Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing media communications in a communication system that includes communication devices managed and mediated by a communication server, wherein the communication devices are communicable over a plurality of configurable channels. A communication server receives, from a first communication device, a request to immediately communicate with one or more other communication devices over a channel configured for direct media communications between the first and one or more other communication devices. The request includes a means for identifying the one or more other communication device. The communication server determines a current channel to which the one or more other communication devices are set and automatically switches the channel to which the one or more other communication devices are set from the current channel to the channel configured for direct media communications between the first and one or more other communication devices.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for responding to a pre-recorded inbound voice message in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. In a first communication device, a pre-recorded inbound voice message is received from a sender communication device via a communication server. A reply mode is set for a response voice message from a plurality of reply modes. The response voice message is recorded and a reply mode flag is inserted into a message header. The response voice message is then sent to the communication server where it determines the reply mode. When the reply mode is reply to all, the response voice message is sent to the sender communication device and other recipient communication devices. When the reply mode is reply to sender, a direct channel communication link is established between the first communication device and the sender communication device and the response voice message is sent directly to the sender communication device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing inbound voice messages in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. A communication device receives an inbound voice message that is associated with a voice message temporal mode that includes a message mode and a live mode. The communication device may then determine the voice message temporal mode for the inbound voice message as well as a device temporal mode associated with the receiving communication device. The device temporal mode also includes a message mode and a live mode. When the voice message temporal mode is determined to be message mode, the communication device may provide a message received notification on the receiving communication device. When the device temporal mode is determined to be message mode, the communication device may provide a message received notification on the receiving communication device regardless of the voice message temporal mode.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing outbound voice messages in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. A temporal mode of either live mode or message mode and a recipient mode of either group mode or direct mode are selected and set for an outbound voice message. Based on the selected settings for temporal mode and recipient mode the originating communication device records a voice message that is relayed to the communication server where it is distributed to other communication devices according to the rules or parameters associated with the temporal and recipient mode selected.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing communication channels in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. In one embodiment, first and second near field communication (NFC) equipped communication devices are put into a designated temporary channel and placed into close enough proximity to cause an NFC transaction. The NFC transaction may generate a transaction identifier that may be included in a channel establishment message sent from the first and second communication devices to the communication server. The communication server receives the transaction identifiers from the first and second NFC equipped communication devices and when they match, the communication server creates a temporary communication channel accessible to the first and second NFC equipped communication devices.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing communication channels in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. In one embodiment, a communication device may receive an invitation to join a new communication channel, the invitation comprising a universal resource locator (URL) link to a location that contains instructions for joining the new communication channel. The communication device may then launch a companion application in response to activating the URL link where the companion application may be associated with an account administered by a communications server. The companion application may be configured to manage one or more communication devices. A user may select from among the communication devices managed by the companion application to be added to the new communication channel and send, to the communication server, an acceptance to the invitation to join the new communication channel.