Patent ID: 8184654

Claim:
In a two-way radio frequency (RF) communications system having at least one repeater and a plurality of subscriber units, a method comprising: at a repeater: receiving an indication that a subscriber unit is initiating a call session on a channel; indicating that the channel is busy; repeating a transmission from the subscriber unit on the channel; setting a timer, for a first period of time, upon determination that the transmission has ended; and setting the timer for a second period of time if, prior to the expiration of the first period of time, a new transmission is not received from a subscriber unit that is allowed to transmit on the channel; otherwise, accepting a new transmission from a subscriber unit that is allowed to transmit on the channel if the new transmission is received prior to an expiration of the second period of time, wherein, upon receipt of each new transmission received prior to the expiration of the second period of time, the repeater clears the timer, repeats the transmission on the channel, and resets the timer for the first period of time upon determination that the transmission has ended.