Abstract: A cellular messaging network includes a switching controller connected to the wireless telephone network. One or more base station micro/picocell retransmitters are coupled to the switching controller. The base station micro/picocell transmitter uses simplified control equipment having no digital traffic channel capability. Each base station micro/picocell retransmitter is able to discriminate between voice channel assignment signals and short messaging signals in the digital control channel, discard the voice channel assignment signals, and rebroadcast the short messaging signals in the digital control channel. One or more receivers are coupled to the base station micro/picocell retransmitters by way of an IS-136 protocol digital control channel. The base station micro/picocell retransmitter can be connected to the switching controller through a twisted-pair telephone line.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatus and methods to provide power to a communications unit. In one embodiment of the present invention, a system includes a first communications network to engage in communications with the communications unit and a second communications network to provide power to the communications unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system to provide message notification to a subscriber having a wireless device, without the need to forward the message content with the notification. The message notification can be received within a wireless communication network such as a cellular telephone network. This message notification is forwarded to the wireless device of the subscriber and indicates that the subscriber has a waiting message. In another aspect of the invention, a message notification can be forwarded to a wireless device by receiving within a wireless communication network a message notification from a private base station that is connected into a premises based local area network. The premises based local area network receives the message from a message provider and stores it within a premises based to personal computer which generates the message notification. Messages may be any form of stored or recorded message, including e-mail, voice-mail and facsimile.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatus and methods to provide power to a communications unit. In one embodiment of the present invention, a system includes a first communications network to engage in communications with the communications unit and a second communications network to provide power to the communications unit.

Abstract: A communication device and method in which actuation of a function key, corresponding to at least one function associated with a remotely located voice messaging system, causes a command related to the actuated function key to be generated and sent to the voice messaging system. The predetermined function keys correspond to voice messaging system functions, such as listen to a message, skip a message, replay a message, delete a message, play a previous message, and fast forward through a message.

Abstract: A method provides a wireless subscriber with the capability of selectively changing the assignment of the party that pays for a call for which the wireless subscriber is terminating terminal. The subscriber can register with a switching center and select an option that places the payment responsibility on a calling party. Then when a calling party initiates a call to the wireless subscriber the switching center forwards a notice to the calling party that the responsibility for paying for the call rests with the calling party. The wireless subscriber can at any subsequent time elect to accept the responsibility for calls to the subscriber.

Abstract: A location is provided with a fixed wireless transceiver. The wireless transceiver is coupled to a land-line that connects the location to the local exchange carrier's central office. The wireless device is powered by power received from a central office over the land-line connection.

Abstract: A method facilitates providing private exchange functionality to a subscriber that is remote from the private network. In the private network, telephones connected thereto can be accessed via extension dialing. The remote subscriber can dial the extension of a second telephone connected to said private network. A local exchange receives the extension and translates it into a phone number for the second telephone. The local exchange then uses the phone number to establish a connection between the subscriber and the second telephone. The same method can be used to implement remote speed dialing and automatic callback through the private network.

Abstract: A data collection method, system and private base station collects data from at least one data generator positioned within a premises and forwards the data to a private base station along a communication channel. Communication is first attempted with a landline telephone network. If this is unsuccessful, a call containing the data is forwarded through a wireless cellular phone network to a desired destination such as a monitoring service.

Abstract: A telephone system includes at least one mobile station for communicating with a wireless cellular phone network at a private base station that registers a mobile station and enables communication of a mobile station with a land-line telephone network through the private base station. The private base station is responsive to pre-determined signaling codes received from a registered mobile station for switching the communication of the private base station into the wireless cellular phone network. The private base station includes a memory for storing calling numbers received from a landline network. A dialer generates calls to a stored calling number through the wireless cellular network upon receipt of a pre-determined signal generated by a registered mobile station.

Abstract: Improved communication service methods operate in conjunction with a wireless communications network that includes a plurality of cells, microcells, and/or picocells. A user zone is defined as including one or more cells, microcells, picocells, and/or one or more cell, microcell, and/or picocell sectors. A first set of communication features are provided within the user zone, and a second set of communication features are provided outside the user zone. According to an embodiment disclosed herein, a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO), coupled to the user zone, stores a user zone profile identifying the cells, picocells, microcells, picocell sectors, microcell sectors, and cell sectors included in the user zone. The MTSO selectively modifies a service profile for a cellular telephone if (I) that cellular telephone is situated within the user zone, and optionally (ii) that cellular telephone is authorized for that user zone.

Abstract: A subscriber enters personal information data into a personal information manager (PIM). The PIM, either automatically, or based on additional profile requests entered by the subscriber, generates profile update data associated with the personal information data. The PIM transmits the profile update data to a database in a telecommunication system which stores subscriber profile data. The transmission is via a wired communication link, a wireless communication link, or a combination of wired and wireless communication link. Upon receipt of the profile update data by the database, the subscriber profile data stored therein is updated in accordance with the subscriber profile update data. Thereafter, telecommunication services, including call completion services and message reminder services, are provided to the subscriber based on the updated subscriber profile data.

Abstract: A subscriber enters personal information data into a personal information manager (PIM). The PIM, either automatically, or based on additional profile requests entered by the subscriber, generates profile update data associated with the personal information data. The PIM transmits the profile update data to a database in a telecommunication system which stores subscriber profile data. The transmission is via a wired communication link, a wireless communication link, or a combination of wired and wireless communication link. Upon receipt of the profile update data by the database, the subscriber profile data stored therein is updated in accordance with the subscriber profile update data. Thereafter, telecommunication services, including call completion services and message reminder services, are provided to the subscriber based on the updated subscriber profile data.

Abstract: A cellular messaging network includes a switching controller connected to the wireless telephone network. One or more base station micro/picocell retransmitters are coupled to the switching controller. The base station micro/picocell transmitter uses simplified control equipment having no digital traffic channel capability. Each base station micro/picocell retransmitter is able to discriminate between voice channel assignment signals and short messaging signals in the digital control channel, discard the voice channel assignment signals, and rebroadcast the short messaging signals in the digital control channel. One or more receivers are coupled to the base station micro/picocell retransmitters by way of an IS-136 protocol digital control channel. The base station micro/picocell retransmitter can be connected to the switching controller through a twisted-pair telephone line.

Abstract: A radio telephone and pager system includes a radio telephone handset and a pager that detachably mounts to the handset. The pager employs a transceiver that provides both paging service, such as a messaging service, and radio telephone service, such as cellular service, when the pager is mounted. Also, the transceiver provides the pager service when the pager is detached. The invention achieves a reduction in a number of components while enabling subscribers to use a single telephone system to provide both a radio telephone and a stand-along pager.

Abstract: In a wireless communication network, a feature initiation signal is received from a first wireless telephone, a data record for a second telephone is updated, and calls placed to the second telephone are routed to the first wireless telephone based on the updated data record. The first wireless telephone may be a mobile telephone in a vehicle, and a registration signal generated by the mobile telephone upon provision of power thereto may serve as the feature initiation signal. The second telephone may also be a wireless telephone, such as a portable telephone. When an outgoing call code is received from the first wireless telephone, the network places the outgoing call in accordance with the outgoing call code and augmenting information from the data record for the second telephone.