Method and apparatus for dynamically grouping communication units in a communication system

A display-based terminal (101) employs a method and apparatus for dynamically grouping communication units (105-113) operating in a communication system (100). The display-based terminal displays a map (300, 400) to a user of the terminal that indicates, among other things, locations of communication units in at least a portion of the communication system. The terminal receives the user's selection of communication units from the map and an identification of at least one talkgroup with which the selected units are to become members. The communication units may be selected individually, as a group (e.g., using "click and drag" rectangling techniques), or both. After communication units have been selected from the map, the terminal automatically groups the selected units into the indicated talkgroup. If the terminal user desires to ungroup a previously grouped communication unit, the user selects the unit from the map and the terminal automatically removes the newly selected unit from the talkgroup.