Patent ID: 6980799

Claim:
In a wireless communication system wherein a call is established between a mobile unit and one or more participating units, and wherein the mobile unit is subject to periodic service interruption during the call, a method of preserving the call during the service interruption, the method comprising: detecting a service interruption to the mobile unit; responsive to detecting the service interruption, inviting the participating units to hold to await for recovery of service to the mobile unit, thereby yielding one or more holding units of the participating units; determining a hold time; substantially upon expiration of the hold time, connecting one or more holding units to a messaging system; and inviting the holding units to leave a message for the mobile unit; receiving, from the messaging system, indicia that a message for the mobile unit is concluded; identifying a number of remaining units of the holding units; and if the number of remaining units is two or more, removing the two or more remaining units from hold status; and continuing the call between the remaining units.