System and associated terminal and method for short-range initiation of joining and/or transferring a communication session

A system comprising:

• a first terminal;
• a second terminal engaged in a communication session with the first terminal across at least one communication network;
• and
• a third terminal capable of establishing a short-range communication link with the second terminal, wherein the second terminal is capable of interconnecting the first terminal and the third terminal during the communication session such that the third terminal is capable of receiving communication from the second terminal across the short-range communication link, the communication having been received at the second terminal from the first terminal across the at least one communication network, and such that the third terminal is capable of sending communication to the second terminal across the short-range communication link, which the second terminal can thereafter send to the first terminal across the at least one communication network, the third terminal otherwise being capable of engaging the first terminal in a communication session independent of the second terminal.

A method comprising:

• establishing a short-range communication link between a third terminal and a second terminal, the second terminal being engaged in a communication session with a first terminal across at least one communication network;
• receiving an identifier of one of the second terminal and the third terminal across the short-range communication link;
• and
• communicating with the at least one communication network based upon the identifier to thereby join the third terminal in the communication session between the first and second terminals.

A method comprising:

• establishing a short-range communication link between a third terminal and a second terminal, the second terminal being engaged in a communication session with a first terminal across at least one communication network;
• and
• interconnecting the first terminal and the third terminal during the communication session, the third terminal otherwise being capable of engaging the first terminal in a communication session independent of the second terminal, wherein interconnecting the first and third terminals comprises:
• receiving communication at the third terminal from the second terminal across the short-range communication link, the communication having been received at the second terminal from the first terminal across the at least one communication network;
• and
• sending communication to the second terminal from the third terminal across the short-range communication link such that the second terminal can thereafter send the communication to the first terminal across the at least one communication network.

A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

• a first executable portion for establishing a short-range communication link between a third terminal and a second terminal, the second terminal being engaged in a communication session with a first terminal across at least one communication network;
• a second executable portion for receiving an identifier of one of the second terminal and the third terminal across the short-range communication link;
• and
• a third executable portion for communicating with the at least one communication network based upon the identifier to thereby join the third terminal in the communication session between the first and second terminals.

A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

• a first executable portion for establishing a short-range communication link between a third terminal and a second terminal, the second terminal being engaged in a communication session with a first terminal across at least one communication network;
• and
• a second executable portion for interconnecting the first terminal and the third terminal during the communication session, the third terminal otherwise being capable of engaging the first terminal in a communication session independent of the second terminal, wherein the second executable portion is adapted to interconnect the first and third terminals by:
• receiving communication at the third terminal from the second terminal across the short-range communication link, the communication having been received at the second terminal from the first terminal across the at least one communication network;
• and
• sending communication to the second terminal from the third terminal across the short-range communication link such that the second terminal can thereafter send the communication to the first terminal across the at least one communication network.