Patent ID: 8098639

Claim:
A method for managing communication channel assignments at a base site configured to wirelessly communicate with a talkgroup having a plurality of talkgroup members, the plurality of talkgroup members including at least one of a single mode communication unit or a dual mode communication unit, the dual mode communication unit being capable of operating on a first communication channel type and a second communication channel type and the single mode communication unit being capable of operating only on the second communication channel type, the method comprising: assigning a call to a first communication channel of the first communication channel type upon determining that each talkgroup member in wireless communication with the base site is a dual mode communication unit; broadcasting the call from the base site using the first communication channel; determining that a single mode communication unit associated with the talkgroup has roamed to the base site; determining whether a communication channel of the second communication channel type is available at the base site; assigning the call to a second communication channel of the second communication channel type if a communication channel of the second communication channel type is available at the base site; broadcasting the call from the base site using the second communication channel; broadcasting, from the base site, a channel grant signal for the second communication channel; and deassigning the call from the first communication channel.