Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a calling customer with arrangements for enhanced alerting of called numbers. A customer defines an alerting list which is entered by the telephone company and can be modified by the customer. When the customer dials a special number, the telephone stations associated with the telephone numbers on that customer's enhanced alerting list are alerted either in parallel (as in flexible alerting) or sequentially under the control of the caller. Advantageously, a customer can arrange to alert a predefined group of called numbers in response to dialing a special number.

Abstract: A method of preserving or gracefully concluding wireless calls that are dropped when service is interrupted in a wireless communication system (100) (e.g., due to poor RF coverage). When a mobile unit (108) encounters a service interruption during a call, an announcement (208) is played inviting remaining participating unit(s) to hold. After a predetermined waiting time (210, 216), if service is not re-established to the mobile unit, the remaining unit(s) are invited (218) to leave a message (e.g., voice mail) for the mobile unit and connected (220) to a messaging system (126). After message(s) are concluded, the call is ended (226) or optionally, lo continued (206) if there is more than one remaining unit. If service is recovered before the waiting time expires, a service recovery announcement is provided (214) to the remaining unit(s) and the call continues (206).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a calling customer with arrangements for enhanced alerting of called numbers. A customer defines an alerting list which is entered by the telephone company and can be modified by the customer. When the customer dials a special number, the telephone stations associated with the telephone numbers on that customer's enhanced alerting list are alerted either in parallel (as in flexible alerting) or sequentially under the control of the caller. Advantageously, a customer can arrange to alert a predefined group of called numbers in response to dialing a special number.

Abstract: A method of preserving or gracefully concluding wireless calls that are dropped when service is interrupted in a wireless communication system (100) (e.g., due to poor RF coverage). When a mobile unit (108) encounters a service interruption during a call, an announcement (208) is played inviting remaining participating unit(s) to hold. After a predetermined waiting time (210, 216), if service is not re-established to the mobile unit, the remaining unit(s) are invited (218) to leave a message (e.g., voice mail) for the mobile unit and connected (220) to a messaging system (126). After message(s) are concluded, the call is ended (226) or optionally, lo continued (206) if there is more than one remaining unit. If service is recovered before the waiting time expires, a service recovery announcement is provided (214) to the remaining unit(s) and the call continues (206).

Abstract: Telephone calls are handed off from a wireless network to a wireline network under the control of a subscriber. When at a given location, the subscriber enters the directory number of the wireline terminal (typically the closest) to which a future wireless call is to be transferred. The entered directory number is then stored in memory in the subscriber's wireless terminal with the current location of the subscriber as determined by a satellite-based global positioning system (GPS) for future use. If the subscriber wants to transfer a call to a wireline terminal, the subscriber selects a transfer handoff key on the subscriber's wireless terminal. After the subscriber's location is determined using the GPS, it is then determined if a directory number (DN) of a designated wireline terminal has previously been entered and stored in memory for the subscriber's present location.

Abstract: Voice mail, email, fax and personal calendar systems are integrated allowing for the automatic updating of voice mail and email responses to received telephone calls and emails indicating that the receiver of the telephone call/email is out of the office, temporarily unavailable, etc. For received telephone calls, a determination is made as to whether the call was received during or outside of normal working hours, and if the person receiving the call is still engaged beyond a previous entered time period for providing an appropriate message to the caller. The determination is also made as to whether the received call is an “inside” or “outside” call, e.g., originating within or outside of the office or organization being called, and a predetermined response is provided depending upon where the call originated.

Abstract: The wireless telephone system for accessing multiple stations via a single telephone number provides a single telephone number for a group of subscribers who are equipped with a plurality of stations, including at least one mobile subscriber station, to thereby enable call connections to be established to any one of the mobile subscriber stations in the group when the other stations in the group are in an idle state. A plurality of mobile subscriber stations are registered as members of a group that is assigned a single telephone number. The wireless communication system tracks the present location of the plurality of mobile subscriber stations and their present busy/idle status. If a subscriber at one of the plurality of mobile subscriber stations goes off-hook to originate a call connection, the wireless communication system determines whether any other members of the group are presently engaged in an active call connection using the assigned single telephone number.

Abstract: A stable telephone call barge-in without operator intervention is described wherein a telephone line is provided with two separate directory numbers. One directory number is the usual directory number associated with the line. The second directory number is considered the priority directory number which also translates in circuit switched telephony as the same line ID. Therefore, when a call is in a stable state, a person dialing the regular directory number will receive a busy signal. The person can then disconnect and dial the priority number. When the priority number is received, advantageously, a password is entered into the system to verify that the user of the priority number has permission to barge in. If the password is valid, the existing call is disconnected and the party barging in is connected to the called party. The other call may be placed on hold or alternatively may be disconnected with or without an announcement.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for providing roaming service to a telecommunications station which can act as a cellular station or if plugged into a jack connected to a land-line switch, can act like a land-line telephone. When such a Universal Main Station (UMS) is plugged into a jack connected to a land-line switch, the station calls a server system which obtains the directory number corresponding to the jack into which the UMS was plugged. The server notifies a home switch of said UMS to forward calls to that directory number. When the UMS subsequently unplugs from the jack, the UMS registers as a mobile station and the home switch is notified to forward calls to the UMS, acting as a mobile station and identified by a secret directory number, identified in the course of the registration.

Abstract: A method and system for responding to security system inoperability due to damage of a telecommunications line interconnecting the security system to its central monitoring service system requires origination of a wireless telephone call. A wireless unit is interconnected to the security system and originates an emergency call upon detection of telecommunications line abnormalities. Upon establishing a call connection between the wireless unit and the central monitoring service system, the wireless unit relays dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) signals which identify the security system affected by the breach so that appropriate authorities may be dispatched. In alternative embodiments, the wireless unit is programmed to place calls to other designated telephone numbers.