Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for allowing each mobile subscriber that has subscribed to location services to define a Subscriber Location Privacy Profile (SLPP) containing a list of preferred subscribers that have permission to position the mobile subscriber. The SLPP can also define the conditions under which each of the preferred subscribers can position the mobile subscriber. The SLPP is preferably connected to the mobile subscriber's main subscription record in the Home Location Register and can be downloaded to the Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register together the rest of the subscription information when the mobile subscriber is roaming.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for notifying a mobile subscriber being positioned of the received positioning request, and preferably, the identity of the requesting Location Application (LA) in order to enhance the privacy of the mobile subscriber. A request message, which contains a similar indicator to that of the SETUP message in mobile-terminating calls, is sent by the serving Mobile Switching Center (MSC) to the mobile subscriber to cause an alerting tone, e.g., ringing or beeping, on the Mobile Station (MS) of the mobile subscriber. The mobile subscriber can accept or reject the positioning request based upon the LA identity displayed on the MS.

Abstract: A cellular telephony network includes a supplementary service (SS) database in an intelligence network (IN) node. The SS database stores subscriber record which includes call barring data such as screening lists of specific numbers or countries and call barring options that indicate the treatment of the call barring data. The SS database may be located in an IN node connected to a mobile service center/visitor location register in a cellular telephony network or a signaling database point in a signaling network connected to the cellular telephony network or in the home location register of the cellular telephony network. At call origination, the MSC/VLR transmits the requested called number and MSISDN of the mobile subscriber to the SS database. The IN node compares the requested called number to the subscriber record associated with the MSISDN of the mobile subscriber and transmits a message to the MSC/VLR indicating whether the call is barred.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for requiring a Mobile Station (MS) that calculates it's own position within a cellular network to report that calculated location to the requester. The MS can determine and store the location of the MS, along with a time stamp, in a memory therein at predefined intervals determined by the requestor. Once the location information has been calculated and stored, the MS can report all of the relevant historical location information to the requestor at predefined intervals determined by the requestor.

Abstract: A system and method in a telecommunications system for enabling an originating mobile unit to deliver SMS messages to a select plurality of destination mobile units. A mobile station ISDN number (MSISDN) is assigned to a usergroup wherein this usergroup contains at least one and preferably a plurality of member MSISDNs. An originating mobile unit may then transmit an SMS message to a plurality of destination units by transmitting an SMS message addressed to a predefined usergroup MSISDN thereby eliminating the necessity of the originating mobile unit addressing and transmitting the SMS message to each member of the defined usergroup. Allowances are made to restrict such transmission to specified originating units.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus allowing a called party to play a message to the calling party, instructing the calling party that the called party is present and will become available in a given amount of time. A group switch is implemented which can selectively connect an incoming line to either an outgoing line for communication with the called party or an announcement machine which plays a message instructing the called party not to disconnect. The called party can then answer the call at their leisure.

Abstract: A location of a first emergency call connection requested from a mobile station within a mobile telecommunications network is determined. Thereafter, if a second emergency call connection is requested from another mobile station within approximately the same geographic area or location, an announcement message informing the caller of the already reported incident is provided. The caller then has the option of terminating the call or connecting to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) operator. An application module associated with the serving mobile telecommunications network may further transmit unstructured data, such as Short Message Service (SMS) or Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) messages, to all other mobile stations currently traveling within the reported location or area. Such reporting enables other mobile subscribers to be informed of the reported incident and not to request emergency call connections in an attempt to report the same incident.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for minimizing the chances of a mobile subscriber altering the calculated location of an associated mobile terminal when the positioning measurements and location calculation are performed by the mobile terminal. In order to prevent tampering with the location information, the Positioning Measurement Module (PMM) can be separated from the Location Calculation Module (LCM) by including both the LCM and topological information used for calculation of the location of the mobile terminal on a smart integrated circuit (IC) card within the mobile terminal. When the PMM obtains positioning measurement information, this positioning information is encrypted and sent to the LCM within the smart card, which then deciphers the encrypted information and uses the positioning information and stored topological information to calculate the location of the mobile terminal.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method for allowing the owner of a Mobile Station to define usage limits based on air time usage or by a dollar amount, e.g., charging information. When the limits are exceeded, the Mobile Station will be inoperable except for emergency calls or calls to predefined numbers established by the subscriber. The accumulated usage (time/dollar amount) can be reset and the Mobile Station returned to normal operation by the subscriber using a user-defined password.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for organizing SMS messages sent to a mobile terminal based on the location of the mobile terminal or the time of delivery of the SMS messages. Thus, when a subscriber sends a short message to another subscriber, the originating subscriber can specify the time of delivery of the message. In addition, the originating subscriber can specify the priority associated with the message, e.g., the SMS message can have an indication of priority one, which indicates to the receiving subscriber that the message is urgent. Furthermore, the originating subscriber can also specify that the message is to be delivered only when the called subscriber is in a certain location. The receiving subscriber can also control the display of the SMS messages by moving the received SMS messages to an action list, and then specifying when and/or where the SMS messages should be displayed again.

Abstract: Selective acceptance of short messages enables a cellular subscriber to predetermine which short message will actually be delivered to the subscriber's mobile station. Using an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) transmission, the subscriber determines which selection criteria will be used and then builds in the network Home Location Register (HLR) a list of originating entities from which short messages will either be accepted or rejected. A screening application resident on the HLR then determines the identity of the entity associated with any request for short message routing information and causes the short message to be delivered or deleted according to the input provided by the subscriber. A confirmation message is returned to the originating entity indicating delivery or the reason for failure.

Abstract: A method in a radio telecommunications network of connecting an incoming call to a called subscriber in a Multiple Mobile Subscriber Access Group (MMSAG) which includes a plurality of mobile subscribers. The incoming call, which includes a group identification number for the MMSAG, is received in a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (G-MSC). A request for routing information is sent to a Home Location Register (HLR) where a group data record associated with the group identification number is accessed. The group data record includes a list of individual mobile subscriber numbers allocated to the mobile subscribers in the MMSAG.

Abstract: Selective carrier denial in a cellular system restricts some or all carrier-handled calls from a given cellular subscriber while simultaneously allowing other cellular calls. A restriction flag or indicator in a Visitor Location Register (VLR) of the cellular system is set by a Home Location Register (HLR) which contains a list of those carriers denied to subscribers. When the restriction flag is set, the HLR is interrogated to determine if the call is restricted. Alternatively, the restriction flag may reside within the subscriber's mobile phone. Further, the VLR or mobile phone may, respectively, contain a list of denied carriers and internally determine if carrier denial applies without resort to the HLR.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for allowing a mobile subscriber to define a date and time of delivery for a Short Message Service (SMS) message sent by the mobile subscriber to another mobile subscriber. This can be accomplished by transporting the date and time delivery information to the SMS Service Center along with the SMS message, where it can be stored until the requested time of delivery. Once the requested time of delivery occurs, the SMS message can be forwarded to desired mobile subscriber. Alternatively, the SMS message can be stored in either the Mobile Switching Center or the mobile terminal itself until the specified date and time of delivery is reached. Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention both allow mobile subscribers the ability to send messages to themselves at predetermined times, and allow a supervisor to program the delivery of an SMS message to employees.

Abstract: Subscriber data for a particular mobile station are correlated with a particular service area and stored at a home location register (HLR) associated with that particular mobile station. Whenever the mobile station travels into a mobile switching center (MSC) serving that particular service area, the MSC performs a location update with the HLR. A location update signal further includes data representing the identity of the service area currently serving the mobile station. Upon receiving the location update signal from the serving MSC, the HLR analyzes the received data to determine the identity of the service area currently serving the mobile station and retrieves the subscriber data correlated with that particular service area. The retrieved subscriber data are then transmitted back to the serving MSC in order to provide service area dependent mobile service to the roaming mobile station.

Abstract: A request for call forwarding activation along with forward-to-number is received from a mobile station via one of the data channels such as a Stand-alone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH). The activation request itself is transported by an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message. The serving mobile switching center (MSC) analyzes the forward-to-number and establishes a speech connection with the mobile station by calling back the mobile station. Next, the MSC originates an outgoing call towards the forward-to-number and, as a result, establishes a speech connection between the mobile station and the telephone terminal associated with the forward-to-number. By establishing a speech connection between the two parties, the mobile subscriber requesting the call forwarding activation can verbally verify the forward-to-number.

Abstract: A home location register (HLR) associated with a particular mobile subscription correlates two different international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) numbers with a particular mobile subscriber integrated service digital network (MSISDN) number. When an incoming call connection is received towards that MSISDN number, the HLR makes a determination as to which one of the two mobile stations associated with the two IMSI numbers is active. The incoming call connection is then forwarded to the active mobile station. In case both mobile stations are active, the received incoming call connection is rerouted to the mobile station preassigned as a primary mobile station.

Abstract: A routing address representing an alternative terminal is assigned to a particular service area. Such a service area comprises a Local Access and Transport Area (LATA), Mobile Switching Center (MSC) area, Location Area, and Cell Area. Whenever an incoming call is received towards a mobile station currently located within the particular service area, instead of transmitting a routing address representing the mobile station, the serving mobile switching center (MSC) transmits a signal containing the routing address representing the alternative terminal. Instead of routing the call to the intended mobile station, the gateway mobile switching center (GMSC) utilizes the received routing address and reroutes the incoming call to the alternative terminal. By rerouting all incoming calls towards the alternative terminal in case of an emergency, all available access channels are reserved for making outgoing calls by the mobile subscribers located within the emergency service area.

Abstract: A call forwarding activation request is transmitted from a mobile station to the serving mobile switching center (MSC) over a data channel incapable of carrying voice data. However, mobile subscribers and mobile service providers would like to establish a speech connection between the mobile station and the forward-to-number to ensure that the forward-to-number has been dialed correctly and that desired parties are at the other end. Accordingly, whenever a call forwarding activation request is received by the mobile station, the mobile station itself initiates an outgoing call setup toward the forward-to-number. The connection-less signal encapsulating the activation request is transmitted to the serving MSC only after the successful completion of such call setup. After receiving the transmitted connection-less signal, the serving HLR alters the call forwarding feature status to active.