Patent ID: 8982885
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for conducting group communications, comprising: receiving, at a user equipment (UE), information defining a group communication from a first network; detecting, at the UE, an availability of at least one local uni-directional radio broadcast network outside the first network, wherein detecting the availability of the at least one local uni-directional radio broadcast network comprises determining whether the UE has a receiver capable of receiving transmissions over the at least one local uni-directional radio broadcast network; based on the receiver of the UE being capable of receiving transmissions over the at least one local uni-directional radio broadcast network, transmitting an acknowledgment indicating an intention to connect to the at least one local uni-directional radio broadcast network and monitoring the group communication on the at least one local uni-directional radio broadcast network; and based on the receiver of the UE not being capable of receiving transmissions over the at least one local uni-directional radio broadcast network, receiving the group communication over a unicast channel.