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. 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 information that indicates how many members of the designated group are in an active status relative to the group call session;
wherein the displaying includes displaying a first numeral that indicates how many members of the designated group are in an active status relative to the group call session, followed in space on the display by a symbol, followed in space on the display by a second numeral that indicates how many members are included in the designated group.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said symbol is “/”.
3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying, simultaneously with said first and second numerals, 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 the first user is transmitting or a member of the designated group is transmitting.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the group is designated by selecting an identifier of the group.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the group is designated by selecting a respective identifier for each member of the group.
6. 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 information that indicates how many members of the designated group are in an active status relative to the group call session;
wherein the display component displays a first numeral that indicates how many members of the designated group are in an active status relative to the group call session, followed in space on the display component by a symbol, followed in space on the display component by a second numeral that indicates how many members are included in the designated group.
7. A cellular telephone according to claim 6 , wherein the symbol is “/”.
8. The cellular telephone according to claim 6 , wherein the display component displays, simultaneously with said first and second numerals, 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 the user of the cellular telephone is transmitting or a member of the designated group is transmitting.
9. A cellular telephone according to claim 6 , wherein the group is designated by selecting an identifier of the group.
10. A cellular telephone according to claim 6 , wherein the group is designated by selecting a respective identifier for each member of the group.