Operation and administration of mobile station user groups in wireless communications systems

Claim 1

A method for completing a call in a communications system to a mobile station which is participating in a user group, wherein a number of mobile stations participating in the user group is less than a total number of mobile stations in the system, comprising the steps of: establishing a user group identification code which is distinguishable from mobile station identification numbers assigned to mobile stations in the system, wherein the user group identification code defines a user group in which designated mobile stations in the system can selectively request participation; transmitting a page message from the system to mobile stations participating in the user group using the user group identification code when a call to the user group has been requested; generating a user group specific page indication at mobile stations participating in the user group to indicate that the page message has been received; transmitting a page response message to the system from mobile stations whose users acknowledge the page indication; and granting a channel assignment for the requested call to the mobile station sending the page response message which is first received at the system.

Claim 2

A method for completing a call in a communications system to a mobile station which is participating in a user group, wherein a number of mobile stations participating in the user group is less than a total number of mobile stations in the system, comprising the steps of: establishing a user group identification code which is distinguishable from mobile station identification numbers assigned to mobile stations in the system, wherein the user group identification code defines a user group in which designated mobile stations in the system can selectively request participation; transmitting a page message from the system to mobile stations participating in the user group using the user group identification code when a call to the user group has been requested; generating a user group specific page indication at mobile stations participating in the user group to indicate that the page message has been received; transmitting a page response message to the system from mobile stations whose users acknowledge the page indication; and granting a channel assignment for the requested call to the mobile station sending the page response message which is first received at the system.

Claim 11

A method for paging a group of mobile stations participating in a user group in a communications system, comprising the steps of: establishing a user group identification which is distinguishable from mobile station identifications assigned to mobile stations in the system, wherein the user group identification defines a user group in which designated mobile stations in the system can selectively request participation; receiving mobile station registrations at mobile switching centers as mobile stations roam throughout the system, wherein registrations from mobile stations intending to participate in the user group contain said user group identification; transmitting a page message for said user group in paging areas controlled by mobile switching centers in which mobile stations participating in the user group have registered; starting a page response timer, wherein said mobile switching centers generate a user group release message if none of the mobile stations participating in said user group respond to said page message within a predetermined period of time; generating a user group specific page indication at mobile stations participating in the user group in response to receiving the page message; transmitting a page response message to at least one of said mobile switching centers from mobile stations whose users acknowledge the page indication; and granting a channel assignment to the mobile station which sends the page response message first received at the system.

Claim 12

A method for paging a group of mobile stations participating in a user group in a communications system, comprising the steps of: establishing a user group identification which is distinguishable from mobile station identifications assigned to mobile stations in the system, wherein the user group identification defines a user group in which designated mobile stations in the system can selectively request participation; receiving mobile station registrations at mobile switching centers as mobile stations roam throughout the system, wherein registrations from mobile stations intending to participate in the user group contain said user group identification; transmitting a page message for said user group in paging areas controlled by mobile switching centers in which mobile stations participating in the user group have registered; starting a page response timer, wherein said mobile switching centers generate a user group release message if none of the mobile stations participating in said user group respond to said page message within a predetermined period of time; generating a user group specific page indication at mobile stations participating in the user group in response to receiving the page message; transmitting a page response message to at least one of said mobile switching centers from mobile stations whose users acknowledge the page indication; and granting a channel assignment to the mobile station which sends the page response message first received at the system.

Claim 20

A method for completing a call in a communications system, comprising the steps of: establishing a user group identification code for a user group in which mobile stations in the system can request active participation; transmitting the user group identification code from a mobile station to the system during registration of the mobile station with the system, wherein said transmission of the user group identification code during registration represents a request that the registering mobile station be permitted to actively participate in the user group; determining, at the system, whether the registering mobile station should be permitted to actively participate in the user group, and selectively approving the request of the registering mobile station in dependence upon said determination; tracking, at the system, the location of mobile stations which have been approved to actively participate in the user group; transmitting a page message from the system to the approved mobile stations when a call to the user group is requested; and granting a channel assignment for the requested call to a first one of the approved mobile stations to respond to the page message.

Claim 21

A method for completing a call in a communications system, comprising the steps of: establishing a user group identification code for a user group in which mobile stations in the system can request active participation; transmitting the user group identification code from a mobile station to the system during registration of the mobile station with the system, wherein said transmission of the user group identification code during registration represents a request that the registering mobile station be permitted to actively participate in the user group; determining, at the system, whether the registering mobile station should be permitted to actively participate in the user group, and selectively approving the request of the registering mobile station in dependence upon said determination; tracking, at the system, the location of mobile stations which have been approved to actively participate in the user group; transmitting a page message from the system to the approved mobile stations when a call to the user group is requested; and granting a channel assignment for the requested call to a first one of the approved mobile stations to respond to the page message.