Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing the time for a wireless communication device originating a group communication, such as a push-to-talk call, to receive a call failure indication on a wireless communications system. In an embodiment, a group communications server receives a request to initiate a call with a target from an originator, and sends a corresponding message to a network node. If the call cannot be completed, the server receives from the network node an internet control message protocol (ICMP) message indicative of there being no connection between the network node and the target wireless communication device. In response to the message, the group communications server sends a status failure message to the originating wireless communication device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a call originator sends, to an application server, a request to initiate a given communication session with at least one call target, the received request configured to indicate to the application server that the given communication session is associated with a high-priority. The application server configures a call announcement to force the at least one call target to accept the given communication session, and transmits the configured call announcement to the at least one call target. The at least one call target receives the call announcement, and determines that the call announcement is configured to force the given access terminal to accept the given communication session. Responsive to the determination, the at least one call target transmits an acknowledgment to the call announcement that indicates that the at least one call target has accepted the given communication session.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a first terminal detects a request to initiate a call session (e.g., a VoIP session) from the first terminal to a second terminal, stores first time information indicative of when the request to initiate the call session is detected and transmits a call invite message to the second terminal. The first terminal receives a call answer from the second terminal in response to the call invite message, and stores second time information indicative of when the call answer is received. The first terminal sends Post Dial Delay (PDD) information based on the first and second time information. A server receives the PDD information within a signaling message defined by a communication protocol associated with the call session or the information needed to determine the PDD of the call session.

Abstract: A call request message is sent from an access terminal to an application server in order to request initiation of a group communication session to a communication group and to request that an allocation of the floor to the given access terminal for the duration of the given group communication session remain uninterrupted by call targets of the session. The application server announces the session, and sends a floor-grant to the access terminal after the session is accepted by at least one target. The access terminal forwards media to the application server which is then forwarded to the at least one target. The floor is not transferred away from the access terminal during the session. For example, floor requests are suppressed at the at least one target, or floor requests are sent by the at least one target but are then ignored or denied by the application server.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a given access terminal (AT) detects a request to initiate a Push-to-Talk (PTT) session, and stores first time information indicative of when the request to initiate the PTT session is detected. The given AT sends the request as a message to an access network, which forwards an announce message to announce the PTT session to a plurality of access terminals. At least one of the plurality ATs accepts the announce message to join the PTT session, and the access network sends a message to the given AT granting permission to begin the PTT session. The given AT stores second time information indicative of when the permission is received, and sends PTT latency information based on the first and second time information to the access network, the PTT latency information related to an initial PTT latency of the PTT session.

Abstract: A network communication entity (e.g., an access terminal, access network and/or application server) obtains a location associated with a given access terminal that is attempting to participate in a given communication service, obtains a priority level of the given access terminal, determines a given level of service restriction for the given access terminal's participation in the given communication service based on the obtained location and the obtained priority level and restricts the given access terminal's participation in the given communication service based on the given level of service restriction. In an example, the priority levels can be established such that low-priority access terminals obtain a first level of service restriction within a defined location region, and a second level of service restriction outside of the defined location region, whereas high-priority access terminals obtain the first level of service restriction both inside and outside of the defined location region.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to managing a prepaid server-arbitrated group communication session within a wireless communications system. A server receives, from a session originator, a request to setup a prepaid group communication session with at least one session target, the prepaid group communication session requiring each session participant to have an available prepaid account balance above a threshold level. The server sends a query to an online charging system to determine whether at least the session originator has a prepaid account with an available balance at least equal to the threshold level. The server initiates setup of the requested prepaid group communication session without waiting to receive a response to the query, thereby reducing latency associated with set-up of the prepaid group communication session.

Abstract: An embodiment is directed to switching between server-arbitrated group communication sessions at an access terminal (AT) within a wireless communications system. The AT participates in a first group communication session when it receives an announce message announcing a second group communication session, acquires priority levels for the first and/or second group communication sessions and determines whether to switch between sessions based on the priority level(s). In another embodiment, the AT participates in a given processing task (e.g., a gaming session, a voice call, a group session, etc.) when it receives an alert that relates to a group communication session. If the alert is specially configured to force the given access terminal to drop the given processing task, the AT drops the given processing task irrespective of whether the AT later joins the announced group communication session.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to determining whether to permit a server-arbitrated communication session at a wireless communications device within a wireless communications system. The wireless communications device receives a request to participate in the server-arbitrated communication session. The wireless communications device obtains information related to a current location of the wireless communications device. The wireless communications device determines whether the obtained information satisfies one or more conditions of restriction and/or permission for participation of the wireless communication device in server-arbitrated communication session. The wireless communications device selectively restricts itself from participating in the server-arbitrated communication session based on this determination.

Abstract: The page monitoring interval of a mobile station is configured according to a known or expected paging event probability, such that the mobile station, when idle, uses lower (faster) monitoring intervals at higher paging event probabilities. Page monitoring interval control information, such as in the form of one or more paging slot cycle index values, is sent to the mobile station in a connection release message, or in an idle-state message. The transmitted information effectively tailors the page-monitoring interval of the mobile station to a known or expected paging event probability function (e.g., a probability curve). The information may specify a minimum interval, e.g., a minimum reduced slot cycle index value, to be used at a time corresponding to a highest paging event probability. Paging event probabilities may be known or estimated based on the application type (e.g., Push-to-Talk), or based on activity tracking (e.g., call histories).