Methods and apparatus for managing group membership for group communications
First Claim
1. A communications method for use in a group communications environment including an end node and an access node, the method comprising:
- transmitting from a wireless interface module having a connection to an element in said end node a group membership information change request signal; and
operating a group communication module to monitor for receipt by said wireless interface module of a response to said group membership information change request signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved group communications methods which are well suited for a wireless environment are described. End nodes request that access nodes make changes in group membership information maintained at the access node. The access node responds to the requests by a response signal indicating a grant or denial of the request. Requests may be to add or remove the end node, e.g., a mobile wireless terminal, from a particular group membership list identified in the request signal. The access node maintains a detailed list of group members and uses the information to control how signals, e.g., packets, are transmitted to the group members. Group membership information may be updated at the node at the time of handoff and/or an end node enters the cell or otherwise changes its point of network attachment.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A communications method for use in a group communications environment including an end node and an access node, the method comprising:
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transmitting from a wireless interface module having a connection to an element in said end node a group membership information change request signal; and
operating a group communication module to monitor for receipt by said wireless interface module of a response to said group membership information change request signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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20. An apparatus for use in a group communications environment, the apparatus comprising:
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a transmitter module enabled to transmit a group membership information change request signal;
a receiver module enabled to receive a response to a group membership information change request signal previously transmitted by said transmitter module; and
a group communication module coupled to said receiver, said group communication module being enabled to detect a response to a group membership information change request signal which was previously transmitted by said transmission module.
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Specification