Patent ID: 9060381
Filing Date: 2015-06-16
Classification: H04N,H04W

Abstract:
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable components, comprising: a user interface component configured to display information and obtain user input via a user interface of an in-vehicle communication device integrated with a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system in a vehicle; a communication platform configured to manage different types of communication sessions for the in-vehicle communication device wherein the communication platform is further configured to broadcast a user identifier indicating the user is available to participate in a communication session, and to receive a plurality of broadcast contact identifiers, each broadcast contact identifier associated with one of a plurality of contacts, wherein the contact identifiers are broadcast by associated remote devices over a limited geographical range; a social networking application configured to allow users to become members of a group, and to cause the user interface component to display on the user interface a list of the members of the group that indicates the availability of each member of the group to participate in a communication session, wherein the availability of the members of the group is determined by the received broadcast contact identifiers; wherein the social networking application is further configured to receive an input from the user interface indicating a selected one of the available members of the group and upon receipt of the input to cause the communication platform to transmit an invitation to the associated remote device to initiate a communication session, wherein acceptance of the invitation by the associated remote device will initiate a vehicle-to-vehicle communication session, and further wherein the social networking application is selectively operable to conduct the communication session via a CB radio unit.