Patent ID: 8509121
Filing Date: 2013-08-13
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for communicating group call information, the method comprising; establishing a group call communication session between a wireless communication infrastructure and a plurality of communication units; identifying, among said plurality of communication units in said group call communication session, a master communication unit and at least one slave communication unit capable of communication with said master communication unit via a local wireless communication protocol; communicating a slave status notification to said wireless communication infrastructure using a long range wireless communication protocol, said slave status notification comprising an identifier for said at least one slave communication unit; communicating, during said group call communication session, group call information from the wireless communication infrastructure to the master communication unit, and exclusive of communication to said at least one slave communication unit, using said long range wireless communication protocol; redistributing the group call information from the master communication unit to the at least one slave communication unit using said local wireless communication protocol; communicating a termination notification from said at least one slave communication unit to said wireless communication infrastructure when said at least one slave communication unit is not capable of communication with said master communication unit via said local wireless communication protocol, said termination notification comprising an identifier for said at least one slave communication unit; and subsequent to said communicating said termination notification, continuing to communicate said group call information, using said long range communication protocol, from said wireless communication infrastructure to the at least one slave communication unit that corresponds to said identifier.