EP1230817A1

EP1230817A1 - Communications system providing call type indication for group calls

Info

Publication number: EP1230817A1
Application number: EP00973838A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paul E. Schmidt; Thomas A. Przelomiec
Original assignee: Ericsson Inc
Current assignee: Ericsson Inc
Priority date: 1999-10-28
Filing date: 2000-10-25
Publication date: 2002-08-14
Also published as: WO2001031968A1; JP2003513537A; CN1385049A; AU1230401A

Abstract

A group call server supplies communications terminals of a certain type with an indication of call type, and optionally other information, for group calls so as to distinguish such calls from other types of calls. The group call server in charge of the group call may selectively augment the calling party number field of the outgoing paging message with one or more indicator flags when the targeted communications terminal is adapted to receive and act upon such information. The indicator flags indicate one or more characteristics of the group call, such as call type, call subtype, or priority level. One flag may indicate priority level and another may indicate the call subtype of the group call. The communications terminals receiving the augmented paging message will base their response, such as to auto-answer or not, on the group call characteristics indicated in the paging message. The group call server may rely on already built-in flexibility in existing signaling and air interface protocols so that the method disclosed herein may be implemented without the need to change the air interface of the BMI.

Description

COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING CALL TYPE INDICATION

FOR GROUP CALLS

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of communications systems, and

more particularly to a method of handling group calls in a communications

system, such as in a wireless communications system.

The use of portable wireless communications devices, such as cellular

phones, personal communications assistants, and the like, is rapidly increasing

throughout society. These wireless communications devices come in a wide

variety of configurations, depending on their intended applications. For instance,

common cellular telephone mobile terminals attempt to mimic traditional landline

telephones, but with additional functionality, such as portability and memorization

of large numbers of phone numbers. One trait of landline phones retained in

most cellular phones is the ability to engage in full duplex communications. In the

typical one-on-one conversation, full duplex operation allows both parties to

simultaneously speak, as contrasted with the old prior art of mobile trunked-radio

phones which allow only one party to speak at a time. In addition, with

conference call or other multi-party capability, more than two parties can typically

talk simultaneously. For ease of reference, this full duplex mode of operation will

be referred to as "phone mode." The details of phone mode operation in cellular

phones are well known in the art.

Some cellular phones are not only capable of operating in phone mode,

but also in what will be referred to herein as radio mode. Examples of such dual- mode devices may be seen in U.S. Patent 5,450,618 and U.S. Patent

Applications Serial Nos. 09/361 ,941 and 09/361 ,747, all of which are incorporated

herein by reference, and U.K. Patent Application 9214180.3. In radio mode, the

phone appears to the user to handle communications in a half-duplex manner.

That is, the cellular phone does not appear to the user as simultaneously

transmitting and receiving voice data. Instead, the user must typically push a

button known as a push-to-talk (PTT) button in order to include data

corresponding to the user's voice in the data transmitted; otherwise, the phone

appears to the user as if it is receiving only. In addition, dual-mode phones

typically automatically answer incoming calls when in radio mode.

With increasing frequency, cellular telephones, other mobile terminals, and

communications terminals in general are being used for group calls. Group calls

are special types of calls where the call originator is trying to communicate with

one or more members of a predefined user group. The members of the

predefined group may be reached using a wide variety of equipment, such as

traditional landline telephones, cellular telephones, satellite telephones, personal

communications assistants, pagers, and the like. The most common type of

group call is a conference call involving a predetermined plurality of users on a

plurality of phones, such as all the engineers on a project. Another type of group

call is a broadcast group call from one location to all listening members, such as a

group call from a police station to all patrolmen in a given precinct. One common

characteristic of group calls is that while less than all the group members may be

participating in any given group call, the list of possible participants in the group call other than the originator for the group call (i.e., the group members) is known

before the call begins.

As mentioned above, many communications terminals, such as dual-mode

phones, typically automatically answer incoming calls in some situations, such as

when in radio mode. However, just because the phone answers the call does not

necessarily mean that the user is actually attending to the phone. Instead, it is

possible that the user has the phone in a mode that auto-answers, such as in

radio mode, but has left the unit unattended. If so, then an incoming call may be

answered, only to have the originator face the unenviable task of speaking to a

phone with no user present. In the context of group calls, this auto-answer

feature may present particular problems. It is often desirable for the phone not to

auto-answer group calls, or at least certain kinds of group calls. Given this, there

is a need for a mechanism by which the communications terminal can determine,

prior to answering the call, whether an incoming call is a group call, and optionally

some more detailed characteristics of the group call, rather than being a "normal"

call. However, there are no known methods for a mobile terminal to determine

when the call is group call or is a non-group call (or other aspects of group call).

Therefore, there remains a need for a method of indicating to a communications

terminal, such as a wireless communications mobile terminal when an incoming

call is a group call so that the communications terminal may respond

appropriately. Optionally, such a method may also indicate more detailed

information about the group call, so that the communications terminal may more

finely tune its response to the call. Summary of the Invention

The present invention supplies certain types of communications terminals

with an indication of call type, and optionally other information, for group calls so

as to distinguish such calls from other types of incoming calls.

In one typical embodiment, the Group Call Server in charge of the group

call selectively augments the calling party number field of the outgoing paging

message with one or more indicator flags when the targeted communications

terminal is adapted to receive and act upon such information. The indicator flags

indicate one or more characteristics of the group call, such as call type, call

subtype, or priority level. When the group call server of the present invention

receives a group call request, the group call server consults its user group

database. The database has records therein corresponding to group members of

the requested user group. The records preferably include an indication of the

equipment type of the corresponding equipment for each call address (e.g.,

phone number). When the equipment type is indicated to be of a certain type, or

types, corresponding to communications terminals adapted for cooperation with

the present invention, (e.g., Enhanced Terminals) the group call server alters the

calling party field of the page message to include additional information; otherwise

the group call server proceeds as in the prior art. For instance, the group call

server can augment the calling party number to add one or more indicator flags.

By way of example, a first flag may indicate priority level and a second flag may

indicate the call subtype of the group call. In short, the group call server initiates a paging message that includes additional information about the group call for Enhanced Terminals.

The present invention further provides a mobile communications terminal

better adapted to handle group calls. The communications terminal, such as a

dual-mode wireless mobile terminal operating in radio mode, receives the group

call paging message and selects the appropriate response to the paging message

based on the flag characters. The mobile terminal preferably examines the

calling party field of the paging message and notes the presence of the flag

characters. When the flag characters are present, the mobile terminal parses out

the flag characters and calling party ID. Based on the flag characters, the mobile

terminal determines the proper response to the paging message. This response

may include, for instance, controlling the man-machine interface of the mobile

terminal and determining whether or not to automatically answer the call. In the

preferred embodiments, the mobile terminal automatically answers group calls of

certain kind(s) and requires manual intervention of the user prior to answering the

paging call for other kind(s) of group calls. Thus, the mobile terminals of the

present invention receiving the augmented paging message will base their

response, such as whether to auto-answer or not, on the group call

characteristics indicated in the paging message.

In its preferred embodiments, the present invention allows for both the

enhanced group call server and the enhanced communications terminals to

provide this added functionality while still remaining backwardly compatible with

existing installed systems, such as ANSI-136 systems. That is, in preferred embodiments, the present invention relies on already built-in flexibility in existing

air interface protocols. As such, the present invention can be implemented

without the need to change the signaling and air interface protocols or the BMI

(base station, Mobile Switching Center, and Interworking Function).

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIGURE 1 is perspective view of one embodiment of a communications

terminal, a wireless communications device, adapted for the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of the wireless communications

device of Figure 1.

FIGURE 3 shows a portion of memory including a plurality of memory

locations for storing call addresses and related information.

FIGURE 4 shows one process flow for handling group calls according to

the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment(s)

The following description is written in terms of a cellular radiotelephone

system; however, the invention is not necessarily limited to that environment.

More specifically, the following description is written using terms which may be

associated with ANSI-136 compliant systems, but it will be understood by those

skilled in the art that the present invention may be implemented in other wireless

communication environments including those which are designed in accordance with other standards, e.g., GSM, IS-95 or PDC, as well as those which use

various access methodologies, e.g., CDMA.

One embodiment of a mobile terminal suitable for use with the present

invention is shown in Figure 1 and indicated generally by the numeral 20. The

mobile terminal shown is a digital cellular telephone, but the invention is not so

limited but instead encompasses a wide variety of wireless communications

devices, including cellular phones, personal communications assistants, pagers,

and the like. Further, the present invention is not limited to wireless mobile

terminals, but instead includes landline communications terminals, or other types

of communications terminals, including Internet based communications terminals,

that may receive incoming group calls. However, for simplicity of discussion a

dual-mode wireless communications mobile terminal will be used as the primary

illustrative example herein. More particularly, the phone 20 shown in Figure 1 will

be used as the primary illustrative example. The phone 20 is preferably a dual-

mode phone capable of phone mode operation and radio mode operation as

described below.

The cellular telephone 20 typically includes a controller 22, an operator

interface 26, a transmitter 38, a receiver 50, and an antenna assembly 58. The

operator interface 26 typically includes a display 28, keypad 30, control unit 32,

microphone 34, and two speakers 80,85. The display 28 allows the operator to

see dialed digits, call status, and other service information. The keypad 30 allows

the operator to dial numbers, enter commands, and select options. The control

unit 32 interfaces the display 28 and keypad 30 with the controller 22. The microphone 34 receives acoustic signals from the user and converts

the acoustic signals to an analog electrical signal. Speakers 80,85 convert

analog electrical signals from the receiver 50 to acoustic signals which can be

heard by the user. The first speaker 80 is low volume speaker, typically located

above the display 28 so as to be proximate the user's ear when the phone 20 is

held next to the user's head in the traditional telephone handset orientation. The

second speaker 85 is a high volume speaker typically located on the opposite end

of the phone 20 from the low volume speaker 80. See Figure 1. The low volume

speaker 80 acts as the phone's primary speaker when the phone is in "phone

mode," and the high volume speaker 85 acts as the phone's primary speaker in

"radio mode," as discussed in more detail below. As necessary, there may be a

switch (not shown) disposed in the circuit path leading to the speakers 80,85 for

routing the audio output to one speaker or the other. Such a switch should

operate under the control of the controller 22, either directly or indirectly.

The keypad 30 includes a plurality of keys, including at least a first key 70

and a second key 75. For purposes of this illustration, the first key 70 is a send

key and the second key is a PTT key. It is to be understood that the keys of the

keypad 30 may be physical keys or virtual keys (such as shown on the display

28), and the keys do not need to be disposed on only one area of the phone 20.

Indeed, it is preferred that the send key 70 be located some distance from the

PTT key 75. For instance, the send key 70 may be proximate a common three by

four telephone key array disposed on a front face of the phone 20 while the PTT key 75 may be located on the side of the phone 20, proximate the display 28.

See Figure 1.

The analog electrical signal from the microphone 34 is supplied to the

transmitter 38. The transmitter 38 includes an analog to digital converter 40, a

digital signal processor 42, and a phase modulator and RF amplifier 48. The

analog to digital converter 40 changes the analog electrical signal from the

microphone 34 into a digital signal. The digital signal is passed to the digital

signal processor (DSP) 42, which contains a speech coder 44 and channel coder

46. The speech coder 44 compresses the digital signal and the channel coder 46

inserts error detection, error correction and signaling information. The DSP 42

may include, or may work in conjunction with, a DTMF tone generator (not

shown). The compressed and encoded signal from the digital signal processor 42

is passed to the phase modulator and RF amplifier 48, which are shown as a

combined unit in Figure 2. The modulator converts the signal to a form which is

suitable for transmission on an RF carrier. The RF amplifier then boosts the

output of the modulator for transmission via the antenna assembly 58.

The receiver 50 includes a receiver/amplifier 52, digital signal processor

54, and a digital to analog converter 56. Signals received by the antenna

assembly 58 are passed to the receiver/amplifier 52, which shifts the frequency

spectrum, and boosts the low-level RF signal to a level appropriate for input to the

digital signal processor 54.

The digital signal processor 54 typically includes an equalizer to

compensate for phase and amplitude distortions in the channel corrupted signal, a demodulator for extracting bit sequences from the received signal, and a

detector for determining transmitted bits based on the extracted sequences. A

channel decoder detects and corrects channel errors in the received signal. The

channel decoder also includes logic for separating control and signaling data from

speech data. Control and signaling data is passed to the controller 22. Speech

data is processed by a speech decoder and passed to the digital to analog

converter 56. The digital signal processor 54, may include, or may work in

conjunction with, a DTMF tone detector (not shown).

The digital to analog converter 56 converts the speech data into an analog

signal which is applied to one of speakers 80,85 to generate acoustic signals

which can be heard by the user, as described in more detail below.

The antenna assembly 58 is connected to the RF amplifier of the

transmitter 38 and to the receiver/amplifier 52 of the receiver 50. The antenna

assembly 58 typically includes a duplexer 60 and an antenna 62. The duplexer

60 permits full duplex communications over the antenna 62, as necessary.

The controller 22 coordinates the operation of the transmitter 38 and the

receiver 50, and may for instance take the form of a common microprocessor.

This coordination includes power control, channel selection, timing, as well as a

host of other functions. The controller 22 inserts signaling messages into the

transmitted signals and extracts signaling messages from the received signals.

The controller 22 responds to any base station commands contained in the

signaling messages, and implements those commands. When the user enters commands via the keypad 30, the commands are transferred to the controller 22

for action.

Memory 24 stores and supplies information at the direction of the controller

22 and preferably includes both volatile and non-volatile portions. Included in

memory 24 are a plurality of memory locations 90 for storing call addresses. See

Figure 3. These locations 90 may be thought of as divided into at least two

sections, the first section 92 and the second section 94. The first section 92

includes the first N call address memory locations 90, while the second section 94

includes the balance. For purpose of illustration, N will be assumed to be twenty-

five, but any number higher than one may be used. The user enters call

addresses to be stored in the memory locations 90 via any method known in the

art. It is anticipated that the memory locations 90 may be filled non-contiguously;

for instance, memory locations 1 , 4, 8, 10, 24, and 35-45 may be filled, while the

remainder may be empty.

The phone 20 is preferably operational in both phone mode and radio

mode. Phone mode is simply a phone operational mode that is characterized by

full duplex operation of the phone 20 in any manner well known in the art, such as

according to ANSI-136. In phone mode, a conversation appears to the user of

the phone 20 to be simultaneously bi-directional. This behavior is common in

digital cellular phones of the prior art. Radio mode is a phone 20 operational

mode wherein the phone 20 appears to the user to be operating in a half duplex

mode. In radio mode, a conversation appears to the user of the phone 20 to be

bi-directional, but not simultaneously. Instead, during the call session, the operation of the microphone 34 and the speaker 85 are mutually exclusive. When

the PTT key 75 is pushed, the microphone 34 of the phone 20 is active; when the

PTT key 75 is not pushed, the speaker 85 is active. For ease of reference, the

condition of the PTT key 75 corresponding to the active microphone 34 may be

called the "speak position" and the condition of the PTT key 75 corresponding to

the active speaker 85 may be called the "listen position." This type of operation is

familiar to users of existing trunked-radio phones. Thus, when in radio mode, the

phone 20 mimics the man-machine interface of a trunked-radio phone.

Preferably, radio mode behavior of the phone 20 is localized to the phone

20, meaning that the communications between the phone 20 and the remainder

of the wireless communications system are as a digital cellular phone in phone

mode, but the man-machine interface appears to the user to be like a trunked-

radio phone. Thus, when the phone 20 is operating in radio mode, the phone 20

may appear to the remainder of the communications system as being either full

duplex or half duplex. The only requirement on the phone operating in radio

mode is that the phone 20 appear to the user as being half duplex, regardless of

the reality as viewed from the perspective of the communications system. The

radio mode operation of a phone 20 is further disclosed in co-owned U.S. Patent

Application Serial Number 09/234,191 which is incorporated herein by reference.

Typically, a user will fill one or more of the available memory locations 90

with call address information. Call address information is typically a common

phone number, such as one associated with another cellular phone, or a

traditional landline phone, or a computer, or the like. In addition, there may be an alphanumeric identification tag associated with each call address, such as a

name or the like. The term "call address" is used herein rather than "phone

number" because while call address information may be a phone number, the call

address information may instead be a group identification number used to

establish a group call.

A group call, as described above, is a special type of call where the call

originator is trying to communicate with one or more members of a predefined

user group. Group calls come in a variety of call types. Two common call types

are Broadcast type and Talk type. For Broadcast type, the main information flow

during the group call is one way, from one source (the originator) to one or more

destinations (the group members). Thus, in a Broadcast type group call, only the

originator of the group call may talk, while the recipients are limited to listening.

For Talk type group calls, the main information flow during the group call may be

bi-directional. Thus, in Talk type group calls, both the originator and the

participating group members may both speak and listen.

Each call type may be further classified into call subtypes. For instance,

Talk type groups calls may be further divided into Sequential, Simultaneous-First-

Answer, and Conference subtypes. For Sequential subtype group calls, the

wireless communications system overseeing the call attempts to contact the

group members in sequence, giving each one a chance to respond before

proceeding to the next. In the typical arrangement, a page is sent to the first

group member; if the first group member fails to answer in a timely fashion, the

page is cancelled and the second group member is paged, and so forth. Thus, the Sequential subtype group call may be thought of as a concatenated series of

individual calls to the group members in a predetermined sequence, where the

originator need not dial each number in series, but may instead dial a single

group identification number. The Simultaneous-First-Answer subtype group calls

are similar to the Sequential subtype group calls, but a page is sent out to all

group members at the same time, and the call is connected to the first group

member who answers the call. The Conference subtype group calls are similar to

the Simultaneous-First-Answer subtype group calls, but all group members who

answer the page are joined into the call. Thus, both Sequential and

Simultaneous-First-Answer subtype group calls, when successful, result in a

group call between the originator and one group member. In contrast, the

Conference subtype group call, when successful, results in a group call between

the originator and one or more group members.

Traditional dual-mode phones, those that automatically answer incoming

calls in radio mode, create problems with group calls of the Sequential and

Simultaneous-First-Answer subtype. With such calls, the search to find a group

member terminates when a group member answers. If the user places the

traditional dual-mode phone in radio mode and leaves the phone unattended for

whatever reason, the phone still answers incoming group calls. If the phone

receives a Sequential or Simultaneous-First-Answer call, the unattended phone

will answer the call and the call originator will receive an indication that the group

call has been answered. However, the call originator will not actually be

communicating with a live user, but will be instead talking with the unattended phone. Thus, the call originator will either be speaking into thin air or will be

asked to leave a message. In many situations, the call originator does not need

to leave a message, but instead needs to talk with a live individual. With the prior

art, the utility of the group call is defeated, and the originator will be frustrated by

the unattended-but-answering phone, until the missing user returns to the phone,

at some indeterminate time in the future.

The present invention addresses this and other problems by supplying

certain phones with an indication of call type, and optionally other information, for

group calls so as to distinguish such calls from other types of calls. To do so, the

present invention contemplates the Group Call Server in charge of the group call

selectively augmenting the calling party number field of the outgoing paging

message with one or more indicator flags. By way of example, the Calling Party

Number field of an ANSI-136 paging message on the SPACH channel (see ANSI-

136-123 §5.3.9 and §6.23) may be increased in length. Because the length of the

calling party field in the paging message can be readily changed within the

existing air interface protocols, the present invention can be implemented without

the need to change the air interface or the BMI (base station, Mobile Switching

Center, and Interworking Function). Based on this additional information, the

receiving phone may determine how to respond, such as by not automatically

answering Sequential subtype group calls.

Typically, group calls are handled by a Group Call Server associated with

the wireless communications system. The Group Call Server is a logical portion

of the wireless communications system unit that oversees group calls, such as by tracking the membership of user groups, controlling access to user group

functionality, coordinating information flow, etc. When the wireless

communications system receives a group call request, the request is forwarded to

the Group Call Server. The other portions of the wireless communications system

then cooperate with the Group Call Server to facilitate the group call.

The Group Call Server typically includes a database of user groups, where

each group member's call address (e.g., phone number) is listed. For the present

invention, the Group Call Server database should preferably also include an

indication of the equipment type for each call address. For instance, the

equipment type may be a conventional, prior-art cellular phone, or the equipment

type may be a traditional landline phone. Of particular interest to the present

discussion, one of the equipment types should correspond to wireless

communications devices (e.g., phones) adapted according to the present

invention. For purposes of discussion only, and not by way of limitation, such

wireless communications devices will be referred to as Enhanced Terminals.

Thus, the records in the Group Call Server database should preferably include an

indication when a particular call address corresponds to an Enhanced Terminal

equipment type and when it does not.

Referring to Figure 4, a group call originator typically initiates a group call

(box 210) by dialing a pre-assigned user group identification number. In the

United States, this group identification number typically consists of ten digits,

much like an ordinary phone number. When the wireless communications system

receives the group call request (box 220), the request is routed to the Group Call Server for handling (box 230). As shown in Figure 4, the originator may optionally

be given an opportunity to select the group call settings (box 240), such as call

type, call subtype, and so forth, such as through a voice interaction system. In

other embodiments, the call type and so forth is pre-set for each user group. It

should be noted that the selection of group call settings (box 240) may occur after

the Group Call Server becomes involved (box 230), or may occur earlier, the

particular timing being a matter of preference.

After receiving notice of the request from the wireless communications

system (box 230), the Group Call Server consults its database and determines

which call addresses belong to the requested user group and initiates the group

call set-up procedure (box 250). The Group Call Server interacts with the balance

of the wireless communications system to page the group members, at the stored

call addresses, in the appropriate manner depending on which call type and

subtype selected. However, prior to triggering the page, the Group Call Server

examines the equipment type indicated by the database record for the relevant

group member. If the equipment type indicates that the mobile terminal being

paged is a Enhanced Terminal, then the Group Call Server augments the calling

party field of the paging message to include one or more flags for indicating the

group call settings (box 260). For instance, if the group call is a Sequential

subtype, then a flag value of "1" could be appended to the calling party field; if the

group call is a Conference subtype, a "3;" if the group call is a Broadcast type, a

"4;" and so forth. Preferably, only the paging messages targeted at Enhanced

Terminals would be augmented, while paging messages targeted at other group calls, but the originator may be allowed to change the priority level to "alert"

for more urgent group calls. In such a situation, two indicator flags may be used,

and the response of the Enhanced Terminal mobile terminals may be, according

to the following table:

Table 1

As can be seen in Table 1 , the characters used for the indicator flags should

include an unusual character, such as "^*" or "#," or at least start with an unusual

character, so that detecting the presence of the indicator flags may be simplified.

asdf

It should be noted that the originator may initiate a group call typically in

one of two ways. First, the originator may call a publicly defined user group

identification number. This user group identification number is publicly defined in

that any user calling that number will reach the same user group, assuming that

they are authorized to access the group. A group call initiated in such a way will

be referred to as a "pilot" group call. In the United States, the pilot group

identification numbers are typically ten digits in length. A wireless

communications system receiving a group identification number in the dialed

digits field routes the call to the Group Call Server for handling. The Group Call

19 equipment types would not be altered. This is to avoid confusing existing

systems and mobile terminals (those without the present invention), while allowing

the improved systems and mobile terminals of the present invention to offer the

enhanced feature while remaining backwardly compatible.

The paging messages are then transmitted to the appropriate mobile

terminal(s) (box 270) by the appropriate portions of the wireless communications

system. Assuming that the targeted mobile terminal is an Enhanced Terminal,

the targeted mobile terminal receives the paging message (box 280) and

thereafter checks for augmentation (box 285). If the augmentation is not present,

then the mobile terminal auto-answers the call. If the mobile terminal 20

determines that augmentation is present, the mobile terminal parses the flag

characters from the calling party ID in the calling party field (box 285). The mobile

terminal then consults a response look-up table in memory to determine how to

respond (box 290). For purposes of illustration, the look-up table instructs the

mobile terminal to auto-answer Broadcase and Conference group calls, but to not

auto-answer Sequential and Simultaneous-First-Answer group calls. Based on

the response look-up table, the Enhanced Terminal mobile terminal responds to

the page by, for instance, either auto-answering or by generating an alert such as

an audible ring (box 290). Thus, for those mobile terminals enhanced according

to the present invention, the auto-answer feature may be selectively disabled for

group calls in radio mode, depending on the characterisitics of the group call.

In addition to call types, the group call may have a priority level assigned

thereto. For instance, a priority level of "normal" may be the default for most

18 Server then determines the group membership associated with that group

identification number and goes about setting up the group call. Alternatively, the

group call originator may also initiate a group call by dialing a privately defined

group identification number, such as "*12." A group call initiated in such a way

will be referred to as a "private" group call. Unlike pilot group numbers, the

private group numbers may have different meanings for different users. When

the wireless communications system receives "^*12" in the dialed digits field, the

wireless communications system recognizes this as a group call request and

routes the request to the Group Call Server. The Group Call Server would in turn

determine which user group to call based on the dialed digits (*12) and the

particular subscriber originating the call. Thus if subscriber A were to dial "*12,"

the Group Call Server would generate a group call to a different user group than if

subscriber B were to dial "^*12."

Preferably, the Group Call Server handles pilot group calls differently than

private group calls. For private group calls, the calling party number included in

the paging message should be the originator's call address. However, for pilot

group calls, the calling party number included in the paging message should

preferably be pilot group number instead. Thus, for private group calls, the

receiving terminals programmed to display caller ID will display the originator's

number, while for pilot group calls, the receiving terminals will display the user

group's pilot number. It should be noted that various settings governing the

operation of the group call server in some systems may prevent the substitution of

the pilot number for the originator's number, for instance to comply with local law. By way of example using the both the pilot/private and priority level options

described above, assume that originator unit 888 444-1111 initiates a pilot group

call of Sequential type with alert priority by dialing group identification number 999

555-2525. Further assume that the user group includes three group members

with the first and second members having Enhanced Terminals, and the third

group member having a conventional mobile terminal. The Group Call Server that

routed this request will initiate a paging message to the first group member.

Because the first group member has a Enhanced Terminal, as indicated in the

Group Call Server's database, the paging message will have a calling party field

that includes 9995552525#1 as the calling party ID. The mobile terminal of the

first group member should not auto-answer the call due to the presence of the

"#1" suffix in the calling party field. If the first group member does not manually

answer within a pre-determined time, the page will switch to the second group

member. This page will likewise include the 9995552525#1 in the calling party

field, causing the second group member's mobile terminal (also Enhanced

Terminal equipment type) to likewise not auto-answer. When the second group

member fails to answer in a timely fashion, the page will switch to the third group

member. However, since this group member does not have an Enhanced

Terminal, the "#1" suffix will not be appended to the calling party ID in the paging

message. Upon receiving the paging message, the third group member's mobile

terminal will auto-answer the call, if programmed to do so for incoming calls, but

not depending on the presence, absence, or content of any indicator flags of the

present invention. If the scenario is changed so that the same originator initiates a private

group call of Conference type with normal priority by dialing ^*12, the Group Call

Server will initiate at least two paging messages. For the first and second group

members, the paging message will have a calling party field that includes

8884441111^*3 as the calling party ID. For the third group member's paging

message, the calling party field will include 8884441111 as the calling party ID,

without the "^*3" suffix. In this arrangement, all the receiving mobile terminals will

auto-answer the call, resulting in a Conference type group call.

While the repsone of the Enhanced Terminal type mobile terminals 20 has

been described in terms of whether to auto-answer the group call or not, other

responses are also possible. For instance, based on the information provided by

the indicator flags, the mobile terminals 20 of the present invention may vary

information displayed on their displays 28 or change their alert signals (e.g., ring

tone, ring volume, vibrations generated, etc.) depending on the characteristics of

the incoming group call. By way of example, the display 28 of the mobile terminal

20 may have three or more lines, for ease of reference, the top, middle, and

bottom lines. Based on the information provided by the indicator flags, and a

comparison of the received calling ID with the call addresses stored in the first

portion 92 of memory 24, the mobile terminal 20 may a) display the alphanumeric

tag associated with the matching memory record on the top display line and the

calling ID on the middle display line if a match occurs with a memory record and

the priority level is normal priority; b) display a generic text message (e.g.,

"Group") on the top display line and the calling ID on the middle display line if no match occurs with a memory record and the priority level is normal priority; c)

display an alert text message (e.g., "Alert") on the top display line and the

alphanumeric tag associated with the memory record on the middle display line if

a match occurs with a memory record and the priority level is alert priority; and d)

display an alert text message on the top display line and the calling ID on the

middle display line if no match occurs with a memory record and the priority level

is normal priority. In addition, the mobile terminal 20 may display an indicator on

the bottom line indicating whether the group call is sequential subtype,

Simultaneous-First-Answer subtype, conference subtype, or broadcast type. For

instance, the bottom line may display "SEQ" if the group call subtype is

Sequential; "SIM" if the group call subtype is Simultaneous-First-Answer; "GRP" if

the group call subtype is Conference; and "BDCAST" if the group call typ is

Broadcast. As another example, the mobile terminal 20 may loudly ring with a

particular tone when a group call with alert priority is detected, and "Alert" may be

indicated on the display 28, while group calls of Sequential subtype with normal

priority may only result in a low level vibration and a display of the caller ID. Of

course, these responses of the mobile terminal 20 may be pre-set at the factory

or may be user selectable to provide maximum flexibility.

The discussion above has been in terms of the group call server causing

the paging message to be altered under certain circumstances related to the

equipment type of the targeted mobile terminal(s). It should be noted that the

paging message itself may reside entirely on a portion of the SPACH or

equivalent control channel; alternatively, the paging message may reside on more than one channel, including a portion of the SPACH or equivalent control channel.

For instance, the paging message may comprise a pointer message on the

SPACH control channel and more detailed information packet(s) on the pointed-to channel. Thus, as used herein, the term paging message includes any

transmitted information that a mobile terminal automatically searches for in order

to determine whether the mobile terminal has an incoming call and the nature of

that call.

Further, the discussion above has been in terms of the group call server

altering the paging message to include indicators of one or more group call

characteristics. In the primary illustrative embodiment, the group call server

appends indicator flag characters to the calling party field of the paging message.

However, it is not necessary for characters to added per se. Instead, the present

invention also encompasses equivalent methods of augmenting existing

messages to include additional information, such as by further encoding the

message by superimposing a second message, using different encoding

schemes, etc. Thus, it is only necessary that the paging message be altered from

the form that it would otherwise take, and that the alteration provides an indication

of one or more of the characteristics of the group call.

As indicated above, the present invention is not limited to cooperative

functioning with just wireless mobile terminals, but instead applies as well to other

types of communications terminals. For instance, a traditional landline phone with

caller ID functionality may be altered to take advantage of the present invention.

Such an enhanced phone should likewise examine the incoming calling party field for the presence or absence of the augmentation, and base its response to the

call on the augmented information if present. Similarly, a computer with a

telephony communications card may be programmed to take advantage of the

present invention. Thus, the present invention is intended to be used with a

variety of communications terminals, including internet based communications

terminals, that may receive notice of incoming group calls via a paging message

that includes a calling party field.

The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways

than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential

characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be

considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes

coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are

intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is Claimed is:

1. A method of operating a group call server in a communications system, comprising:

a) establishing a database of user groups having one or more

group members, said database noting when the corresponding

group member is associated with a communications terminal of a

first communications terminal type;

b) thereafter, receiving a request from an originator to establish a

group call with a user group;

c) in response to said group call request, said group call server

composing a paging message targeted at one or more of said

group members, said paging message selectively indicating one

or more characteristics of said group call depending on whether

said database indicates the corresponding targeted group

member is associated with a communications terminal of said

first communications terminal type; and

d) said group call server triggering the transmission of said paging

message to at least one communications terminal associated

with the corresponding user group associated with said group

call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said paging message includes a calling

party field and wherein said composing includes said group call server augmenting said calling party field to indicate one or more characteristics of said

group call when said database indicates the corresponding targeted group

member is associated with a mobile terminal of said first mobile terminal type.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said group call server augmenting

includes adding at least one coded flag to said calling party field.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said coded flag includes a first part

corresponding to the priority level of said group call and a second part

corresponding to the call type and call subtype of said group call.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said group call characteristics indicated

by said paging message include the group call subtype of said group call.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the call type of said group call may be

set to at least a first type corresponding to a broadcast type wherein only the

originator of the group call may generate source message signals and a second

type corresponding to a talk type wherein source message generation is not

limited to the originator of the group call.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said first call type has a plurality of

possible call subtypes including at least a sequential subtype, a simultaneous-

first-answer subtype, and a conference subtype.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said group call characteristics indicated

by said paging message include the call subtype of said group call.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said group call characteristics

indicated by said paging message include the priority level of said group call.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the priority level of said group call may

be set to at least a first level corresponding to a normal priority or to a second

level corresponding to an alert priority.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said group call characteristics

indicated by said paging message include the call subtype and priority level of

said group call.

12. The method of claim 1 further including said group call server allowing

the originator of said group call to set the priority level of the group call prior to

said triggering of the transmission of said paging message and wherein said

group call characteristics indicated by said paging message include said set

priority level of said group call.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said paging message is compliant with

ANSI-136.

14. The method of claim 2 further including said group call server

substituting a pilot group number for a calling party number in said calling party

number field when said group call is in response to the originator using a pilot

group number.

15. A group call server in a wireless communications system, comprising:

a) a database of user groups having one or more group members,

said database including an indication when the corresponding

group member is associated with a wireless mobile terminal of a

first mobile terminal type; b) said group call server adapted to compose a paging message

targeted at one or more of said group members in response to

receiving a group call request, said paging message selectively

indicating one or more characteristics of said group call

depending on whether said database indicates the

corresponding targeted group member is associated with a

mobile terminal of said first mobile terminal type; and

c) said group call server adapted to trigger the transmission of said

paging message to at least one mobile terminal associated with

the corresponding user group associated with said group call in

response to receiving a group call request.

16. The group call server of claim 15 wherein said group call server is

further adapted to allow the originator of a group call to set the priority level of the

group call during group call set-up.

17. The group call server of claim 15 wherein said paging message

includes a calling party field and wherein said group call server is further adapted

to cause said calling party field to include a pilot group number when said group

call is in response to the originator using a pilot group number to initiate said

group call.

18. A group call server in a wireless communications system programmed

to at least: a) store an indication of the equipment type of selected equipment

associated with at least one user group; b) allow the originator of a group call to set the priority level of the

group call during group call set-up;

c) respond to the initiation of a group call by initiating the

transmission of a paging message to at least one mobile terminal

associated with the corresponding user group associated with

said group call, said paging message including a calling party

field, said calling party field selectively augmented by said group

call server to include at least one coded flag indicating the

priority level of the group call and the call type of said group call

depending on whether the corresponding equipment type for

said mobile terminal is a first mobile terminal type.

19. The group call server of claim 18 wherein said group call server is

further programmed to substitute a pilot group number for a calling party number

in said calling party number field when said group call is initiated by the originator

using a pilot group number.

20. A method of operating a communications terminal to establish a group

call in a communications system having a group call server, comprising:

a) receiving a paging message associated with the set-up of a

group call at a communications terminal, said paging message

including a calling party field, said calling party field including one

or more flag characters indicating one or more characteristics of

said group call; b) said communications terminal responding to said paging

message based on said flag characters of said paging message.

21. The method of claim 20 further including, prior to said responding, said

communications terminal parsing said flag characters out of said calling party

field.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said characteristics of said group call

indicated by said flag characters include the group call type and group call

subtype.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said characteristics of said group call

indicated by said flag characters further include the priority level of said group

call.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said communications terminal is a

landline phone.

25. A method of operating a wireless communications mobile terminal to

establish a group call in a wireless communications system having a group call

server, said mobile terminal adapted for operation in plurality of modes including

at least a phone mode and a radio mode, comprising:

a) operating said mobile terminal in said phone mode;

b) thereafter, operating said mobile terminal in said radio mode;

c) while in said radio mode, said mobile terminal receiving a paging

message associated with the set-up of a group call, said paging

message including a calling party field, said calling party field including one or more flag characters indicating one or more

characteristics of said group call;

d) said mobile terminal responding to said paging message based

on said flag characters of said paging message.

26. The method of claim 25 further including, prior to said responding, said

mobile terminal parsing said flag characters out of said calling party field.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said characteristics of said group call

indicated by said flag characters include the group call type and group call

subtype.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said characteristics of said group call

call.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said flag characters include a first

part corresponding to the priority level of said group call and a second part

corresponding to the call type and call subtype of said group call.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein said responding includes said mobile

terminal displaying a visual indication of at least one of said characteristics.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein said responding includes said mobile

terminal generating an audible indication of at least one of said characteristics.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein said responding to said paging

message includes said mobile terminal determining whether to automatically

answer said paging message based on said flag characters of said paging

message.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein:

a) said characteristics of said group call indicated by said flag

characters include the group call type and group call subtype,

wherein said call type of said group call may be set to at least a

first type corresponding to a broadcast type wherein only the

originator of the group call may generate source message

signals and a second type corresponding to a talk type wherein

source message generation is not limited to the originator of the

group call;

b) said first call type has a plurality of possible call subtypes

including at least a sequential subtype, a Simultaneous-First-

Answer subtype, and a conference subtype;

c) said mobile terminal automatically answers to said wireless

communications system regarding said paging message if said

group call subtype is conference or if said group call type is said

first call type corresponding to said broadcast type;

d) said mobile terminal waits for manual intervention by a user

before answering to said wireless communications system

regarding said paging message if said group call subtype is either sequential or Simultaneous-First-Answer.

34. The method of claim 25 wherein said paging message is compliant

with ANSI-136.

35. The method of claim 25 wherein said characteristics of said group call

indicated by said flag characters include the priority level of said group call,

wherein the priority level of said group call may be set to at least a first level

corresponding to a normal priority or to a second level corresponding to an alert

priority.

36. The method of claim 28 wherein said mobile terminal includes a

display having at least an upper line and a lower line and said calling party field

further includes a calling ID and further including said mobile terminal comparing

said calling ID against a list of pre-stored memory records, wherein:

a) if a match occurs with a memory record and said priority level is

normal priority, said mobile terminal displays the alphanumeric

tag associated with said memory record on said upper display

line and the calling ID on said lower display line;

b) if no match occurs with a memory record and said priority level is

normal priority, said mobile terminal displays a generic text

message on said upper display line and the calling ID on said

lower display line;

c) if a match occurs with a memory record and said priority level is

alert priority, said mobile terminal displays an alert text message

on said upper display line and the alphanumeric tag associated

with said memory record on said lower display line;

d) if no match occurs with a memory record and said priority level is

normal priority, said mobile terminal displays an alert text message on said upper display line and the calling ID on said lower display line.

37. The method of claim 27 wherein:

a) said mobile terminal includes a display having at least an upper

line, a middle line, and a lower line;

b) said call type of said group call may be set to at least a first type

corresponding to a broadcast type wherein only the originator of

the group call may generate source message signals and a

second type corresponding to a talk type wherein source

message generation is not limited to the originator of the group

call;

c) said first call type has a plurality of possible call subtypes

including at least a sequential subtype, a Simultaneous-First-

Answer subtype, and a conference subtype;

d) said mobile terminal displays an indicator on said lower line

indicating whether said group call is sequential subtype,

Simultaneous-First-Answer subtype, conference subtype, or

broadcast type.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said indicator is:

a) "SEQ" if said group call subtype is sequential; b) "SIM" if said group call subtype is Simultaneous-First-Answer;

c) "GRP" if said group call subtype is conference; d) "BDCAST" if said group call type is said first type corresponding

to a broadcast type.

39. A method of establishing a group call in a communications system

having a group call server, comprising:

a) establishing a database of user groups having one or more

group members, said database noting when the corresponding

group member is associated with a communications terminal of a

first communications terminal type;

b) thereafter, receiving a request from an originator to establish a

group call with a user group;

c) in response to said group call request, said group call server

composing a paging message targeted at one or more of said

group members, said paging message selectively indicating one

or more characteristics of said group call depending on whether

said database indicates the corresponding targeted group

member is associated with a communications terminal of said

first communications terminal type;

d) said group call server triggering the transmission of said paging

message to at least one communications terminal associated

with the corresponding user group;

e) receiving, at a mobile terminal of said first communications

terminal type, said transmitted paging message; and f) said communications terminal selecting a response to said

transmitted paging message based on said characteristics of

said group call as indicated in said paging message.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein said paging message includes a

calling party field and wherein said composing includes said group call server

augmenting said calling party field to indicate one or more characteristics of said

group call when said database indicates the corresponding targeted group

member is associated with a mobile terminal of said first mobile terminal type.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said augmenting by said group call

server includes adding at least one coded flag to said calling party field.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said coded flag includes a first part

corresponding to the priority level of said group call and a second part

corresponding to the call type and call subtype of said group call.

43. The method of claim 39 wherein said group call characteristics

indicated by said paging message include the call type of said group call.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the call type of said group call may be

set to at least a first type corresponding to a broadcast type wherein only the

originator of the group call may generate source message signals and a second

type corresponding to a talk type wherein source message generation is not

limited to the originator of the group call.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein said first call type has a plurality of

possible call subtypes including at least a sequential subtype, a simultaneous-

first-answer subtype, and a conference subtype.

46. The method of claim 39 wherein said group call characteristics

indicated by said paging message include the call subtype of said group call.

47. The method of claim 39 wherein said group call characteristics

indicated by said paging message include the priority level of said group call.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the priority level of said group call

may be set to at least a first level corresponding to a normal priority or to a

second level corresponding to an alert priority.

49. The method of claim 39 wherein said group call characteristics indicated by said paging message include the call subtype and priority level of

said group call.

50. The method of claim 39 further including said group call server

allowing said originator to set the priority level of the group call prior to said

triggering of the transmission of said paging message and wherein said group call

characteristics indicated by said paging message include said set priority level of

said group call.

51. The method of claim 39 wherein said paging message is compliant

with ANSI-136.

52. The method of claim 39 further including substituting a pilot group

number for a calling party number in said calling party number field when said

group call is in response to the originator using a pilot group number.

53. The method of claim 52 further including said mobile terminal

displaying said pilot group number when said group call is in response to the

originator using a pilot group number.

54. The method of claim 39 wherein said selecting a response to said

transmitted paging message includes said mobile terminal determining whether to

automatically answer said paging message based on said characteristics of said

group call as indicated in said paging message.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein group call may be of one call subtype

of a plurality of possible call subtypes including at least a sequential subtype and

a simultaneous-first-answer subtype, and wherein, based on said characteristics

of said group call as indicated in said paging message, said mobile terminal

requires manual intervention by a user before answering said paging message

when said group call is of either said sequential subtype or said simultaneous-

first-answer subtype.

56. The method of claim 39 wherein said database includes an indication

of the equipment type associated with each group member therein.

57. A method of establishing a group call in a wireless communications

system having a group call server, comprising:

a) establishing, at the group call server, a database of user groups

having one or more group members, said database noting when

the corresponding group member is associated with a wireless

mobile terminal of a first mobile terminal type;

b) thereafter, receiving a request from an originator to establish a

group call with a user group;

c) in response to said group call request, said group call server

composing a paging message targeted at one or more of said group members, said paging message including a calling party

field, said calling party field selectively including at least one

coded flag for indicating one or more characteristics of said

group call depending on whether said database indicates the

corresponding targeted group member is associated with a

mobile terminal of said first mobile terminal type, said coded flag

including a first part corresponding to the priority level of said

group call and a second part corresponding to the call subtype of

said group call, wherein possible call subtypes include at least a

sequential subtype and a simultaneous-first-answer subtype;

d) said group call server triggering the transmission of said paging

message to at least one mobile terminal associated with the

corresponding user group;

e) receiving, at a mobile terminal of said first mobile terminal type,

said transmitted paging message; and

f) said mobile terminal selecting a response to said transmitted

paging message based on said characteristics of said group call

as indicated in said paging message, wherein said selecting a

response to said transmitted paging message includes said

mobile terminal determining whether to automatically answer

said paging message based on said characteristics of said group

call as indicated in said calling party field, said mobile terminal

requiring manual intervention before answering said paging message when said group call is of either said sequential

subtype or said simultaneous-first-answer subtype.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein the priority level of said group call

may be set to at least a first level corresponding to a normal priority or to a

second level corresponding to an alert priority.

59. The method of claim 57 further including substituting a pilot group

number for a calling party number in said calling party number field when said

group call is in response to the originator using a pilot group number and further

including said mobile terminal displaying said pilot group number when said group

call is in response to the originator using a pilot group number.

60. The method of claim 57 further including said group call server

triggering of the transmission of said paging message.