Abstract: The disclosure relates to determining priority access with dual access barring classes. An aspect receives, at a client device, at least one high priority access barring class and at least one low priority access barring class, switches to the low priority access barring class, receives an access barring message, and switches to the high priority access barring class in response to receiving the access barring message. An aspect receives a call request for a high priority call among a group of client devices, transmits a notification to a network instructing it to transmit an access barring message in response to receiving the call request, wherein one or more members of the group of client devices switch to a high priority access class in response to receiving the access barring message, and suppresses call announcements for non-priority call requests after transmitting the notification.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to managing, at an application server, a quality of service (QoS) provided for an application executing on a client device. An aspect receives, from the client device, an identifier of a first network servicing the client device, determines a QoS of a supplemental link established by a second network for the application, determines whether or not the QoS of the supplemental link meets requirements of the application, and determines whether or not the first network is able to support an alternative acceptable QoS when the QoS of the supplemental link does not meet the requirements of the application.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, an access network detects whether QoS links for both IMS and non-IMS sessions are allocated to a client device, whereby the non-IMS session is recognized as being associated with a particular application type. An SRVCC feature for the IMS session is disabled if the QoS link for the non-IMS session exists and carries at least a threshold level of traffic. In a second embodiment, a non-IMS session is supported by a first network with QoS and is then handed off to a second network. After the handoff, the second network supports the non-IMS session with an application-specific QoS configuration based on application-identifying information provided from the first network. In a third embodiment, a single or dual-transceiver client device is engaged in a non-IMS session with QoS. A page originating from a CS network is ignored if a do-not-disturb feature is activated for the non-IMS session.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a server mediates a first group communication session with the user equipment (UE) by exchanging media for the first group communication session with the UE over a first link with a first level of Quality of Service (QoS) resources (e.g., either without a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) or a threshold amount of GBR) and exchanging non-media signaling data for the first group communication session with the UE over a signaling link that is either the same or separate from the first link. The server detects, while the UE continues participation in the first group communication session, that the UE has joined or is attempting to join a second group communication session. The server applies a policy for selectively allocating additional QoS resources to supplement the first level of QoS resources to the UE for concurrently supporting both the first and second group communication sessions in response to the detection.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to optimized always-on wireless service using network assistance and keep-alives. More particularly, in response to a user equipment (UE) requesting a bearer for an always-on service, a network may establish the bearer for the always-on service and transmit an availability time that indicates a period during which the bearer will be held in an active state to the UE. Any applications running on the UE may then use the bearer for the always-on service, and the UE may transmit a single keep-alive message to the network before the availability time expires to reset the period during which the bearer will be held in the active state.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to optimistic QoS setup. A network element receives an IP packet that is not associated with a QoS request on a bearer for an application/service executing on a target client device, and initiates QoS activation for the target client device based on a combination of an application-specific identifier from the target client device and a user-specific identifier of the application/service. A server receives a session setup request that is not associated with a QoS request for an application/service executing on a target client device, the session setup request identifying one or more client devices to participate in a session, and initiates QoS activation for at least one of the client devices, before a session announcement is transmitted to the client devices, based on a combination of an application-specific identifier from the target client device and a user-specific identifier of the application/service.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus monitors traffic usage in uplink and downlink directions of a link that is configured to support a communication session for the client device. The apparatus can correspond to a core network component or to an access network component. The apparatus initiates, in association with the communication session, (i) an uplink-specific QoS adjustment to a first level of QoS assigned to the uplink direction of the link based on the monitored traffic usage in the uplink direction, and/or (ii) a downlink-specific QoS adjustment to a second level of QoS assigned to the downlink direction of the link based on the monitored traffic usage in the downlink direction. The link is maintained in both the downlink and uplink directions throughout the communication session irrespective of any QoS adjustments in the uplink and/or downlink directions of the link that occur during the communication session.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to dynamically controlling group priority access to a wireless network for a plurality of subscriber devices. An aspect transmits, on a broadcast/multicast interface, a priority group list indicating a priority state of at least one communications group of subscriber devices, wherein a subscriber device is barred from performing channel access procedures when at least one group identifier of the priority group list does not match at least one group identifier of a list of group identifiers of the subscriber device. An aspect receives, on a broadcast/multicast interface, a priority group list indicating a priority state of at least one communications group of subscriber devices, and bars channel access procedures when at least one group identifier of the priority group list does not match at least one group identifier of a list of group identifiers of the subscriber device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an application server receives a request to initiate a group communication session (GCS) over a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) with a communication group. The application server obtains location information of a set of devices participating in the GCS and determines that the GCS can be supported between the set of devices via a Personal Area Network (PAN), after which the application server transitions support for the GCS from the WWAN to the PAN. In another embodiment, an originator begins a periodic broadcast of a local PAN signal announcing the GCS after failing to set-up the GCS via the WWAN. Target device(s) in the communication group receive the local PAN signal, determine not to transmit their own local PAN signal and then convey a session acceptance message to the originator. The GCS is then established between the target device(s) and the originator over the PAN.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a server determines to update at least one group session key (GSK) parameter for a given multicast group, the at least one GSK parameter configured to permit encryption, decryption and/or authentication of multicast messaging exchanged between members of the given multicast group during a multicast communication session. The server sends a notification to a plurality of multicast group members of the given multicast group that an update of the at least one GSK parameter for the given multicast group is available. At least one of the multicast group members receives the notification and sends a provisioning request to retrieve the updated at least one GSK parameter, the provisioning request including information specific to the given multicast group member. The server generates and encrypts the updated at least one GSK parameter and sends the encrypted at least one GSK parameter to the at least one multicast group member.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a mobile communications device (MCD) is positioned within an internal network that is separated from an external network by network address translation (NAT) and/or a firewall. The MCD establishes settings with the NAT and/or firewall by which the MCD can be contacted through from the external network. The settings are configured to be disabled by the NAT and/or firewall after a threshold period of traffic inactivity. An application server receives information associated with the settings, and instructs an assisting application server (AAS) within the internal network to transmit keep-alive packets on behalf of the MCD so as to maintain the settings for the MCD. The AAS receives the instructions from the application server, and instructs an assisting wireless communications device (WCD) within the internal network to transmit keep-alive packets on behalf of the MCD. The WCD then transmits the keep-alive packets in accordance with the instructions.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to group communications over multimedia broadcast-multicast services (MBMS). An embodiment of the disclosure establishes a first multicast flow and assigns a second multicast flow, wherein the second multicast flow contains signaling and media for at least one group call, and wherein the first multicast flow is configured to send information regarding activity on the second multicast flow. An embodiment of the disclosure monitors a first multicast flow for an announce message regarding a first group call, and upon receipt of the announce message, switches to a second multicast flow that contains signaling and media for the first group call.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing lawful intercept in group calls is described herein. When a group call is established having a monitoring target as a member, a monitoring component obtains signaling, location, and data related to the monitoring target, correlates this information, and provides it to a call intercept component.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a UE transmits information regarding its local environment to a WWAN-based application server. The application server generates a list of WLAN APs that are in a vicinity of the UE based on the local environment information. The application server sends, to the UE, WLAN AP selection assistance information (SAI) that includes at least the list of WLAN APs and (ii) navigation information by which the UE can navigate to the listed WLAN APs. The UE receives the SAI and provides a user of the UE with directions to a selected WLAN AP based on the SAI. In another embodiment, a communication entity advertises a UE's connection to a WLAN AP along with information related to an estimated duration of the UE's connection. Another communication entity receives the connection advertisement and determines whether to transmit data to the UE based on the advertisement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing lawful intercept in a group call is described. A group call for is established and at least one target member device of the group call is identified as corresponding to a subject to be tracked. Call content for communications corresponding to the call is then tracked from the beginning of the call. A query is presented to a law enforcement authority to determine whether the law enforcement authority wishes to receive call data collected before the target joined the call or after the target leaves the call.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an SGSN determines whether a local network is configured to support a given service locally. The SGSN receives an Activate PDP Context Request message associated with the given service from a roaming UE and selectively terminates a PDP for the given service within the local network based at least in part upon the determination. In another embodiment, an MME determines whether the local network is configured to support the given service locally. The MME receives a PDN Connectivity Request message associated with the given service from the roaming UE, and selectively terminates an EPS Bearer for the given service within the local network based at least in part upon the determination. In the respective embodiments, the SGSN and/or the MME are configured to ignore HLR settings for PDP termination and/or EPS Bearer termination, respectively, of the UE.

Abstract: In an embodiment, network information associated with a plurality of user equipments (UEs) is determined by an application server. For example, the network information can include information indicative of whether the respective UEs are connected to fast-response networks or slow-response networks. The application server receives a request from an originating UE to initiate a communication session to at least one target UE among the plurality of UEs. The application server selectively requests the originating UE to extend a wait timer based at least in part upon the determined network information for the at least one target UE, wherein expiration of the wait timer prompts the originating UE to fail the communication session. The originating UE receives the extension request from the application server and extends the wait timer such that call failure due to wait timer expiration is delayed and/or avoided.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an application server receives a request to initiate a group communication session (GCS) over a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) with a communication group. The application server obtains location information of a set of devices participating in the GCS and determines that the GCS can be supported between the set of devices via a Personal Area Network (PAN), after which the application server transitions support for the GCS from the WWAN to the PAN. In another embodiment, an originator begins a periodic broadcast of a local PAN signal announcing the GCS after failing to set-up the GCS via the WWAN. Target device(s) in the communication group receive the local PAN signal, determine not to transmit their own local PAN signal and then convey a session acceptance message to the originator. The GCS is then established between the target device(s) and the originator over the PAN.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) and an application server exchange data in a wireless communications network. The UE is configured to connect to both a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a wireless wide area network (WWAN). The application server is positioned within the WWAN behind a WWAN firewall. The WLAN includes a WLAN network address translation (NAT) component and firewall such that the UE and the application server do not have a persistent data connection over the WLAN. In an embodiment, the application server can open a WWAN firewall to permit uploads from the UE over the WLAN. In another embodiment, the UE can open the WLAN firewall and/or NAT to permit downloads from the application server over the WLAN. In another embodiment, the application server or UE can upload files to a server outside the WLAN and WWAN firewalls and send a link to the uploaded files for retrieval.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a mobile communications device (MCD) is positioned within an internal network that is separated from an external network by network address translation (NAT) and/or a firewall. The MCD establishes settings with the NAT and/or firewall by which the MCD can be contacted through from the external network. The settings are configured to be disabled by the NAT and/or firewall after a threshold period of traffic inactivity. An application server receives information associated with the settings, and instructs an assisting application server (AAS) within the internal network to transmit keep-alive packets on behalf of the MCD so as to maintain the settings for the MCD. The AAS receives the instructions from the application server, and instructs an assisting wireless communications device (WCD) within the internal network to transmit keep-alive packets on behalf of the MCD. The WCD then transmits the keep-alive packets in accordance with the instructions.