Abstract: A method of operating a peer to facilitate fast group communication between subscribers in a peer-to-peer wide area network is disclosed. In the peer-to-peer wide area network, each of the subscribers are affiliated to a talkgroup, and further registered to at least one peer within the peer-to-peer wide area network. In operation, the peer exchanges messages with other peers to determine that one or more peers listed in a talkgroup topology is still active. When the peer receives a media for a talkgroup from a subscriber affiliated to the talkgroup, the peer duplicates the media for the talkgroup, and unicasts the duplicate media to the one or more peers that are listed as active in the talkgroup topology to enable the one or more peers to deliver the media to the respectively registered subscribers affiliated to the talkgroup.

Abstract: A method for indicating availability of outbound RF resources (ORFRs) of peer base stations is provided that uses peer busy indicator (PBI) messages transmitted from one peer base station to other peer base stations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for communicating a group message packet among wireless communication devices (WCDs) over a wide area communication network that includes a first infrastructure device (ID), a second ID and a third ID. A first communication connection is established between an envoy packet duplicator module (EPDM) that is in communication range of a source wireless communication device (WCD) and a first envoy module implemented at the first ID that is in communication range of a first destination WCD. The EPDM is implemented at the third ID. The source WCD communicates a group message packet from the source WCD to a third envoy module implemented at the third ID, which forwards the group message packet to the EPDM. The EPDM generates a first copy of the group message packet destined for the first destination WCD, and communicates the first copy of the group message packet to the first envoy module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for establishing communication pathways between infrastructure devices in a wide area communication network prior to transmission of a group message packet by a source wireless communication device (WCD). In one implementation, the infrastructure devices (IDs) can include a home ID of the source WCD, a first ID and a second ID. A home steward module (HSM) of the source WCD generates a distribution list (DL) for communications from the source WCD to a first communication group (CG), and communicates it to an envoy packet duplicator module (EPDM) located at the first ID. The first CG includes, for example, a first destination WCD. A first network socket of the EPDM is communicated from the HSM to a second envoy module (located at the second ID) for the first destination WCD. The HSM maps a second network socket for the second envoy module to an identifier of the first destination WCD, and communicates this mapping to the EPDM.

Abstract: A method for subscriber registration and affiliation in a peer to peer wide area network is provided. The peer to peer wide area network includes at least one Subscriber and a plurality of Peers. The method includes: communicating a registration and affiliation message including a Subscriber Registration Affiliation Index from a Subscriber to a Peer of the plurality of Peers; routing a registration and affiliation update message including a Peer Registration Affiliation Index equal to the received Subscriber Registration Affiliation Index from the Peer to other Peers of the plurality of Peers; comparing the received Peer Registration Affiliation Index with one or more other received Peer Registration Affiliation Indexes by each of the plurality of Peers; and selecting by each of the plurality of Peers a Peer Registration Affiliation for the Subscriber corresponding to a highest value Peer Registration Affiliation Index.

Abstract: A method and system for peer to peer wide area network communication is provided. A peer in the network receives one or more media and one or more associated control signaling from any one of a plurality of Logical Media/Control Channels, wherein each Logical Media/Control Channel is associated with a Transport Resource on a base station; formats the media into a Formatted Media Packet; formats the control signaling into an Internet Peer to Peer Control Signaling; concatenates the Formatted Media with the Internet-Peer to Peer Control Signaling to form a Concatenated Packet comprising an Internet-Peer to Peer Control Signaling and a Media Packet; duplicates the Concatenated Packet, thereby forming a duplicated Concatenated Packet comprising at least one of a unicast packet and a multicast packet; and transmits the duplicated Concatenated Packets via the wide area network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for linking to a Peer-to-Peer (“P2P”) network for VOIP communications. An intermediary peer creates a map to link peers together in the P2P network. A series of messages are generated to open the ports of one peer to be accessible to other peers on the P2P network. Peers are then enabled to communicate directly with other peers. Steward peers can assume the functionality of the intermediary peer.

Abstract: A method (400) of implementing floor control in a communications system (100). The method can include receiving a random symbol from each of a plurality of communication devices (104, 106, 108, 110, 112) or network nodes (204, 206, 208, 210, 212). From the plurality of random symbols, a random symbol that satisfies a criteria can be identified. Floor ownership can be granted to a selected one of the communication devices associated with the identified random symbol or from which the identified random symbol was received.

Abstract: A method (400) of implementing floor control in a communications system (100). The method can include receiving a random symbol from each of a plurality of communication devices (104, 106, 108, 110, 112) or network nodes (204, 206, 208, 210, 212). From the plurality of random symbols, a random symbol that satisfies a criteria can be identified. Floor ownership can be granted to a selected one of the communication devices associated with the identified random symbol or from which the identified random symbol was received.

Abstract: A method (200, 300) for supporting telecommunications over a wide area network. The method can include receiving a first message from a first communications site (110), the first message communicated through a logical port (174) at the communications site and maintaining the logical port open for at least a minimum period. A second message can be received from a second communications site (112), the second message requesting an identifier associated with the first communications site. Further, a third message can be communicated to the first communications site through the logical port. The third message can identify the second communications site as a candidate for establishing a peer-to-peer communications link over which telecommunications content may be communicated to a first remote unit (104).

Abstract: A method for supporting telecommunications over a wide area network. The method can include receiving telecommunications content and a group identifier from a first remote unit (104). From the group identifier, a plurality of recipient identifiers can be identified. The telecommunications content and the plurality of recipient identifiers can be communicated to a packet duplicator (150). Each of the recipient identifiers can be associated with at least one intended recipient (106, 108) of the telecommunications content. The telecommunications content then can be communicated via at least one peer-to-peer communications link to a plurality of telecommunications stewards (136, 138). Each of the telecommunications stewards can be associated with at least one respective recipient identified by at least one of the recipient identifiers.

Abstract: When a sequence of data bits is to be transmitted, the sequence is precoded into data symbols and organized as data frames. For each data frame, a number of phase reference points at predetermined intervals within the data frame are required to allow a receiving device to sufficiently estimate channel effects on the transmitted data frame. If a data frame has a field where inclusion of pilot symbols is undesirable, and if a phase reference point is required within that field, a set of pilot symbols associated with that phase reference point is generated and inserted into the data frame prior to the beginning of the field. The values for each of the pilot symbols in the set are chosen so as to force the phase reference point to a desired phase state.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a number of phase reference points in a data frame is provided. When a sequence of data bits is to be transmitted, the sequence is precoded into data symbols and organized as data frames. For each data frame, an x number of phase reference points at predetermined intervals within the data frame are required to allow a receiver to sufficiently estimate channel effects on the transmitted data frame. To set the phase reference points, one of the phase reference points is first selected. An x-1 number of pilot symbol sets are then created and inserted into the data frame such that each of the other reference points has the same phase state as the selected phase reference point.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system with an air interface comprising a plurality of bursts, a plurality of bursts is defined. Each burst comprises a field (300) embedded within the burst. The field is one of a synchronization field (300?) and a signaling field (300?). When the field is a synchronization field, a position of at least one subsequent burst comprising the signaling field is defined, and a position of at least one subsequent burst comprising the synchronization field is defined.

Abstract: A received synchronization pattern is compared against first and second known synchronization patterns. If the received pattern is of the first known pattern, the payload is processed as voice; and if the received pattern is of the second known pattern, the payload is processed as non-voice. In an alternative, the received pattern is compared against first and second known synchronization patterns. If the received pattern is of the first known pattern, a first operating mode is selected, and if the received pattern is of the second known pattern, a second operating mode is selected.

Abstract: In an outbound transmission (300), an address of a first subscriber unit assigned to transmit in a first inbound slot is identified. With one bit in the outbound transmission (300), an additional inbound slot the first subscriber unit is assigned to transmit is identified.

Abstract: A communication system and method for communicating information in one or more time slots a predetermined bandwidth is disclosed. The system and method comprise communicating information, by at least one communication unit, in selected one or more random access subslots. The one or more times slots are divided into multiple subchannels, wherein each subchannel of the multiple subchannels is non-overlapping in frequency and divided into the one or more random access subslots that is non-overlapping in time.

Abstract: A slot format and acknowledgment method for use in a communication network that contains one or more wireless links. The slot format provides for the segmenting and reassembly of packets for transport over a wireless link. It also provides support for multiple types of service for the data being carried over the wireless link as well as allocating of access to the wireless link among a plurality of communication units. The acknowledgment method provides for detection of errors over the wireless link, the selective acknowledgment of error-free transmissions and the selective resending of transmissions received in error.

Abstract: Binding proxies are used to reduce packet routing delays and call setup delays in a data network made up of a plurality of subnetworks. The binding proxy detects when a mobile device connects to a subnetwork and sends a binding message to various correspondent device(s) in the data network. The binding message contains a care-of-address of the mobile device that allowing the correspondent device(s) to send messages directly to the subnetwork that the mobile device is connected, thereby bypassing a home agent of the mobile device.

Abstract: Fixed network equipment (100) initializes a channel aggregation strategy and establishes a default channel aggregation. A request for a service requiring additional bandwidth is received from a device. An updated channel aggregation is generated based upon the request and the channel aggregation strategy to create an updated channel aggregation. The updated channel aggregation is signaled to at least one mobile station (116) via an in-band message.