System and method using local wireless network for group communications

A wireless communication system comprising:

• a plurality of mobile communication units each configured to communicate on a group call and communicate using a local wireless protocol, said plurality of mobile communication units comprising a master communication unit and at least one slave communication unit;
• a wireless communication infrastructure including a controller configured to establish a group call communication session with said plurality of mobile communication units using a long range wireless communication protocol, to receive a slave status notification comprising an identifier for said at least one slave communication unit, and to use said group call communication session to communicate group call information to the master communication unit during the group call, and exclusive of communication to said at least one slave communication unit, using said long range wireless communication protocol;
• wherein the master communication unit is configured to communicate the group call information received from the controller during said group call communication session, to the at least one slave communication unit using the local wireless protocol;
• wherein said at least one slave communication unit is configured to communicate a termination notification from said at least one slave communication unit to said wireless communication infrastructure when said at least one slave communication unit is not capable of communication with said master communication unit via said local wireless communication protocol, said termination notification comprising an identifier for said at least one slave communication unit;
• and
• wherein the wireless communication infrastructure is configured to continue to communicate said group call information to the at least one slave communication unit that corresponds to said identifier subsequent to receiving said termination notification, and using said long range communication protocol.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions thereon configured to instruct a processor to:

• establish a group call communication session between a wireless communication infrastructure and a plurality of mobile communication units comprising a master communication unit and at least one slave communication unit, using a long range wireless communication protocol;
• receive a slave status notification comprising an identifier for said at least one slave communication unit;
• facilitate communication, during said group call communication session, of group call information from the wireless communication infrastructure to said master communication unit, and exclusive of communication to said at least one slave communication unit, using said long range wireless communication protocol;
• facilitate redistribution of the group call information from the master communication unit to the at least one slave communication unit using said local wireless communication protocol;
• receive a termination notification from said at least one slave communication unit using said wireless communication infrastructure when said at least one slave communication unit is not capable of communication with said master communication unit via said local wireless communication protocol, said termination notification comprising an identifier for said at least one slave communication unit;
• and
• subsequent to receiving said termination notification, facilitating continued communication of said group call information, using said long range communication protocol, from said wireless communication infrastructure to the at least one slave communication unit that corresponds to said identifier.