Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a scope of priority service in a communication system in an emergency event is described. The method includes: at a network device in the communication system: receiving at least one emergency call; determining at least one parameter associated with the at least one emergency call; determining a scope of a priority service in the communication system based on the determined at least one parameter; and reserving resources in the communication system based on the determined scope of priority service.

Abstract: A method for managing a plurality of call origination requests is provided. The method includes receiving (204) the plurality of call origination requests from a plurality of communication devices. Further, the method includes queuing (206) the plurality of call origination requests, based on a predefined policy, when a base station is operating in a congestion mode. Furthermore, the method includes processing (208) each call origination request of the plurality of call origination requests, based on the queued plurality of call origination requests.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a scope of priority service in a communication system in an emergency event is described. The method includes: at a network device in the communication system: receiving at least one emergency call; determining at least one parameter associated with the at least one emergency call; determining a scope of a priority service in the communication system based on the determined at least one parameter; and reserving resources in the communication system based on the determined scope of priority service.

Abstract: A method for minimizing the number of transcoders needed to support group calls includes a first step of receiving a request from a call initiator to initiate a group call with a plurality of call targets. Next, a listing of call initiator vocoders supported by the call initiator is received. Then, a call invitation is sent to each of a plurality of networks associated with the call targets. Network responses are received from each of the plurality of networks. The network responses comprise one or more network supported vocoders. The responses from all of the plurality of networks are collected. Then, the amount of transcoder needed to support the group call is optimized by minimizing the number of call initiator vocoders and network supported vocoder pairs.

Abstract: A method for managing a plurality of call origination requests is provided. The method includes receiving (204) the plurality of call origination requests from a plurality of communication devices. Further, the method includes queuing (206) the plurality of call origination requests, based on a predefined policy, when a base station is operating in a congestion mode. Furthermore, the method includes processing (208) each call origination request of the plurality of call origination requests, based on the queued plurality of call origination requests.

Abstract: A communications platform (100) assigns communication channels (58, 78) to users based on a power level associated with the individual users. An available bandwidth for use by the communications platform (100) in segmented into a number of sub-bands using a bank of filters (54, 78). A number of independent communication channels (58, 78) are then provided within each of the sub-bands using an appropriate multiple access scheme (e.g., code division multiple access). A power range is then specified for each of the sub-bands. When a communication connection is to be established, a power level associated with the connection is determined. One or more sub-bands are then identified that have power ranges encompassing the determined power level. A channel is then assigned to the communication connection from one of the identified sub-bands.

Abstract: For a network server (35) communicating with a wireless unit (10) via a Session Initiation Protocol, a retransmission method (50) first sets a timer based upon a time likely for a mobile unit to respond (54). Then the network server waits for a response (56). When the timer set for the kind of mobile unit being used expires (64), a retransmit of the original SIP request takes place (68). Optionally, modes for waiting may include a linear mode (72) and an exponential mode (74).

Abstract: A zero-drift constellation (200 FIG. 2) is used to simplify the tracking and hand-off requirements of terrestrial-based user terminals (110 FIG. 1). Each satellite (120 FIG. 1) traces out a common ground track which has a number of southbound segments and an equal number of adjacent northbound segments. This allows user terminals (110) to employ antennas with only one degree of freedom to track satellites (120) in zero-drift constellation (200). User terminals (110) perform hand-offs with satellites (120) that are within a limited field of view with respect to user terminal (110). User terminal (110) tracks a first satellite until a crossover point is reached and then performs a hand-off to a second satellite traveling in the opposite direction along an adjacent segment. User terminal (110) tracks the second satellite until another crossover point is reached and then performs a hand-off to a third satellite traveling in the same direction as the first satellite along an adjacent segment.