Abstract: A communication system, console, and method of patching a PTT call are provided. An audio stream and control messages are provided to the console, which patches the either or both to target devices. The identity of the audio stream source is embedded only in the audio stream. Initially, when the audio stream is first patched, the identity is not provided. While the audio stream is being patched, the identity is extracted and the control messages updated so that the identity is immediately relayed through the console without having to wait for the next periodic transmission of a control message from the console.

Abstract: When a group communication group call is initiated in a multi-site communication system, the communication processing information for that particular communication group call must be established. The communication processing information is formatted by a central controller which in turn transfers that information to a destination data base of a processing multiplexer switch. The information is then stored in the destination data base such that the particular communication group call may be quickly processed. When the communication unit that initiated the call ceases to transmit and another communication unit begins to transmit, the communication processing information is updated to reflect the change in the transmitting communication unit. This continues to happen until the particular communication group call has ended; once it has ended, the communication processing information is deleted from the destination data base.