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 reducing latency in a group communication network provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormancy wakeup time and the PTT latency by exchanging group call signaling even when mobiles are dormant and no traffic channel is active. The method and apparatus provides for exchanging the group call signaling through the use of the short data burst (SDB) message signaling. The method and apparatus provides for re-establishing dedicated traffic channels for the talker mobile and the dormant listener mobiles advantageously in parallel.

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 reducing latency in a group communication network provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormancy wakeup time and the PTT latency by exchanging group call signaling even when mobiles are dormant and no traffic channel is active. The method and apparatus provides for exchanging the group call signaling through the use of the short data burst (SDB) message signaling. The method and apparatus provides for reestablishing dedicated traffic channels for the talker mobile and the dormant listener mobiles advantageously in parallel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing dormant-wakeup latency in a group communication network provides for a significant reduction in the actual total dormant-wakeup time and the PTT latency perceived by the talker through caching the network-initiated wakeup triggers destined for target listeners, and delivering a wakeup trigger to a target mobile station as soon as the target mobile station has re-established its traffic channel.

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 system and method for enabling a wireless communication device to register a temporary public IP address assigned to the device by a network access translation module, when the device is initially informed only of a private, non-routable IP address that has been assigned to it. In one embodiment, the device sends a “blind” registration message to an SIP server, with the private IP address of the device being translated to the public IP address by the NAT and with the SIP server registering the “originator” address in the header. In another embodiment, a registration server detects a message indicating the public IP address and sends the public IP address back to the device, so that the device can conventionally register the address with the SIP server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing coverage control for multicast service in a wireless network. The present invention comprises a central transceiver for receiving a membership report from a plurality of wireless communication devices, the membership report identifying a multicast group to which at least one wireless communication device belongs. The central transceiver transmits an indication of the multicast group identified in the membership report to at least a portion of the plurality of wireless communication devices. The wireless communication devices use the information contained within the indication to determine whether or not to transmit a membership report identifying a multicast group to which it currently belongs.

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 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 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 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 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 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 wireless dispatch service in a full duplex wireless telephone system includes forward and reverse link pairs assigned to each voice communication device in a dispatch system. Depending on whether a device is talking or listening, one of the links for that device can be idled to conserve system energy, thereby approximating a half duplex system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing privacy of user identity and characteristics in a communication system. A public key and a private key is generated, corresponding to a transceiver. The public key is transmitted to a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device encrypts one or more an initial messages using the public key and transmits the one or more encrypted initial messages to the transceiver. The transceiver receives the one or more encrypted initial messages and decrypts it using the private key. The transceiver may then allocate resources to initiate a desired communication between said wireless communication device and a second communication device.

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.