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: 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 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: 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 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.

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 UE connected to a serving cell: determines a set of virtual channels of interest to the UE; determines that the UE is in one of a plurality of ACTIVE states; detects occurrence of an event effecting service availability for the UE; and determines behavior of the UE based on the ACTIVE state of the UE and the occurrence of the event. A UE in an IDLE state: determines a set of virtual channels of interest to the UE; determines a list of cells, wherein each cell in the list supports at least one of the virtual channels; determines a candidate subset of the list of cells, wherein inclusion of a cell in the candidate subset is based on whether or not the UE is receiving on a downlink path of one of the virtual channels; and selects one of the cells in the candidate subset as a target cell.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing floor control in a communication session enables remote control of devices in a network and provides a status update concerning floor ownership. The method includes processing at a floor controller a floor request message received from a first endpoint, where the floor request message requests that floor ownership be provided to a second endpoint (step 305). A floor control announcement message is then transmitted from the floor controller to at least both the first endpoint and the second endpoint, where the floor control announcement message indicates that the second endpoint has floor ownership (step 315).

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: A method for terminating a communication session is present. During a communication session in which communication devices are in communication through a server, one of the devices decides to terminate the session. This device generates a first message requesting permission to terminate participation in the session and sends it to the server. The server, receiving the first message, determines whether or not there is session media being communicated or pending communication to the device. If not, the server generates a second message authorizing the device to terminate its participation in the session and sends it to the device. The device continues to listen for session media until, upon receiving the second message, it terminates its participation in the session.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing audio reproduction in collocated end devices is presented. Each of the devices auto-correlates using noise to determine a threshold prior to the antenna receiving an audio signal. When the devices receive a common audio signal, they provide audio outputs. Each device cross-correlates its audio output with the audio outputs of the other devices. The timing of the audio output of each device is then adjusted such that the audio outputs of all of the devices align temporally with the lagging or leading device.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving data and control messages comprised of a series of data units is provided. The data units comprising each message are structured to follow a particular sequence, such as zero or more data units of a first type followed by one or more data units of a second type, which may then followed by data units of one or more other predetermined types. Upon receiving a data unit of a first or second type, a number of “units to follow” is determined from information provided in the received data unit. A number of subsequently received data units are then forced to be processed as one of the first type, the second type, or other predetermined type in accordance with the known structure of the message. The number of subsequently received data units that are forced to be processed as one of these types is based on the determined number of units to follow.

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: A method to selectively rendering a communication at a receiving communication device comprises receiving a communication and determining whether an association exists between the receiving communication device and a source of the communication. If an association does not exist between the receiving communication device and the source of the communication, rendering the communication at the receiving communication device or distributing the communication to the receiving communication device in order for the communication to be rendered at the receiving communication device. If an association does exist between the receiving communication device and the source of the communication, preventing the communication from being rendered at the receiving device.

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 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: Disclosed is a method for dynamically allocating channel resources in a wireless communication system. A request for a channel resource by a new talkgroup call is received. Whether the new talkgroup call is associated to an associated communication based upon an operational relationship of the new talkgroup call to the associated communication is determined. The channel resource for the new talkgroup call based upon the operational relationship is allocated.

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: 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: 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.