Patent ID: 8938498
Filing Date: 2015-01-20
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of conducting a group communication session arbitrated by an application server within a wireless communications system, comprising: configuring a preemption rank for each of a plurality of group members of a given communication group, wherein the preemption rank is at least used to determine whether a non-floor-holder group member among the plurality of group members can obtain a floor for an active group communication session from a current floor-holder group member; determining whether to grant an uninterruptable group communication session privilege to at least one of the plurality of group members; and setting an uninterruptable session privilege parameter for the at least one of the plurality of group members when it is determined to grant the uninterruptable group communication session privilege to the at least one of the plurality of group members, wherein the uninterruptable group communication session privilege enables the at least one group member to originate a given group communication session that allocates the floor to the at least one group member for an entire duration of the given group communication session and for which the floor will not be transferred to another group member of the plurality of group members during the given group communication session irrespective of the preemption rank of the another group member of the plurality of group members or one or more rules defined by an operator.