Abstract: A method and system for authenticating a communication device with an application server. The application server includes a gateway registration port, a gateway server port, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to receive, via the gateway registration port, a registration request, including a unique identifier, from a first device over a first communications network that operates in accordance with a first modality and receive, at the gateway server port, an access request including an identifier from an unknown device over a second communications network that operates in accordance with a second modality. The electronic processor is configured to compare the second identifier with the first identifier to determine if the identifiers match, grant the unknown device access when the identifiers match, and deny the unknown device access when the identifiers do not match.

Abstract: A computer apparatus and computer-implemented apparatus for logging audio to an audio logger. Audio is transmitted from a source communication device. At least one receiving communication device receives the audio. The audio is logged to an audio logger, for example by the source communication device and the receiving communication device. A hash of the audio is computed and the hash of the audio and communication parameters related to the audio are stored in a blockchain.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allocating radio frequency spectrum. One example system includes a spectrum broker server including a communications interface and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to determine an available radio frequency spectrum allocation. The electronic processor is configured to receive a spectrum request for the available radio frequency spectrum allocation at the communications interface, wherein the spectrum request is associated with a spectrum-consuming entity. The electronic processor is configured to receive, from a plurality of validation nodes, a plurality of votes based on the spectrum request. The electronic processor is configured to determine whether to grant the spectrum request based on the plurality of votes. The electronic processor is configured to, responsive to determining to grant the spectrum request, allocate the available radio frequency spectrum allocation to the spectrum-consuming entity.

Abstract: A computer apparatus and computer-implemented apparatus for logging audio to an audio logger. Audio is transmitted from a source communication device. At least one receiving communication device receives the audio. The audio is logged to an audio logger, for example by the source communication device and the receiving communication device. A hash of the audio is computed and the hash of the audio and communication parameters related to the audio are stored in a blockchain.

Abstract: A method and system for authenticating a communication device with an application server. The application server includes a gateway registration port, a gateway server port, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to receive, via the gateway registration port, a registration request, including a unique identifier, from a first device over a first communications network that operates in accordance with a first modality and receive, at the gateway server port, an access request including an identifier from an unknown device over a second communications network that operates in accordance with a second modality. The electronic processor is configured to compare the second identifier with the first identifier to determine if the identifiers match, grant the unknown device access when the identifiers match, and deny the unknown device access when the identifiers do not match.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling inter-agency, incident scene communications. One method includes storing, in a memory of a first dispatch device of a first agency, subscription information from a second agency. The method further includes establishing a geo-fence surrounding an incident and a talk group that allows communication devices to communicate with each other within the geo-fence. The method further includes identifying the second agency based on the geo-fence and transmitting a request to the second agency based on incident information and the subscription information. The request includes role information based on the incident information. The method further includes receiving information relating to an available communication device affiliated with the second agency. The available communication device is selected based on the role information.

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: An access point is provided that bridges a PAN with a LAN. When the access point receives, from a first mobile device, a request to authenticate with the access point for a first network service and a request to establish a second network service, wherein the second network service provides for bridging a PAN with a LAN, the access point determines a credential to be used by mobile devices who wish to join the second network service and, in response to determining that the first mobile device is authorized to make such a request, establishes the second network service. Further, in response to receiving, from a second mobile device, a request to join the second network service, which request includes the credential, the access point joins the second mobile device to the second network service and bridges traffic between the first and second mobile devices using the second network service.

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: 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: A collaboration manager server is provided that bridges a PAN with a WAN. When the collaboration manager server receives, from the first mobile device, a request to establish a second network service, wherein the second network service provides for bridging a PAN with a WAN, the collaboration manager server determines a credential to be used by mobile devices who wish to join the second network service and, in response to determining that the first mobile device is authorized to make such a request, establishes the second network service. Further, in response to receiving, from a second mobile device, a request to join the second network service, wherein the request to join the second network service comprises the credential, the collaboration manager server joins the second mobile device to the second network service and bridges traffic between the first mobile device and the second mobile device using the second network service.

Abstract: A method of interoperating link layer encrypted (LLE) and non-LLE communications in a radio network include receiving, at a radio controller (RC), a new call request for an LLE call, determining that there are one or more currently active non-LLE calls, and causing a message to be transmitted on each channel carrying one of the one or more currently active non-LLE calls informing mobile stations (MSs) participating in the non-LLE calls that a new LLE call has been or is-to-be granted. MSs participating in one of the non-LLE calls and receiving the message determine from the message or via a call grant obtained via a control channel, whether the new LLE call is of interest, and if so, switching to a channel assigned to the new LLE call and participating in the new LLE call.

Abstract: An access point is provided that bridges a PAN with a LAN. When the access point receives, from a first mobile device, a request to authenticate with the access point for a first network service and a request to establish a second network service, wherein the second network service provides for bridging a PAN with a LAN, the access point determines a credential to be used by mobile devices who wish to join the second network service and, in response to determining that the first mobile device is authorized to make such a request, establishes the second network service. Further, in response to receiving, from a second mobile device, a request to join the second network service, which request includes the credential, the access point joins the second mobile device to the second network service and bridges traffic between the first and second mobile devices using the second network service.

Abstract: A collaboration manager server is provided that bridges a PAN with a WAN. When the collaboration manager server receives, from the first mobile device, a request to establish a second network service, wherein the second network service provides for bridging a PAN with a WAN, the collaboration manager server determines a credential to be used by mobile devices who wish to join the second network service and, in response to determining that the first mobile device is authorized to make such a request, establishes the second network service. Further, in response to receiving, from a second mobile device, a request to join the second network service, wherein the request to join the second network service comprises the credential, the collaboration manager server joins the second mobile device to the second network service and bridges traffic between the first mobile device and the second mobile device using the second network service.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radio system, method, and device for a mobile station to indicate to an authentication controller, in an authentication response message, which of a plurality of group key link layer encryption keys (GKEK)s it currently has in its possession, and to work with the authentication controller to more intelligently manage multiple GKEKs. The authentication controller can use the information obtained from the authentication response message to determine which of a plurality of GKEKs to advertise in a key announcement broadcast. Furthermore, individual requests for a future LLE key (LEK) to be used for link layer encryption (LLE) encrypting and decrypting inbound and outbound group communications between base station(s) and mobile station(s) are responded to with a broadcast GKEK-encrypted transmission including the future LEK. Only the requesting mobile station transmits an acknowledgment packet in response to the broadcast.

Abstract: A method for a tethered device to select an external data network includes selecting a desired data network at the tethered device through an associated Access Point Name; sending the associated Access Point Name to a broadband device via a control message over a collaboration interface with the broadband device; and sending data to the broadband device destined for the desired data network over the collaboration interface, wherein the broadband device is configured to send the data to the desired data network based on the associated Access Point Name.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a Bluetooth device is provided herein. During operation a priority list is used by a Bluetooth piconet master. The Bluetooth piconet master will receive feedback from all slave devices, and then control connections among devices within the piconet based on the priority list and the feedback. The Bluetooth piconet master controls the piconet such that when a first Bluetooth device is connected to a lower-priority Bluetooth device, connection to a higher-priority Bluetooth device will only take place if the higher-priority Bluetooth device becomes “active” (as determined from the feedback). Therefore, as long as the higher-priority Bluetooth device remains “inactive”, the connection to the lower-priority Bluetooth device will remain.

Abstract: A method of interoperating link layer encrypted (LLE) and non-LLE communications in a radio network include receiving, at a radio controller (RC), a new call request for an LLE call, determining that there are one or more currently active non-LLE calls, and causing a message to be transmitted on each channel carrying one of the one or more currently active non-LLE calls informing mobile stations (MSs) participating in the non-LLE calls that a new LLE call has been or is-to-be granted. MSs participating in one of the non-LLE calls and receiving the message determine from the message or via a call grant obtained via a control channel, whether the new LLE call is of interest, and if so, switching to a channel assigned to the new LLE call and participating in the new LLE call.

Abstract: A method, a subscriber unit, and a system provide concurrent voice and data systems and methods that “steal bits” from voice frames for low-speed concurrent data. In this manner, concurrent voice and data is supported over protocols that require voice-only in current operation such as Project 25 (P25). The stealing of bits from voice is done in a manner that is transparent and not noticeable to users. The systems and methods enable replication of signaling on the downlink and wireline segments that is replaced on the uplink, encoding of interleaving blocks that extend across multiple Layer 2 voice logical data units (LDUs), flexibility in replacing voice data in LDUs, indication of the availability of the service and an interleaving schedule, notification of upcoming stealing events via signaling, and the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting encryption keys in a secure communication system is provided herein. During rekeying of a device, a key encryption key (KEK) is utilized to wrap (encrypt) the traffic encryption key (TEK) when the KEK is available to the device. If unavailable, the TEK will be wrapped using public key encryption with the recipient device's public key. The receiving device will then be able to unwrap the TEK using public key decryption with its own private key. Because TEKs are always transmitted in a secure manner, secure and efficient rekeying of devices on foreign networks can occur.