Abstract: A method of censoring Internet content includes: packetizing a web page into one or more data packets (50); inserting into the data packets censorship ratings corresponding to the web page's content; conveying the data packets (50) over the Internet (30) to a receiving end user terminal (10); determining the censorship ratings of the data packets (50); and, acting on the data packets (50) in response to their determined censorship ratings.

Abstract: Wireless networks and methods are disclosed that provide for anonymous call blocking in wireless networks. A wireless network of the invention includes an MSC system and an HLR system. When a calling party initiates a call to a called party, the MSC system receives the call and generates a call setup message for the call. The call is anonymous, so the call setup message does not include caller ID information for the calling party. The MSC system receiving the call transmits the call setup message to the HLR system. The HLR system determines if the call setup message includes caller ID information, and determines if the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking. Responsive to determining that there is no caller ID information in the call setup message and that the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking, the HLR system instructs the MSC system to block the call.

Abstract: Wireless networks and methods are disclosed that provide for anonymous call blocking in wireless networks. A wireless network of the invention includes an MSC system and an HLR system. When a calling party initiates a call to a called party, the MSC system receives the call and generates a call setup message for the call. The call is anonymous, so the call setup message does not include caller ID information for the calling party. The MSC system receiving the call transmits the call setup message to the HLR system. The HLR system determines if the call setup message includes caller ID information, and determines if the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking. Responsive to determining that there is no caller ID information in the call setup message and that the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking, the HLR system instructs the MSC system to block the call.

Abstract: Wireless networks and methods provide call waiting distinctive ringback. A wireless network of the invention comprises a switching system and a subscriber database. The switching system receives a registration request from a mobile device of a subscriber, transmits a registration message to the subscriber database, and receives a response message from subscriber database that includes a call waiting distinctive ringback indicator for the subscriber. If the switching system receives a call attempt from a calling party directed to the mobile device of the subscriber that is busy, then the switching system processes the call waiting distinctive ringback indicator to determine the type of ringback to provide for the call attempt, either distinctive ringback or non-distinct ringback.

Abstract: A wireless network is disclosed that provides repeat dialing to called parties that are powered off. The wireless network includes an originating MSC system, a Home Location Register (HLR) system for a called party, and a serving MSC system that serves the called party. Responsive to identifying that the called party is powered off, the calling party transmits a repeat dialing instruction to the originating MSC system. The originating MSC system then transmits a repeat dialing indicator to the HLR system for the called party. The HLR system for the called party identifies when the called party powers on. When the called party does power on, the HLR system transmits an instruction to the serving MSC system to attempt to set up a call between the called party and the calling party.

Abstract: Wireless networks and methods are disclosed that provide for anonymous call blocking in wireless networks. A wireless network of the invention includes an MSC system and an HLR system. When a calling party initiates a call to a called party, the MSC system receives the call and generates a call setup message for the call. The call is anonymous, so the call setup message does not include caller ID information for the calling party. The MSC system receiving the call transmits the call setup message to the HLR system. The HLR system determines if the call setup message includes caller ID information, and determines if the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking. Responsive to determining that there is no caller ID information in the call setup message and that the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking, the HLR system instructs the MSC system to block the call.

Abstract: A wireless network is disclosed that provides repeat dialing to busy called parties. The wireless network includes an originating MSC system that serves a calling party, and a terminating MSC system that serves a called party. The calling party initiates a call to the called party through the originating MSC system, and the terminating MSC system determines that the called party is busy on another call. The originating MSC system then receives a repeat dialing instruction from the calling party and transmits a repeat dialing indicator to the terminating MSC system. The terminating MSC system identifies when the called party becomes available in substantially real time. When available, the terminating MSC system attempts to set up a call between the called party and the calling party.

Abstract: A wireless network is disclosed that provides repeat dialing to called parties that are powered off. The wireless network includes an originating MSC system, a Home Location Register (HLR) system for a called party, and a serving MSC system that serves the called party. Responsive to identifying that the called party is powered off, the calling party transmits a repeat dialing instruction to the originating MSC system. The originating MSC system then transmits a repeat dialing indicator to the HLR system for the called party. The HLR system for the called party identifies when the called party powers on. When the called party does power on, the HLR system transmits an instruction to the serving MSC system to attempt to set up a call between the called party and the calling party.

Abstract: A wireless network is disclosed that provides repeat dialing to called parties that are powered off. The wireless network includes an originating MSC system, a Home Location Register (HLR) system for a called party, and a serving MSC system that serves the called party. Responsive to identifying that the called party is powered off, the calling party transmits a repeat dialing instruction to the originating MSC system. The originating MSC system then transmits a repeat dialing indicator to the HLR system for the called party. The HLR system for the called party identifies when the called party powers on. When the called party does power on, the HLR system transmits an instruction to the serving MSC system to attempt to set up a call between the called party and the calling party.

Abstract: A wireless network is disclosed that provides repeat dialing to busy called parties. The wireless network includes an originating MSC system that serves a calling party, and a terminating MSC system that serves a called party. The calling party initiates a call to the called party through the originating MSC system, and the terminating MSC system determines that the called party is busy on another call. The originating MSC system then receives a repeat dialing instruction from the calling party and transmits a repeat dialing indicator to the terminating MSC system. The terminating MSC system identifies when the called party becomes available in substantially real time. When available, the terminating MSC system attempts to set up a call between the called party and the calling party.

Abstract: A wireless network is disclosed that provides repeat dialing to busy called parties. The wireless network includes an originating MSC system that serves a calling party, and a terminating MSC system that serves a called party. The calling party initiates a call to the called party through the originating MSC system, and the terminating MSC system determines that the called party is busy on another call. The originating MSC system then receives a repeat dialing instruction from the calling party and transmits a repeat dialing indicator to the terminating MSC system. The terminating MSC system identifies when the called party becomes available in substantially real time. When available, the terminating MSC system attempts to set up a call between the called party and the calling party.

Abstract: A system and method of routing calls in a telecommunications network is provided. The method includes receiving an incoming call for the called party, determining the called party location, selecting a long distance carrier preferred by the called party for incoming calls made to the called party location, and routing the call to the called party using the selected long distance carrier. The system includes means for receiving an incoming call for the called party, means for determining the called party location, means for selecting a long distance carrier preferred by the called party for incoming calls made to the called party location, and means for routing the call to the called party using the selected long distance carrier.

Abstract: The invention implements specialized resource functions (SRFs) associated with wireless intelligent network (WIN) in a mobile switch center (MSC) of a wireless network. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for handling SRFs associated with WIN in an MSC of a wireless network. In another embodiment of the method, the invention provides a method for handling SRFs in an MSC of a wireless network, wherein the wireless network includes the MSC and a service control point (SCP) in communication with the MSC. In still another aspect, the invention provides an MSC for a wireless network that includes: a switch service function (SSF) process, an SRF process, an SSF/SRF interface, and an SCP interface.

Abstract: Communication systems and methods are disclosed that provide a voice mail bridging service. A communication network attempts to connect a call between a calling party and a called party. The called party has a plurality of telephone numbers corresponding with a plurality of voice mail systems. Responsive to the communication network determining that the called party has not answered the call attempt, the communication network prompts the calling party to record a voice message. The communication network receives a voice message from the calling party. The communication network identifies a plurality of telephone numbers for the called party, such as a home number, a mobile number, a business number, etc. The communication network then transmits the voice message to the voice mail systems corresponding with the identified telephone numbers for the called party. The called party can thus access any of the voice mail systems to retrieve the voice message.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present method allow only one serving mobile switching center to connect an incoming call from a communication terminal to a customized ring back tone server when a called mobile terminal moves from an area of a serving mobile switching center to an area of a bordering mobile switching center.

Abstract: A system and a method for hierarchical routing with a look-ahead mechanism is disclosed. The method includes originating a call having an origination point in a first form through a first region. The method continues with routing the call to the originating MSC and then to a first internet protocol tandem associated with the first region. The method continues with forwarding the call to a second internet protocol tandem associated with a second region. The second region is generally the destination region. The method continues with determining whether or not the call qualifies as a call that may be terminated in a second form and if the call does qualify to be terminated in the second form, rerouting the call back to the original mobile switching center and connecting the call to the termination point in the second form, i.e., a circuit based form.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which allows the mobile user to subscribe to Customized Image and Ring Tone (CIRT) service providing them access to a CIRT server to pre-define a customized image or ring tone to be played to a called party, and sends the pre-defined image or ring tone to the called party during alerting when a call is made from the mobile user is provided. The CIRT subscriber can download images or ring tones from internet web site to CIRT server, create their own via digital camera/camera phone then send them to CIRT, or choose existing ones that are available in the CIRT server. The CIRT subscriber then selects a specific image or ring tone for a specific phone number through access to the CIRT server via the Internet or a phone call. When the subscriber calls a number that is predefined with a CIRT, the call will be routed to CIRT server first and then to the called party.

Abstract: A method of forwarding messages in a wireless network is provided. The method comprises receiving a message destined for a first mobile station, processing the message based on call forwarding data to make a determination as to whether the message is to be forwarded to different mobile station, and transmitting the message to a message center responsive to the determination determining that the message is to be forwarded to a different mobile station.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for implementing wireless number portability in a wireless communications network, in which an originating switching component determines whether a called number is ported or not based on profile information from a home location register without querying a number portability database.

Abstract: Wireless networks and methods are disclosed that provide call waiting distinctive ringback. A wireless network of the invention comprises a switching system and a subscriber database. The switching system receives a registration request from a mobile device of a subscriber, transmits a registration message to the subscriber database, and receives a response message from subscriber database that includes a call waiting distinctive ringback indicator for the subscriber. If the switching system receives a call attempt from a calling party directed to the mobile device of the subscriber that is busy, then the switching system processes the call waiting distinctive ringback indicator to determine the type of ringback to provide for the call attempt, either distinctive ringback or non-distinct ringback.