Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for synchronizing network traffic to a mobile device from each of multiple servers, wherein each such server can independently determine when to send traffic to the mobile device. More particularly, each of the multiple servers receives, from the mobile device, a value that uniquely identifies the mobile device from among multiple mobile devices. The server determines a time slot value based on the received value and assigns a time slot to the mobile device based on the determined time slot value. The server then transmits data to the mobile device in the assigned time slot. By each of the multiple servers determining the time slot value, and the assigned time slot, based on a same value received from the mobile device, the multiple servers are able to synchronize their transmissions to the mobile device without need of a common, intermediary, push notification service.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for synchronizing network traffic to a mobile device from each of multiple servers, wherein each such server can independently determine when to send traffic to the mobile device. More particularly, each of the multiple servers receives, from the mobile device, a value that uniquely identifies the mobile device from among multiple mobile devices. The server determines a time slot value based on the received value and assigns a time slot to the mobile device based on the determined time slot value. The server then transmits data to the mobile device in the assigned time slot. By each of the multiple servers determining the time slot value, and the assigned time slot, based on a same value received from the mobile device, the multiple servers are able to synchronize their transmissions to the mobile device without need of a common, intermediary, push notification service.

Abstract: A method and Subscription Service Host Server that support a presence service receives multiple subscription requests associated with multiple of subscribers, wherein each subscription request of the multiple subscription requests comprises a request to subscribe to presence information of a status publication source. In response to receiving the multiple subscription requests, a subscription is created for each subscriber of the multiple subscribers. A system condition is monitored and, based on the monitored system condition, a determination is made to suspend a subscription of a subscriber of the multiple subscribers. The subscription of the subscriber is placed into a suspended state to produce a suspended subscription, wherein the Server suspends the subscription without receiving, from the subscriber, a request to suspend the subscription. Subsequent to placing the subscription into a suspended state, a determination is made to one of reactivate and terminate the suspended subscription.

Abstract: A method and Subscription Service Host Server that support a presence service receives multiple subscription requests associated with multiple of subscribers, wherein each subscription request of the multiple subscription requests comprises a request to subscribe to presence information of a status publication source. In response to receiving the multiple subscription requests, a subscription is created for each subscriber of the multiple subscribers. A system condition is monitored and, based on the monitored system condition, a determination is made to suspend a subscription of a subscriber of the multiple subscribers. The subscription of the subscriber is placed into a suspended state to produce a suspended subscription, wherein the Server suspends the subscription without receiving, from the subscriber, a request to suspend the subscription. Subsequent to placing the subscription into a suspended state, a determination is made to one of reactivate and terminate the suspended subscription.

Abstract: Critical resource data (192) required for a group call can be identified. Controlling (115) and secondary (155) PTT communications systems can communicate using an expanded network-to-network interface (NNI) (140). Allocation of identified critical resources (150) can be requested (145) for the group call from the secondary PTT communications system (155). In response to a successful allocation of the requested critical resources by the secondary PTT communications system, the group call can be authorized by the controlling PTT communications system (115). The allocated critical resources of the secondary PTT communications system (155) can be used to establish the group call.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for recovering registration information at a home network when the home network determines that it has experienced a loss of the registration information. The home network communicates a triggering message to at least one visited network to initiate registration information recovery, and the visited network responds to the triggering message by communicating registration information for objects that are located at the visited network and that are associated with the home network. These objects may include, for example, subscriber units and/or talk groups that are associated with the home network and have roamed to the visited network.

Abstract: Critical resource data (192) required for a group call can be identified. Controlling (115) and secondary (155) PTT communications systems can communicate using an expanded network-to-network interface (NNI) (140). Allocation of identified critical resources (150) can be requested (145) for the group call from the secondary PTT communications system (155). In response to a successful allocation of the requested critical resources by the secondary PTT communications system, the group call can be authorized by the controlling PTT communications system (115). The allocated critical resources of the secondary PTT communications system (155) can be used to establish the group call.

Abstract: A hosted inter-radio frequency subsystem interface (HIF) maintains a list of affiliated radio frequency subsystems (RFSSs), the list identifies at least one serving RFSS. An affiliation request is transmitted from the HIF to the home RFSS, which is a home RFSS of the group. The HIF receives from the serving RFSS a request to initiate an inter-RFSS group call to the group using HIF addressing. The HIF transmits a request to the home RFSS to initiate the inter-RFSS group call using serving RFSS addressing. A data packet from the home RFSS or the serving RFSS is received at the HIF. Upon receipt, the HIF transmits a copy of the data packet to the serving RFSS if the data packet was received from the home RFSS; otherwise, the HIF transmits a copy of the data packet to the home RFSS if the data packet was received from the serving RFSS.

Abstract: A PTT bridging gateway between a first PTT system and a second disparate PTT system: receives an invitation to a first client to join a first group call for a first group comprising multiple member clients on the first PTT system, wherein the first client is one of the member clients of the first group; determines that the first client is mapped to a second group comprising multiple member clients on the second PTT system; and initiates a second group call to the multiple member clients on the second PTT system.

Abstract: A method and device enable establishing an inter-radio frequency subsystem interface (ISSI) unit-to-unit call between a calling unit of a calling home radio frequency subsystem (RFSS), and a called unit of a called home RFSS, through a hosted ISSI function (HIF). The method includes processing, at the HIF, a first invite message received from the calling home RFSS, wherein the first invite message includes a first request uniform resource identifier (URI) that designates an alias system unit identification (SU-ID). In response to the first invite message, transmitting, from the HIF to the called home RFSS, a second invite message, including a second request URI that designates a real SU-ID, wherein the HIF acts as the calling home RFSS. The unit-to-unit call is thus established between the calling unit and the called unit through the calling home RFSS, the HIF, and the called home RFSS.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dynamic group prioritization in a communication network includes a first step (400) of defining a dynamic list of group participants by an application, such as a dispatch function. A next step (402) includes sending a request to a Group Management Function, wherein the request includes a requested group priority and the list of group participants. A next step (404) includes allocating a unique identifier to the group and assigning a group priority to the group. A next step (406) includes notifying the application, group participants, and network of the unique identifier and the network of the assigned group priority. The assigned priority of the group and its flows can be dynamically altered in real-time while the group is active.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for recovering registration information at a home network when the home network determines that it has experienced a loss of the registration information. The home network communicates a triggering message to at least one visited network to initiate registration information recovery, and the visited network responds to the triggering message by communicating registration information for objects that are located at the visited network and that are associated with the home network. These objects may include, for example, subscriber units and/or talk groups that are associated with the home network and have roamed to the visited network.

Abstract: A method and device enable establishing an inter-radio frequency subsystem interface (ISSI) unit-to-unit call between a calling unit of a calling home radio frequency subsystem (RFSS), and a called unit of a called home RFSS, through a hosted ISSI function (HIF). The method includes processing, at the HIF, a first invite message received from the calling home RFSS, wherein the first invite message includes a first request uniform resource identifier (URI) that designates an alias system unit identification (SU-ID). In response to the first invite message, transmitting, from the HIF to the called home RFSS, a second invite message, including a second request URI that designates a real SU-ID, wherein the HIF acts as the calling home RFSS. The unit-to-unit call is thus established between the calling unit and the called unit through the calling home RFSS, the HIF, and the called home RFSS.

Abstract: A hosted inter-radio frequency subsystem interface (HIF) maintains a list of affiliated radio frequency subsystems (RFSSs), the list identifies at least one serving RFSS. An affiliation request is transmitted from the HIF to the home RFSS, which is a home RFSS of the group. The HIF receives from the serving RFSS a request to initiate an inter-RFSS group call to the group using HIF addressing. The HIF transmits a request to the home RFSS to initiate the inter-RFSS group call using serving RFSS addressing. A data packet from the home RFSS or the serving RFSS is received at the HIF. Upon receipt, the HIF transmits a copy of the data packet to the serving RFSS if the data packet was received from the home RFSS; otherwise, the HIF transmits a copy of the data packet to the home RFSS if the data packet was received from the serving RFSS.

Abstract: A PTT bridging gateway between a first PTT system and a second disparate PTT system: receives an invitation to a first client to join a first group call for a first group comprising multiple member clients on the first PTT system, wherein the first client is one of the member clients of the first group; determines that the first client is mapped to a second group comprising multiple member clients on the second PTT system; and initiates a second group call to the multiple member clients on the second PTT system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dynamic vocoder assignment in a communication system that supports multiple vocoders includes a first step (30) of detecting changing a call environment in a group call. A next step (32) includes dynamically determining a list of vocoders in order of system preference in response to the change in call environment. A next step (34) includes communicating the ordered list of vocoders in an existing floor control message to the participants in the call. A next step (36) includes selecting, by at least the current transmitting participant, the first vocoder that it supports from the list of preferred vocoders, for use in that participant's next transmission in the group session.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dynamic group prioritization in a communication network includes a first step (400) of defining a dynamic list of group participants by an application, such as a dispatch function. A next step (402) includes sending a request to a Group Management Function, wherein the request includes a requested group priority and the list of group participants. A next step (404) includes allocating a unique identifier to the group and assigning a group priority to the group. A next step (406) includes notifying the application, group participants, and network of the unique identifier and the network of the assigned group priority. The assigned priority of the group and its flows can be dynamically altered in real-time while the group is active.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dynamic vocoder assignment in a communication system that supports multiple vocoders includes a first step (30) of detecting changing a call environment in a group call. A next step (32) includes dynamically determining a list of vocoders in order of system preference in response to the change in call environment. A next step (34) includes communicating the ordered list of vocoders in an existing floor control message to the participants in the call. A next step (36) includes selecting, by at least the current transmitting participant, the first vocoder that it supports from the list of preferred vocoders, for use in that participant's next transmission in the group session.

Abstract: To address the need to provide interurban dispatch services, embodiments supporting interurban dispatch private call and dispatch call alert services are disclosed. Call control in the local network equipment (110-131) manages the dispatch service in both the local urban area (101) and the remote urban area (151). Call flow embodiments that enable this local management of private call and call alert services across urban area boundaries are described in detail.

Abstract: A wireless communication system that includes an MS that is a member of multiple talkgroups provides for a prioritization of the multiple talkgroups. A database included in the system maintains an MS identifier associated with the MS and maintains multiple talkgroup identifiers in association with the MS identifier, wherein each talkgroup identifier of the multiple talkgroup identifiers corresponds to a talkgroup of the multiple talkgroups. The database further maintains a prioritization associated with at least one talkgroup of the multiple talkgroups. In one embodiment of the invention, the MS may dynamically prioritize the multiple talkgroups to which it belongs. In another embodiment of the present invention, the prioritization may be statically maintained. In still another embodiment of the invention, the system utilizes the maintained prioritizations to determine whether to interrupt the MS when the MS is involved in a multi-party communication session.