Abstract: A method is provided for updating a message waiting notification count in a profile of a mobile telephone in an ANSI41 environment. An information directive, a message defined by the ANSI41 standard is modified to included the message waiting notification count, a parameter defined by the ANSI41 standard. The updates to the message waiting notification count are transmitted from a voice mail system node to a home location register by the modified information directive without the use of dedicated connections and proprietary interfaces.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of allocating new telecommunications cells to one of a plurality of processors, and to control acceptance of new calls when in overload. The method is based on measuring the real time occupancy of each processor periodically, and allocating new calls for the following period in such a way as to attempt to make each processor's occupancy approach the average occupancy of all the processors. An overload state is detected when the average occupancy of the processors in one period exceeds a predetermined threshold, e.g., 90%. When this happens, load is shed in an amount calculated to restore the average occupancy to the threshold value over a number of periods of time. Advantageously, this method optimizes the call processing capacity of the processors.