing step.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 , wherein said step of presenting further comprises the step of: displaying said one or more auxiliary information elements associated with said user group on a display associated with said member terminal.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5 , wherein said step of presenting further comprises the step of: triggering a vibrating device associated with said member terminal.

Claim 9

The method of claim 5 , wherein said step of presenting further comprises the step of: emitting an audible alert from said member terminal indicating an opportunity for said member terminal to join said established group call.

Claim 10

The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of: inputting a request at said member terminal to participate in said established group call; and transmitting a signal from said member terminal requesting participation in said established group call.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 , wherein said indicator is transmitted on a point-to-point channel.

Claim 12

The method of claim 10 , wherein said indicator is transmitted as part of a registration response message on said point-to-point channel.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 , wherein said indicator is transmitted on a broadcast channel.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 , wherein said indicator is transmitted as part of a short message service (SMS) message on said point-to-point channel.

Claim 17

The method of claim 14 , wherein said step of presenting said indicating further comprises the step of: presenting an alert signal to said member terminal to join said established group call if said member terminal is associated with said user group.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 , wherein said one or more auxiliary information elements are associated with at least one of: a number of active member terminals currently connected to said established group call, a user identity, an identity associated with each of said active member terminals currently connected to said established group call, a priority level of said established group call, a time since said established group call was initiated, an urgency level associated with unconnected members joining said established group call, a user group identifier associated with said established group call, and a user sub-group identifier associated with said established group call.

Claim 19

The method of claim 16 , wherein said identity is a name.

Claim 22

The method of claim 18 , wherein said step of transmitting an indication further comprises the step of: transmitting an alert signal to said active member terminals over at least one channel used to establish said group call.

Claim 23

The method of claim 19 , wherein said one or more auxiliary information elements are associated with at least one of: a number of active member terminals currently connected to said established group call, a user identity, an identity associated with each of said active member terminals currently connected to said established group call, a priority level of said established group call, a time since said established group call was initiated, an urgency level associated with unconnected members joining said established group call, a user group identifier associated with said established group call, and a user sub-group identifier associated with said established group call.

Claim 24

The method of claim 18 , wherein said indication of changing participation further includes said member terminal joining said established group call.

Claim 25

The method of claim 18 , wherein said indication of changing participation further includes said member terminal leaving said established group call.

Claim 26

A mobile station for communicating in a system which supports group calls associated with a user group, said mobile station comprising: a smart card removably coupled to said mobile station; an input device coupled to said mobile station; an output device coupled to said mobile station; and a transceiver coupled to said mobile station, said transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals; wherein said mobile station is configured to: retrieve one or more user group identifiers from said smart card; present said retrieved one or more user group identifiers on said output device; accept a signal from said input device associated with a selected one or more of said presented one or more user group identifiers; and transmit a request for information associated with said selected one or more of said one or more user group identifiers, wherein said information associated with said one or more user groups is available to a user of said user group for previewing an established group call before said user engages in said established group call, and wherein said information associated with said selected one or more of said one or more user group identifiers includes at least a topic of said established group call that enables said user to preview a subject of said established group call before said user engages in said established group call.

Claim 27

A mobile station for communicating in a system which supports group calls associated with a user group, said mobile station comprising: a smart card removably coupled to said mobile station; an input device coupled to said mobile station; an output device coupled to said mobile station; and a transceiver coupled to said mobile station, said transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals; wherein said mobile station is configured to: retrieve one or more user group identifiers from said smart card; present said retrieved one or more user group identifiers on said output device; accept a signal from said input device associated with a selected one or more of said presented one or more user group identifiers; and transmit a request for information associated with said selected one or more of said one or more user group identifiers, wherein said information associated with said one or more user groups is available to a user of said user group for previewing an established group call before said user engages in said established group call, and wherein said information associated with said selected one or more of said one or more user group identifiers includes at least a topic of said established group call that enables said user to preview a subject of said established group call before said user engages in said established group call.

Claim 28

The mobile station of claim 23 , further configured to: receive said requested information associated with said one or more user groups; and display said received information on said output device.

Claim 29

The mobile station of claim 24 , wherein said received information includes one or more auxiliary information elements, and wherein said one or more auxiliary information elements are associated with at least one of: a number of active member terminals currently connected to said established group call, a user identity, an identity associated with each of said active member terminals currently connected to said established group call, a priority level of said established group call, a time since said established group call was initiated, an urgency level associated with unconnected members joining said established group call, a user group identifier associated with said established group call, and a user sub-group identifier associated with said established group call.

Claim 30

The mobile station of claim 23 , wherein said mobile station is further configured to: accept a signal from said input device associated with a selected one or more of said one or more user group identifiers based on said presented one or more user group identifiers; and transmit a signal to said system indicating that said mobile station is available to participate.

Claim 31

A mobile station in a system which supports group calls associated with a user group, said mobile station comprising: an output device; and a receiver coupled to said output device, said receiver configured to: receive an indication of an established group call transmitted over an air interface; and present said indication of said established group call using said output device, wherein said indication includes characterizing information that enables a user of said mobile station to preview said established group call before said user engages in said established group call, and wherein said characterizing information includes at least a topic of said established group call that enables said user to preview a subject of said established group call before said user engages in said established group call.

Claim 32

A mobile station in a system which supports group calls associated with a user group, said mobile station comprising: an output device; and a receiver coupled to said output device, said receiver configured to: receive an indication of an established group call transmitted over an air interface; and present said indication of said established group call using said output device, wherein said indication includes characterizing information that enables a user of said mobile station to preview said established group call before said user engages in said established group call, and wherein said characterizing information includes at least a topic of said established group call that enables said user to preview a subject of said established group call before said user engages in said established group call.

Claim 33

The mobile station of claim 27 , wherein said output device is a display.

Claim 34

The mobile station of claim 27 , wherein said output device is a speaker.

Claim 35

The mobile station of claim 27 , wherein said output device is a vibrator.

Claim 36

The mobile station of claim 27 , wherein said mobile station further comprises at least two output devices selected from the group consisting of: a display, a speaker, and a vibrator and wherein said output device is a selected one of said at least two devices.

Claim 37

The mobile station of claim 31 , wherein said received indication further includes one or more auxiliary information elements, and wherein said one or more auxiliary information elements are associated with at least one of: a number of active member terminals currently connected to said established group call, a user identity, an identity associated with each of said active member terminals currently connected to said established group call, a priority level of said established group call, a time since said established group call was initiated, an urgency level associated with unconnected members joining said established group call, a user group identifier associated with said established group call, and a user sub-group identifier associated with said established group call.

Claim 38

The mobile station of claim 32 , wherein said receiver is further configured to: establish a relationship between said at least two output devices used to present said indication and said one or more auxiliary information elements; and present said indication on said at least two output devices based on said auxiliary information elements and said established relationship.

Claim 39

The mobile station of claim 32 , wherein said receiver is further configured to: enable a different one of said at least two output devices as said output device for presenting said indication based on a priority level of said active user group call.

Claim 40

The mobile station of claim 32 further comprising a memory device; wherein said receiver is further configured to store a mapping between said user group identifier and a user group text-based descriptor in said memory device.

Claim 41

The mobile station of claim 35 , wherein said receiver is further configured to store a mapping between a sub-user group identifier and a sub-user group text-based descriptors.

Claim 42

The mobile station of claim 31 , wherein said receiver is further configured to: enable said at least two output devices to be used as said output device for presenting said indication.

Claim 43

The mobile station of claim 27 , wherein said indication further includes a user group identification value associated with said established group call, and wherein said receiver is further configured to compare said received user group identification value with at least one user group identification value stored in said mobile station.

Claim 44

The mobile station of claim 38 , wherein said at least one user group identification value is stored in a card removably coupled to said mobile station.

Claim 45

The mobile station of claim 38 , further comprising an input device; and wherein said at least one user group identification value is entered by using said input device.

Claim 46

The mobile station of claim 38 , further comprising a memory device; and wherein a user identification number is mapped to said at least one user group identification number in said memory device.

Claim 47

A group management system for managing a group call associated with a user group, said group management system comprising: a radiocommunication system; and a control unit communicating with said radiocommunication system, said control unit configured to: manage information associated with said user group; and manage one or more auxiliary information elements associated with said group call, said one or more information elements transmitted with an indication of an active group call associated with said user group by said radiocommunication system, wherein characterizing information associated with said one or more auxiliary information elements is made available to a user of said user group for previewing said active group call before said user engages in said active group call, and wherein said characterizing information includes at least a topic of said active group call that enables said user to preview a subject of said active group call before said user engages in said active group call.

Claim 48

A group management system for managing a group call associated with a user group, said group management system comprising: a radiocommunication system; and a control unit communicating with said radiocommunication system, said control unit configured to: manage information associated with said user group; and manage one or more auxiliary information elements associated with said group call, said one or more information elements transmitted with an indication of an active group call associated with said user group by said radiocommunication system, wherein characterizing information associated with said one or more auxiliary information elements is made available to a user of said user group for previewing said active group call before said user engages in said active group call, and wherein said characterizing information includes at least a topic of said active group call that enables said user to preview a subject of said active group call before said user engages in said active group call.

Claim 49

The group management system of claim 42 , wherein said one or more auxiliary information elements are associated with at least one of: a number of active member terminals currently connected to said established group call, a user identity, an identity associated with each of said active member terminals currently connected to said established group call, a priority level of said established group call, a time since said established group call was initiated, an urgency level associated with unconnected members joining said established group call, a user group identifier associated with said established group call, and a user sub-group identifier associated with said established group call.

Claim 50

The group management system of claim 43 , wherein said control unit is further configured to: determine an access priority level for a member terminal joining said active group call based on said priority level of said active group call.

Claim 51

The group management system of claim 42 , wherein said one or more auxiliary information elements further includes a request for inactive member terminals associated with said user group to join said active group call.

Claim 52

The group management system of claim 42 , wherein said one or more auxiliary information elements further includes one or more of: subject, location and status information associated with said active group call.

Claim 53

A group management system for managing a group call associated with a user group, said group management system comprising: a radiocommunication system; and a control unit communicating with said radiocommunication system, said control unit configured to: monitor said radiocommunication system when establishing a group call associated with said user group: monitor an activity status of member terminals associated with one user group; and display said monitored information, wherein said monitored information includes one or more auxiliary information elements associated with said group call, wherein characterizing information associated with said one or more auxiliary information elements is made available for previewing said group call, and wherein said characterizing information includes at least a topic of said group call for previewing a subject of said group call.

Claim 54

A group management system for managing a group call associated with a user group, said group management system comprising: a radiocommunication system; and a control unit communicating with said radiocommunication system, said control unit configured to: monitor said radiocommunication system when establishing a group call associated with said user group: monitor an activity status of member terminals associated with one user group; and display said monitored information, wherein said monitored information includes one or more auxiliary information elements associated with said group call, wherein characterizing information associated with said one or more auxiliary information elements is made available for previewing said group call, and wherein said characterizing information includes at least a topic of said group call for previewing a subject of said group call.

Claim 55

The group management system of claim 47 , wherein said monitored information includes information associated with all member terminals logged-in with said radiocommunication system.

Claim 56

The group management system of claim 47 , wherein said monitored information includes information associated with all member terminals active in said group call.

Claim 57

The group management system of claim 47 , wherein said monitored information includes information associated with all member terminals logged-in with said radiocommunication system within a certain area.

Claim 58

The group management system of claim 47 , wherein said monitored information includes information associated with all member terminals active in said group call within a certain area.

Claim 59

The group management system of claim 47 , wherein said control unit is further configured to poll a home location register to identify member terminals associated with said at least one user group that have recently logged-in to the radiocommunication system.

Claim 60

The group management system of claim 47 , wherein said control unit is further configured to receive information from a home location register identifying member terminals associated with said at least one user group that have recently logged-in to said radiocommunication system.

Claim 61

A mobile station comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals; and an input device for selectively requesting information associated with established group calls; wherein said transceiver is configured to read information received in response to a user's request; transmit a request selected by said input device; and read information received in response to said user's request, wherein said received information is available to said user for previewing said established group calls before said user engages in said established group calls, and wherein said received information includes at least a topic of said established group calls that enables said user to preview a subject of said established group calls before said user engages in said established group calls.

Claim 62

A mobile station comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals; and an input device for selectively requesting information associated with established group calls; wherein said transceiver is configured to read information received in response to a user's request; transmit a request selected by said input device; and read information received in response to said user's request, wherein said received information is available to said user for previewing said established group calls before said user engages in said established group calls, and wherein said received information includes at least a topic of said established group calls that enables said user to preview a subject of said established group calls before said user engages in said established group calls.

Claim 63

The mobile station of claim 54 , further comprising: a display for displaying text identifiers of established group calls based on said received information.

Claim 64

The mobile station of claim 54 , wherein said received information further includes names of participating members of said established group calls.

Claim 65

The mobile station of claim 54 , wherein said transceiver is further configured to read said received information from a broadcast channel.

Claim 66

The mobile station of claim 54 , wherein said transceiver is further configured to: read a change flag on a paging channel; and selectively read a broadcast channel based on said change flag.

Claim 67

The mobile station of claim 54 , wherein said transceiver is further configured to transmit said request in a message.

Claim 68

The mobile station of claim 59 , wherein said message is addressed to a user group central management unit.

Claim 69

The mobile station of claim 59 , further comprising: a memory device for storing said received information, wherein said mobile station outputs said information in response to said request.

Claim 70

The mobile station of claim 61 , wherein said mobile station first updates said received information in said memory prior to outputting said received information.

Claim 73

The method of claim 63 , wherein said first broadcast channel is a common broadcast channel (BCCH) and said second broadcast channel is a paging channel (PCH).