Patent ID: 7466825

Claim:
A method comprising: a wireless user device interacting with a private authentication element to obtain private identities of private user devices; the wireless user device sending, via the wireless communication network, a request for a PoC (Push-to-Talk(™) over Cellular) session to a CHDP (carrier half-duplex processing element) of the wireless communication network, the request identifying at least one invitee private user device; the CHDP sending a request for authentication of the at least one invitee private user device to the private authentication element; the private authentication element authenticating the at least one invitee private user device and sending an authentication response to the CHDP indicating whether or not the at least one invitee private user device is authenticated; the CHDP sending invitations for the PoC session to authenticated invitee private user devices and receiving acceptances/rejections; and the CHDP setting up the PoC session for authenticated users that have accepted the invitation.