Abstract: A method and service network element are provided that control a distribution of multiple uplink bearers among multiple user devices participating in a group call. In response to receiving a trigger to reevaluate the multiple uplink bearers, one or more user devices of the multiple user devices are identified as candidates for de-allocation of uplink bearers based on a profile associated with each of the multiple user devices. Further, based on the profiles associated with each of the multiple user devices, one or more of the multiple user devices are identified as candidates for establishment of an uplink bearer. An uplink bearer, of the multiple uplink bearers, then is released from one or more of the user devices identified as candidates for de-allocation of uplink bearers, and an uplink bearer is established for one or more user devices identified as candidates for establishment of uplink bearers.

Abstract: A server performs a method for determining a communication target and facilitating communications with the target based on an object descriptor. The method includes the server receiving, from a requestor in a communication system, an object descriptor for an object, a description of a relationship between the object and a target in the communication system, and a request for a communication action with the target. The server then determines the target using the object descriptor and the relationship between the object and the target and facilitates the communication action with the target.

Abstract: A method and system for selecting a target cell for handover of user equipment in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system are described. In accordance with the method, a serving cell: determines virtual channels supported by each of a plurality of neighboring cells; determines a set of virtual channels of interest to a UE; selects a subset of the neighboring cells, which supports at least one virtual channel in the set of virtual channels of interest to the UE; modifies handover behavior, and uses results of the modified handover behavior to select one of the neighboring cells, from the subset, as a target cell for handover of the UE.

Abstract: An infrastructure device in a 3GPP compliant system performs a method transporting a plurality of media streams over a shared MBMS bearer. The 3GPP compliant system includes a RAN partitioned into a plurality MBMS services areas, wherein each MBMS service area has at least one already existing shared MBMS bearers for transporting the media streams. The infrastructure device: receives a first request to transmit a first media stream to a first communication group; identifies a shared MBMS bearer in a first 3GPP MBMS service area that is already transporting a second media stream to a second communication group; and determines whether the shared MBMS bearer has sufficient capacity to transport both the first media stream and the second media stream simultaneously. When the shared MBMS bearer has sufficient capacity, the infrastructure device simultaneously sends both the first media stream and the second media stream on the shared MBMS bearer.

Abstract: A method and service network element are provided that provide for bearer control in a group call. The method and service network element receive a trigger to adjust a quality of service (QoS) level of an uplink bearer established for a group call, identify, based on a profile associated with each user device of multiple user devices participating in the group call, one or more user devices of the multiple participating user devices as candidates for a quality of service (QoS) adjustment of an uplink bearer, and adjust a QoS level of an uplink bearer, of the multiple uplink bearers, of a participating user device of the multiple participating user devices identified as a candidate for a QoS adjustment.

Abstract: A method and system of managing group calls is disclosed. The method of comprises receiving call control signaling associated with a group of user communication entities; identifying a user communication entity of the group of user communication entities; determining a first association between the user communication entity, the first group call and at least one of a first delivery method and a second delivery method; in response to determining the first association: determining that the user communication entity is participating in a second group call; determining whether a first priority associated with the first group call and the user communication entity is higher than a second priority associated with the second group call and the user communication entity; and based on a determination that the first priority is higher, conveying to the user communication entity via the first delivery method a call control message associated with the first group call.

Abstract: Methods for managing resource utilization in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system are described. In one method, an application server: receives signaling indicating resource utilization in the LTE system; determines, based on this signaling, a set of control parameters for a user equipment (UE) receiving service from the LTE system; and sends the set of control parameters to the UE, wherein the set of control parameters indicates behavior for the UE toward at least one of maintaining LTE system resources or modifying standard handover procedures. The signaling indicating resource utilization in the LTE system is sent from UE, the LTE system, or both.

Abstract: A method and services network element are provided that provide for queued admissions control in a wireless communication system by receiving a bearer establishment request associated with a user equipment, determining that a cell where the user equipment is located is congested, in response to determining that the cell is congested, creating a bearer establishment request record (BERR) associated with the user equipment and the bearer establishment request, wherein the BERR comprises priority information associated with the BERR, and adding the BERR to a queue, wherein the queue is associated with a cell serving the user equipment, wherein the BERR is positioned in the queue based on the priority information, and wherein bearer establishment requests associated with BERRs in the queue are submitted based on a position of the BERRs in the queue.

Abstract: A mobile device registers with an infrastructure device coupled to a first communication network and then sends a request to activate PTT service in the first communication network. A communication server is adapted to receive the request to activate the PTT service, and to, thereby, activate the PTT service for the mobile device in the first communication network. Responsive to receiving the request to activate the PTT service, the communication server makes a determination to register the mobile device with a second communication network, generates a service registration message, on behalf of the mobile device, to register the mobile device with the second communication network, and sends the service registration message to the second communication network.

Abstract: A method and system of managing group calls includes receiving first and second call control signaling at a user communication entity. The user communication entity determines that the first call control signaling is associated with a first delivery method and in response thereto configures the user communication entity to receive first call data that is associated with the first call control signaling. The user communication entity determines that the second call control signaling is associated with a second delivery method. In response to determining that the second call control signaling is associated with the second delivery method, a priority associated with the second call control signaling is determined and, according to the priority associated with the second call control signaling, the user communication entity is configured to receive second call data associated with the second call control signaling.

Abstract: A method and service network element are provided that provide for bearer control in a group call. The method and service network element receive a trigger to adjust a quality of service (QoS) level of an uplink bearer established for a group call, identify, based on a profile associated with each user device of multiple user devices participating in the group call, one or more user devices of the multiple participating user devices as candidates for a quality of service (QoS) adjustment of an uplink bearer, and adjust a QoS level of an uplink bearer, of the multiple uplink bearers, of a participating user device of the multiple participating user devices identified as a candidate for a QoS adjustment.

Abstract: A method and service network element are provided that control a distribution of multiple uplink bearers among multiple user devices participating in a group call. In response to receiving a trigger to reevaluate the multiple uplink bearers, one or more user devices of the multiple user devices are identified as candidates for de-allocation of uplink bearers based on a profile associated with each of the multiple user devices. Further, based on the profiles associated with each of the multiple user devices, one or more of the multiple user devices are identified as candidates for establishment of an uplink bearer. An uplink bearer, of the multiple uplink bearers, then is released from one or more of the user devices identified as candidates for de-allocation of uplink bearers, and an uplink bearer is established for one or more user devices identified as candidates for establishment of uplink bearers.

Abstract: A method and system of managing group calls is disclosed. The method of comprises receiving call control signaling associated with a group of user communication entities; identifying a user communication entity of the group of user communication entities; determining a first association between the user communication entity, the first group call and at least one of a first delivery method and a second delivery method; in response to determining the first association: determining that the user communication entity is participating in a second group call; determining whether a first priority associated with the first group call and the user communication entity is higher than a second priority associated with the second group call and the user communication entity; and based on a determination that the first priority is higher, conveying to the user communication entity via the first delivery method a call control message associated with the first group call.

Abstract: An infrastructure device in a 3GPP compliant system performs a method to allocate MBMS bearers. The 3GPP compliant system includes a RAN partitioned into a plurality MBMS services areas, wherein each MBMS service area has a plurality of pre-established MBMS bearers for transporting media streams. The infrastructure device: receives a request to transmit a media stream to a communication group; selects a set of the MBMS service areas for transporting the media stream; determines an available MBMS bearer in each selected MBMS service area to assign to transport the media stream; and identifies the assigned MBMS bearers to members of the communication group. In addition, a UE performs a method for MBMS service area location update in the 3GPP compliant system. Accordingly, the UE: determines a 3GPP MBMS service area in which the UE is currently located; and identifies the 3GPP MBMS service area to an infrastructure device.

Abstract: A central resource manager is communicatively coupled to a broadcast/multicast service (BMS) capable system. The BMS capable system has a radio access network that includes at least one BMS service area and a total number of BMS bearers for transporting media streams. Each BMS service area has associated therewith a portion of the total number of BMS bearers. The central resource manager allocates, to a first local call controller of a plurality of local call controllers, a first portion of the total number of BMS bearers to be managed locally by the first local call controller, and identifies the first portion of the total number of BMS bearer to the first local call controller. The central resource manager also manages a second portion of the total number of BMS bearers for a subsequent allocation to at least one local call controller of the plurality of local call controllers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for distributing content to a plurality of mobile stations using a downlink point-to-multipoint (PTM) bearers and downlink point-to-point (PTP) bearers. A controller can process events, to determine whether a current modulation-and-coding scheme (MCS) level applied to downlink transmissions over the downlink PTM bearer is to be changed or maintained, and to communicate a change message whenever the current MCS level is to be changed. An actuator can adjust, in response to receiving a change message, a MCS level that is applied to downlink transmissions over the downlink PTM bearer.

Abstract: A 3GPP compliant system includes a radio access network (RAN) partitioned into a plurality MBMS services areas, wherein each MBMS service area has a plurality of MBMS bearers established a priori for transporting media streams. An infrastructure device: receives a request to transmit a media stream to a communication group, wherein the request to transmit is received after the MBMS bearers were established; determines a MBMS bearer in a MBMS service area to assign to transport the media stream; generates a MBMS connect message that binds the communication group to the assigned MBMS bearer, wherein the MBMS connect message includes an identifier for the communication group and an identifier for the assigned MBMS bearer; and sends the MBMS connect message to members of the communication group.

Abstract: A method and services network element are provided that provide for queued admissions control in a wireless communication system by receiving a bearer establishment request associated with a user equipment, determining that a cell where the user equipment is located is congested, in response to determining that the cell is congested, creating a bearer establishment request record (BERR) associated with the user equipment and the bearer establishment request, wherein the BERR comprises priority information associated with the BERR, and adding the BERR to a queue, wherein the queue is associated with a cell serving the user equipment, wherein the BERR is positioned in the queue based on the priority information, and wherein bearer establishment requests associated with BERRs in the queue are submitted based on a position of the BERRs in the queue.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for enabling voice discussions about a same data content being independently and simultaneously accessed on at least two devices. A server detects when a first device of the at least two devices accesses the data content. The server identifies and reserves an available voice communication group resource. Responsive to detecting that the at least two devices are independently and simultaneously accessing the data content, the server identifies and reserves an available voice communication group resource, and sends a voice group identifier for a reserved voice communication group resource to the at least two devices to allow access to the reserved voice communication group resource.

Abstract: A method for reducing set-up signaling in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system is performed by an LTE subsystem. The method includes the LTE subsystem: receiving from a first user equipment (UE) a first message as part of a connection procedure to connect the first UE to the LTE system, the first message having contents that include an identifier for identifying a virtual channel on which the first UE intends to transmit media; determining a status of the virtual channel; and based on the status of the virtual channel, determining whether to send to the first UE a response to the first message that allows the connection procedure to proceed or to send to the first UE a response that terminates the connection procedure.