Abstract: A communication device [400] includes a transceiver [405] to receive and transmit data. A message detection element [410] detects at least a first message and a second message in the data received by the transceiver [405]. A processor [400] modifies a state of the communication device [400] based on the first message and the second message. A positive acknowledgement is transmitted in response to the first message comprising a call pending message, and the state is modified to establish a session and inhibit an alerting of a user of the communication device. The state is modified to alert the user of the communication device [400] in response to the second message comprising a call start message.

Abstract: In implementing a method of updating presence information for a plurality of presentities in a communication system, a presence server: defines a group of presentities that share the same value for a first presence attribute; receives an update of the value of the first presence attribute for one of the presentities in the group; and applies the update of the value to all of the presentities in the group.

Abstract: A Presence Server receives presence information associated with a Presentity, wherein the presence information comprises one or more presence attributes and the Presentity is associated with a Presence Source and a first Watcher. The Presence Server further receives a request from a second Watcher to view a presence attribute of the one or more presence attributes. The Presence Server may further receive a message from the first Watcher specifying a desire to be notified of who is watching the Presentity, presence attributes being filtered, and/or throttling or deferring of presence attribute updates being implemented by the Presence Server. The Presence Server conveys to the first Watcher watcher notification information that informs of Watchers watching the Presentity, what is being watched, presence attributes being filtered, and/or throttling or deferring of presence attribute updates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling network access in a communication system comprising a packet data network and a circuit switched network. The packet data network receives, from the circuit switched network, a message indicating that the circuit switched network is congested. In response to receiving the indication, the packet data network broadcasts a message informing that access to one or more services of the circuit switched network is restricted. In various embodiments, the message received from the circuit switched network may include access class barring parameters identifying one or more classes of user equipment or service classes that are one or more of being barred from accessing the circuit switched network or whose access to the circuit switched network is being reduced and/or may identify one or more coverage areas or access nodes of the circuit switched network where access is being restricted.

Abstract: A communication system, upon receiving an instruction to transfer deferrable data, determines whether an air interface is congested and, when the air interface is congested, defers a transfer of the deferrable data or transfers the deferrable, lower priority data as higher priority data. When, during a transfer of deferrable data, the system determines that the air interface is congested, the system may terminate the call and save a state of a partially completed deferred data transfer. Subsequent to the termination of the call, the system establishes another data connection over the air interface and transfers any remaining, not yet transferred deferrable data. In order to discourage subscribers from transferring higher priority data as lower priority data, the system may further restrict a transfer of lower priority data to designated time periods while allowing a transfer of higher priority data during the designated time periods and other time periods.

Abstract: In implementing a method of updating presence information for a plurality of presentities in a communication system, a presence server: defines a group of presentities that share the same value for a first presence attribute; receives an update of the value of the first presence attribute for one of the presentities in the group; and applies the update of the value to all of the presentities in the group.

Abstract: A communication system is provided that minimizes access message collisions when multiple mobile stations attempt to access a network after updating configuration information and/or access parameters information via a same overhead message by providing for each such mobile station to determine whether, or when, to convey an access message based on a time period corresponding to a wait for the overhead message by the mobile station.

Abstract: A system [100] includes a target set of communication devices [105] for a group call. An originator communication device [102] transmits a group call initiation for the group call. A communication and processing device [125] sequentially invites the target set of communication devices in response to detecting at least one predetermined characteristic of the group call. The sequentially inviting the communication devices comprises (a) initially inviting a first subset [130] of the target set of communication devices that comprising required communication devices, (b) subsequently invites a second subset [135] of the target set of communication devices in response to determining that the group call will be initiated, and (c) joins targets of the second subset of the target set of communication devices accepting the call initiation message to a communication session involving first targets of the first subset of the target set of communication devices accepting the call initiation message.

Abstract: A communication system, upon receiving an instruction to transfer deferrable data, determines whether an air interface is congested and, when the air interface is congested, defers a transfer of the deferrable data or transfers the deferrable, lower priority data as higher priority data. When, during a transfer of deferrable data, the system determines that the air interface is congested, the system may terminate the call and save a state of a partially completed deferred data transfer. Subsequent to the termination of the call, the system establishes another data connection over the air interface and transfers any remaining, not yet transferred deferrable data. In order to discourage subscribers from transferring higher priority data as lower priority data, the system may further restrict a transfer of lower priority data to designated time periods while allowing a transfer of higher priority data during the designated time periods and other time periods.

Abstract: A communication system provides separate subscription keys for a non-subscriber version of a broadcast-multicast flow and a subscriber-only version of the flow, thereby controlling who may store or render the flow. In one embodiment, separate subscription keys may be assigned to a same broadcast-multicast flow. The communication system may then switch the keys used to encrypt the flow, or may use different keys to encrypt different copies of the flow, in order to allow at least non-subscribers to view one version of the flow and only subscribers to view another version of the flow. In another embodiment, the communication system may assign a group subscription key to a group of broadcast-multicast flows that is separate from the keys assigned to each individual flow. The group subscription key may then be used to encrypt a non-subscriber version of any broadcast-multicast flow in the group of broadcast-multicast flows.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for communication based on an availability level of a presence entity in a communication network that includes a first step (400) of configuring at least one privacy rule for a communication service, wherein the at least one privacy rule is associated with the presence entity and assigns a potential caller to a prioritized group. A next step (402) includes receiving an indication of availability of the presence entity. A next step (404) includes controlling communication access with the presence entity based on the at least one privacy rule, wherein communication access between the presence entity and the caller is controlled by the priority for that caller and the availability indication of the presence entity.

Abstract: A communication system provides network-based battery power management that may be transparent to a user of a mobile station (MS). When one or more elements of a network of the communication system determines that the MS is operating at a low power supply charge level and/or has experienced a significant change in a charging level of the power supply, the one or more network elements may arrange for postponement of delivery of a delay-tolerant service to the MS or for adjustment of one or more of a characteristic of a service provided to the MS and a parameter of a radio communication with the MS, including restoration of full services to an MS whose power supply charge level has been restored.

Abstract: At least one condition concerning a first user (102) within a communication network is obtained. Presence information of a second user (114) within the communication network is determined based upon the at least one condition of the first user (102). The presence information of the second user is then projected to the first user (102).

Abstract: Various embodiments are described for signaling an ad-hoc group of mobile units (MUs). The ad-hoc group may be a group of MUs for which signaling awaits transmission via a wireless communication resource (111). Signaling such a group involves deriving a mobile unit group identifier (MUGI) by combining individual mobile unit identifiers (MUIs) of the targeted ad-hoc group. The individual MUIs are either an identifier of each MU or derived from an identifier of each MU. The derived MUGI is then included in combined signaling that is transmitted (by RAN 121, e.g.) via the wireless communication resource. A receiving MU (101) determines whether the MUGI could have been derived from its MUI in combination with at least one other MU's MUI. When it determines that the MUGI could have been derived from its MUI, the receiving MU processes the signaling as directed to itself.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described for establishing a group call session serially. After receiving a serial group call request from a remote unit (101), fixed network equipment (FNE) (201) selects a first subset of members (260) from the targeted group (250) of units and signals those members to join the group call session. Various techniques for selecting the first subset may be employed depending on what system benefits are desired. A second subset of members (270) from the targeted group of units is also selected and signaled to join the session. This second subset may be used to invite additional units in order to achieve a maximum number of group participants. Alternatively, the second subset may be used to invite a different unit (or units) to participate. This can be triggered by a user request to invite another subset to the group session, as could occur when the user is not able to resolve the particular matter at-hand with the group members of the first subset.

Abstract: A communication system, upon receiving an instruction to transfer deferrable data, determines whether an air interface is congested and, when the air interface is congested, defers a transfer of the deferrable data or transfers the deferrable, lower priority data as higher priority data. When, during a transfer of deferrable data, the system determines that the air interface is congested, the system may terminate the call and save a state of a partially completed deferred data transfer. Subsequent to the termination of the call, the system establishes another data connection over the air interface and transfers any remaining, not yet transferred deferrable data. In order to discourage subscribers from transferring higher priority data as lower priority data, the system may further restrict a transfer of lower priority data to designated time periods while allowing a transfer of higher priority data during the designated time periods and other time periods.

Abstract: A system [100] includes a target set of communication devices [105] for a group call. An originator communication device [102] transmits a group call initiation for the group call. A communication and processing device [125] sequentially invites the target set of communication devices in response to detecting at least one predetermined characteristic of the group call. The sequentially inviting the communication devices comprises (a) initially inviting a first subset [130] of the target set of communication devices that comprising required communication devices, (b) subsequently invites a second subset [135] of the target set of communication devices in response to determining that the group call will be initiated, and (c) joins targets of the second subset of the target set of communication devices accepting the call initiation message to a communication session involving first targets of the first subset of the target set of communication devices accepting the call initiation message.

Abstract: A communication system provides one or more of congestion information and subscriber information to a broadcast applications server when the server receives a request to start a broadcast-multicast service in a coverage area. By providing the one or more of congestion information and subscriber information to the server, the server is able to make an informed, intelligent decision concerning blocking, unblocking, downgrading, or upgrading a broadcast-multicast flow of multiple broadcast-multicast flows requested for delivery to, or currently delivered to, the coverage area via a serving base station, and/or whether to add a new broadcast-multicast flow to the broadcast-multicast flows delivered to the coverage area.

Abstract: A user initiates a group call from an initiating communication device to a plurality of group call recipients' communication devices. Then, a processor circuit determines a wait time for commencing communication of the group call according to a predetermined function. The predetermined function is based least in part on status information for at least a portion of the group call recipients wherein the status information includes a likelihood of participation in the group call. The status information used as part of the predetermined function may include various factors relevant to the likelihood of or expecting timing of a group call recipient's joining the call. Perceived delays can be further reduced by storing group call media prior to sending the media to or playing the media at a particular group call recipients' communication devices.

Abstract: A communication device [400] includes a transceiver [405] to receive and transmit data. A message detection element [410] detects at least a first message and a second message in the data received by the transceiver [405]. A processor [400] modifies a state of the communication device [400] based on the first message and the second message. A positive acknowledgement is transmitted in response to the first message comprising a call pending message, and the state is modified to establish a session and inhibit an alerting of a user of the communication device. The state is modified to alert the user of the communication device [400] in response to the second message comprising a call start message.