Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining if a caller is allowed to leave a message in a mailbox. A call request for a called phone is received from a caller at a message server. The message server determines if the called phone has subscribed to a message administration service. If so, the message server determines if the caller is allowed to leave a message in a mailbox. This can be accomplished by either determining if the caller has entered a valid personal identification number or determining if the name of the caller is in a list of pre-approved names. If the caller is allowed to leave a message in a mailbox, the message server allows the caller to leave a message in a mailbox in a mailbox associated with the called phone.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: a telecommunication network operatively coupled to at least one mobile terminal; a handset data transfer module in the at least one mobile terminal; a mobile handset protection application server in the telecommunication network; and an emergency storage location operatively coupled to the mobile handset protection application server; wherein, if the mobile terminal is identified as being lost/stolen, the mobile handset protection application server communicates with the handset data transfer module to upload the handset data to the emergency storage location in the telecommunication network.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: an incoming call mobile switching center that receives incoming calls; a home location register that stores routing information; a serving mobile switching center that stores mobile subscriber status, location, and routing information and that supplies a temporary location directory number, the home location register operatively coupled to the incoming call mobile switching center and to the serving mobile switching center; a customized wallpaper server operatively coupled to a wallpaper database, the wallpaper database having a plurality of stored wallpapers with corresponding assigned temporary location directory numbers, the customized wallpaper server operatively coupled to the incoming call mobile switching center and to the serving mobile switching center; and a customized wallpaper processor in the serving mobile switching center, the customized wallpaper processor processing a respective wallpaper for display on a display of a mobile terminal; wherein a respective wall

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for determining end user costs incurred for recently completed calls or services and providing timely notice of such costs to the subscriber. Embodiments of the invention provide for cost notification associated with a last completed call/service and cost notification associated with one or more recent calls responsive to a customer query.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: a mobile terminal; a voice mail system operatively coupled to a voice mail database, the voice mail database having a plurality of prioritized voice messages for predetermined mobile terminals; and a network operatively coupled to the mobile terminal and the voice mail system. Embodiments according to the present method and apparatus allow the user to assign priorities to various phone numbers. This may be implemented in one embodiment by use of voice prompts to have the user enter a phone number and a priority number. This information is then stored in the network. When the user retrieves the voice messages, the network plays them back according to the priorities associated with the phone numbers that the messages were received on.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for utilizing a backup timing source in digital communication systems when GPS becomes nonfunctional. When a base station fails to receive an expected signal from a GPS satellite, a GPS failure timer is started. If the base station does not receive a signal from the GPS satellite prior to the expiration of the timer, the wireless communication system switches to a backup timing system, such as NTP (Network Time Protocol).

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: a mobile terminal having at least a display, audio input/output and a text entry part; a language server operatively coupled to a language lesson database; and a network operatively coupled to the mobile terminal and the language server.

Abstract: Communication networks, phones, and associated methods are disclosed that provide library services to users of phones. A phone displays a library search screen to a user, and the user enters one or more library search parameters. The phone generates a request message that includes the library search parameter(s), and transmits the request message to a communication network (e.g., a wireless network or a VoIP network). A library server in the communication network receives the request message, and queries a library database based on the library search parameter(s). The library server receives library search results from the library database, and determines the type of response (e.g., text message, email message, etc) for the library search results. The library server then formats the library search results based on the determined type of response, and transmits the response to the user.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: a terminal operatively couple by at least one of a fundamental channel and a supplemental channel to a telecommunication system having packet data capability; the terminal having a packet data session that is established on a packet data path on the fundamental channel; a VoIP session request that is sent from the terminal to the telecommunication system; the VoIP request having a priority that is higher than a priority of the packet data session request if the supplemental channel is not available wherein use of the fundamental channel between the VoIP session and the packet data session is shared; and if the supplemental channel is available, the VoIP session established on the fundamental channel and the packet data session established on the supplemental channel.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: a calling terminal and a called terminal in a telecommunication system; at least one of a specified name or a preferred call back number that are input at the calling terminal before originating a call to the called terminal; at least one telecommunication system that operatively couples the calling terminal to the called terminal; and the specified name and/or the preferred call back number being calling party information at the called terminal for the call from the calling party.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, a telecommunication network node receives a communication originated by a wireless mobile device where the communication contains transaction information of items selected for purchases. The subscriber is authenticated as a member authorized to use purchase transaction services. A database stores an account of the subscriber. A debit to the account of the subscriber is generated and stored where the debit is for the purchase price of the items.

Abstract: A method is provided enabling communication infrastructure equipment to initially provision and update shared secret data of a mobile station where the mobile station only uses IP Multimedia Subsystem protocol signaling to accomplish the provisioning and updating.

Abstract: A method for providing a customized teleconference greeting. The method includes recording a vocalized greeting provided by a host, storing the recorded vocalized greeting, receiving calls from guest terminals operated by guest participants, sending audio greetings for the guest participants to the guest terminals including at least a portion of the recorded vocalized greeting. The guest terminals can then be bridged into a teleconference call session. The terminal operated by the teleconference host can also be bridged into the teleconference call session is so desired.

Abstract: A method of supporting a busy duration indication feature (22) is provided in a telecommunications network (A). The method includes: directing a call from an originating end user terminal (10) to a switching facility (40) of the telecommunications network (A) serving a terminating end user terminal (12) for which the call was intended; detecting if the terminating end user terminal (12) is busy; and, if the terminating end user terminal (12) is busy, providing the originating end user terminal (10) an indicator that reflects a measure related to how long the terminating end user terminal (12) has been busy.

Abstract: A method is provided for supporting a mail control feature in a telecommunications network (30). The method includes: receiving a mail handling instruction from a user, the instruction being received at a facility (20) from an end user terminal (10) operatively connected to the facility (20) and used by the user to enter the instruction, the facility (20) providing the end user terminal (10) access to a telecommunications network (30); identifying a post office (40) that is responsible for delivering mail to the user from which the instruction was received; and, forwarding the received instruction to the identified post office (40).

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: a plurality spaces in a predefined three dimensional area; at least one mobile terminal in a wireless telecommunications network; a tracking system structured to track the at least one mobile terminal in the plurality of predefined spaces in the predefined three dimensional area; and a monitor module in the wireless telecommunications network, the monitor module operatively coupled to receive, via the tracking system, a current position of the at least one mobile terminal in the plurality of predefined spaces in the predefined three dimensional area.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: a telecommunications network; a mobile terminal and a subscriber database in the telecommunications network; a MLS controller module in the telecommunications network; at least one MLS database operatively coupled to the MLS controller; and the MLS database being accessible by the mobile terminal via the MLS controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing location based vendor information to a wireless mobile terminal is provided. The method includes receiving subscriber provisioned response criteria from a subscriber, receiving a request for location based vendor information from a subscriber mobile terminal, determining the location of the subscriber mobile terminal, retrieving location based vendor information for the mobile terminal's location, and sending the location based vendor information in a response satisfying the subscriber provisioned response criteria to the subscriber mobile terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: an RF-based base station in a telecommunications network; the RF-based base station having a base station transceiver; the telecommunications network having a network transceiver; and the base station transceiver and the network transceiver being structured for backhaul traffic and signaling for incoming and outgoing mobile calls to a mobile terminal that is operatively coupled to the base station.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: a mobile switching center having a voice mail system, a subscriber database with voicemail information, and a greetings database; the greetings database having a plurality of lists, and at least one phone number in each of the lists; and the greetings database also having a plurality of recorded greetings, respective greetings in the plurality of recorded greetings being associated with respective lists in the plurality of lists.