Cell assignment method during group calls

A method of controlling cell assignment of a wireless communications mobile terminal during an active packet data group call session, comprising:

• storing a list of candidate cells including a current cell;
• receiving, at the mobile terminal, said list of candidate cells from a corresponding wireless communications system;
• determining whether at least one of said candidate cells is participating in said group call session;
• said mobile terminal determining whether to stay with said current cell or to select a new cell in response to a cell selection trigger event during said group call session, said mobile terminal determining to remain with the current cell if:
• i) said current cell provides at least minimally acceptable signal quality;
• and
• ii) said current cell is participating in said group call session with another mobile terminal assigned to said current cell;
• and
• iii) no acceptable candidate cells, not including said current cell, are participating in said group call session.

A method of controlling cell assignment of a wireless communications mobile terminal by a wireless communications system during an active packet data group call session, comprising:

• storing a list of candidate cells including a current cell;
• determining whether at least one of said candidate cells other than said current cell is participating in said group call session;
• receiving notification at the corresponding wireless communications system that the mobile terminal has encountered a cell selection trigger event during said group call session;
• thereafter, said wireless communications system determining whether said mobile terminal should stay with the current cell or change in response to said cell selection trigger event, said wireless communications system determining that said mobile terminal should change cells unless:
• i) the current cell provides at least minimally acceptable signal quality to said mobile terminal;
• ii) the current cell is participating in said group call session with another mobile terminal assigned to said current cell;
• and
• iii) no acceptable candidate cells, not including the current cell, are participating in said group call session;
• said wireless communications system instructing said mobile terminal to change cells if said wireless communications system determines that said mobile terminal should change cells.

A method of controlling cell assignment of a wireless communications mobile terminal operating in conjunction with a wireless communications system during an active circuit switched group call, comprising:

• storing a list of candidate cells including a current cell at said wireless communications system;
• said wireless communications system determining which, if any, of said candidate cells is participating in said group call;
• said wireless communications system determining whether said mobile terminal should stay with the current cell or be handed off to another cell in response to a handoff trigger event, said wireless communications system determining that said mobile terminal should be handed off to another cell unless:
• i) said current cell provides at least minimally acceptable signal quality to said mobile terminal;
• ii) said current cell is participating in said group call with another mobile terminal assigned to said current cell;
• and
• iii) no acceptable candidate cells, not including said current cell, are participating in said group call;
• said wireless communications system instructing said mobile terminal to change cells if said wireless communications system determines that said mobile terminal should be handed off to another cell.

A method of controlling cell assignment of a wireless communications mobile terminal operating in conjunction with a wireless communications system during an active circuit switched group call, comprising:

• communicating with said mobile terminal via a first cell during said group call;
• assigning a greater than normal priority to said mobile terminal and handing off said mobile terminal to a second cell with said greater than normal priority in response to a handoff trigger event during said group call, said second cell maintaining a queue of channel assignment requests;
• and
• assigning a preferential position in said queue to said handed-off group call.

A method of controlling cell assignment of a wireless communications mobile terminal operating in conjunction with a wireless communications system during an active circuit switched group call, comprising:

• communicating with said mobile terminal via a first cell during said group call;
• assigning a greater than normal priority to said mobile terminal and handing off said mobile terminal to a second cell with said greater than normal priority in response to a handoff trigger event during said group call, said second cell maintaining a queue of channel assignment requests;
• and
• allowing said handed-off group call to bypass said queue.

A method of controlling cell assignment of a wireless communications mobile terminal operating in conjunction with a wireless communications system during an active circuit switched group call, comprising:

• communicating with said mobile terminal via a first cell during said group call;
• assigning a greater than normal priority to said mobile terminal and handing off said mobile terminal to a second cell with said greater than normal priority in response to a handoff trigger event during said group call;
• and
• wherein said second cell includes normal and reserve channels and further including allocating said handed-off group call one of said reserve channels.

A method of controlling cell assignment of a wireless communications mobile terminal participating in a group call session, comprising:

• assigning said mobile terminal to a first cell;
• storing a list of candidate cells including a second cell;
• determining if said second cell is participating in said group call session;
• selectively changing the cell assignment of said mobile terminal from said first cell to said second cell based on participation of said first and second cells in said group call session;
• wherein said selectively changing the cell assignment of said mobile terminal includes changing the cell assignment of said mobile terminal from said first cell to said second cell if:
• said first cell is not participating in said group call session with another mobile terminal assigned to said first cell;
• said second cell is participating in said group call session;
• and
• said second cell provides at least minimally acceptable signal quality to said mobile terminal.

A method of controlling cell assignment of a wireless communications mobile terminal participating in a group call session, comprising:

• assigning said mobile terminal to a first cell;
• storing a list of candidate cells including a second cell;
• determining if said second cell is participating in said group call session;
• selectively changing the cell assignment of said mobile terminal from said first cell to said second cell based on participation of said first and second cells in said group call session;
• wherein said selectively changing the cell assignment of said mobile terminal includes changing the cell assignment of said mobile terminal from said first cell to said second cell if:
• said first cell is not participating in said group call session with another mobile terminal assigned to said first cell;
• said second cell is participating in said group call session;
• and
• said second cell provides signal quality of better than a predetermined level to said mobile terminal.

A method of controlling cell assignment of a wireless communications mobile terminal participating in a group call session, comprising:

• assigning said mobile terminal to a first cell;
• storing a list of candidate cells including a second cell;
• determining if said second cell is participating in said group call session;
• selectively changing the cell assignment of said mobile terminal from said first cell to said second cell based on participation of said first and second cells in said group call session;
• wherein said mobile terminal is a first mobile terminal and further including assigning a second mobile terminal to said second cell prior to said determining if said second cell is participating in said group call session and wherein said selectively changing the cell assignment of said mobile terminal includes changing the cell assignment of said mobile terminal from said first cell to said second cell because said second mobile terminal is participating in said group call session in said second cell.

A method of controlling cell assignment of a wireless communications mobile terminal participating in a group call session, comprising:

• assigning said mobile terminal to a first cell;
• storing a list of candidate cells including a second cell;
• determining if said second cell is participating in said group call session;
• selectively changing the cell assignment of said mobile terminal from said first cell to said second cell based on participation of said first and second cells in said group call session;
• wherein selectively changing the cell assignment of said mobile terminal from said first cell to said second cell based on participation of said first and second cells in said group call session includes said mobile terminal controlling said selectively changing the cell assignment of said mobile terminal from said first cell to said second cell based on participation of said first and second cells in said group call session.