Methods of operating a user device in a user device group and related user devices and control servers

A first user device of a user device group including the first user device and a second user device that share a same service identifier for a communication service, the first user device comprising:

• a communication interface configured to provide communications over a network;
• a user interface configured to accept user input from a user of the first user device;
• and
• a processor coupled with the communication interface and the user interface, wherein the processor is configured to transmit communications through the communication interface to the network and to receive communications through the communication interface from the network, and wherein the processor is configured to receive user input accepted through the user interface, and wherein the processor is configured to:
• accept user input at the first user device to activate an operation mode for the first user device;
• activate the operation mode at the first user device responsive to accepting the user input to activate the operation mode at the first user device;
• and
• transmit a notification regarding activation of the operation mode to a control server that is remote from the first user device, responsive to accepting the user input to activate the operation mode at the first user device;
• wherein the processor is further configured to:
• provide a prompt for user input regarding activation of the operation mode at the second user device of the user device group, responsive to accepting the user input to activate the operation mode;
• accept user input to activate the operation mode at the second user device of the user device group;
• and
• transmit the notification regarding activation by transmitting the notification regarding activation responsive to accepting the user input to activate the operation mode at the first user device and responsive to accepting the user input to activate the operation mode at the second user device.

A method of operating a control server that provides service for a user device group that includes a first user device and a second user device sharing a same service identifier for a communication service, wherein the first user device and the second user device are remote from the control server, the method comprising:

• receiving a first notification from the first user device regarding activation of an operation mode at the first user device;
• and
• responsive to receiving the first notification from the first user device, transmitting a second notification to the second user device regarding activation of the operation mode for the second user device;
• and
• wherein the user device group includes the first user device, the second user device, and a third user device all sharing the service identifier for the communication service, wherein the first notification indicates activation of the operation mode for the second user device without requesting activation of the operation mode for the third communication device, and wherein the processor is configured to transmit the second notification by transmitting the second notification to the second user device without transmitting a notification to the third user device.

A control server configured to provide service for a user device group including a first user device and a second user device that share a same service identifier for a communication service, the control server comprising:

• a network interface configured to provide communications over a network;
• and
• a processor coupled with the network interface, wherein the processor is configured to transmit and receive communications over the network through the network interface, and wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive a first notification from the first user device regarding activation of an operation mode at the first user device;
• and
• transmit a second notification to the second user device regarding activation of the operation mode for the second user device, responsive to receiving the first notification from the first user device;
• and
• wherein the user device group includes the first user device, the second user device, and a third user device all sharing the service identifier for the communication service, wherein the first notification indicates activation of the operation mode for the second user device without requesting activation of the operation mode for the third communication device, and wherein the processor is configured to transmit the second notification by transmitting the second notification to the second user device without transmitting a notification to the third user device.