Patent ID: 7403775
Filing Date: 2008-07-22
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for providing group voice services in a wireless network, comprising: a plurality of wireless networks for making calls between mobile units, wherein the calls are initiated by call setup and in-band signaling within the wireless networks and voice frames for the calls are switched between the mobile unit across bearer paths in the wireless networks; a real-time exchange that interfaces to a first one of the wireless networks to provide group voice services therein, wherein both the real-time exchange and the mobile units that use the group voice services communicate with each other using the call setup and in-band signaling within the first one of the wireless networks, and the real-time exchange switches the voice frames for the group voice services from an originating mobile unit to all terminating mobile units across the bearer paths in the wireless networks; and a roaming gateway that interfaces to the real-time exchange and a second one of the wireless networks to provide group voice services for mobile units roaming in the second one of the wireless networks, wherein both the roaming gateway and the mobile units that use the group voice services communicate with each other using the call setup and in-band signaling within the second one of the wireless networks, and the roaming gateway switches the voice frames for the group voice services from an originating mobile unit to all terminating mobile units across the bearer paths in the wireless networks.