Management of dynamic groups in a communication system

Abstract

A communication system in which a communication service client unit specifies a criterion, with further communication service client units which meet the criterion being able to be participants in a communication service which is provided. A server unit is configured to produce a list of the further communication service client units which meet the criterion and to transmit the list to a communication service server unit which provides the communication service.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . A communication system comprising:
 a communication service client unit;   further communication service client units,   wherein the communication service client unit is configured to produce one or more messages which contain at least one criterion which is respectively met or not met by the further communication service client units and contain a request for provision of a communication service and a specification that the further communication service client units which meet the criterion can be participants in the communication service provided;   a communication service server unit; and   a server unit which is configured to produce a list of the further communication service client units which meet the criterion and to transmit the list to the communication service server unit,   wherein the communication service server unit is configured to provide the communication service using the communication service client unit and the further communication service client units which meet the criterion as participants.   
   
   
       30 . A communication system comprising:
 a communication service client unit;   further communication service client units,   wherein the communication service client unit is configured to produce one or more messages which contain at least one criterion which is respectively met or not met by the further communication service client units and contain a request for provision of a communication service and a specification that the further communication service client units which meet the criterion can be participants in the communication service provided;   a communication service server unit; and   a server unit which is configured to transmit an information item representing the at least one criterion to the communication service server unit,   wherein the communication service server unit is configured to provide the communication service using the communication service client unit and the further communication service client units which meet the criterion as participants.   
   
   
       31 . The communication system according to  claim 29 , wherein the information item representing the at least one criterion is the at least one criterion. 
   
   
       32 . The communication system according to  claim 29 , wherein the communication service client unit is configured to send one or more messages with the at least one criterion to the server unit. 
   
   
       33 . The communication system according to  claim 29 , wherein the server unit is configured to store the at least one criterion. 
   
   
       34 . The communication system according to  claim 29 , wherein the server unit is configured as a group management server unit. 
   
   
       35 . The communication system according to  claim 29 , wherein the request is held in a first message from the one or more messages and is transmitted from the communication service client unit to the communication service server unit. 
   
   
       36 . The communication system according to  claim 35 , wherein the criterion is held in a second message from the plurality of messages and is transmitted from the communication service client unit to the server unit. 
   
   
       37 . The communication system according to  claim 35 , wherein the criterion is held in the first message from the one or more messages. 
   
   
       38 . The communication system according to  claim 29 , wherein the server unit is further configured to produce the list of the further communication service client units by transmitting to at least one information server unit a third message which contains the request for information which is required for checking whether the further communication service client units meet the criterion. 
   
   
       39 . The communication system according to  claim 30 , wherein the communication service server unit is further configured to produce the list of the further communication service client units by transmitting to at least one information server unit a third message which contains the request for information which is required for checking whether the further communication service client units meet the criterion. 
   
   
       40 . The communication system according to  claim 38 , wherein the information server unit is a presence server unit or a location server unit. 
   
   
       41 . The communication system according to  claim 29 , wherein the one or more messages also contains a further list of some of the further communication service client units, and one of the further communication service client units can be a participant in the communication service provided only if it is shown on the further list and meets the criterion. 
   
   
       42 . The communication system according to  claim 29 , wherein the communication service is a communication service which is based on SIP. 
   
   
       43 . The communication system according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one criterion is specified on the basis of XML in one or more messages. 
   
   
       44 . The communication system according to  claim 29 , wherein the server unit is further configured to check, in the course of providing the communication service, the validity of the list of the further communication service client units which meet the criterion and, if appropriate, to update the list, and to transmit the updated list to the communication service server unit. 
   
   
       45 . The communication system according to  claim 44 , wherein the communication service server unit is further configured to alter the participants in the communication service on the basis of the updated list. 
   
   
       46 . The communication system according to  claim 30 , wherein the communication service server unit is further configured to check, in the course of providing the communication service, the validity of the further communication service client units which meet the criterion and, if appropriate, to alter the participants in the communication service. 
   
   
       47 . The communication system according to  claim 29 , wherein the communication service is provided as part of a further communication service provided by the communication service server unit. 
   
   
       48 . The communication system according to  claim 29 , wherein the communication service is a service selected from the group consisting of: a PoC service, a communication service for sending instant messages, an MMS communication service, and a conference communication service. 
   
   
       49 . A method for operating a communication system having a communication service client unit, further communication service client units, a communication service server unit, and a server unit, the method comprising:
 the communication service client unit producing one or more messages which contain at least one criterion which is respectively met or not met by the further communication service client units and contain a request for provision of a communication service and a specification that the further communication service client units which meet the criterion can be participants in the communication service provided;   the server unit producing a list of the further communication service client units which meet the criterion and transmitting the list to the communication service server unit; and   the communication service server unit providing the communication service using the communication service client unit and the further communication service client units which meet the criterion as participants.   
   
   
       50 . A method for operating a communication system having a communication service client unit, further communication service client units, a communication service server unit, and a server unit, the method comprising:
 the communication service client unit producing one or more messages which contain at least one criterion which is respectively met or not met by the further communication service client units and contain a request for provision of a communication service and a specification that the further communication service client units which meet the criterion can be participants in the communication service provided;   the server unit transmitting an information item representing the at least one criterion to the communication service server unit; and   the communication service server unit providing the communication service using the communication service client unit and the further communication service client units which meet the criterion as participants.   
   
   
       51 . A server unit in a communication system having communication service client units and a communication service server unit, wherein the server unit is configured:
 to receive a message containing at least one criterion which is respectively met or not met by the communication service client units; and   to produce a list of the communication service client units which meet the criterion and to transmit the list to the communication service server unit.   
   
   
       52 . A server unit in a communication system having communication service client units and a communication service server unit, wherein the server unit is configured:
 to receive a message containing at least one criterion which is respectively met or not met by the communication service client units; and   to transmit an information item representing the at least one criterion to the communication service server unit.   
   
   
       53 . A method for operating a server unit in a communication system having communication service client units and a communication service server unit, wherein the method comprises the server unit:
 receiving a message containing at least one criterion which is respectively met or not met by the communication service client units; and   producing a list of the communication service client units which meet the criterion and transmitting the list to the communication service server unit.   
   
   
       54 . A method for operating a server unit in a communication system having communication service client units and a communication service server unit, wherein the method comprises the server unit:
 receiving a message containing at least one criterion which is respectively met or not met by the communication service client units; and   transmitting an information item representing the at least one criterion to the communication service server unit.   
   
   
       55 . A communication service client unit in a communication system having further communication service client units, a communication service server unit, and a server unit, wherein the communication service client unit is configured to produce one or more messages which contain at least one criterion which is respectively met or not met by the further communication service client units and contain a request for provision of a communication service and a specification that the further communication service client units which meet the criterion can be participants in the communication service provided. 
   
   
       56 . A method for operating a communication service client unit in a communication system having further communication service client units, a communication service server unit, and a server unit, wherein the method comprises the communication service client unit producing one or more messages which contain at least one criterion which is respectively met or not met by the further communication service client units and contain a request for provision of a communication service and a specification that the further communication service client units which meet the criterion can be participants in the communication service provided.