Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for providing fixed terminal access to a mobile telecommunications network in which subscriber's mobile stations in the mobile telecommunications network and the fixed terminals are addressable with subscriber information references of the mobile telecommunications network. The fixed terminals are connected to a local loop of a wireline network. An interface unit is provided between the mobile telecommunications network and the wireline network at a node of the mobile telecommunications network. Services of the mobile telecommunication network to and from a subscriber's fixed terminal are provided through the interface and the wireline network. The wireline network may be a public service telephone network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a complete directory number to a call-processing device in a communications network is provided. This enables equipment that is designed to “expect” only complete directory numbers (e.g. the whole rather than part of a telephone number) to be used with communication equipment that provides parts of as well as whole directory numbers. For example, a telecommunications switch that is arranged for use in a closed dial plan system can be used in an open dial plan communications network by using the invention. Also, traditional telephone systems can be used with a mobile telephone switch. A learned list of directory numbers is stored and a dialled candidate directory number is compared with items in this list. If a match is found the candidate is known to be a complete directory number and can be passed to the equipment in the communications network which requires this.

Abstract: The present invention provides geographically fixed receiver functionality for subscriber information which specifies the subscriber's identity in a mobile telecommunications system. This is achieved in accordance with the present invention by associating the Subscriber Identification Information (SII) with a fixed geographical reference point rather than with a particular device. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention the access point lies outside the radio telecommunications system. In this embodiment, the control signals of the mobile system must be transmitted right up to the subscriber's premises. In a further preferred embodiment the access point lies in the radio telecommunications system. In the latter embodiment, the control signals of the mobile telecommunications system may be terminated in an access node which may be conveniently located in a wired base station.

Abstract: A satellite communications system is provided for full mesh connectivity between a number of earth terminals via a satellite link. The earth terminals are connected to user access devices to receive and transmit voice, video and data and are operable to generate bursts to transmit user data via a satellite, and to process data received from the satellite and transmit it to the addressed user access devices. The terminals each comprise a programmable computing device which prioritizes data into bursts using a fragmentation protocol. The programmable computing device also organizes bursts in at least one of a plurality of slots constituting a time division multiple access frame in accordance with a burst plan. Each terminal has access to a guaranteed number of the slots. The allocation of the remaining slots among the terminals varies dynamically to increase or decrease the burst transmission rates of the terminals as needed.