Method and apparatus for traffic offloading procedure management in a public safety communication system

A services network element that provides for traffic offloading procedure management in a Public Safety communication system, the services network element comprising:

• a processor;
• one or more network interfaces that are configured to receive information comprising an identifier of a communications group, an identifier of each user equipment (UE) of a plurality of UEs that are members of the communications group, and an identifier of a cell of a primary network where each UE of the plurality of UEs resides;
• and
• an at least one memory device that is configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• store, in association with the identifier of each UE of the plurality of UEs, the identifier of the communications group and the identifier of the cell of the primary network where the UE resides;
• determine that a cell of the primary network is congested;
• in response to determining that the cell of the primary network is congested, determine a subset of the plurality of UEs, wherein the subset of the plurality of UEs are members of the communications group, reside in the congested cell, and are capable of being served by one or more secondary networks;
• and
• instruct the subset of the plurality of UEs to offload their traffic associated with the communications group to the one or more secondary networks.

A system that provides for traffic offloading procedure management in a Public Safety communication system, the system comprising:

• a plurality of user equipment that are each a member of a same communications group;
• a services network element that is configured to:
• receive information comprising an identifier of the communications group, an identifier of each user equipment (UE) of the plurality of UEs, and an identifier of a cell of a primary network where each UE of the plurality of UEs resides;
• store, in association with the identifier of each UE of the plurality of UEs, the identifier of the communications group and the identifier of the cell of the primary network where the UE resides;
• determine that a cell of the primary network is congested;
• in response to determining that the cell of the primary network is congested, determine a subset of the plurality of UEs, wherein the subset of the plurality of UEs are members of the communications group, reside in the congested cell, and are capable of being served by one or more secondary networks;
• and
• instruct the subset of the plurality of UEs to offload their traffic associated with the communications group to the one or more secondary networks.