Title of Invention

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING INFORMATION WITHIN A GROUP COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to, a system and methods for delivering I info~ation include a communications network defined by at least a wireless telephone network (22) coupled to a computer network (24), where the communications network is associated with a plurality of communication devices (14, 16, 18, 20) that define a group communications net. A communications manager (32) is operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one of the other members of the group communications net. A message module (28) having a plurality of informatioI"\al messages is associated with the communications manager, and a delivery module (30) is coupled to each of the message module, the communications manager, and the communications network. The delivery module is operable to monitor the group communication session and to deliver one of the plurality of informational massages to the group communications net. Further, methods of billing a user for participation in the group communications session include discounting an amount due based on receipt of informational messages.

Full Text

SYSTEMS AND MICTHODS FOR DELIVERING INFORMATION WITHIN A GROUP COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM with each other is commonly known, as a "net." and each member of the net may be referred to as; a "net member." In another embodiement, a system for delivering information, comprises, a other communications devices; and delivering according to predetermined delivery a bill having an amount due for each of the plurality of communication devices, where transmission through the communications network at least one other member of the group, wherein, the communications network is defined by at least a wireless BRIEF DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS r •-■' DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION net member, and a profiling module 38 configured to associate profile information The net operates over an existing communications system, without requiring Time Division Multiple Access (TD/IA) system, a General Packet Radio Service rcfercrce to a CD is not intended to be limited as such, and may encompass other different ways to accommodate different applications. Generally, the month billing cycle. Detailed log information of each user, such as which characteristics; of the net, such as linitations on who nay participate in the net, limits Additionally, profiling module 38 may include profile generator 58 for orm of media capable of being stored for later, substantially simultaneous or user or group criginator intends to be sponsored or funded by an entity outside of the communications net, rather than being fully charged to each net participant. For (Block 82). For example, the identified user may respond to the profiling request on message server gains transmission priority and transmit the predetermined communications of the net members, and ihe informational messages are datagrams WE CLAIM : 1. A system for delivering information, comprising: a communications network defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, the communications network associated with a plurality of communication devices that define a group communications net; a message module having a plurality of informational messages; a controller module coupled to each of the message module and the communications network, the controller module operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one of the other members of the group communications net, and the controller module further operable to monitor the group communication session and to deliver a predetermined one of the plurality of messages to the group communications net; and a delivery manager coupled to the controller module, the delivery manager operable to schedule the delivery of the predetermined message based on predetermined delivery characteristics. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined delivery characteristics comprise a predetermined time interval measured from a time of the last- delivered message or from a time of an initiation of the group communications session. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of informational messages have an associated timing status indicating that the respective message is time- sensitive or non-time-sensitive, and wherein the predetermined delivery characteristics comprise the timing status. The system of claim 3, wherein the predetermined delivery characteristics further comprise a predetermined time interval measured from a time of a last-delivered message or from a time of an initiation of the group communications session, and wherein the delivery manager is operable to schedule delivery of the predetermined message according to the timing status if the timing status is time-sensitive or according to the predetermined time interval if the timing status is non-time-sensitive. 5. A system for delivering information, comprising: a communications network defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, the communications network associated with a plurality of communication devices that define a group communications net; a message module having a plurality of informational messages; a controller module coupled to each of the message module and the communications network, the controller module operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one other member of the group communications net, the controller module further operable to monitor the group communication session and deliver a predetermined one of the plurality of messages to the group communications net at a predetermined time, and the controller module further operable to generate an activity log for each of the plurality of communication devices tracking participating in the group communication session and receipt of the predetermined message; and a billing module operable to receive the activity log and generate a bill having an amount due for each of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the amount due is discounted based on the tracked receipt of the predetermined message associated with the respective communication device. A method for delivering information, comprising: receiving identification of a plurality of communications devices to be included in a group communications session, where each of the plurality of communications devices is associated with a communications network that includes at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network; establishing the group communications session by receiving a data packet from one communications device and transmitting the data packet through the computer network to at least one of the other communications devices; delivering according to predetermined delivery characteristics one of a plurality of informational messages via the communications network to the communications devices participating in the group communications session; generating an activity log for each of the plurality of communication devices, the activity log tracking participation in the group communication session and receipts of the informational messages; and generating a bill having an amount due for each of the plurality of communication devices, where the amount due is a function of the participation in the group communication session and the receipt of the informational message associated with the respective communication device. A system for delivering information, comprising: a means for networking communications devices defined by at least a wireless telephone network coupled to a computer network, the means for networking associated with a plurality of communication devices that define a group communications net; a means for storing a plurality of informational messages; a means for controlling communications coupled to each of the means for storing and the means for networking, the means for controlling communications operable to provide a group communication session by receiving a data packet from one member of the group communications net and transmitting the data packet through the means for networking to at least one other member of the group communications net, the means for controlling communications further operable to monitor the group commimication session and deliver a predetermined one of the plurality of messages to the group communications net at a predetermined time, the means for controlling communications further operable to generate an activity log for each of the plurality of communication devices that tracks participation in the group communication session and receipt of the predetermined message; and a means for billing operable to receive the activity log and generate a bill having an amount due for each of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the amount due is discounted based on the tracked receipt of the predetermined message associated with the respective communication device.

Documents:

1607-chenp-2003 abstract duplicate.pdf

1607-chenp-2003 claims duplicate.pdf

1607-chenp-2003 description (complete) duplicate.pdf

1607-chenp-2003 drawings duplicate.pdf

1607-chenp-2003-claims.pdf

1607-chenp-2003-correspondnece-others.pdf

1607-chenp-2003-correspondnece-po.pdf

1607-chenp-2003-description(complete).pdf

1607-chenp-2003-drawings.pdf

1607-chenp-2003-form 1.pdf

1607-chenp-2003-form 13.pdf

1607-chenp-2003-form 3.pdf

1607-chenp-2003-form 5.pdf

1607-chenp-2003-pct.pdf