Patent Publication Number: US-2007123286-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for providing the status of a wireless communication device in a group network directly to other members in the group network

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application is related to the inventors&#39; application entitled “Method and Apparatus For Providing The Status Of A Wireless Communication Device In A Group Network To Other Members In The Group Network”, Ser. No. ______, which was filed on the same day as the present application and commonly assigned herewith to Motorola, Inc. This related application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention generally relates to the field of wireless communications devices, and more particularly relates to the usage status of the wireless communication device.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Wireless communication devices such as cellular phones have become increasingly popular. Wireless communications devices allow friends, families, business contacts, and the like to keep in touch regardless of distance. Parents commonly give cellular phones to their children for safety reasons. However, even though children have a cell phone, current cell phones do not allow a parent to know if a child is safe without calling or receiving a call from the child. Sensory features such as visual, auditory, and tactile indicators are not displayed to represent the status of another wireless device user.  
      Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, disclosed are a method, server, and wireless communication device for directly providing user status information representing status of use of a wireless device to a user of another wireless device, each wireless device being members of a group is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, at a first wireless device, user status information directly transmitted from a second wireless device. The user status information representing a status of use of the second wireless device associated with a user thereof. The method also includes updating a current user status database at the first wireless device according to the received status information from the second wireless device. The first wireless device and the second wireless device being members of a device user status monitoring group in the wireless communication system. A user of the first wireless device is provided the updated current user status information through a user interface.  
      In yet another embodiment of the present invention a wireless device, in a wireless communications network, for directly providing user status information representing status of use of a wireless device to a user of another wireless device, each wireless device being members of a group is disclosed. The wireless device comprises a receiver for receiving, by a first wireless device, user status information directly transmitted from at least a second wireless device. The user status information representing a status of use of the at least second wireless device associated with a user. The first wireless device and the at least second wireless device being members of a device use status monitoring group in a wireless communication system. The wireless device also includes a database including group status information. The database is for storing the received user status information. A user status information updater is also included and updates the database according to the received user status information. The wireless device also includes at least one user interface for providing a user of the first wireless device the updated current user status information.  
      In yet a further embodiment, a wireless communications system for directly providing user status information representing status of use of a wireless device to a user of another wireless device, each wireless device being members of a group is disclosed. The wireless communication system comprises a plurality of wireless devices and a server. The at least two wireless devices in the plurality wireless devices are members of at least one device use status monitoring groups. The server forwards user status information transmitted by the at least two wireless devices to at least one wireless communication device destined to receive the user status information.  
      An advantage of the foregoing embodiments of the present invention is that the status of a wireless communication device is provided to a user of another wireless communication device in the same group network. A parent, for example, can see if a child is safe by looking at the status information provided for the child&#39;s wireless communication device. Another advantage of the present invention is that status information is transmitted directly to another group member and not stored on a central server. The status information is stored on a device that is trusted by the sender. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication device for a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a more detailed view of an exemplary group network database on a wireless device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a more detailed view of the status notifier of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an exemplary user interface for displaying group member status information to a user of a wireless communication device;  
       FIG. 6  is an operational flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process of a wireless communication device directly transmitting group member status information to another group network member, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is an operational flow diagram illustrating another exemplary process of a wireless communication device directly transmitting group status information to another group network member, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is an operational flow diagram illustrating another exemplary process of transmitting status member information from a wireless communication device directly to another wireless communication device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is an operational flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process of receiving status information at a wireless communication device transmitted directly from another wireless communication device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.  
      The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.  
      The present invention, according to an embodiment, overcomes problems with the prior art by providing group member status information directly to another group member-in the group network. Status information does not have to be stored on a server. The group members do not have to call another group member to see if they are safe. Another advantage of the present invention is that a group member is notified by a visual, audible, and/or tactile indication of a lack of communication with another group member.  
      The term wireless communication device is intended to broadly cover many different types of devices that can wirelessly receive signals, and optionally can wirelessly transmit signals, and may also operate in a wireless communication system. For example, and not for any limitation, a wireless communication device can include any one or a combination of the following: a cellular telephone, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a two-way radio, a two-way pager, a wireless messaging device, and the like.  
      According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , an exemplary wireless communications system  100  is illustrated.  FIG. 1  shows a wireless communications network  102 , that connects wireless communication devices such as wireless communication device 1   104  and wireless communication device 2   106  with a central server  108 . The wireless communications network  102  comprises a mobile phone network, a mobile text messaging device network, a pager network, or the like. Further, the communications standard of the wireless communications network  102  of  FIG. 1  comprises Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) or the like.  
      Additionally, the wireless communications network  102  also comprises text messaging standards, for example, Short Message Service (SMS), Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), or the like. The wireless communications network  102  also allows for push-to-talk over cellular communications between capable wireless communication devices. In one embodiment, the wireless communications network  102  also supports group networking within the wireless communications network  102 . For example, family members or a group of friends can have all of their wireless communication devices  104 ,  106  linked together. Throughout this disclosure the term “group network” will refer to a group of wireless communication devices that are linked together so that information pertaining to each wireless communication device in the group network such as status information is transmittable to other wireless communication devices in the group network.  
      The wireless network  102  supports any number of wireless communication devices  104 ,  106 . The support of the wireless network  102  includes support for mobile telephones, smart phones, text messaging devices, handheld computers, pagers, beepers, or the like. A smart phone is a combination of 1) a pocket PC, handheld PC, palm top PC, or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and 2) a mobile telephone. More generally, a smartphone can be a mobile telephone that has additional application processing capabilities.  
      Additionally, in one embodiment, the wireless communication devices  104 ,  106  also include an optional local wireless link  110  that allows the wireless communication devices  104 ,  106  to directly communicate with each other without using the wireless network  102 . The optional local wireless link  110 , for example, is provided by Bluetooth, Infrared Data Access (IrDA) technologies, or the like.  
      The wireless communication devices  104 ,  106  also include a status monitor  118 ,  120  and a status notifier  122 ,  124 . The status monitor  118 ,  120  monitors the status of the wireless device  104 ,  106  such as recent activity, battery strength, who is using the phone, and the like. The status notifier  122 ,  124  notifies other group network members of the current status of the respective wireless communication device  104 ,  106 . The status monitor  118 ,  120  and the status notifier  122 , 124  will be discussed in greater detail below.  
      The central server  108  maintains and processes information for all wireless devices such as the wireless communication devices  104 ,  106  communicating on the wireless network  102 . Additionally, the central server  108 , in this example, communicatively couples the wireless communications devices  104 ,  106  to a wide area network  112 , a local area network  114 , and a public switched telephone network  116  through the wireless communications network  102 . Each of these networks  112 ,  114 ,  116  has the capability of sending data, for example, a multimedia text message to the wireless devices  104 ,  106 .  
      The central server also includes a group member status forwarder  126 . The group member status forwarder  126  forwards status information transmitted through the central server by a group network wireless device  104 ,  106  to a group network wireless device destined to receive the status information. The central server  108  only forwards the information and does not manipulate or store the information.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , a more detailed view of the wireless communication device 1   104  is illustrated. The wireless communication device  104  operates under the control of a device controller/processor  202 , that switches the wireless communication device 1   104  between receive and transmit modes. In receive mode, the device controller  202  electrically couples an antenna  208  through a transmit/receive switch  210  to a receiver  212 . The receiver  212  decodes the received signals and provides those decoded signals to the device controller  202 . In transmit mode, the device controller  202  electrically couples the antenna  208 , through the transmit/receive switch  210 , to a transmitter  214 . The device controller  202  operates the transmitter and receiver according to instructions stored in the memory  204 . These instructions include, for example, a neighbor cell measurement-scheduling algorithm. In one embodiment, in addition to communication using a cellular voice service, the receiver  212  and transmitter  214  allow the wireless communication device  104  to communicate using push-to-talk and/or push-to-talk over cellular.  
       FIG. 2  also includes non-volatile storage memory  206  for storing, for example, an application waiting to be executed (not shown) on the wireless communication device 1   104 . The storage  206  also includes the status monitor  118 , the status notifier  122 , and the group member status updater  256 . Status information associated with the wireless device 1   104 , in one embodiment, is also stored in the storage  206 . The storage  206  also includes a contact database  252 , which includes group member information  254 . The contact database  252  comprises information such as contact names, phone numbers, email addresses, and the like for each contact entered by the user. The group member information  254 , for example, is a subset of the contacts stored in the contact database  252 . In another embodiment, the group member information  254  resides outside of the contact database  252 .  
      The group member information  254  also identifies wireless communications devices, for example, wireless communication device 2   106 , that are in the same group network as the wireless communication device  104 . Information such as a group member&#39;s name, telephone number, address and the like is also included in the group member information  254 . The group member information  254  also comprises status information associated with a particular group member. For example, if a group member has recently placed or received a call, is unavailable, has low battery strength, and the like, this information is reflected in the group member information  254 .  
      The status monitor  118  monitors the status of the wireless communication device 1   104 . For example, the status monitor  118  monitors a user&#39;s activity on the wireless communication device 1   104  such as recent calls, messaging, Internet activity, and the like. The status monitor  118 , in one embodiment, is communicatively coupled with the GPS module  248  to determine whether the wireless communication device 1   104  is moving. Also, the status monitor  118  monitors the signal strength, battery power, and availability of the wireless device 1   104  to transmit and receive communications. The status monitor  118  relays the monitored information to the device controller  202  to be transmitted directly to one or more group network members without any of the status information being stored on the central server  108 .  
      The group member status updater  256  updates the status information associated with a particular group member. For example, when new status information is received by the wireless communication device 1   104  directly from another wireless communication device in the group network, the group member status updater  256  updates the status information in the group member information  254 . For example, if the current status of the wireless communication device 2   106  indicates that the wireless communication device 2   106  is inactive and the new status information indicates recent activity, the group member status updater  256  updates the status information associated with the wireless communication device 2   106  to reflect that it has been recently active.  
      The status notifier  122  is for notifying other wireless communication devices in the same group network as the wireless communication device 1   104  about the current status of the communication device 1   104 . For example if the current status of the wireless communication device 1   104  is recently active, the status notifier  122  notifies the other group members that the wireless communication device 1   104  has been recently active. In one embodiment, the status monitor  118 , status notifier  122 , and the group member status updater are part of a group member status software package (not shown). For example, a Java application residing in the memory  204  monitors the status of the wireless communication device 1   104 , updates the group member status information  254  when status information is received and configures status information to be sent to other group members. The application allows for the wireless communication device 1   104  to transmit status information to another group member directly, that is, without storing the information first on the central server  108 . The central server just passes the status information along.  
      The wireless communication device  104 , in this example, also includes an optional local wireless link  216  module that allows the wireless communication device  104  to directly communicate with another wireless device through the local wireless link  110  without using a wireless network (not shown). The optional local wireless link  216 , for example, is provided by Bluetooth, Infrared Data Access (IrDA) technologies, or the like. The optional local wireless link module  216  also includes a local wireless link transmit/receive module  218  that allows the wireless device  104  to directly communicate with another wireless communication device.  
      The wireless communication device 1   104  of  FIG. 2  further includes an audio output controller  220  that receives decoded audio output signals from the receiver  212  or the local wireless link transmit/receive module  218 . The audio controller  220  sends the received decoded audio signals to the audio output conditioning circuits  222  that perform various conditioning functions. For example, the audio output conditioning circuits  222  may reduce noise or amplify the signal. A speaker  224  receives the conditioned audio signals and allows audio output for listening by a user. The audio output controller  220 , audio output conditioning circuits  222 , and the speaker  224  also allow for an audible alert to be generated notifying the user of a missed call, received messages, or the like. The wireless communication device  104  further includes additional user output interfaces  226 , for example, a head phone jack (not shown) or a hands-free speaker (not shown).  
      The wireless communication device 1   104  also includes a microphone  228  for allowing a user to input audio signals into the wireless communication device 1   104 . Sound waves are received by the microphone  228  and are converted into an electrical audio signal. Audio input conditioning circuits  230  receive the audio signal and perform various conditioning functions on the audio signal, for example, noise reduction. An audio input controller  232  receives the conditioned audio signal and sends a representation of the audio signal to the device controller  202 .  
      The wireless communication device 1   104  also comprises a keyboard  234  for allowing a user to enter information into the wireless communication device  104 . The wireless communication device 1   104  further comprises a camera  236  for allowing a user to capture still images or video images into memory  204 . Furthermore, the wireless communication device 1   104  includes additional user input interfaces  238 , for example, touch screen technology (not shown), a joystick (not shown), or a scroll wheel (not shown). In one embodiment, a peripheral interface  240  is included for allowing the connection of a data cable to the wireless communication device 1   104 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the connection of a data cable allows the wireless communication device 1   104  to be connected to a computer or a printer.  
      A visual notification (or indication) interface  242  is also included on the wireless communication device 1   104  for rendering a visual notification (or visual indication), for example, a sequence of colored lights on the display  246  or flashing one or more LEDs (not shown), to the user of the wireless communication device 1   104 . For example, a received multimedia message may include a sequence of colored lights to be displayed to the user as part of the message. Alternatively, the visual notification interface  242  can be used as an alert by displaying a sequence of colored lights or a single flashing light on the display  246  or LEDs (not shown) when the wireless communication device 1   104  receives a message, or the user missed a call.  
      The wireless communication device 1   104  also includes a tactile interface  244  for delivering a vibrating media component, tactile alert, or the like. For example, a multimedia message received by the wireless communication device  104 , may include a video media component that provides a vibration during playback of the multimedia message. The tactile interface  244 , in one embodiment, is used during a silent mode of the wireless communication device  104  to alert the user of an incoming call or message, missed call, or the like. The tactile interface  244  allows this vibration to occur, for example, through a vibrating motor or the like.  
      The wireless communication device 1   104  also includes a display  246  for displaying information to the user of the wireless communication device 1   104  and an optional Global Positioning System (GPS) module  248 . The optional GPS module  248  determines the location and/or velocity information of the wireless communication device 1   104 . This module  248  uses the GPS satellite system to determine the location and/or velocity of the wireless communication device 1   104 . Alternative to the GPS module  248 , the wireless communication device 1   104  may include alternative modules for determining the location and/or velocity of wireless communication device  104 , for example, using cell tower triangulation and assisted GPS.  
      In one embodiment, the wireless communication device 1   104  also includes an optional biometric reader  250 . The optional biometric reader  250  verifies that the individual currently using the phone is the actual owner or authorized user of the wireless communications device 1   104 . For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, family members belonging to a family group network receive a status indicator showing that another family member has recently used his/her phone. To ensure that the person who used the phone is actually the other family member, the biometric reader  250  is used to verify the identity of the user. For example, fingerprint biometrics, voice print biometrics, radio frequency identification (RFID) biometrics, and the like can be used to verify a user&#39;s identity.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary contact database  252  including group status information  254 , according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  shows the contact database  252  comprising group network member status information  254 . The group member status information  254  includes a wireless communications device ID field  302 , a group network field  304 , a status field  306 , a visual status indicator field  308 , an audible status indicator field  310 , and a tactile status indicator field  312 . In another embodiment, the group member status information  254  resides outside of the contact database  252 .  
      The wireless communications device ID field  302  includes entries uniquely identifying each wireless communication device  104 ,  106  in one or more group networks that the wireless device  104  subscribes to. For example, an entry  314 ,  316  exists for Group member 1  and Group Member 2  both subscribing to the same group network as the wireless device 1   104 . The entries  314 ,  316  under the wireless communications device ID field  302  uniquely identify each wireless communication device on a group network. The group network field  304  includes an entry  318 ,  320  for the type of group network associated with the respective wireless communication devices. For example, the group network entry  322  associated with Group Member 1  identifies that Group Member 1  is in Group Network 1 . Group Network 1 , for example, is a family network, friends network, or the like.  
      The status field  306  includes entries indicating the current status of the group member associated with each entry. For example, an entry  322 ,  324  exists for Group Member 1  and Group Member 2 . The status entry  322  associated with Group Member 1  indicates that recent activity has been performed on the wireless communication device of Group Member 1 . The status entry  322  also indicates that the wireless communication device of Group Member has a low battery. The status of a wireless communication device subscribing to a group network includes recently active, inactive, low battery, available/not available, wireless communication device on/off, roaming, out of service, unauthorized use, mobile, in use, and the like.  
      The visual status indicator field  308  includes an entry  326 ,  328  for the type of visual status indicator currently associated with the respective group member. For example, the visual status indicator entry  326  identifies that visual indicators and visual indicator 2  are displayed on the wireless communication device 1   104  to represent the status of the Group Member 1 . A visual indicator, for example, can be a photo, icon, text, or the like. The audible status indicator field  310  includes an entry  330 ,  332  for the type of audible status indicator currently associated with the respective group member. For example, when the current status of Group Member 1  is that of having recently made a call, sent a text message, played a song, or the like, an audible indicators is currently associated with it. The audible indicators audibly indicates the active status of the Group Member  1  to a user of the wireless communication device 1   104 . An audible indicator can be, for example, happy sounding music or any other audible indication defined for indicating activity.  
      The tactile status indicator field  312  includes an entry  334 ,  336  for a tactile status indicator currently associated with the respective group member. For example, when the current status of Group Member 1  is that of having recent activity such as placing/receiving a call, sending a text message, playing a song, or the like, a tactile indicators is currently associated with it. A tactile indicator, for example, can be a vibration for a specific duration of time or a sequence of vibrations thereby indicating recent activity or inactivity.  
      In another embodiment, the user of the wireless device 1   104  defines the type of visual indicator, audible indicator, and tactile indicator that is to be associated with a status state of a group member. Also, the user can configure any combination of the indicators or turn one or more of the indicators on/off. Additionally, the visual, audible, and tactile indicators can alert group members of an unauthorized user detected by the biometric reader  250  performing an activity on another group member&#39;s wireless communication device.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates the status notifier  122 . The status notifier  122  is communicatively coupled to the transmitter  214  for transmitting status information to group network members. The status notifier  122  includes a status information transmitter  402 . The status information transmitter  402  configures and transmits status information directly to other group network members. The status notifier  122  also includes a status information transmission synchronizer  404 . The status information transmission synchronizer  404  determines the group members that are to receive the status information transmission. For example, the status information transmission synchronizer  404  retrieves the current status information from the memory  204  or storage  206 .  
      The status information transmission synchronizer  404  also retrieves the information identifying the other group members to receive the current status information. The status information transmission synchronizer  404  relays this information to the status information transmitter  402 . In one embodiment, the status information transmission synchronizer  404  also determines if a time threshold has passed since the last status information package was transmitted.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary user interface  502  on the display  246  for displaying group member status information  254  to a user. The group member information  254  is arranged, for example, according to group networks, alphabetical order, priority (based on the current status information), or the like. The priority arrangement, for example, arranges the group members by the duration of inactivity of a group member or by a custom attribute defined by the user. The user interface  502 , in one embodiment, is configured similar to a phone book interface commonly found on wireless devices. The user is able to scroll through the user interface  502  and select a member to retrieve additional information about the member such as phone numbers, email address, and the like.  
       FIG. 5  shows status information for Group Member 1 . The status information for Group Member 1 , for example, corresponds to the group member status information  254  in the contact database  252 . The status information for Group Member 1  includes two visual status indicators such as icons  504 ,  506  representing the status of Group Member 1 . For example, the first icon  504  is a smiley face representing that recent activity has occurred on Group Member  1 &#39;s wireless communication device. The second icon  506  is a battery symbol that is crossed out representing that Group Member 1  has a low battery. An icon  508  representing the status of Group Member 2  illustrates that Group Member 2  has been inactive for a defined period of time. The status of Group Member 3  is represented by an icon  510  illustrating that Group Member 3  is currently on a call. The status of Group Member 4  is represented by an icon  512  illustrating that wireless communication device associated with Group Member 4  is currently moving. The wireless device associated with Group Member 5  currently has a low signal and is represented by an icon  514  having a signal strength symbol that is crossed out.  
      An icon  516  comprised of exclamation points is associated with Group Member 6 . The exclamation points of the icon  516  signify that urgent attention is needed with respect to Group Member 6 . For example, if the biometric reader  250  has identified a user other than the Group Member 6  is using the wireless device, the other members of the group network have an emergency icon signaling that urgent attention is needed. In another embodiment, the icon  516  signifies that the group member call an emergency number such as 911.  
      In one embodiment, text (not shown) is used to display the status of a group member. For example, if a group member has a low battery the text “low battery” is displayed next to a group member&#39;s name. In another embodiment, a group member&#39;s name is grayed out, faded, or the like if the group member is unavailable because of the associated wireless device being turned off, out of range, having no signal, or the like. Any combination of icons, text, and the like can be used to represent the status of a group member. Also, the present invention is not limited to the particular icons described above to represent the status of a group member. In another embodiment, audible status indicators represented by musical notes  518  and tactile status indicators represented by the wavy lines  520  are also used to indicate to a user the status of a group member. Any combination of visual, audible, and tactile indicators can be used.  
      In another embodiment, the user of a wireless device associates one or more pictures with a group member. When the group member calls the wireless communication device 1   104  or the user calls the group member, the picture is displayed so that the user can identify the group member. In another embodiment, the picture associated with the group member is aged to signify that the user has not contacted the group member for a defined period of time. Pictures sent from a group member can also be transformed to signify that the user has not contacted the group member for a period of time. In one embodiment, the status monitor  118  monitors the date, length, and time of a call to another group member to create a profile for transforming the images, as discussed above, based on the collected information.  
      Also, the picture associated with the group member, in one embodiment, is faded, blurred, inversed, changed to black and white, and the like, to represent the status of that group member. Additionally, the present invention is not limited to the user interface  502  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Other user interfaces such as a user interface displaying the status information for a single group member at a time are also within the bounds of the present invention.  
      One advantage of the present invention is that the current status of another member in a group network is displayed on the wireless communication device of the other group members. The security and safety of group members are enhanced because a parent, for example, can see if their child or an unauthorized user has used the phone recently.  
       FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are operational flow diagrams illustrating an exemplary process of transmitting status information from a wireless communication device 1   104  directly to other group members. The operational flow diagram of  FIG. 6  begins with step  602  and flows directly to step  604 . The status monitor  118 , at step  604 , monitors the status of the wireless communication device 1   104 . For example, the status monitor detects  118  if any new activity has been performed on the wireless communication device 1   104  such as placing/receiving a call, playing a song, taking a picture or video, surfing the Internet, sending/receiving a message, and the like. The status monitor  118  also detects if the battery strength is low, if the wireless communication device 1   104  is out of range or has low signal strength, if the wireless device 1   104  is moving, if an unauthorized user has used the wireless device 1  device  104 , or the like.  
      The status monitor  118 , at step  606 , determines whether the status of the wireless communication device 1   104  has changed. If the result of this determination is negative, the status monitor  118  continues to monitor the status of the wireless communication device 1   104 . If the result of this determination is positive, the status information representing the status monitored by the status monitor  118 , at step  608 , is transmitted directly to the other group members such as wireless communication device 2   106 . For example, if the status monitor  118  detects that a recent activity such as receiving a call has occurred, status information indicating the recent activity is transmitted to the other group network members.  
      In one embodiment, the new status information is transmitted at different intervals of time. In another embodiment, the new status information is transmitted every time the information is updated. In an alternative embodiment, the status information is automatically transmitted to directly to the group members whenever the status of the wireless communication device 1   104  changes. In yet another embodiment, a receiving wireless device remotely configures the wireless device 1   104  for transmitting status information. For example, a parent using his/her wireless device can remotely configure a child&#39;s wireless device to only transmit status information to the parents, or whoever else is designated by the parent. Also, a parent using his/her wireless device can also choose the type of status information the child&#39;s wireless device can transmit. This configuration information can be protected, for example, by a password. The control flow, at step  610 , then exits.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates another exemplary process of transmitting status information directly to one or more group members when a request for status information is received from one or more group members. The operational flow diagram of  FIG. 7  begins with step  702  and flows directly to step  704 . The device controller  202 , at step  704 , determines whether a request for status information has been received from one or more group members. If the result of this determination is negative, the device controller  202  continues determine if a request for status information has been received from one or more group members. A request for status information is made, for example, if a group member has not received a status information update from the wireless communications device  104  after an interval of time.  
      If the result of the determination at step  704  is positive, the device controller  202 , at step  706 , determines whether the status has changed since the last update sent to one or more group members. If the result of this determination is negative, a message is sent, at step  708 , to the requesting group member signaling to the group member that the status has not changed. The control flow, at step  710 , then exits. If the result of this determination is positive, the new status information, at step  712 , is transmitted directly to the requesting group member. In another embodiment the status information is transmitted to all the group members even though only one group member requested the status information. The status information is directly transmitted to the other group network members without being stored or manipulated by the central server  108 . If status information is transmitted through the central server  108 , the central server only forwards the information to the appropriate group network member. The control flow, at step  714 , then exits.  
       FIG. 8  is an operational flow diagram illustrating another exemplary process of the wireless communication device 1   104  directly transmitting status information to a wireless communication device 2   106 . The operational flow diagram of  FIG. 8  begins with step  802  and flows directly to step  804 . The wireless communication device 1   104 , at step  804 , determines whether a time threshold has passed since status information has last been transmitted. If the result of this determination is negative, the control flows to step  806 . If the result of this determination is positive, the control flows to step  810 . The wireless communication device 1   104 , at step  806 , determines whether another group member such as wireless communication device 2   106  has requested status information from the wireless communication device 1   104 . If the result of this determination is negative, the control flow, at step  808 , exits. If the result of this determination is positive, the control flows to step  810 . In another embodiment, the wireless communication device 1   104  transmits updated status information whenever the status has changed instead of waiting for a time threshold to pass.  
      The status notifier  122 , at step  810 , determines whether the status information for the wireless communication device 1   104  has changed since the last transmission of status information. If the result of this determination is negative, the control flow exits at step  812 . If the result of this determination is positive, the new status information, at step  814 , is retrieved from the memory, for example, or in one embodiment, a status information repository (not shown). The status notifier  122 , at step  816 , directly transmits the new status information to at least one of the wireless communication devices in the same group network as the wireless communication device 1   104 . For example, the status notifier  122  transmits the new status information to the wireless communication device 2   106 . The control flow, at step  818 , then exits.  
       FIG. 9  is an operational flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process of the wireless communication device 1   104  receiving status information directly from another group member such as wireless communication device 2   106 . The operational flow diagram of  FIG. 9  begins with step  902  and flows directly to step  904 . The wireless device 1   104 , at step  904 , receives status information directly from the wireless device 2   106 . The wireless device 1   104 , at step  906 , processes the received status information. The current status information  254  in the contact database  252 , at step  908 , is updated based on the received status information. For example, if the wireless communication device 1   104  receives status information from the wireless communication device 2   106  (Group Member  1 ), the status information is processed and the status entry  322  associated with the wireless communication device 2   106  (Group Member  1 ) is updated accordingly. Also, the visual, audible, and tactile indicator information is also updated accordingly. The control flow, at step  910 , then exits.  
      In an alternative embodiment, the wireless communication devices  104 ,  106  transmit status information to the central server  108 , where the information is stored and processed by the central server as described in the co-pending application entitled “Method and Apparatus For Providing The Status Of A Wireless Communication Device In A Group Network To Other Members In The Group Network”, Ser. No. ______. In other words, the wireless communications devices  104 ,  106  do not directly transmit status information to each other. The central server  108  stores status information associated with group network wireless communication devices  104 ,  106  in a database residing in the central server  108 . The central server  108  also includes a group network database to keep track of the various group networks and wireless communication devices in each group network. When requests are received by the central server  108  for status information or after a time threshold has passed, the central server  108  transmits the status information to the appropriate wireless communication devices.  
      One advantage of the present invention is that greater security and safety is achieved when using a wireless communication device. Also, the wireless devices transmit status information directly to other group members and not stored on a server. Information associated with a device is only stored on a device trusted by the user. Status information associated with a group network member is displayed directly to another member of the group network. A parent can see that recent activity has taken place on a child&#39;s wireless communication device and know that the child is safe.  
      Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.