Closed User Groups

摘要

An arrangement for providing, on an ad hoc basis, a closed user group (CUG) among a collection of pre-defined IP network users. A set of intelligent access devices, dispersed through the IP network, constantly transmit a set of pings associated with the defines CUGs to discover those devices within its communication range. The discovered IP addresses for each device is thus constantly updated, allowing group members to remain in constant contact (emulating an “always on” connection). The users feels they are always connected with group members and thus have instant access to voice/data/video sessions—much like hot lines or “always on” connections.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a network device, an identifier associated with a closed user group; querying, by the network device, an electronic database for the identifier associated with the closed user group, the electronic database having electronic database associations that relate different group-specific ping commands and different identifiers of closed user groups including the identifier associated with the closed user group; retrieving, by the network device from the electronic database, a group-specific ping command of the different group-specific ping commands, the group-specific ping command having an electronic database association with the identifier associated with the closed user group; and broadcasting, by the network device, the group-specific ping command to member addresses associated with the identifier associated with the closed user group.