PoC Group Creation Using Address Book Logical Operators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) group communication methods are inflexible and time-consuming, especially when creating large groups, and users struggle to remember the purpose of multiple groups identified by group numbers.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow users to define a group using identifiers from an electronic address book, such as contacts or contact groups, with logical operators to assemble a PoC group list of members, which can be maintained on a communication network server or mobile station, enabling efficient creation and management of PoC groups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users define PoC groups by individually inviting prospective members at use time, then the group creation is flexible, but it is time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-defining PoC groups through group definitions that reference contact groups and individuals in the address book before actual communication sessions are initiated. This allows the group structure to be prepared in advance, so when a session is needed, the system can quickly assemble the group by resolving references to existing address book entries rather than individually inviting each member.
2Device complexity
If PoC groups are identified by group numbers, then the identification is simple, but it is difficult for users to remember the purpose of each group
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by assigning different types of identifiers to different aspects of group identification: simple group numbers serve as technical identifiers for system routing and management, while descriptive group names provide semantic meaning for user understanding. This differentiation allows each identifier type to optimize for its specific purpose without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The group definition structure acts as an intermediary layer between the simple group number and the user. It contains references to address book entries and logical operators that define the group composition, providing a meaningful representation that connects the abstract group number to concrete group purpose and membership.
3Productivity
If PoC groups are predefined by service provider, then the group creation is efficient, but it is inflexible
Solution Approach 1:
The group definition mechanism serves multiple functions: it can reference existing contact groups, include or exclude specific individuals, combine multiple contact groups using logical operators, and create entirely new group compositions. This universal approach allows the same system to handle both predefined groups and custom user-defined groups, providing both efficiency and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic group creation where group definitions can be flexibly configured by users at use time while maintaining the efficiency of predefined structures. The logical operators and reference mechanisms allow groups to be dynamically assembled from existing address book data, combining the speed of predefined groups with the adaptability of user customization.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for creating a communication group using an electronic address book to facilitate Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) group communication sessions are disclosed. A group definition for determining members of the new PoC Group is composed from one or more contacts from the electronic address book such as by selecting from the address book using the mobile station. The group definition may include logical operators to define the combination of contacts. A name may be specified for the new group. The assembly of the PoC Group list of members may be performed by the mobile station, a communication network server for maintaining PoC Groups (e.g. a Group and List Management Server (GLMS)) or an email server.