User interface for cellular telephone group calls

Abstract

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.