Patent ID: 7933620

Claim:
A method of messaging during an active half-duplex session between a plurality of user devices capable of half-duplex voice functionality, the method comprising: a first user device of said plurality of user devices while in a receiving in half-duplex (RHD) mode for an active half-duplex session, transmitting a transmit channel request message (TCRM) to a network, the TCRM indicating a request from the first user device to transmit on the transmit channel; the network forwarding the TCRM to a second user device of said plurality of user devices while the second user device is in a transmitting in half-duplex (THD) mode for the active half-duplex session; the TCRM including an identification of the first user device; the TCRM including a qualifier flag at least when the TCRM is forwarded to the second user device; the second user device receiving the TCRM; and the second user device performing extended functionality in response to a value of the qualifier flag, wherein the extended functionality comprises at least one functionality selected from the group consisting of: a) registering a continuing transmit channel request at the THD device; b) canceling a transmit channel request at the THD device; and c) performing automatic release of the transmit channel by the THD device.