Method and system for selectively connecting mobile users based on physical proximity
AssigneeTelcontar
InventorsGeoffrey R. Hendrey, Hirohisa A. Tanaka, Philip J. Koopman, Jr.
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Abstract
A method and system for selectively connecting proximately located telecommunications units are disclosed. The method and system may be used in a location aware telecommunications system that can determine the location of a telecommunications unit (TU) being used within the system. Proximately located TUs within a predefined group may be connected when an initiating TU requests a group connection. A predetermined number of group TUs located within a predetermined distance of the initiating TU may be connected together with the initating TU in a single telecommunications connection.
Claims36
A method for selectively connecting telecommunications units, wherein at least one TU is a mobile telecommunications unit, comprising the steps of:
- (i) receiving from an initiating telecommunications unit (TU), a user input indicating that a group connection is to be initiated;
- (ii) determining the distance from the initiating TU to each TU associated with each group member;
- and (iii) creating a telecommunications connection between the initiating TU and at least one group member TU within a predetermined distance of the initiating TU, and responsive to more than a predetermined number of group member TUs being within the predetermined distance to the initiating TU, selecting the predetermined number of group member TUs that are closest to the initiating TU.
A system for selectively connecting telecommunications units, wherein at least one TU is a mobile telecommunications unit, comprising:
- a processor;
- memory for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the steps of:
- (i) receiving from an initiating telecommunications unit (TU), a control message indicating that a group connection is to be initiated;
- (ii) determining the distance from the initiating TU to each TU associated with each group member in a group corresponding to the group connection;
- and (iii) creating a telecommunications connection between the initiating TU and a predetermined number of group member TUs within a predetermined distance of the initiating TU, and responsive to more than a predetermined number of group member TUs being within the predetermined distance to the initiating TU, selecting the predetermined number of group member TUs that are closest to the initiating TU.
A computer readable medium for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to selectively connect telecommunications units, wherein at least one telecommunication unit is a mobile telecommunications unit, wherein the computing device selectively connects telecommunication units by performing the operations of:
- (i) receiving from an initiating telecommunications unit (TU), a control message indicating that a group connection is to be initiated;
- (ii) determining the distance from the initiating TU to each TU associated with each group member;
- and (iii) creating a telecommunications connection between the initiating TU and a predetermined number of group member TUs within a predetermined distance of the initiating TU, and responsive to more than a predetermined number of group member TUs being within the predetermined distance to the initiating TU, selecting the predetermined number of group member TUs that are closest to the initiating TU.
A method for selectively connecting telecommunications units, wherein at least one TU is a mobile telecommunications unit, comprising the steps of:
- (i) receiving from an initiating telecommunications unit (TU), a user input indicating that a group connection is to be initiated;
- (ii) determining the distance from the initiating TU to each TU associated with each group member;
- and (iii) creating a telecommunications connection between the initiating TU and at least one group member TU within a predetermined distance of the initiating TU, and when a group member TU disconnects from the connection before the initiating TU, adding to the connection a new group member TU within an enlarged predetermined distance from the initiating TU.
A system for selectively connecting telecommunications units, wherein at least one TU is a mobile telecommunications unit, comprising:
- a processor;
- memory for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the steps of:
- (i) receiving from an initiating telecommunications unit (TU), a control message indicating that a group connection is to be initiated;
- (ii) determining the distance from the initiating TU to each TU associated with each group member in a group corresponding to the group connection;
- and (iii) creating a telecommunications connection between the initiating TU and a predetermined number of group member TUs within a predetermined distance of the initiating TU, and when a group member TU disconnects from the connection before the initiating TU, adding to the connection a new group member TU within an enlarged predetermined distance from the initiating TU.
A computer readable medium for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to selectively connect telecommunications units, wherein at least one telecommunication unit is a mobile telecommunications unit, wherein the computing device selectively connects telecommunication units by performing the operations of:
- (i) receiving from an initiating telecommunications unit (TU), a control message indicating that a group connection is to be initiated;
- (ii) determining the distance from the initiating TU to each TU associated with each group member;
- and (iii) creating a telecommunications connection between the initiating TU and a predetermined number of group member TUs within a predetermined distance of the initiating TU, and when a group member TU disconnects from the connection before the initiating TU, adding to the connection a new group member TU within an enlarged predetermined distance from the initiating TU.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.