Abstract: A radio access network (RAN) may be providing, in a coverage area, at least two access channels that are available for use by any wireless communication devices (WCD). Thereafter, the RAN may detect that a threshold load exists in the coverage area and responsively reserve one of the access channels for use only by authorized WCDs. In turn, authorized WCDs in the coverage area may be configured to use the reserved access channel to transmit access probes to the RAN, while unauthorized WCDs in the coverage area may be configured to use only a generally-available access channel to transmit access probes to the RAN. In this way, the disclosed methods and corresponding devices may limit the occupancy on the reserved access channel and thereby increase the likelihood that authorized WCDs can successfully access the RAN over the reserved access channel when the coverage area becomes congested.

Abstract: In systems and methods of talk group communication, a group PTT call is established between a originating wireless device and recipient wireless devices. A group identifier of the PTT call group is provided to the recipient wireless devices indicating that the PTT call involves a call group without indicating an identifier of originating wireless device. In an embodiment, when the group PTT call is terminated, a response call request is received based on the group PTT call from one of the plurality of recipients and a bilateral PTT call is established between the one of the plurality of recipients and the originating wireless device. In an embodiment, a response is received based on the group PTT call from one of the plurality of recipients, the group PTT call is terminated, and a bilateral PTT call is established between the one of the plurality of recipients and the originating wireless device.