Apple Inc.

Nortel Networks Corporation

Timothy Longman

Martin Sauter

Joerg Becker

Thomas Altwein

Darin Currie

Frederic Carrier

A method of setting up a call group for participation in a group call by a number of mobile devices in a mobile telecommunications network. The mobile telecommunications network includes a serving node in communication with the mobile devices. The method includes the serving node receiving data indicative of a group identifier from a given mobile device registered with the mobile telecommunications network. The method also includes defining a group call area using the received group identifier, and the serving node discriminating one call group registered with the telecommunications network from another call group registered with the telecommunications network based upon the defined group call area.

Group call management

A method of managing a call group by a number of mobile devices in a mobile telecommunications network. The mobile telecommunications network includes a serving node in communication with the mobile devices. The method includes a network node identifying a radio access node adjacent a first radio access node. The method also includes a serving node creating the group call area on basis of the first and adjacent radio access nodes. The method also includes establishing a signalling channel within a cell corresponding to the adjacent radio access node. The signalling channel includes an identifier corresponding to the group call area. The radio access nodes, or base stations, that have established a data communications channel with the mobile communications device have traffic and signalling channels established therein and are marked as an active cell of the group call area.

A method of managing a group call involving a number of mobile communications devices include a network node identifying a radio access node adjacent a first radio access node. The method also includes a serving node creating the Group Call Area on basis of the first and adjacent radio access nodes. The method also includes establishing a signalling channel within a cell corresponding to the adjacent radio access node. The signalling channel includes an identifier corresponding to the Group Call area. The radio access nodes, or base stations, that have established a data communications channel with the mobile communications device have traffic and signalling channels established therein and are marked as an active cell of the Group Call Area.

A method for setting up a conference call where the subscribers are not only concentrated in one area but also more widely dispersed. The method allows both groups of subscribers to be contacted for a conference call with individuals close to the point of origination of the conference call being connected to a shared channel call and any members further out being connected to the conference call using individual channels. Members who initially started with an individual channel can move closer to the point of origin and automatically join the shared channel. This is of particular use to the emergency services where they may need to co-ordinate members arriving at the scene or performing related actions further away from the scene of the emergency.

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Chester, United Kingdom

Timothy Longman