Patent ID: 8238537

Claim:
A method, for execution on a group call server, for reestablishing a voice communications session moderated by the group call server between two or more telephony devices, the method comprising: storing, in a memory accessible by a processor monitoring participation of at least one telephony device in a group communications session between a plurality of participating telephony devices, one or more data records representing group call information, the group call information including information useable for reestablishing participation by the at least one telephony device in the group communications session, wherein the group call information comprises call leg information associated with at least one participating telephony device; automatically detecting disconnection of the at least one participating telephony device from the group communications session, and automatically determining that the disconnection was not intentionally initiated by: comparing, said call leg information to active call legs in the group communications session, and determining that number of current active call legs is less than a previously determined number of active call legs; and accessing the stored group call information data and, using such accessed group call information data, causing signals adapted to invite reestablishment of participation by the at least one disconnected telephony device in the group communications session to be sent from the group call server to the at least one disconnected telephony device; and upon receipt by the group call server from the at least one disconnected telephony device of signals representing a request to reconnect the disconnected telephony device with the group communications session, outputting command signals that reestablish a communications session between the disconnected participating device and at least one other device participating in the group communications session, using the accessed group call information data.