Method and System for Managing Mass Registration Scenario in Two-Way Radio System

1. A method comprising: detecting that an inbound control channel is in a mass registration condition; during the mass registration condition, receiving a plurality of registration requests over the inbound control channel, including at least a first registration request from a member of a first talkgroup; in response to the first registration request, initiating a first restriction period by sending a first restriction message on an outbound control channel, wherein the first restriction message instructs members of the first talkgroup to cease registration requests; and when the first restriction period ends, sending a first invitation message on the outbound control channel inviting members of the first talkgroup to resume registration requests.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first invitation message invites only members of the first talkgroup to resume registration requests.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first restriction message is a registration grant that acknowledges registration of a member of the first talkgroup, and wherein the first restriction message includes a first restriction code that instructs members of the first talkgroup to cease registration requests.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first restriction period ends when a first predetermined delay time has passed since the initiation of the first restriction period.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first restriction period ends when a predetermined silence time has passed since the receipt of a registration request on the inbound control channel.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first restriction period ends at the earlier of the following times: (a) when a first predetermined delay time has passed since the initiation of the first restriction period; and (b) when a first predetermined silence time has passed since the receipt of a registration request on the inbound control channel.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: during the mass registration condition, receiving a second registration request from a member of a second talkgroup on the inbound control channel; in response to the second registration request, initiating a second restriction period by sending a second restriction message on the outbound control channel, wherein the second restriction message instructs members of the second talkgroup to cease registration requests; and when the second restriction period ends, sending a second invitation message on the outbound control channel inviting members of the second talkgroup to resume registration requests.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first restriction period overlaps with the second restriction period.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second restriction period ends when a second predetermined delay time has passed since the initiation of the second restriction period.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second predetermined delay time has the same duration as a first predetermined delay time.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second restriction period ends when a predetermined silence time has passed since the receipt of a registration request on the inbound control channel.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second restriction period ends at the earlier of the following times: (a) when a second predetermined delay time has passed since the initiation of the second restriction period; and (b) when a predetermined silence time has passed since the receipt of a registration request on the inbound control channel.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein a substantial majority of talkgroup members that are registered during the first restriction period are not members of the first talkgroup.

14. A system comprising: a transceiver for communicating on an inbound control channel and an outbound control channel; a control module operatively coupled to the transceiver, wherein the control module includes a processor and a non-transient computer-readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed on the processor, are operative: (a) to detect that the inbound control channel is in a mass registration condition; (b) during the mass registration condition, to receive a plurality of registration requests over the inbound control channel, including at least a first registration request from a member of a first talkgroup; (c) in response to the first registration request, to initiate a first restriction period by sending a first restriction message on the outbound control channel, wherein the first restriction message instructs members of the first talkgroup to cease registration requests; and (d) when the first restriction period ends, to send a first invitation message on the outbound control channel inviting members of the first talkgroup to resume registration requests.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first restriction period ends at the earlier of the following times: (a) when a first predetermined delay time has passed since the initiation of the first restriction period; and (b) when a first predetermined silence time has passed since the receipt of a registration request on the inbound control channel.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed on the processor, are further operative: during the mass registration condition, to receive a second registration request from a member of a second talkgroup on the inbound control channel; in response to the second registration request, to initiate a second restriction period by sending a second restriction message on the outbound control channel, wherein the second restriction message instructs members of the second talkgroup to cease registration requests; and when the second restriction period ends, to send a second invitation message on the outbound control channel inviting members of the second talkgroup to resume registration requests.