Abstract: A method and apparatus for arbitrating between a first communication device having floor control in a group communication network and a second communication device competing for floor control provides receiving a floor-control request from the second communication device, comparing respective priority levels of the first communication device and the second communication device, and granting floor control to the second communication device if the second communication device has a higher or equal priority level. In one embodiment, the controller receives the request for floor control from a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing security in a group communication network provides for receiving an encryption key, encrypting media for transmission to a controller using the received encryption key, the encrypted media being directed to another communication device, and communicating the encrypted media to the controller. In one embodiment, the communicating includes wireless communication. The method and apparatus further provides for receiving encrypted media from a controller and blocking the encrypted media if the communication device is not enabled to receive encrypted-media transmission, or if the media is not encrypted based on an encryption key previously specified by the communication device. In another aspect, the communication device is a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing perceived latency in a group communication network provides for receiving a request from a user of a communication device wishing to initiate a group call, receiving media from the user before completely processing the request, and buffering the received media for later transmission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering a net within a group communication network provides for requesting a current list of available nets that the communication device may join from a controller and, after receiving the current list of available nets from the controller, selecting a net from the current list of available nets. The method and apparatus further allows the communication device to send a request to the controller for joining the selected net, which may be followed by receiving a response from the controller that the communication device has been added to the list of current participants in the selected net. In another aspect of the invention, a method and apparatus for exiting a net within a group communication network provides for sending a request to the controller for exiting the net, receiving a response from the controller that the communication device has been removed from the list of current participants in the net, and exiting the net.

Abstract: An apparatus to form a group of communication devices over a distributed network is claimed. A first node establishes a first channel with a first communication device. At least one second node establishes at least one second channel with at least one second communication device. A controller electrically connected to the first node and the at least one second node comprises a database module. The database module comprises identification information of each of the communication devices of the group. The controller is dynamically configurable such that any single communication device of the group is capable of sending packet data through its respective channel to the other communication devices of the group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for joining a user to a call in a group communication network provides for receiving an indication from a user who wishes to initiate a group call and sending a request to a server to add the user to the group call if the group call is in progress. The method and apparatus also provides for receiving a response from the server indicating that the group call is in progress, alerting the user of being added to the group call, and receiving media from the server after a traffic channel is re-established. The method and apparatus also provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormancy wakeup time and latency by exchanging group call signaling even when mobiles are dormant and no traffic channel is active.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adding a member to an active call in a group communication network provides for receiving a member list from a user and sending a request to a server to add the member list to the active group call. The method and apparatus further provides for announcing each member in the member list that they are being added to the group call, receiving acknowledgement from a member who wishes to participate in the group call, and forwarding media to the member. The method and apparatus also provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormancy wakeup time and latency by exchanging group call signaling even when mobiles are dormant and no traffic channel is active.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing security in a group communication network provides for receiving an encryption key, encrypting media for transmission to a controller using the received encryption key, the encrypted media being directed to another communication device, and communicating the encrypted media to the controller. In one embodiment, the communicating includes wireless communication. The method and apparatus further provides for receiving encrypted media from a controller and blocking the encrypted media if the communication device is not enabled to receive encrypted-media transmission, or if the media is not encrypted based on an encryption key previously specified by the communication device. In another aspect, the communication device is a push-to-talk (PTT) device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for terminating a member from a group call in a group communication network provides for receiving an indication from a user who wishes to terminate participation in a group call and sending a request to a server to terminate the user from the group call. The method and apparatus further provides for the server to receive the request for terminating a user from a group call, terminate the user from the group call, and send a response indicating that the user is terminated from the group call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for joining a requester of a desired service to a local group of providers for the desired service allows the requester of the desired service to instantly get in touch with the local group of providers for the desired service, regardless of the current location of the service requester and without requiring the service requester to individually call each provider of the desired service.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for joining a user to a call in a group communication network provides for receiving an indication from a user who wishes to initiate a group call and sending a request to a server to add the user to the group call if the group call is in progress. The method and apparatus also provides for announcing the group call to the user, receiving acknowledgement from the user who wishes to participate in the announced group call, and forwarding media to the user after its traffic channel is re-established. The method and apparatus also provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormancy wakeup time and latency by exchanging group call signaling even when mobiles are dormant and no traffic channel is active.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adding a member to an active call in a group communication network provides for receiving a member list from a user and sending a request to a server to add the member list to the active group call. The method and apparatus further provides for announcing each member in the member list that they are being added to the group call, receiving acknowledgement from a member who wishes to participate in the group call, and forwarding media to the member. The method and apparatus also provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormancy wakeup time and latency by exchanging group call signaling even when mobiles are dormant and no traffic channel is active.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating a group call in a group communication network provides for receiving a member list from a user and sending a request to a server to initiate the group call based on the received member list. The method and apparatus also provides for receiving a response from the server indicating that said initiating the group call is in progress, alerting the user to provide media, and buffering the media for transmission after a traffic channel is re-established. The method and apparatus also provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormancy wakeup time and latency by exchanging group call signaling even when mobiles are dormant and no traffic channel is active.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for joining a user to a call in a group communication network provides for receiving an indication from a user who wishes to initiate a group call and sending a request to a server to add the user to the group call if the group call is in progress. The method and apparatus also provides for receiving a response from the server indicating that the group call is in progress, alerting the user of being added to the group call, and receiving media from the server after a traffic channel is re-established. The method and apparatus also provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormancy wakeup time and latency by exchanging group call signaling even when mobiles are dormant and no traffic channel is active.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating a group call in a group communication network provides for receiving a request for initiating a group call based on a member and initiating the group call based on the received member list. The method and apparatus also provides for announcing the group call to each member in the member list, receiving acknowledgement from a member who wishes to participate in the group call, and forwarding media to the member after its traffic channel is re-established. The method and apparatus also provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormancy wakeup time and latency by exchanging group call signaling even when mobiles are dormant and no traffic channel is active.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for terminating a member from a group call in a group communication network provides for receiving an indication from a user who wishes to terminate participation in a group call and sending a request to a server to terminate the user from the group call. The method and apparatus further provides for the server to receive the request for terminating a user from a group call, terminate the user from the group call, and send a response indicating that the user is terminated from the group call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for registering a user in a group communication network provides for determining an address for a location server, requesting the location server to register the user, and receiving a notification from the location server that the user is registered. The method further provides for requesting the location server to authenticate the user before registering the user, and requesting the location server to load information about the user. The method and apparatus also provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormancy wakeup time and latency by exchanging group call signaling even when mobiles are dormant and no traffic channel is active.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a member from an active call in a group communication network provides for receiving a member list from a user and sending a request to a server to remove the member list from the active group call. The method and apparatus further provides for announcing each member in the member list that they are being removed from the group call, receiving acknowledgement from each member in the member list, and sending a response to the request, indicating that the member list has been removed.

Abstract: A system and method for providing group communication services. Each of a plurality of communication devices coverts information signals into data packets suitable for transmission over a data network, such as the Internet. The data packets are transmitted through the data network to a communications manager. The communications manager acts as a configurable switch, allowing communications from any communication device to be routed to the plurality of communication devices. The communications manager further allows users of other communication systems and devices to participate in group communications with each other.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for providing group communication services in an existing communication system. Group communications are enabled by installing a communications manager in a data network such as the Internet. The communications manager acts as a configurable switch, allowing communications from any group member to be transmitted to all other group members. The communications processed by the communications manager take the form of data packets, suitable for transmission over the data network. The data packets are generated by communication devices operating within the communication system. The use of the communications manager further allows users of other communication systems and devices to participate in group communications with each other.