Group management and graphical user interface for associated electronic devices

A system for managing portable communication devices in a group previously defined by an operator or a system and including a selecting device, comprising:

• a display for displaying, on the selecting device, a list of the portable communication devices in the group including the selecting device;
• a selection module for selecting a target portable communication device from the list based on input received at the selecting device;
• a retrieval module for retrieving a connectivity allowance of the target portable communication device, the connectivity allowance including a connectivity calendar, a connectivity whitelist, and a connectivity blacklist;
• a calendar module for presenting the connectivity calendar, wherein the connectivity calendar includes a plurality of timeslots, each of the timeslots storing a connectivity flag indicating a connectivity restriction status of the target portable communication device during a time period specified by the timeslot;
• a whitelist module for presenting the connectivity whitelist on the display;
• a blacklist module for presenting the connectivity blacklist on the display;
• and
• a processor operable with one or more of the listing module, the selection module, the retrieval module, the calendar module, the whitelist module, or the blacklist module,
• wherein the target portable communication device is permitted to establish communication with a whitelisted communication device identified in the connectivity whitelist independent of the connectivity restriction status;
• and
• wherein the target portable communication device is not permitted to establish communication with a blacklisted communication device identified in the connectivity blacklist independent of the connectivity restriction status.

An apparatus for managing portable communication devices in a group previously defined by an operator or a system, comprising:

• a display for displaying a list of the portable communication devices in the group;
• a connectivity retrieval module for accessing a connectivity allowance of a primary portable communication device of the portable communication devices, the connectivity allowance, including one or more of a connectivity calendar, a connectivity whitelist, and a connectivity blacklist;
• a presentation module for presenting the connectivity allowance on the display,
• a timeslot selection module for selecting a timeslot of the connectivity calendar;
• a status presentation module for presenting a connectivity flag of the selected timeslot, wherein the connectivity flag indicates a connectivity restriction status;
• an updating module for updating the connectivity flag based on user input;
• and
• a processor operable with one or more of the connectivity retrieval module, the presentation module, the timeslot selection module, the status presentation module, or the updating module,
• wherein the primary portable communication device is permitted to establish communication with a whitelisted communication device identified in the connectivity whitelist;
• and wherein the primary portable communication device is not permitted to establish communication with a blacklisted communication device identified in the connectivity blacklist.

A method for managing portable communication devices in a group previously defined by an operator or a system and including a selecting device, the method comprising:

• displaying, on the selecting device, the group of the portable communication devices;
• selecting, using the selecting device, a target portable communication device from the list;
• accessing a connectivity allowance of the target portable communication device, the connectivity allowance, including one or more of a connectivity calendar, a connectivity whitelist, and a connectivity blacklist;
• presenting the connectivity allowance on the selecting device:
• selecting a time slot of the connectivity calendar;
• presenting a connectivity flag of the selected timeslot, wherein the connectivity flag indicates a connectivity restriction status;
• and
• updating the connectivity flag based on user input,
• wherein the target portable communication device is permitted to establish communication with a whitelisted communication device identified in the connectivity whitelist;
• and
• wherein the target portable communication device is not permitted to establish communication with a blacklisted communication device identified in the connectivity blacklist.