System and method of group calling in mobile communications
View Patent ↗Information is retrieved from a list of members of a group call group. Based on the retrieved information, a group call is established between first and second mobile stations (MS). The first MS is served by a first base station controller (BSC) and the second MS is served by a second BSC. Voice data for the group call is transmitted in a multicast session. Based on a history of group calls between two points in a mobile communications network, a determination is made as to whether to establish a multicast session between the two points, e.g., in anticipation of a future group call.
1. A method for use in establishing a group call, comprising:
in a first proxy switch, detecting a group call request from a first mobile station;
informing a second proxy switch of the group call request;
in the second proxy switch, retrieving information from a list of members of a group call group; and
based on the retrieved information, establishing a group call between first and second mobile stations (MS) via the first and second proxy switches,
wherein
by the first proxy switch,
when a first connection to the first proxy switch for the first mobile station has been created, acquiring a first channel for the first mobile station;
paging the second mobile station upon receiving an instruction from the second proxy switch;
informing the second proxy switch when the second mobile station is found;
when a second connection to the first proxy switch for the second mobile station has been created, acquiring a second channel for the second mobile station; and
informing the second proxy switch when the second mobile station is on channel.
2. A method for use in establishing a group call, comprising:
in a first proxy switch, detecting a group call request from a first mobile station;
informing a second proxy switch of the group call request;
in the second proxy switch, retrieving information from a list of members of a group call group; and
based on the retrieved information, establishing a group call between first and second mobile stations (MS) via the first and second proxy switches, wherein
by the second proxy switch,
creating a first connection to the first proxy switch for the first mobile station;
instructing the first proxy switch to page the second mobile station;
when informed that the second mobile station has been found, creating a second connection to the first proxy switch for the second mobile station;
when informed that the second mobile station is on channel, instructing the first proxy switch to inform the first mobile station that a connection has been established; and
playing a tone to the first mobile station through the first connection.
3. A method for use in establishing a group call, comprising:
in a first proxy switch of a plurality of proxy switches, detecting a group call request from a first mobile station, wherein the first mobile station is serviced by the first proxy switch;
informing a second proxy switch of the plurality of proxy switches of the group call request;
in the second proxy switch, retrieving information from a list of members of a group call group; and
based on the retrieved information, establishing group call between first and second mobile stations via the plurality of proxy switches, wherein the second mobile station is serviced by a third proxy switch of the plurality of proxy switches; and wherein
when a first connection to the first proxy switch for the first mobile station has been created, acquiring a first channel for the first mobile station by the first proxy switch;
by the third proxy switch, paging the second mobile station upon receiving an instruction from the second proxy switch;
by the third proxy switch, informing the second proxy switch when the second mobile station is found;
by the third proxy switch, acquiring a second channel for the second mobile station when a second connection to the third proxy switch for the second mobile station has been created; and
informing the second proxy switch when the second mobile station is on channel.
4. A method for use in establishing a group call, comprising:
in a first proxy switch of a plurality of proxy switches detecting a group call request from a first mobile station, wherein the first mobile station is serviced by the first proxy switch;
informing a second proxy switch of the plurality of proxy switches of the group call request;
in the second proxy switch, retrieving information from a list of members of a group call group; and
based on the retrieved information, establishing a group call between first and second mobile stations via the plurality of proxy switches, wherein the second mobile station is serviced by a third proxy switch of the plurality of proxy switches; and wherein
by the second proxy switch,
creating a first connection to the first proxy switch for the first mobile station;
instructing the third proxy switch to page the second mobile station;
when informed that the second mobile station has been found, creating a second connection to the third proxy switch for the second mobile station;
when informed that the second mobile station is on channel, instructing the first proxy switch to inform the first mobile station that a connection has been established; and
playing a tone to the first mobile station through the first mobile gateway connection.