Abstract: A device, system and method for determining and providing bearer indications for a group communication session is provided. A server for managing a group communication session determines active communication devices of the group communication session. The server determines bearer indications for the active communication devices, the bearer indications indicating: whether a respective bearer of an active communication device is a unicast bearer or a multicast bearer; and whether the respective bearer has a guaranteed bit rate or no guaranteed bit rate. The server transmits, to each of the active communication devices, the bearer indications to cause each of the active communication devices to provide, at a respective notification device, a notification of the bearer indications.

Abstract: A device, system and method for managing channel and/or talkgroup assignments is provided. A memory stores: a first list of channels associated with a device identifier of a mobile device; and a second list of channels associated with: a user identifier of a user; and attributes of the user. A controller: receives, via a communications unit, from the mobile device, the user identifier indicating a log-in to the mobile device by the user; selects a subset of the first list of channels, to be temporarily assigned to the mobile device when the user is logged into the mobile device, based on the attributes of the user; and transmits, via the communications unit, to the mobile device, a combined list that includes the subset of the first list of channels, and the second list of channels, to enable the mobile device to communicate using channels in the combined list.

Abstract: A device, system and method for determining and providing bearer indications for a group communication session is provided. A server for managing a group communication session determines active communication devices of the group communication session. The server determines bearer indications for the active communication devices, the bearer indications indicating: whether a respective bearer of an active communication device is a unicast bearer or a multicast bearer; and whether the respective bearer has a guaranteed bit rate or no guaranteed bit rate. The server transmits, to each of the active communication devices, the bearer indications to cause each of the active communication devices to provide, at a respective notification device, a notification of the bearer indications.

Abstract: A device, system and method for managing channel and/or talkgroup assignments is provided. A memory stores: a first list of channels associated with a device identifier of a mobile device; and a second list of channels associated with: a user identifier of a user; and attributes of the user. A controller: receives, via a communications unit, from the mobile device, the user identifier indicating a log-in to the mobile device by the user; selects a subset of the first list of channels, to be temporarily assigned to the mobile device when the user is logged into the mobile device, based on the attributes of the user; and transmits, via the communications unit, to the mobile device, a combined list that includes the subset of the first list of channels, and the second list of channels, to enable the mobile device to communicate using channels in the combined list.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining ambient monitoring capability for a communication device. The method includes using a first target identity to identify the communication device in a first ambient monitoring session with an ambient monitoring device. The method also includes, while in the first ambient monitoring session, receiving, by an electronic processor of the communication device, a communication service state change notification for the first target identity. The method also includes, while in the first ambient monitoring session, determining a second target identity to identify the communication device in a second ambient monitoring session that has not been established. The method also includes, while in the first ambient monitoring session, transmitting, to the ambient monitoring device, the second target identity.

Abstract: Method and system for controlling a plurality of communication devices. One system includes a server for a communication system in which each of a plurality of communication devices is affiliated with at least one talk group among a plurality of talk groups. The server includes an electronic processor configured to determine whether each communication device of the plurality of communication devices is in a connected state. The electronic processor is further configured to determine that at least one talk group does not include any communication devices affiliated with the at least one talk group that are in the connected state. The electronic processor is further configured to place at least one communication device affiliated with the at least one talk group in an artificially-connected state based on at least one characteristic of the communication devices affiliated with the at least one talk group.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining ambient monitoring capability for a communication device. The method includes using a first target identity to identify the communication device in a first ambient monitoring session with an ambient monitoring device. The method also includes, while in the first ambient monitoring session, receiving, by an electronic processor of the communication device, a communication service state change notification for the first target identity. The method also includes, while in the first ambient monitoring session, determining a second target identity to identify the communication device in a second ambient monitoring session that has not been established. The method also includes, while in the first ambient monitoring session, transmitting, to the ambient monitoring device, the second target identity.

Abstract: Method and system for controlling a plurality of communication devices. One system includes a server for a communication system in which each of a plurality of communication devices is affiliated with at least one talk group among a plurality of talk groups. The server includes an electronic processor configured to determine whether each communication device of the plurality of communication devices is in a connected state. The electronic processor is further configured to determine that at least one talk group does not include any communication devices affiliated with the at least one talk group that are in the connected state. The electronic processor is further configured to place at least one communication device affiliated with the at least one talk group in an artificially-connected state based on at least one characteristic of the communication devices affiliated with the at least one talk group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that provide expedited recovery in a communication system employing redundancy. The method includes establishing connections between a second server and each of a first mobile device and a second mobile device; receiving, by the second server from the first mobile device, an indication that a first server has recovered, wherein the first server and the second server are redundant servers and wherein the second server acts as a backup server for the first server; and based on the indication received from the first mobile device, informing, by the second server, a second mobile device of the recovery of the first server, thereby expediting a connecting, or a re-connecting, of the second mobile device to the first server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that provide expedited recovery in a communication system employing redundancy. The method includes establishing connections between a second server and each of a first mobile device and a second mobile device; receiving, by the second server from the first mobile device, an indication that a first server has recovered, wherein the first server and the second server are redundant servers and wherein the second server acts as a backup server for the first server; and based on the indication received from the first mobile device, informing, by the second server, a second mobile device of the recovery of the first server, thereby expediting a connecting, or a re-connecting, of the second mobile device to the first server.

Abstract: A communication system is provided for controlling group affiliation in a wireless communication system, wherein a group management server determines, or modifies, a set of one or more group affiliation parameters and group de-affiliation parameters associated with a mobile device based on capabilities of another mobile device and/or a set of one or more group affiliation parameters and group de-affiliation parameters associated with the another mobile device. The mobile devices may be mobile devices of a same user or may be mobile devices of different users. In other embodiments of the present invention, in response to receiving a request to initiate a group call involving a group that includes multiple mobile devices of a same user, the group management server may select only one of the multiple mobile devices to participate in the group call and arrange for only the selected mobile device to participate in the group call.

Abstract: A communication system is provided for controlling group affiliation in a wireless communication system, wherein a group management server determines, or modifies, a set of one or more group affiliation parameters and group de-affiliation parameters associated with a mobile device based on capabilities of another mobile device and/or a set of one or more group affiliation parameters and group de-affiliation parameters associated with the another mobile device. The mobile devices may be mobile devices of a same user or may be mobile devices of different users. In other embodiments of the present invention, in response to receiving a request to initiate a group call involving a group that includes multiple mobile devices of a same user, the group management server may select only one of the multiple mobile devices to participate in the group call and arrange for only the selected mobile device to participate in the group call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved resource allocation in ad hoc group calls includes receiving a request for an ad hoc group call with another push-to-talk (PTT) system between a plurality of subscriber units comprising a plurality of Project 25 (P25) subscriber units; allocating resources with the another PTT system using an Inter Radio Frequency Subsystem Interface (ISSI) network to network interface (NNI); and identifying the ad hoc group call as a single logical call for the plurality of P25 subscriber units on the ISSI NNI. This can also include allocating a single channel for the plurality of P25 subscriber units identified as the single logical call.

Abstract: User personalities are presented for interoperable push to talk (PTT) across a plurality of separate PTT networks. A gateway server device (GSD) maintains a user personality mapping that, for each subscriber device and each of a plurality of separate PTT networks communicatively coupled to the GSD, maps a first unique identifier used to identify the subscriber device in a first PTT network with respective second unique identifiers used to identify the subscriber device in other ones of the plurality of PTT networks. The GSD receives a transmission from a source subscriber device in the first PTT network destined for target subscriber devices in the other PTT networks, and modifies the transmission by replacing the first unique identifier with the respective second unique identifiers as a function of the user personality mapping, and forwards the corresponding modified transmissions to the other PTT networks.

Abstract: An enhanced push to talk (PTT) method, a network, and a PTT server provide floor control and media traffic optimization for push to talk over cellular (PoC). Specifically, multiple Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) sessions are contemplated between controlling and participating servers while only requiring a single Real Time Protocol (RTP) session for media and a single Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP) session for floor control. In the single RTP and RTCP session, the synchronization source identifier (SSRC) can be used to differentiate between users equipment (UEs) at the controlling and participating servers.

Abstract: A communication system is provided that sets up a group call, originated in a first originating network, in a second originating network when insufficient resources are available in the first originating network, wherein the first originating network is one of a narrowband network and a broadband network and the second originating network is the other network of the narrowband and broadband networks. An infrastructure device of the first originating network receives a first group call request from an originating mobile device and, in response to receiving the request, determines that insufficient resources are available in the first originating network for allocation to the mobile device for the group call. In response to determining that insufficient network resources are available, the infrastructure device arranges to set up an originating leg of the group call for the originating mobile device in the second originating network.

Abstract: A method for providing presence notification for PTT chat group communications includes a server receiving, from a communication device of a member of a chat group, a session initiation message to start a session for the PTT chat group. The session initiation message includes a member-selected priority. The server generates an event notification message that includes an indication that the chat group is active and has been assigned a priority, and sends the event notification message to communication devices of at least some of the other chat group members. Additionally, where a group priority has been assigned to the chat group, the group priority is assigned to the session. Otherwise, the member-selected priority is assigned to the session.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved resource allocation in ad hoc group calls includes receiving a request for an ad hoc group call with another push-to-talk (PTT) system between a plurality of subscriber units comprising a plurality of Project 25 (P25) subscriber units; allocating resources with the another PTT system using an Inter Radio Frequency Subsystem Interface (ISSI) network to network interface (NNI); and identifying the ad hoc group call as a single logical call for the plurality of P25 subscriber units on the ISSI NNI. This can also include allocating a single channel for the plurality of P25 subscriber units identified as the single logical call.

Abstract: A checkout kiosk employing a transparent touch-screen surface is provided herein. More particularly, the checkout kiosk comprises a transparent, force-sensing layer on top of a bar code reader or imaging camera. The force-sensing layer is used to capture both a weight and a weight distribution of an object placed on its surface. During operation, the touch-screen surface will be used to weigh any item and obtain a “foot print” of the item. A barcode scanner and an optional camera are provided below the touch-screen surface and will image through the touch screen in order to obtain identification information on the product. The weight, barcode scan, footprint, and image of the product may all be used to aide in identifying the product.

Abstract: An enhanced push to talk (PTT) method, a network, and a PTT server provide floor control and media traffic optimization for push to talk over cellular (PoC). Specifically, multiple Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) sessions are contemplated between controlling and participating servers while only requiring a single Real Time Protocol (RTP) session for media and a single Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP) session for floor control. In the single RTP and RTCP session, the synchronization source identifier (SSRC) can be used to differentiate between users equipment (UEs) at the controlling and participating servers.