Wireless communication system incorporating multicast addressing and method for use

A subscriber unit for use in a wireless communication system comprising a plurality of sites linked together by a packet network and a plurality of subscriber units arranged into talk groups having corresponding talk group identifications, the subscriber unit further comprising:

• a transceiver that wirelessly communicates with the plurality of sites;
• a processor, coupled to the transceiver;
• and
• means, coupled to the processor, for maintaining a mapping of at least one talk group identification to at least one multicast address, wherein the packet network supports the at least one multicast address.

In a wireless communication system comprising a plurality of sites and a plurality of subscriber units arranged into a plurality of talk groups, the plurality of sites linked together by a packet network, a method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting, to a site of the plurality of sites, an affiliation message comprising a talk group identification corresponding to a talk group of the plurality of talk groups;
• identifying a multicast address corresponding to the talk group identification;
• and
• transmitting to the site, a message, comprising the multicast address that causes the site to request reconfiguration of the packet network and consequently at least receive outbound traffic identified by the multicast address.

In a wireless communication system comprising a plurality of sites and a plurality of subscriber units arranged into a plurality of talk groups, the plurality of sites linked together by a packet network, a method for a site of the plurality of sites to register a subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units with a talk group of the plurality of talk groups, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, from the subscriber unit, an affiliation message comprising a talk group identification corresponding to the talk group;
• identifying a multicast address corresponding to the talk group identification;
• and
• transmitting, to the packet network, a message comprising the multicast address requesting reconfiguration of the packet network such that the site at least receives outbound traffic identified by the multicast address.

A communication system comprising:

• a connectionless packet network that supports at least one multicast address;
• a plurality of sites, operably coupled to the connectionless packet network, arranged and constructed to provide wireless communications with a plurality of subscriber units that are arranged in a plurality of talkgroups each having a corresponding talkgroup identification and such that each site maintains a mapping of at least one talkgroup identification to the at least one multicast address;
• and
• at least one site controller, operably coupled to the connectionless packet network, arranged and constructed to reconfigure the connectionless packet network to at least receive outbound traffic identified by the at least one multicast address.