Abstract: The present system for identifying the location of selected mobile stations includes two components: a first component that authenticates an authorized party who logs into the Mobile Switching Center, and a second component that is responsive to the entry of a system activation command by the authorized party for locating selected mobile stations and providing mobile station location information to the authorized party. The present system for identifying the location of selected mobile stations enables a service provider to track a mobile station through the use of Autonomous Registrations or the polling of a selected mobile station or a set of mobile stations. Once communication with the selected mobile station is established, the GPS coordinates of the selected mobile station are retrieved and provided to an authorized party to enable them to locate the subscriber and their mobile station.

Abstract: In order to reduce the traffic on the paging channel, the system for reducing paging channel occupancy for message waiting indication in mobile switching centers allows the Message Waiting Notification process to determine a last zone in which the Mobile Subscriber was located and only transmit the Message Waiting Indication to the cells within that zone. This eliminates message transmission on the paging channel of cells which are not likely to have the Mobile Subscriber Station residing in their service area. Multiple retries can be attempted and if the last retry is being activated, the paging can be extended to cover all zones in the Mobile Switching Center. The sharing of information about when a mobile has responded to a message waiting count between the Serving MSC and the Home MSC also reduces the paging channel occupancy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for tracking multiple mobile units based upon the initial location of a distressed mobile unit. A distressed mobile unit is one, for example, belonging to someone who has been kidnapped or had their vehicle carjacked. An MSC receives a request to locate a distressed mobile unit. The MSC determines the location of the distressed mobile unit and also other mobile units that are located in the location area. The MSC then tracks the other mobile units.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for locating a mobile unit. A home Mobile Switching Center (MSC) receives a request for the location of a mobile unit. The home MSC determines a visited MSC that is the last MSC accessed by the mobile unit. The home MSC sends a message requesting the location of the mobile unit to the visited MSC. The visited MSC initiates a location finding process for the mobile unit. If the mobile unit is located at the visited MSC, the visited MSC sends location data relating to the mobile unit to the home MSC.

Abstract: The message waiting notification update system is operable in the serving Mobile Switching Center and, upon receipt of a message-waiting acknowledgement from the mobile subscriber station, updates the local copy of the subscriber's data in the Visited Location Register and forwards this information to the subscriber's Home Location Register. The Home Location Register stores this received data for use when the next successive Registration Notification is received from a new serving Mobile Switching Center or in response to the subscriber initiating a local access. When the serving Mobile Switching Center receives a Registration Notification message return result from the subscriber's Home Location Register and the message waiting notification count is the same as the count previously sent to the Home Location Register, the serving Mobile Switching Center does not have to transmit a message waiting notification over the forward control channel to the mobile subscriber station.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are disclosed for providing a default mode for authentication failures in a mobile telecommunication network. The system includes an authentication center (typically co-located within a home location register), an adjunct network entity, and an originating mobile switching center. The home location register generally stores information pertaining to a mobile unit, such as a cellular or PCS mobile telephone. The adjunct network entity contains one or more application nodes, such as an announcement application node for providing an announcement on a call leg to the mobile unit. When the network has been accessed by a mobile unit through a call leg, the originating mobile switching center is configured to perform an authentication procedure.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for message-based intelligent tandeming of an incoming call to an application node in telecommunication systems. The various embodiments utilize a new parameter, referred to as a tandem parameter, to designate whether incoming calls to a particular subscriber are to be tandemed to an application node or are to be delivered directly to the subscriber. The preferred system embodiment includes an adjunct network entity, a database, and a switching center. The adjunct network entity, such as a service circuit node or service control point, has one or more application nodes or platforms, supporting various telecommunication services such as prepaid services, calling party pays services, and one number services. The database, such as a home location register or visitor location register, stores information such as subscriber profiles, and includes storing the tandem parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for intelligent tandeming of an incoming call to an application node in telecommunication systems. The various embodiments utilize a new parameter, referred to as a tandem parameter, to designate whether incoming calls to a particular subscriber are to be tandemed to an application node or are to be delivered directly to the subscriber. The preferred system embodiment includes an adjunct network entity, a database, and a switching center. The adjunct network entity, such as a service circuit node or service control point, has one or more application nodes or platforms, supporting various telecommunication services such as prepaid services, calling party pays services, and one number services. The database, such as a home location register or visitor location register, stores information such as subscriber profiles, and includes storing the tandem parameter.

Abstract: The message waiting notification update system is operable in the serving Mobile Switching Center and, upon receipt of a message-waiting acknowledgement from the mobile subscriber station, updates the local copy of the subscriber's data in the Visited Location Register and forwards this information to the subscribers Home Location Register. The Home Location Register stores this received data for use when the next successive Registration Notification is received from a new serving Mobile Switching Center or in response to the subscriber initiating a local access. When the serving Mobile Switching Center receives a Registration Notification message return result from the subscriber's Home Location Register and the message waiting notification count is the same as the count previously sent to the Home Location Register, the serving Mobile Switching Center does not have to transmit a message waiting notification over the forward control channel to the mobile subscriber station.

Abstract: Methods for locating a missing called mobile unit in a telecommunications network are disclosed. With various equipment manufacturers present in the telecommunications industry, methods for use with a variety of equipment made by those manufacturers are necessary. The equipment in the network would include mobile units, home location registers and mobile switching centers. Through alterations in the operation of the home location registers and/or the mobile switching centers, the responses to page requests and/or routing requests are varied from the typical responses. Through those variations, missing called mobile units may be located in an efficient manner, regardless of the equipment provider.

Abstract: A mobile switching center (MSC) in accordance with the principles of the present invention provides access to a subscribers voice message center from the subscriber's roaming mobile station. The MSC is responsive to a “RemoteFeatureRequest” Invocation by the roaming mobile station in which the subscriber's directory number is the same as the dialed digits by routing the call from the mobile station to the subscriber's voice message center. The MSC may also be responsive to a “OriginationRequest” employing the subscriber's directory number as the dialed digits by routing the roaming mobile station's call to the subscriber's voice message center.