CN100450196C - mobile communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system used for sending grouped information, which comprises a mobile calling center and a grouped information manager, wherein the grouped information manager can receive an information request and makes grouped information talk, and the information request comprises information to be emitted and identification symbols of senders and two or more than two receivers. The mobile communication system used for sharing information in a determined user group comprises a computer system, wherein a user can visit terminals and the computer system by a mobile communication device or Internet, so the grouped information talk can begin in other events.

Description

mobile communication system

technical field

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system, and in particular to a mobile communication system for sending information to a group of mobile network users and sharing information through the mobile communication system.

Background technique

Personal Information Managers (PIMs) are known. PIM stores an individual's personal information such as calendar, address book (contacts) and electronic mail (email or text messages). They can also be used to schedule delivery of information to third party services, such as news, weather, stock market quotes, and other similar information. A typical PIM can be a personal computer or Internet-based software that can be used to store personal information at home, in the office, or on the road through an internal terminal.

Mobile PIMs, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), are also known. PDAs, sometimes called portable personal computers, allow users to access their information anywhere. PDAs can be connected to PCs to synchronize data, and some PDAs also have mobile communication capabilities, allowing information to be sent and received by e-mail.

The problem with existing PIMs and PDAs is that they are expensive and, in addition to e-mail, their ability to share information among group users is limited.

Mobile communication devices, such as mobile telephones, have become very popular and their use is expanding. Mobile phones allow one-to-one communication with normal "voice" and messages such as Short Message Service (SMS).

Group communication, where one user can send information to two or more other users, is known. However, it has the disadvantage that the groups are pre-determined/pre-programmed in the Subscriber Identity Card (SIM). This system may have advantages for businesses, but not for private individuals or social groups whose members may change frequently.

Contents of the invention

The purpose of this utility model is to provide a mobile communication system for distributing information within user groups.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication system for sharing information within a user group.

Another purpose of the present invention is to at least improve the disadvantages of the prior art or provide the public with a useful alternative.

According to a first aspect of the utility model, a mobile communication system for exchanging information among user groups is provided, which includes:

Mobile call centers for sending messages between mobile communication devices;

a group information manager, in communication with the mobile call center, receiving an information request comprising the information to be sent, identifiers of the sender and two or more recipients and conducting a group information session in which the information is Sent to the receiver, any replies sent back to the group message manager are distributed to the receiver and/or sender.

Preferably, upon receiving the information request, the group information manager assigns a call number to the group information call, the call number comprising at least one call identifier and a call state code, wherein the call state code identifies the message within the call type.

Preferably, the talk state code identifies a group of message types selected from the group consisting of: message to send, reply to sender and reply to sender and receiver (reply to all).

Preferably, the group information manager selects or is pre-assigned an identifier associated with the mobile call center network.

Preferably, when the recipients reply to the message, they send the reply message to the group information manager together with the reply identifier of the reply to the sender, or the reply to both the sender and the receiver (reply to all), And, upon receiving the reply message, the group information manager sends it to the requested sender or sender and receiver.

Preferably, the information is text information or multimedia information.

Advantageously, the identifier associated with the mobile call center network is a mobile telephone number.

Preferably, the group information manager is a subsystem of the mobile call center.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a mobile communication system for sharing information in a determined user group is provided, comprising:

a computer system for storing, accessing and processing information related to a defined group of users and information common to said users; and

Mobile communication devices, which are connected to each user and communicate with computer systems and/or other communication devices through a communication network;

Wherein the user can access the computer system through the mobile communication device or the access terminal, so as to create or modify the determined user group, and store or retrieve the information shared by the users.

Advantageously, the users in the determined group can send information to one or more other users in the group via the mobile communication device.

Preferably, at least one user is identified as a group leader capable of controlling the privileges of other group members to store, retrieve and/or process information related to the identified group of users and information common to the group.

Advantageously, the group may subscribe to mobile communication services provided by one or more non-members of the group, said services being delivered to, or accessible by, the subscribed group members.

Preferably, the computer system is an Internet-based server.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a mobile communication system for distributing information among determined group users is provided, comprising:

a mobile call center for communicating with a plurality of mobile communication devices;

a group message manager to maintain communication with the mobile call center and conduct group message calls; and

A computer system for storing information related to a determined user group of a mobile communication network; wherein

Upon receiving an information request including the information to be sent, the sender, and the identifiers of two or more recipients, the group information manager creates a group information session and sends the information to the recipients, any information sent back to the group Replies from the message manager are distributed to recipients and/or senders.

Preferably, the user sends the request for information from the mobile communication device or computer system.

Preferably, upon receiving the information request, the group information manager assigns a call number to the group information call, the call number including at least one call identifier and a call state code, wherein the call state code identifies the type of information within the call.

Preferably, the talk state code identifies a group of message types selected from the group consisting of: message to send, reply to sender and reply to sender and receiver (reply to all).

Preferably, the group information manager selects or is pre-assigned an identifier associated with the mobile call center network.

Preferably, when the recipients reply to the message, they send the reply message to the group information manager together with the reply identifier of the reply to the sender, or the reply to both the sender and the receiver (reply to all), And, upon receiving the reply message, the group information manager sends it to the requested sender or sender and receiver.

Preferably, the information is text information or multimedia information.

Advantageously, the identifier associated with the mobile call center network is a mobile telephone number.

Preferably, the group information manager is a subsystem of the mobile call center.

Preferably, the computer system is an Internet-based server.

According to the introduction below, other aspects of the utility model will become clearer. The following description is given by way of example only.

Description of drawings

Embodiments of the utility model will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the event webpage taken from Internet site according to the utility model;

Fig. 2 is another optional screen of the event web page;

Fig. 3 is another optional picture of the event web page;

Fig. 4 is the message board taken from Internet website according to the utility model;

Fig. 5 is the manager page that is taken from Internet site according to the utility model;

Fig. 6 is the preferred selection page taken from the Internet website according to the utility model;

Figure 7 illustrates a scheme for applying to join an unrestricted (open) membership group;

Figure 8 illustrates the scenario where an invite-only group invites and agrees to membership;

Figure 9 illustrates the scheme for applying to join an invitation-only group;

Figure 10 illustrates the scenario for applying to join a free membership group;

Figure 11 illustrates the scheme for agreeing members to join a free membership group;

Fig. 12 illustrates the scheme of managing personal and group phonebooks in the group information manager;

Figure 13 illustrates the scheme of managing individual and group records in the group information manager;

Figure 14 illustrates the scheme of managing personal and group calendars in the group information manager;

Fig. 15 illustrates according to the utility model, the scheme of management information reply in the group information system (GIM);

FIG. 16 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile communication system for group text communication according to the present invention.

Detailed ways

In a preferred embodiment, there is a computer system running Group Information Manager (GIM) software that stores daily events, contact details, bulletin board information, and worksheets common to certain group members. The GIM is connected to a group information manager that distributes and facilitates management of announcements and/or information within the group. The information may be text information and/or multimedia information including such content as images, sounds, music and data. GIM is also capable of subscribing to third party messaging services and sending them to all members or a selected number of members through the group messaging manager.

In a preferred embodiment, the computer system is an Internet-based server. In other embodiments, the computer system is a personal computer. Access to the personal computer may be through a modem connection, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or other known means.

In a preferred embodiment, access to the GIM is through an Internet web browser or a mobile communication device such as a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) handset (eg PDA) or mobile phone. Information, announcements and messages are sent to non-WAP handsets via Short Message Service (SMS) call centers.

An innovative point of the utility model is that the member group or member subgroup can be dynamically generated and modified. Users of mobile communication networks are able to create their own groups of friends or acquaintances or join groups created by other users. Within a group there can also be subgroups. Once a group is established, members can be added and/or removed via email, WAP mobile, web browser or SMS message.

Each group has a group leader who can set the privileges of other group members and determine the steps to join the group (discussed below).

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, the features of the Internet server-based GIM will be described.

In Figure 1, the events page (group events calendar) allows group members to view/refresh details of group events. In addition to the group events page, each group member can also have a personal calendar as part of his or her PIM that exists alongside the group events calendar.

Event pages, or personal calendars, can be set up to send reminders to group members. Reminders can be sent to the mobile phone via SMS, or emailed to an email account, or both. Members can visit the event page and add themselves to the event alert, or those members with the required privileges can set an alert to warn any or all members.

Event pages can be viewed in different formats, for example, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, by date or month.

As shown in Figure 4, the announcement (announcement board) page allows team members to write and post articles and announcements. Announcements can also be sent to group members via email or SMS.

A group information manager controls information for individuals or entire groups. Information can be announcements posted on bulletin boards, information bulletins/news provided by third parties such as latest stock market quotes, or email/SMS messages submitted by individuals. The group information manager communicates with the SMS call center for the transfer of group SMS information between members. This will be described below.

As shown in Figure 5, the manager page allows members to view general group information and member profiles. It is used to generate new subgroups and apply for membership.

As shown in Figure 6, the preferences page allows members with the required privileges to set group settings. It also allows individual members to personalize their personal screen settings.

Each member profile records that they have one of the following four privilege profiles. Each profile includes the privileges below it.

Group Leader: Spawns the group. Ability to invite members to a group or remove members from a group. It is also possible to terminate groups and modify privilege profiles of other members.

EDIT: Ability to invite members to groups and remove members from groups.

Contributors: able to post information and modify, delete the information posted by themselves.

Viewers: Ability to view all messages and reply to messages on the forum.

Figure 7 illustrates the steps for obtaining membership in a group with unrestricted (open) membership. Someone visits the Internet site and fills out the application form on the GIM group page. The request is automatically processed and the person is immediately available for access.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate the steps for obtaining membership in a group with invite-only membership. To create an invitation-only group, as shown in Figure 8, the group owner creates a group and sends an invitation via SMS or email. As invitees respond, the application is approved or declined.

According to FIG. 9, the invitee receives the invitation via email or SMS, and the invitee visits the group GIM page and submits the invitation details. If approved by the group leader, he can start using GIM.

Figures 10 and 11 show the steps to join the "Free Membership" group. Members with opinions visit the group URL and decide whether to join the group. If they decide to join, an application form is filled out and submitted to the group leader (owner) for approval. According to Figure 11, the owner visits the GIM webpage and views the application form. An email or SMS message is sent to applicants with a decision on whether they were approved.

Figures 12 to 14 illustrate the association of phonebook, notes and calendar (events) with the group GIM service. When a user opens their Personal Information Manager (PIM), it checks to see if they are flagged for access to the group GIM. If yes, then they also have access to users (group members).

Figure 15 shows how members send and receive group messages, and thus generate forums. The flowchart is self-explanatory. Information can be delivered by email or SMS. The group SMS communication link is one of the innovative points of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 16, the mobile communication system for group communication includes a group information manager, which exists in the form of a short message dialogue subsystem (SDS) 11, which provides a group communication interface for a mobile call center. The mobile call center is in the example a Short Message Service (SMS) call center 14 . The SDS 11 establishes and maintains a series of group information 19 that is submitted/received to/from the mobile communication device 18 via the SMS call center 14 .

A user can start a group message call by sending a message request from a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone or the Internet connected to the SDS 11 . For the purposes of the following description, it is assumed that the request for information originates from the Internet-based GIM in the preferred embodiment.

When user 13 starts group information, GIM 12 sends information request 15 to SDS 11 (this information request can be sent by mobile phone). The information request 11 includes the sender and an identifier (eg mobile phone number) for receiving information of all group members, as well as the actual text information.

When the SDS 11 received the information request 15, it started (generated) the group communication session. The SDS 11 becomes the relay point for all sent/received SMS messages 19 during the call. Each call has a predetermined "use period", which in the preferred embodiment is 1 day.

Group information calls are assigned a call sequence number. For illustration purposes, this number could be 95009530-0001-1. The serial number consists of three parts: reserved SDS identifier (95009530), session identifier (id) code (0001) and status code (0). The length and format of these identifiers are not the focus of the invention and can be varied.

The SDS identifier is associated with the SMS14 network and is used to identify the SDS 11 on the SMS14 network. The different identifier types will be obvious to the skilled recipient. In a preferred embodiment, the SDS identifier is a mobile phone number selected from a list of reserved numbers.

SDS 11 sends information to all receivers listed in the information request 15 via SMS call center 14 utilizing mobile number 95009530.

In the preferred embodiment, if receivers wish to reply, they send the reply to SDS11. By prefixing the reply message with a reply identifier, such as an asterisk " ^* ", the receiver indicates to SDS whether the reply is to be sent to the sender (reply to sender) or the sender and other receivers (reply to all) . If the reply message starts with the character " ^* ", the reply message will only be sent to the sender. Otherwise, if the reply message does not start with the character " ^* ", the reply message will be sent to the sender and other receivers.

In another embodiment, the reply message is processed by updating the source address status code. The message sent by the SDS 11 includes the call number and is linked to the text with a "1 reply to all" or "2 reply sender only" message. If the receiver wishes to reply to all, they reply with the reply identifier "1", and the SDS 11 receives the message directed at 95009530. SDS 11 updates the source address status code to "1", such as 95009530-001-1, and sends the message back to the receiver, asking them to respond again with a text to reply to all messages. When SDS 11 receives the text, it sends the message to all other receivers as well as the sender of the original message.

If the receiver wishes to reply only to the original sender, they reply with a "2" and the SDS 11 accepts the message back with a 95009530 bootstrap. The SDS 11 responds to the receiver asking them to text back the message again. When the SDS 11 receives the text, it sends the message to the original sender.

Other recipients of the original message may also respond to the original message at the source mobile phone number, 95009530, by repeating the steps above. A source address with a status of "1" lets SDS 11 know that the message will be sent to all receivers and the original sender, while a source address with a status code of "2" lets SDS 11 know that the message will only be sent to the original sender device.

In a group call, SDS 11 will continue to receive and send messages until the call time ends like a day. In this way, members can send and receive messages within the group using mobile phones equipped with standard messaging. The membership of the group is dynamic and can be a member of the GIM group, not a pre-programmed member in the SIM.

The invention has been described by way of example only and in connection with specific embodiments, it being conceivable that modifications and/or improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Where in the specification and claims, reference is made to particular elements or integers having known equivalents, such equivalents are also considered within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

1. A mobile communication system for exchanging information between a group of users, the mobile communication system comprising: Mobile call centers for transferring information between mobile communication devices; a group information manager, in communication with the mobile call center, receiving information requests including the information to be sent, identifiers of the sender and two or more recipients, conducting a group information call, in said group information call The message is sent to the recipient and any replies sent back to the group message manager are distributed to the recipient and/or the sender, wherein, upon receipt of a message request, the group message manager assigns a call number to the group message call, the call number includes at least one call identifier and a call state code, wherein the call state code identifies the type of information in the call, and the call state code is selected from the group consisting of: to be sent messages, replies to the sender, and replies to the sender and receiver. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said group information manager selects or is pre-assigned an identifier associated with a mobile call center network. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein when recipients reply to a message, they send the reply message to the group information management together with the reply identifier of the reply to the sender, or the reply to both the sender and the recipient Once the reply message is received, the group message manager sends it to the requested sender or sender and receiver. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the information is text information or multimedia information. 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the identifier associated with the mobile call center network is a mobile telephone number. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the group information manager is a subsystem of a mobile call center. 7. A mobile communication system for distributing information among defined user groups, the mobile communication system comprising: a mobile call center capable of communicating with multiple mobile communication devices; a group message manager to maintain communication with the mobile call center and conduct group message calls; and A computer system for storing information related to a determined user group of a mobile communication network; wherein Upon receiving an information request including the information to be sent, the sender, and the identifiers of two or more recipients, the group information manager conducts a group information session and sends the information to the recipients, any information sent back to the group Replies from the message manager are distributed to recipients and/or senders, wherein, upon receipt of a message request, the group message manager assigns a call number to the group message call, said call number including at least one call identifier character and a call state code, wherein the call state code identifies the type of information in the call, and the call state code is selected from the group consisting of the following content types: information to be sent, reply to sender and sender responders and recipients. 8. The mobile communication system of claim 7, wherein the user sends the information request from the mobile communication device or the computer system. 9. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the group information manager selects or is pre-assigned an identifier associated with the mobile call center network. 10. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein when recipients reply to a message, they send the reply message to the group together with a reply identifier of a reply to the sender, or a reply to both the sender and the recipient message manager, and, once a reply message is received, the group of message managers sends it to the requested sender or sender and receiver. 11. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the information is text information or multimedia information. 12. The mobile communication system of claim 9, wherein the identifier associated with the mobile call center network is a mobile telephone number. 13. The mobile communication system of claim 7, wherein the group information manager is a subsystem of a mobile call center. 14. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the computer system is an Internet-based server.

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