Abstract: Logical coverage areas are dynamically rearranged to meet the traffic needs of a wireless switching system. Further, the logical coverage areas do not have to be initially provisioned during deployment of the wireless switching system since the initial determination of the logical coverage areas is automatically performed. Once the logical coverage areas are established, the logical coverage areas adapt to the changing needs of the community of wireless handsets. A first embodiment allows the base stations to control the rearrangements, and a second embodiment allows a system wireless controller controlling the wireless switching system to control the rearrangements.

Abstract: In a wireless switching system in which base stations dynamically re-arrange logical coverage areas, when a base station enters a new logical coverage area, wireless handsets registered on the base station do not have to report individually this change in logical coverage areas to a wireless switching system controlling the wireless switching system. The base station performing the transfer from one logical coverage area to another logical coverage area informs the wireless switching system controller of the change in logical coverage areas both for the base station itself and for each of the wireless handsets registered on the base station. The base station informs the wireless handsets that the logical coverage area is being changed and informs the wireless handsets that they do not have to re-register. This reporting by the base station greatly reduces the number of operations performed when the base station moves from one logical coverage area to another logical coverage area.

Abstract: Transmitting by a public service provider an audio message to the calling party instead normal ring back tones when a call is placed by a calling party to a called party. This audio message is an advertisement that is paid for by a third party. If the calling party wishes more information concerning the advertisement, the calling party indicates this desire either by a spoken command or by accuation of a multi-frequency key on the telephone hand set during the message. If the calling party has indicated a desire to obtain more information with respect to the advertisement, when the call to the called party is completed, the public service provider will automatically connect the calling party to a system that will provide additional information concerning the advertisement. A data terminal placing a data call will receive advertisements in a similar manner.

Abstract: The present method and system for transmitting feature and authentication information for wireless communication services reduces the amount of data transmitted from a handset to a base station by transmitting service information when the wireless handset registers with the base station and authentication information when wireless service is requested by the wireless handset. After receiving the service and authentication information, the base station may store the service and authentication information in memory and retrieve the stored service and authentication information when the wireless handset again requests service from the base station. Alternatively, a mobile switching system may communicate the service and authentication information to the base station.

Abstract: A wireless handset does not perform a re-registration operation when its serving base station is at capacity, and a wireless controller controlling a wireless switching system is allowed to send incoming calls for the wireless handset to the base station even if the base station is at capacity. The base station signals a new call to the wireless even if the base station is at its active call capacity. The wireless handset is responsive to the incoming call to perform a base station re-direct operation to a new base station that has idle call capacity, and the call setup is completed to the wireless handset via the new base station. The base station re-direct operation is a new wireless operation. The base station re-direct operation is controlled by the system wireless controller in a second embodiment.

Abstract: Logical coverage areas are dynamically rearranged to meet the traffic needs of a wireless switching system. Further, the logical coverage areas do not have to be initially provisioned during deployment of the wireless switching system since the initial determination of the logical coverage areas is automatically performed. Once the logical coverage areas are established, the logical coverage areas adapt to the changing needs of the community of wireless handsets. A first embodiment allows the base stations to control the rearrangements, and a second embodiment allows a system wireless controller controlling the wireless switching system to control the rearrangements.

Abstract: Transmitting a “plugged into charger” message to a wireless telecommunication switching system by a wireless terminal when inserted into a charging unit. The wireless telecommunication switching system is responsive to the “plugged into charger” message to remove the wireless terminal from the call coverage path of the user. The wireless telecommunication switching system can add to the call coverage path of the user the telephone number of the cellular telephone utilized by the user when the user is out of the building. In a second embodiment of the invention, the wireless terminal transmits the message to invoke the “send all calls” state when the wireless terminal is plugged into a charging unit. In a third embodiment of the invention, the wireless terminal transmits a call transfer message that transfers all incoming calls to another terminal when the wireless terminal is plugged into the charging unit.

Abstract: A communication switching system having a plurality of switch nodes with each of the switch nodes responsive to a failure of a communication link within a group of communication links to switch active calls from channels of the failed communication link to idle channels of other communication links within the group of communication links. If no idle channels are available within the group of communication links when the communication link fails, a predefined time is waited for a channel to become idle or a new communication link to be added to the group of communication links before the active channels are abandoned. Advantageously, the switching of the active calls to idle channels occurs quickly so that only a momentary interruption of the calls occurs. The group of communication links may advantageously be a non-facility access service (NFAS) group having a combination of ISDN BRI and PRI communication links. The calls can be either voice, video, or data calls.

Abstract: In a telecommunication switching system having a plurality of switch nodes with each of the switch nodes responsive to a failure of a communication link within a group of communication links to establish a flexible rate interface (FRI) link upon there being no spare channels within the group of communication links and to switch active calls from the channels of the failed communication link to the channels of the newly established FRI link. Advantageously, the group of communication links can be a non-facility access service (NFAS) group. Advantageously, this allows for additional B channels to be added to the NFAS group even though there are no remaining physical communication links between the two switch nodes being interconnected by the NFAS group. The establishment of the FRI link allows for the addition of B channels to the NFAS group with these B channels being routed through other switch nodes of the communication switching system.

Abstract: Providing multimedia conference calls with communication type conversion for changing types of communication terminals on one multimedia conference call. In addition, users of communication terminals can change communication types during the multimedia conference calls. Also, a set of users can use additional communication types not presently in use by a multimedia conference call to enhance communication among the set of users.

Abstract: A system that allows a calling party to quickly select a call coverage system to be utilized if a call is unanswered. The calling party can preselect the call coverage before the call is placed, and the called telephone terminal automatically transfers the call to the selected call coverage service if the called party does not answer. Alternatively, the called telephone terminal transmits back the available call coverage options if the incoming call is not answered. In response, the calling telephone terminal displays the available call coverage options to the caller, and the caller selects the call coverage option desired. The calling telephone terminal then transmits the selected call coverage option to the called telephone terminal which transfers the call to the selected call coverage service.

Abstract: Providing capability for increasing, decreasing, or changing types of bandwidth associated with a telecommunication call during the call and through out the call path. New messages can allocate or deallocate bandwidth associated with the call at each intervening switching node through out the call path. All switching nodes of a switching system involved with the resulting call consider the call as a single call. The new messages allow adding video capability to a voice call and, at a still later point in time, removing the video capability from the call. The result is convenience to telecommunication users in that the user is able to utilize any type or amount of bandwidth during a multimedia call. Yet, at any given point in time, the user pays only for the bandwidth that is being utilized.

Abstract: Telephone terminals provide an initiate conference feature. In response to actuation of a button, as each telephone terminal is dialed, a logical link is set up between an initiating telephone terminal and the dialed telephone terminal. Once all the terminals of the conference call are communicating with the initiating telephone terminal via logical links, the initiating telephone terminal waits until all of the other terminals are idle and then sets up a conference call that has the appropriate bandwidth for the type of conference call requested. Once a logical link has been set up to a telephone terminal, that telephone terminal lights the indicator associated with the initiate conference feature. A telephone terminal whose initiate conference indicator is lit can remove itself from the proposed conference by its own initiate conference button being actuated.

Abstract: A telephone terminal storing conferee identification information received from other telephone terminals on a conference call and responding to actuation of an inspect button to display the identification information of each conferee. As each new telephone terminal is added to the conference call, the new telephone terminal transmits its conferee identification information to the telephone terminals already on the conference call, and those telephone terminals automatically display the identification information of the new conferee. Also, the coordinator of the conference call is so designated when the coordinator's identification information is displayed on one of the telephone terminals.

Abstract: A switching system for allowing any one conferee on a video conference to assume the role of manually manipulating the video picture that will be seen by all conferees (chair view). In addition, each individual conferee is allowed to determine their own video picture content or to select the chair view. Further, anyone of conferees can assume the role of determining the chair view. In addition, for the video classroom, a chair view video picture is composed such that the picture displays the visual aid with an insert for an instructor and an insert for a student asking a question. Further, the instructor selects by using a button or mouse which student is to be displayed in the student insert, and the video picture automatically displays that student. In another embodiment of the system, the students request permission to ask a question by actuation of a switch on their telephone set, and the names of students asking questions are displayed on a computer display screen.

Abstract: A telecommunication protocol message that allows redirection of a call received by a first telephone station set to a second telephone station set or other terminal equipment by the first telephone station set transmitting the redirect message to a telecommunication system connected to the first telephone station set. The redirect message includes the identification of the user of the first telephone station set as well as the telephone number of the second telephone station set or terminal equipment. The telecommunication switching system is responsive to the redirect message to reroute a call to the second telephone set. The redirect message allows the first station set to transmit only one message to the telecommunication switching system to accomplish the functions of rerouting the call. In addition, the redirect message gives a BRI (basic rate interface) station set the capability of automatically forwarding certain types of calls.

Abstract: Routing calls using a new protocol message which is a redirect message in a telecommunication system having a number of switching nodes to avoid circular paths among the switching nodes and for rerouting calls in the event of failures or overload conditions. During the establishment of a call from an originating switching node to a destination switching node where the call path has already been setup from the originating switching node through an intermediate switching node, a switching node is responsive to a setup message from the intermediate switching node requesting extension of the call path through the switching node to determine if such an extension would create a circular path. If circular path would be created, the switching node redirects the call (by using the redirect message) back to the intermediate switching node and indicates in that message to which switching node the call path should be extended. In response to the redirect message, the intermediate switching node reroutes the call path.

Abstract: Allowing a shared line appearance feature to be implemented on a plurality of telephone station sets which are connected to different telecommunication switching systems. The telecommunication switching systems can be interconnected to each other via the public telephone network utilizing standard telecommunication links. A software application program provides a termination point for a directory number that is associated with a shared line appearance. The software application program receives all incoming calls directed to the directory number and determines the operations that should be performed with respect to the telephone station sets terminating the shared line appearance. The software application program directs the incoming calls to the telephone stations sets regardless to which telecommunication system each of the telephone station sets is interconnected.

Abstract: A communication switching system having a plurality of switching nodes in which each switching node upon initialization completely establishes its own internal configuration. This establishment of internal configuration includes the number and type of switching modules and within each switching module: type of module control processor, type of internal switching network, printed board carriers, type and number of auxiliary circuits, and type and number of link interfaces. Each unit of a switching module reports relevant information to the module control processor; and in turn, the module control processor reports its own information and the information of the other units to a node processor (the main processor within a switching node). Further, each switching node and interfaces of the switching node automatically identifies the other switching nodes connected by communication links and switching paths to those switching nodes.

Abstract: A telecommunication switching system having switching nodes that perform adaptive routing by utilizing the fact that the switching nodes are arranged in a first and a second hierarchy. In addition, each switching node maintains routing information based on telephone and switching node numbers which identify the switching nodes. A destination switching node transfers its routing information back to an originating switching node which combines that routing information with its own in order to determine shorter call paths for subsequent call routing. The first hierarchy is a dialing plan hierarchy having groups of switching nodes at each dialing plan level. The second hierarchy is a switching node hierarchy based on the switching node number of each switching node with at least one switching node of the switching node hierarchy being at a different level in the dialing plan hierarchy.