Abstract: A method for using an account balance to limit application of cellular-PBX integration service. A cellular wireless communication device (WCD) will be allotted a quantity of cellular-PBX integration service, such as a number of minutes of use per month for instance. The quantity will be decremented a the WCD uses the service, and the WCD may be precluded from benefiting from the cellular-PBX integration service upon exhaustion of the balance. In one embodiment, for instance, when a radio access network (RAN) that serves the WCD receives a call request for the WCD, the account balance can be used as a basis to decide whether to pass the call to an IP PBX server that serves the WCD or whether to have the RAN handle the call.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for identifying the carrier to which a phone, such as a mobile phone, subscribes in real time, at the time a call is originating from or terminating to the mobile phone. Where both parties to a call are subscribers to the same carrier, the methods can be used for applying preferential call rates to intra-carrier calls, e.g., making the calls free. The methods are particularly useful in the telephony networks with local number portability, in which the mere identification of the phone number does not necessarily identify the carrier to which the phone subscribes. The methods can use either existing databases to identify the carrier, such as LERG (Local Exchange Routing Guide) tables, number portability databases, name databases, and home location registers, or a new database can be created correlating mobile phone directory numbers with carriers.

Abstract: A method and system for selectively applying a cellular-PBX integration service. When a radio access network (RAN) receives a call request seeking to set up a call for a cellular wireless communication device (WCD) that is operating in the coverage area of the RAN, a determination is made as to whether the WCD is currently checked-into a cellular-PBX integration service. A service control point (SCP), for instance, may make the determination. If the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-in, then the call is set up to an IP PBX server that services the WCD, and the IP PBX server may then handle the call as it would handle a call placed to any IP PBX extension. Further, differential billing can be applied, charging an enterprise billing-account for the call if the WCD is checked-in, and charging a WCD billing-account for the call if the WCD is not checked-in.

Abstract: A method and system for selectively applying a cellular-PBX integration service. When a radio access network (RAN) receives a call request seeking to set up a call for a cellular wireless communication device (WCD) that is operating in the coverage area of the RAN, a determination is made as to whether the WCD is currently checked-into a cellular-PBX integration service. A service control point (SCP), for instance, may make the determination. If the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-in, then the call is set up to an IP PBX server that services the WCD, and the IP PBX server may then handle the call as it would handle a call placed to any IP PBX extension. Further, differential billing can be applied, charging an enterprise billing-account for the call if the WCD is checked-in, and charging a WCD billing-account for the call if the WCD is not checked-in.

Abstract: A mobile station that is fully engaged such that it cannot be connected to an incoming call without being disconnected from an existing call receives an incoming call notification. The incoming call notification may, for example, take the form of a short message system (SMS) message or a packet protocol message, such as a session initiation protocol (SIP) message. The incoming call notification may identify the calling party and may explain how to take the incoming call. If the user accepts the incoming call, the mobile station is disconnected from existing calls and connected to the incoming call.

Abstract: A carrier providing wireless services provides ringback media such as call tones via one or more call tones content providers. In one aspect, a service entity (e.g., SCP or application server) is provisioned with data unique to ringback media service subscribed to by the subscriber. The service entity provides routing instructions to a mobile switching center identifying a ringback media server (e.g., content provider platform) to render ringback media to the caller. In another aspect, a caller can exercise control over the play of ringback media, e.g., by inputting DTMF tones, which responsively cause a ringback media server to change the play of ringback media, e.g., stop it or play a different selection. In another aspect, when a subscriber initiates a call to called party that subscribes to a competitor carrier, the carrier limits exposure of the subscriber to the ringback media of the competitor carrier. In one possible configuration, the carrier inserts its own ringback media.

Abstract: A method and system for selectively applying a cellular-PBX integration service. When a radio access network (RAN) receives a call request seeking to set up a call for a cellular wireless communication device (WCD) that is operating in the coverage area of the RAN, a determination is made as to whether the WCD is currently checked-into a cellular-PBX integration service. A service control point (SCP), for instance, may make the determination. If the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-in, then the call is set up to an IP PBX server that services the WCD, and the IP PBX server may then handle the call as it would handle a call placed to any IP PBX extension. Further, differential billing can be applied, charging an enterprise billing-account for the call if the WCD is checked-in, and charging a WCD billing-account for the call if the WCD is not checked-in.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and system that allows a telephone user to send voice messages to multiple recipients. According to an embodiment, DTMF signals along with a voice message may be sent over a voice call to a network service platform. The voice message may then be delivered to contacts identified in the DTMF signal.

Abstract: In a packet-switched network, a subscribing application subscribes to a network presence server to receive selected network presence information. The network presence server obtains the selected network presence information, at least in part, from status messages that a network access server, such as a packet data serving node (PDSN), sends, for example, to an accounting server. The network presence server then provides the selected network presence information to the subscribing application. The selected network presence information may include an identification of a particular customer that has just initiated or terminated a data session and the network address the particular customer is or was using.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically delivering a voice call to a client station depending on whether the client station is currently in a mode in which it can receive data. A switch may receive a request to connect a voice call to a client station that the switch serves, and a determination may responsively be made as to whether the client station is in a mode in which it can receive data communications. If the determination is that it is not in the mode, then the switch may deliver the voice call to the client station by normal routing mechanics. On the other hand, if the determination is that it is in the mode, then the switch may re-direct the call to a circuit/packet gateway that may then extend the call as a voice-over-packet session to the client station.

Abstract: An IP PBX system that serves enterprise telephones via a landline IP network connection is be expanded to serve cellular wireless communication devices (WCD) via a cellular wireless carrier's radio access network (RAN). Calls to and from the cellular WCD are connected through the cellular carrier's RAN and the IP PBX system, so that the IP PBX system can control and manage the calls just as the IP PBX would control and manage calls involving other extensions on the IP PBX. A cellular WCD thereby becomes an IP PBX client station, i.e., an extension on the IP PBX system. As such, the cellular WCD can seamlessly benefit from many of the same IP PBX features that other more conventional IP PBX client stations (e.g., desk phones) enjoy.

Abstract: A method for dynamically selecting a voice mail system to receive a call on behalf of a cellular wireless subscriber. A radio access network (RAN) receives a voice mail call request, and a policy server determines which of a plurality of voice mail systems should receive the call from the media gateway system. The policy server can make this determination based on user profile logic and/or by voice interaction with the caller. In one embodiment, the determination may be whether to set up the call to a voice mail system provided by the subscriber's wireless carrier or rather whether to set up the call to a voice mail system provided by an enterprise that serves the subscriber.

Abstract: A method and system in which a subscriber station that is operating under one subscriber account can make changes to a service profile that is associated with another subscriber account. The subscriber station operating under the one subscriber account will send a feature code into a telecommunications network, and, based at least in part on the feature code, the network will identify a change to make to the profile of at least one other subscriber account. The network will then make the identified change to the profile of the at least one other subscriber account.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network having switching points (such as SSPs and/or MSCs) controlled by a control point (such as an SCP), the switching points are provisioned to send messages to the control point when they encounter trigger conditions during processing of a call to a called station that has a forward-to number. When the control point receives the messages, it determines whether a loop condition exists, i.e., whether the call has already been forwarded from the forward-to number. If the control point determines that a loop condition exists, the control point instructs the switching point so as not to forward the call to the forward-to number.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network having switching points (such as SSPs and/or MSCs) controlled by a control point (such as an SCP), the switching points are provisioned to send messages to the control point when they encounter trigger conditions during processing of a call to a called station that has a forward-to number. When the control point receives the messages, it determines whether a loop condition exists, i.e., whether the call has already been forwarded from the forward-to number. If the control point determines that a loop condition exists, the control point instructs the switching point so as not to forward the call to the forward-to number.