User interface for cellular telephone group calls
In connection with a push-to-talk-over-cellular (PoC) function of a cellular telephone, the user interface of the cellular telephone presents certain information to the user of the cellular telephone concerning a current group call session. The information may include an indication of what proportion of the members of a group designated for the group call session are currently active. In addition, the user interface may provide a list of the members of the designated group, with icons indicating the current status of the group members. When a member of the group is currently talking, the talking member's name may be displayed by the user interface.
1 - 13 . (canceled)
14 . A method of operating a cellular telephone, the cellular telephone being operated by a first user and including a display, and being selectively operable in a mode in which a group call is supported among more than two parties according to a push-to-talk-over-cellular (PoC) procedure, the cellular telephone including a designation of a group of cellular telephone users other than the first user, the method comprising:
entering into a group call session in accordance with said PoC procedure, the designated group being selected for the group call session; and
displaying on the display a name of a member of the designated group who is currently transmitting in the group call session.
15 . A method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
displaying, simultaneously with said name of said member of the designated group, a plurality of icons which includes at least one icon representing the first user, at least one other icon representing the designated group, and at least one further icon to indicate a member of the designated group is transmitting.
16 . A method according to claim 14 , wherein the group is designated by selecting an identifier of the group.
17 . A method according to claim 14 , wherein the group is designated by selecting a respective identifier for each member of the group
18 - 30 . (canceled)
31 . A cellular telephone, comprising:
a processor;
communication means, operatively coupled to the processor, for receiving and transmitting information;
a display component operatively coupled to the processor; and
a memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing software adapted to control the processor to:
store in the memory a designation of a group of users of other cellular telephones;
place the cellular telephone in a mode in which a group call is supported among more than two parties according to a push-to-talk-over-cellular (PoC) procedure;
enter into a group call session in accordance with said PoC procedure, the designated group being selected for the group call session; and
display on the display component a name of a member of the designated group who is currently transmitting in the group call session.
32 . The cellular telephone according to claim 31 , wherein the display component displays, simultaneously with said name of said member of the designated group, a plurality of icons which includes at least one icon representing a user of the cellular telephone, at least one other icon representing the designated group, and at least one further icon to indicate a member of the designated group is transmitting.
33 . A cellular telephone according to claim 31 , wherein the group is designated by selecting an identifier of the group.
34 . A cellular telephone according to claim 31 , wherein the group is designated by selecting a respective identifier for each member of the group.