Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a group communications follow mode at a first group communications (GC) user equipment (UE) device. A GC server receives a request from a first client UE device to follow a second Client UE device, and responsively: affiliates the first client UE device with a same one or more talk groups with which the second client UE device is currently affiliated, monitors for talk group affiliation and disaffiliation requests from the second client UE device and automatically affiliates or disaffiliates both the first client UE device and the second client UE device from a first particular talk group in accordance with a corresponding affiliation or disaffiliation instruction received from the second client UE device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for dynamically switching mobile stations between point-to-point (PTP) and point-to-multipoint (PTM) operating modes. For example, a particular mobile station can determine whether reception of information over a downlink PTM bearer is inadequate or adequate. Upon determining that the reception of the information over the downlink PTM bearer is inadequate, the particular mobile station can generate and transmit a complaint message to a controller. It can then be determined whether the particular mobile station is to switch between the PTP operating mode and the PTM operating mode. A signal can be processed at the particular mobile station. When the signal is to switch to the PTP operating mode, the particular mobile station can switch from the PTM operating mode to the PTP operating mode and start receiving downlink transmissions over a PTP bearer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending a virtual channel of a communication area to a user equipment is disclosed. A message including a virtual channel identity and an area identity from the user equipment is received at a call controller. The call controller determines that the virtual channel identity is associated with a communication area and the area identity is associated with an area outside the communication area. The call controller then determines whether a virtual channel extension feature is enabled on the user equipment, and if so, receives data from the user equipment and then distributes the data on the virtual channel.

Abstract: Methods for enabling floor control are performed in an endpoint terminal (140, 142, 146) and a session controller (106). The session controller: receives (410) a message requesting a session that includes an SDP packet with a requested floor control profile having a requested set of floor control parameters or a requested list of potential floor owners; accepts (410) the session; determines (420) a final floor control profile having a final set of floor control parameters and a final list of potential floor owners; and communicates at least a portion of the floor control profile within a system (100). The endpoint terminal: communicates a message requesting a session that includes an SDP packet with a requested floor control profile; and receives a message having an SDP packet with a final floor control parameter. The final floor control profile may be the same as or different from the requested floor control profile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling interoperability between a broadband network and a narrowband network includes an interworking server maintaining at least one virtual narrowband site, each comprising a plurality of virtual narrowband channels known by a controlling server within the narrowband network, wherein each virtual narrowband channel, when assigned by the controlling server, represents a corresponding set of broadband resources. A first broadband device coupled to the broadband network is associated with a first virtual narrowband site. The interworking server further exchanges signaling with the controlling server to enable communications by the first broadband device using a set of broadband resources corresponding to a first virtual narrowband channel of the first virtual narrowband site, wherein the first virtual narrowband channel is assigned by the controlling server for use by a virtual narrowband device which represents the first broadband device.

Abstract: Methods for reducing set-up time for communications among multiple user equipment (UE) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system are described. In accordance with one method, an LTE subsystem that includes a eNodeB and a Mobility Management Entity (MME): receives a request for an LTE connection from a first UE associated with a virtual channel, and responsive to contents in the request for the LTE connection, generates on behalf of the first UE, a request to transmit media on the virtual channel, which the LTE system sends to an application server to trigger an establishment of a call to deliver a media transmission from the first UE to at least one other UE associated with the virtual channel.

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: 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 method and apparatus is provided for dynamically switching mobile stations between point-to-point (PTP) and point-to-multipoint (PTM) operating modes. For example, a particular mobile station can determine whether reception of information over a downlink PTM bearer is inadequate or adequate. Upon determining that the reception of the information over the downlink PTM bearer is inadequate, the particular mobile station can generate and transmit a complaint message to a controller. It can then be determined whether the particular mobile station is to switch between the PTP operating mode and the PTM operating mode. A signal can be processed at the particular mobile station. When the signal is to switch to the PTP operating mode, the particular mobile station can switch from the PTM operating mode to the PTP operating mode and start receiving downlink transmissions over a PTP bearer.

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: Methods for increasing encryption synchronization availability include collecting encryption synchronization data from a first superframe received at a gateway. The encryption synchronization data is for decrypting media in a second superframe also received at the gateway. The encryption synchronization data from the first superframe is used to form a composite encryption synchronization codeword for decrypting media in a third superframe formed by the gateway, wherein the third superframe includes the composite encryption synchronization codeword and at least a portion of the media from the second superframe. The third superframe is sent to a receiving device so that media in the third superframe can be decrypted by the receiving device using the composite encryption synchronization codeword that is included in the same superframe as the media that is being decrypted.

Abstract: In a communications system having at least one service entity and a plurality of endpoints each including a logical entity and a terminal, a method facilitates a session between at least two of the endpoints in the system. The method includes: receiving a first message having information that includes a request for a session between a first endpoint that includes a non-dispatch terminal and at least one other endpoint; detecting that the first endpoint includes a non-dispatch terminal as a function of the first endpoint being unable to perform at least one function; and causing the at least one function to be performed on behalf of the first endpoint by the at least one service entity to facilitate the session between the first endpoint and the at least one other endpoint.

Abstract: A method and device enable establishing an inter-radio frequency subsystem interface (ISSI) unit-to-unit call between a calling unit of a calling home radio frequency subsystem (RFSS), and a called unit of a called home RFSS, through a hosted ISSI function (HIF). The method includes processing, at the HIF, a first invite message received from the calling home RFSS, wherein the first invite message includes a first request uniform resource identifier (URI) that designates an alias system unit identification (SU-ID). In response to the first invite message, transmitting, from the HIF to the called home RFSS, a second invite message, including a second request URI that designates a real SU-ID, wherein the HIF acts as the calling home RFSS. The unit-to-unit call is thus established between the calling unit and the called unit through the calling home RFSS, the HIF, and the called home RFSS.

Abstract: A hosted inter-radio frequency subsystem interface (HIF) maintains a list of affiliated radio frequency subsystems (RFSSs), the list identifies at least one serving RFSS. An affiliation request is transmitted from the HIF to the home RFSS, which is a home RFSS of the group. The HIF receives from the serving RFSS a request to initiate an inter-RFSS group call to the group using HIF addressing. The HIF transmits a request to the home RFSS to initiate the inter-RFSS group call using serving RFSS addressing. A data packet from the home RFSS or the serving RFSS is received at the HIF. Upon receipt, the HIF transmits a copy of the data packet to the serving RFSS if the data packet was received from the home RFSS; otherwise, the HIF transmits a copy of the data packet to the home RFSS if the data packet was received from the serving RFSS.

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 for enabling a group communications follow mode at a first group communications (GC) user equipment (UE) device. A GC server receives a request from a first client UE device to follow a second Client UE device, and responsively: affiliates the first client UE device with a same one or more talk groups with which the second client UE device is currently affiliated, monitors for talk group affiliation and disaffiliation requests from the second client UE device and automatically affiliates or disaffiliates both the first client UE device and the second client UE device from a first particular talk group in accordance with a corresponding affiliation or disaffiliation instruction received from the second client UE device.

Abstract: A method includes: receiving a burst including payload and a synchronization field, wherein the synchronization field contains a synchronization pattern; selecting, from a plurality of expected synchronization patterns, a target synchronization pattern dependent on an operating mode; comparing the received synchronization pattern against the target synchronization pattern; and if the received synchronization pattern is of the target synchronization pattern, processing the payload; otherwise, discarding the burst.

Abstract: A communication server implements a method that minimizes bandwidth usage between a media device and the communication server in a communication system where separate session and floor control protocols are used. Where multiple clients have established separate sessions to access a media source at a media device and upon determining that the multiple clients are attempting to access the same media source, the communication server implements floor control logic to tie multiple floor arbiters together across the separate sessions to cause a single media stream to be sent from the media source and received at the communication server for distribution to the clients, thereby minimizing the bandwidth on the uplink between the media device and the communication server.

Abstract: A method for enabling group communications includes: establishing a group identity for a communication group comprising a first set of communication devices, and storing an identity for each of the communication devices in the first set; establishing a session to associate a second set of communication devices with the group identity, wherein the communication devices in the second set are different from the communication devices in the first set, wherein the session with the second set of communication devices is set up irrespective of a call being initiated for the communication group; detecting a first event associated with the initiation of a call for the communication group; and in response to detecting the first event, using the stored identities to join at least one of the communication devices in the first set to the session.

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.