Method and apparatus for allocating network resources in a group communication system

A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

• instructions to identify a plurality of group communication clients for participation in a group communication call;
• instructions to allocate at least one of a plurality of network resources to the group communication call based on a predetermined call control decision rule utilizing at least one predetermined call control decision parameter;
• instructions to select at least one of a plurality of communication manager devices to control the group communication call,
• wherein at least two of the plurality of communication manager devices are operable to manage different ones of the plurality of network resources,
• and wherein the instructions to select selects the at least one communication manager device to control the group communication call based upon (i) a priority associated with the group communication call, (ii) a priority associated with one or more of the plurality of group communication clients, and/or (iii) a security status associated with the group communication call.

At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

• identifying a plurality of group communication clients for participation in a group communication call;
• allocating at least one of a plurality of network resources to the group communication call based on a predetermined call control decision rule utilizing at least one predetermined call control decision parameter;
• and
• selecting at least one of a plurality of communication manager devices to control the group communication call,
• wherein at least two of the plurality of communication manager devices are operable to manage different ones of the plurality of network resources,
• and wherein the at least one processor is configured to select the at least one communication manager device to control the group communication call based upon (i) a priority associated with the group communication call, (ii) a priority associated with one or more of the plurality of group communication clients, and/or (iii) a security status associated with the group communication call.

A network device for allocating network resources for a group communication call, the device comprising:

• a computer platform that includes a processing engine and a memory unit;
• and
• a dispatch module stored in the memory unit and executed by the processing engine, wherein the dispatch module includes call set-up logic operable for identifying a plurality of group communication clients for participation in a group communication call, call control logic operable for allocating at least one of a plurality of network resources to the group communication call based on a predetermined call control decision rule utilizing at least one predetermined call control decision parameter and call logic operable for selecting at least one of a plurality of communication manager devices to control the group communication call,
• wherein at least two of the plurality of communication manager devices are operable to manage different ones of the plurality of network resources,
• and wherein the call logic operable for selecting selects the at least one communication manager device to control the group communication call based upon (i) a priority associated with the group communication call, (ii) a priority associated with one or more of the plurality of group communication clients, and/or (iii) a security status associated with the group communication call.

A network device for allocating network resources for a group communication call, the device comprising:

• a means for processing data at the network device;
• a means for storing data at the wireless device that is in communication with the means for processing data;
• a means for identifying a plurality of group communication clients for participation in a group communication call;
• a means for allocating at least one of a plurality of network resources to the group communication call based on a predetermined call control decision rule utilizing at least one predetermined call control decision parameter;
• and
• a means for selecting at least one of a plurality of communication manager devices to control the group communication call,
• wherein at least two of the plurality of communication manager devices are operable to manage different ones of the plurality of network resources,
• and wherein the means for selecting selects the at least one communication manager device to control the group communication call based upon (i) a priority associated with the group communication call, (ii) a priority associated with one or more of the plurality of group communication clients, and/or (iii) a security status associated with the group communication call.

A system for allocating network resources for a group communication call, the system comprising:

• a plurality of communication clients operable for participating in group communication calls;
• a plurality of network resources operable for controlling group communication calls;
• and
• a plurality of group communication manager devices, each in network communication with one or more communication clients, wherein at least one of the group communication manager devices includes a dispatch module that includes call set-up logic operable for identifying one or more of the plurality of communication clients for participation in a group communication call, call control logic operable for allocating at least one of a plurality of network resources to the group communication call based on a predetermined call control decision rule utilizing at least one predetermined call control decision parameter and call logic operable for selecting at least one of the plurality of group communication manager devices to control the group communication call,
• wherein at least two of the plurality of group communication manager devices are operable to manage different ones of the plurality of network resources,
• and wherein the call logic operable for selecting selects the at least one group communication manager device to control the group communication call based upon (i) a priority associated with the group communication call, (ii) a priority associated with one or more of the plurality of group communication clients, and/or (iii) a security status associated with the group communication call.