Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to tracking locations of multicast group members within a wireless communication system are disclosed. An access terminal sends a group member report to an access network, the group member report indicating a location of the access terminal and at least one multicast group, the group member report being sent before a multicast session associated with the multicast group is initiated, determines a location update rule, the location update rule being a manner in which to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network and reports location updates of the access terminal to the access network based on the determined location update rule.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer device that selectively maintain an open broadcast interface to a communication control device that is controlling wireless communication to at least one wireless communication device that is configured to receive group-directed communications for a communication group, such as a push-to-talk (PTT) group. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device registers at the communication control device, such as a base station controller, and at least one broadcast interface is established between the communication control device and another computer device, such as a broadcast A10 interface with a broadcast serving node (BSN). The communication control device maintains the broadcast interface while the wireless communication device configured to receive group-directed communications is registered such that group-directed broadcast communications can more rapidly be delivered to the wireless communication device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sending multicast messages are disclosed. A multicast message is received to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals at a radio access network (RAN), the received multicast message having a first format. The first format may correspond to a conventional multicast message format. The RAN determines whether the received multicast message requires special handling. If the RAN determines the received multicast message requires special handling, the radio access network converts the received multicast message from the first format into a second format. The RAN transmits the converted multicast message with the second format (e.g., a data over signaling (DOS) message) on a control channel to at least one of the plurality of access terminals. The access terminals receiving the converted multicast message interpret the message as a multicast message.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sending multicast messages are disclosed. A multicast message is received to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals at a radio access network (RAN), the received multicast message having a first format. The first format may correspond to a conventional multicast message format. The RAN determines whether the received multicast message requires special handling. If the RAN determines the received multicast message requires special handling, the radio access network converts the received multicast message from the first format into a second format. The RAN transmits the converted multicast message with the second format (e.g., a data over signaling (DOS) message) on a control channel to at least one of the plurality of access terminals. The access terminals receiving the converted multicast message interpret the message as a multicast message.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to tracking locations of multicast group members within a wireless communication system are disclosed. An access terminal sends a group member report to an access network, the group member report indicating a location of the access terminal and at least one multicast group, the group member report being sent before a multicast session associated with the multicast group is initiated, determines a location update rule, the location update rule being a manner in which to report location updates of the access terminal to the access network and reports location updates of the access terminal to the access network based on the determined location update rule.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for allocating bandwidth for multicast communications in a wireless communication network. The base station allocates certain bandwidth for handling multicast communications through a multicast communication channel. When a new multicast communication arrives, the base station assigns a predefined number of bandwidth to the multicast communication channel according to a predefined algorithm. A wireless device will monitor all slots in a multicast channel and discard all the packets not belonging to its call.

Abstract: Aspects of reducing an occurrence of false grants for a multicast session within a wireless communications network are disclosed. For example, an access network receives an announce message to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals, the received announce message configured to announce a given multicast session. The access network determines whether sufficient resources are available to support the given multicast session, The access network configures the received announce message to convey whether sufficient resources are available to support the given multicast session based on the determining step, and transmits the configured announce message to the plurality of access terminals. A given access terminal receives the announce message, and determines whether the received announce message indicates whether sufficient resources are available to support the given multicast session.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) participates in a coordinate-sharing communication session with at least one other UE that is arbitrated by a server (e.g., another UE participating in the session or an independent server). The UE displays a given visual representation of media content associated with the coordinate-sharing communication session. In an embodiment, the UE receives user input that indicates a selection of at least one coordinate of the given visual representation, and reports the coordinate selection(s) to the server via a coordinate packet. During the coordinate-sharing communication session, the server monitors for coordinate packets from the participating UEs and formats coordinate output frames indicative of selected coordinates at the respective UEs. In another embodiment, the UE receives a coordinate output frame indicative of coordinate selection(s) at the at least one other UE and selectively updates its given visual representation accordingly.

Abstract: Aspects of de-registering a multicast group member from a multicast group within a wireless communications network are disclosed. An access terminal sends a first multicast registration message to an access network, with the first multicast registration message identifying a first set of multicast groups. The access network receives the first multicast registration message and registers the access terminal for each of the first set of multicast groups. The access terminal sends a second multicast registration message, the second multicast registration message omitting at least one multicast group from among the first set of multicast groups, the second multicast registration message being sent to request de-registration, for the access terminal, from at least one multicast group. The access network receives the second multicast registration message and interprets the second multicast registration message as a request to de-register the access terminal from the omitted at least one multicast group.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an application server determines a priority associated with a given multicast message for transmission to at least one access terminal, configures the given multicast message to indicate the priority of the given multicast message and forwards the configured multicast message to an access network for transmission to the at least one access terminal a number of times based at least in part on the indicated priority. Alternatively, the application server can indicate, in the configured multicast message, the number of times to transmit the given multicast message. The priority, or number of times to transmit the given multicast message, can be conveyed to the access network by a flag inserted into the configured multicast message by the application server. The access network determines the number of times to transmit the given multicast message to the at least one access terminal based on the flag.

Abstract: Aspects of mobile communication for establishing a receive-only group communication, such as a Push-to-Talk (PTT) call or multicast call with a plurality of wireless communication devices that are in a receive-only mode are disclosed. When a group call between wireless communication devices starts from an originating device, in one embodiment indicating a receive-only group with which a group call is to be established, one or more receive-only wireless communication devices are determined and invited to participate in the group call. The traffic channel to the receive-only wireless communication device is transitioned to a uni-directional, forward-only traffic channel such that media is provided from the originating wireless communication device to the receive-only wireless communication device via the uni-directional traffic channel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adaptively enabling a PTT communication with efficient resource allocation in a radio access network. After a user uses a mobile device to activate a PTT call, the mobile device checks the network condition before transmitting a PTT call origination request to a PTT server. The mobile device monitors the network condition by tracking the failure rate of prior network resource requests. If the failure rate is below a threshold, the PTT call origination request is sent to a network server before or at the same time with a quality-of-service (QoS) network resource request.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficiently updating location information of a mobile device in a wireless communication network, such as a cellular network, is disclosed. The mobile device sends its location information through a route update message to a base station controller. This route update message is sent over the access channel if the traffic channel is not up. When the base station controller realizes the mobile device has changed its location, the base station notifies the change to a location server, which sends a location update message to an application server.

Abstract: An access network determines to transmit multicast messages on a downlink shared channel. The access network receives a multicast registration message and a traffic channel request from at least one access terminal. The access network assigns a traffic channel to the at least one access terminal, and transmits the multicast messages on the downlink shared channel. In another example, the access network can determine a channel type upon which the support a multicast session, can indicate the channel type selection to the at least one access terminal in an announce message and can then transmit the multicast messages for the multicast session on the selected channel type. The at least one access terminal receives the announce message, requests a traffic channel and receives a traffic channel assignment, registers to the multicast session and monitors the downlink shared channel for multicast messages.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an application server determines a priority associated with a given multicast message for transmission to at least one access terminal, configures the given multicast message to indicate the priority of the given multicast message and forwards the configured multicast message to an access network for transmission to the at least one access terminal a number of times based at least in part on the indicated priority. Alternatively, the application server can indicate, in the configured multicast message, the number of times to transmit the given multicast message. The priority, or number of times to transmit the given multicast message, can be conveyed to the access network by a flag inserted into the configured multicast message by the application server. The access network determines the number of times to transmit the given multicast message to the at least one access terminal based on the flag.

Abstract: Managing multicast communications within a wireless communications system, including receiving, at an access network, a group status message including a multicast session identifier and at least one access terminal identifier. The access network updates a multicast group membership table based on the group status message. The multicast group membership table is configured to include a list of access terminal identifiers that have registered for the multicast session identified by the multicast session identifier.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to determining whether to permit a server-arbitrated communication session at a wireless communications device within a wireless communications system. The wireless communications device receives a request to participate in the server-arbitrated communication session. The wireless communications device obtains information related to a current location of the wireless communications device. The wireless communications device determines whether the obtained information satisfies one or more conditions of restriction and/or permission for participation of the wireless communication device in server-arbitrated communication session. The wireless communications device selectively restricts itself from participating in the server-arbitrated communication session based on this determination.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adaptively enabling a PTT communication with efficient resource allocation in a radio access network. After a user uses a mobile device to activate a PTT call, the mobile device checks the network condition before transmitting a PTT call origination request to a PTT server. The mobile device monitors the network condition by tracking the failure rate of prior network resource requests. If the failure rate is below a threshold, the PTT call origination request is sent to a network server before or at the same time with a quality-of-service (QoS) network resource request.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficiently updating location information of a mobile device in a wireless communication network, such as a cellular network, is disclosed. The mobile device sends its location information through a route update message to a base station controller. This route update message is sent over the access channel if the traffic channel is not up. When the base station controller realizes the mobile device has changed its location, the base station notifies the change to a location server, which sends a location update message to an application server.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer device that allow a wireless communication device to selectively bundle messages in an access channel communication packet being sent to another computer device on the wireless communication network, such as a base station are disclosed. The bundled messages are typically sent in response to a request sent to the wireless communication device for response to a specific event, such as the setup of a group communication call. The receiving computer device determines if the access channel communication packet contains data indicating one or more bundled messages are therewithin such that resources only then will expended to review the bundled messages to check for the availability of the requested resources.