Implementing a multi-user communications service

Abstract

A method includes, in response to an action by a first user of a communications system, the action comprising selecting one or more other existing users associated with the first user from a personal list to include the one or more other existing users in an optional communications service to which the first user has subscribed, determining whether any of the one or more other existing users are already a subscriber to the optional communications service, creating a subscription to the optional communications service for at least one of the one or more other existing users that lacks a subscription, and transmitting configuration information to the at least one of the one or more other existing users.

1 . A method comprising:
 in response to an action by a first user of a communications system, the action comprising selecting one or more other existing users associated with the first user from a personal list to include the one or more other existing users in an optional communications service to which the first user has subscribed,   determining whether any of the one or more other existing users are already a subscriber to the optional communications service;   creating a subscription to the optional communications service for at least one of the one or more other existing users that lacks a subscription; and   transmitting configuration information to the at least one of the one or more other existing users.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the optional communications service comprises one of an instant messaging service, an interactive gaming service, and a push to talk over cellular service. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising automatically initiating a preparation of one or more elements of the communications system to provide the optional communications service to the one or more other existing users of the communications system that are determined not to be a subscriber to the optional communications service. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the preparation of the one or more elements of the communications system includes collecting service subscription data for the one or more other existing users at one or more network elements. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the preparation of the one or more elements of the communications system comprises obtaining the first user's authority to prepare one or more elements of the communications system to provide the optional communications service for the one or more other existing users of the communications system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the preparation of the one or more elements of the communications system includes identifying the one or more other existing users from a personal contact list for the first user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more other existing users are identified in a personal contact list for the first user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action by the first user comprises making a request for subscription of the first user to the optional communications service. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action by the first user includes making a request to add one or more additional existing users of the communications system to the personal contact list for the first user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more elements of the communications system comprises one or more databases. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting configuration information to the one or more other existing users comprises configuring user terminals of the at least one of the one or more other existing users to enable access to the optional communications service. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 requesting, by a terminal of a first user, a subscription to an optional multi-user communications service implemented within a communications system;   receiving, by the terminal, an inquiry from the communications system whether to prepare the communication system for one or more other existing users to participate in an optional multi-user communications service, wherein the one or more other existing users are associated with the first user and are selected from a personal list of the first user; and   responding, by the terminal, to the inquiry, wherein, when the terminal responds affirmatively to the inquiry, the communications system is prompted to determine whether any of the one or more other existing users are already a subscriber to the optional communications service to which the first user has subscribed, and to create a subscription to the optional communications service for each of the one or more existing users that lacks a subscription when the terminal responds affirmatively.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the optional communications service comprises one of an instant messaging service, an interactive gaming service and a push to talk over cellular service. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising making a request, by the terminal, to add one or more additional existing users of the communications system to a personal contact list for the first user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, when the terminal responds affirmatively to the inquiry, the communications system is prompted to automatically initiate a preparation of one or more elements of the communications system to provide the optional communications service for one or more existing users of the communications system that have been determined not to be a subscriber to the optional communications service. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, when the terminal responds affirmatively to the inquiry, the communications system is prompted to send configuration information to the one or more other existing users to configure user terminals of the one or more other existing users to enable access to the optional communications service. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, direct the apparatus at least to perform:   requesting a subscription for a first user to an optional multi-user communications service implemented within a communications system;   receiving an inquiry from the communications system whether to prepare the communication system for one or more other existing users to participate in the optional multi-user communications service to which the first user has subscribed, wherein the one or more other existing users are associated with the first user and are selected from a personal list of the first user; and   responding to the inquiry, wherein, when the apparatus responds affirmatively to the inquiry, the communications system is prompted to determine whether any of the one or more other existing users are already a subscriber to the optional communications service, and to create a subscription to the optional communications service for each of the one or more existing users that lacks a subscription when the apparatus responds affirmatively.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the optional communications service comprises one of an instant messaging service, an interactive gaming service and a push to talk over cellular service. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, direct the apparatus at least to make a request to add one or more additional existing users of the communications system to a personal contact list for the first user. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein, when the apparatus responds affirmatively to the inquiry, the communications system is prompted to automatically prepare one or more elements of the communications system to provide the optional communications service for one or more existing users of the communications system that have been determined not to be a subscriber to the optional communications service.