Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for selectively coupling the signals of multiple communications service providers operating in different frequency bands onto one or more station wire segments of a customer premises wiring plant are disclosed herein. The apparatus can include various filtering networks and switching modules to enable each station wire segment of the premises wiring to be concurrently and independently connected to differing service providers.

Abstract: A mobile station communicates with both a cellular network, by which it is assigned a mobile identification number, and to a cordless cellular base station utilizing the same cellular frequency range and communications protocol. The cordless cellular base station is preferably connected to a public switched telephone network and is assigned a landline number. The cordless cellular base station acts as a conduit between the mobile station and the public switched telephone network. When the mobile station comes within range of a cordless cellular base station, it deregisters automatically from the cellular network and register with the cordless cellular base station. Once the mobile station is communicating with the cordless cellular base station, the cordless cellular base station communicates with the cellular network to instruct the cellular network to route all calls for mobile identification number to the cordless cellular base station's landline number.

Abstract: A system and method for improving or maintaining the quality of service delivered by a network with respect to a preferred type of information carried by the network. The status of the network is monitored to determine if the actual or projected quality of service being provided by the network for the preferred information meets a quality of service requirement. If the quality of service does not meet the requirement, a message is formulated and sent to an end-user terminals such as a wireless handset. The message instructs the terminal to change a parameter by which the terminal sends information to the network. For example, the message can instruct the terminal to send less non-preferred information to the network, or change the compression scheme used to send a type of information to the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide a calling number identifier alias in a communications system having a wireless telephone associated with a wired telephone number, such as a wireless office service communications system. When a telephone call is placed from the wireless telephone, an alias database is searched to determine the associated wired telephone number. The telephone number of the wired telephone is used as an alias for the purpose of the calling number identifier.

Abstract: A network storage location stores voice prints from a user of a wireless telephone. The voice prints are context-specific to likely responses to voice prompts from an interactive voice response (IVR) system. The voice prompts are communicated from the IVR to the wireless telephone. A voice selection is received from the wireless telephone. The voice selection is analyzed to determine a corresponding selection ID, and a voice print is retrieved from the storage location corresponding to the selection ID and to an ID of the wireless telephone.

Abstract: A system and method for interface of the passenger telephone communication system that is installed in many commercial aircraft with the flight crew communication console to allow the flight crew to originate and receive telephone communication over the passenger telephone communication system through their existing flight communication interface. That flight communication interface may be a headset with integral speaker and microphone, or it may be a cockpit speaker and hand microphone. A keypad or other similar hardware is also interfaced with the flight crew communication so that the flight crew may enter and transmit telephone numbers from the flight deck without disconnecting from their existing flight communication interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for programming a cellular telephone with activation parameters. A cellular telephone to be programmed is connected to a computer via a communications interface. A user input device is provided to allow a user to provide programming information, including a cellular telephone type, to the computer. A visual representation of the cellular telephone type is displayed on a display monitor to allow the user to interactively verity the inputted programming information. Upon such user verification, the computer determines activation parameters and transmits the activation parameters to the cellular telephone. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, certain activation parameters are dynamically computed based on the user provided programming information. In one embodiment, the user enters a cellular telephone number to be assigned to the cellular telephone. The computer looks up a system identification associated with the cellular telephone number in a memory unit.

Abstract: A method of locating a mobile telephone includes steps of receiving, transmitting, increasing and determining. In the receiving step, a first base station receives a call from a mobile telephone, the call including a dialed number and a TDMA signal. In the transmitting step, the base station transmits a control message to the mobile telephone when the dialed number meets a predetermined criterion, such as being 911. The control message instructs the mobile telephone to transmit the TDMA signal at a maximum power. In the increasing step, the mobile telephone increases the TDMA signal to maximum power in response to the control message. Then in the determining step, location information for the mobile telephone is determined based on at least one characteristic of the TDMA signal received at at least one of the first base station and other base stations.

Abstract: A dedicated data packet filtering processor whose only function is to filter data packets based on a list of source IP addresses stored in high-speed memory of the processor. The processor has a specialized operating system which controls the operation of the processor. The processor examines the source IP address of each received data packet to determine if the source IP address matches one of the stored source IP addresses, and if there is a match, either discards or forwards the data packet depending on the processor configuration. The list of source IP addresses are updated by a service provider having a central administrative site. The service provider keeps these lists up to data and periodically updates the source IP addresses stored in the random access memory of the dedicated IP filtering processors.

Abstract: A highly bandwidth-efficient communications method is disclosed that enables remote stations to synchronize in time and frequency to their serving base station. The invention enables a base station and its remote stations in a cell to synchronize in a noisy environment where signals interfere from other base stations and remote stations in other cells. The base station forms a forward synchronization burst that includes a plurality of tone frequencies arranged in a distinctive orthogonal frequency division multiplexed pattern unique to the base station. The unique pattern enables a remote station to distinguish the base station's bursts from other signals present in a crowded area. The distinctive orthogonal frequency division multiplexed pattern can be a Hadamard code pattern, for example.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in providing discounted call rates for wireless communications are described. In one particular implementation, the method includes the steps of receiving a call record having an originating telephone number, a terminating telephone number, and one or more system identification codes (SIDs); determining whether the one or more SIDs are included as part of a predetermined geographic area that is smaller than and included within boundaries of a home area of at least one of the telephone numbers; determining whether a predefined relationship exists between the originating telephone number and the terminating telephone number; and providing data that is indicative of a discounted wireless call rate if it is determined that the one or more SIDs are included as part of the predetermined geographic area and the predetermined relationship exists between the originating telephone number and the terminating telephone number.

Abstract: A new method makes the most efficient use of the scarce spectral bandwidth in a wireless discrete multitone spread spectrum communications system. Each remote station and each base station in the network prepares an error detection field, such as a cyclic redundancy code (CRC), on each block of data to be transmitted over the traffic channels. The sending station prepares an error detection message for transmission over the link control channel of the network. The sending station prepares the error detection message by forming a link control channel vector that will be spread using the discrete multitone spread spectrum (DMT-SS) protocol to distribute the data message over a plurality of discrete tone frequencies, forming a spread signal for the link control channel. A link control channel is associated with communications session using the traffic channels. The instant of transmission of the error detection message is allowed to be different from the instant of transmission of the data message.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a apparatus for coupling with a vehicle having a wireless protocol-enabled device, such as a hands-free car kit, and a power supply and for coupling with a wireless device. The wireless protocol may be a protocol such as Bluetooth, and the wireless device may be a wireless phone. The apparatus comprises a charge cord, a vehicle adapter located at a first end of the charge cord, and a connector located at a second end of a charge cord. The vehicle adapter couples the power supply to the charge cord, and the connector couples the charge cord with the wireless device. The apparatus also comprises a wireless protocol module operably connected to the charge cord, wherein the module comprises logic to exchange communications signals between the wireless protocol-enabled device and the wireless device.

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: A wireless communication device comprises a memory exceed indicator. The wireless communication device receives a message from a network. Upon receipt of the message, the device determines whether there is sufficient memory to store the message. If there is insufficient memory, the device activates a memory exceed indicator which indicates that a message is being stored in the network and that the memory of the wireless communication device contains insufficient memory to receive and store that message. If one or more messages are deleted from the memory of the device in order to make room for new messages, then a new message received from the network is stored in the memory of the device and the memory exceed indicator is deactivated.

Abstract: Wireless devices and systems are configured to display the number of voice mails, e-mails, and Internet information alerts that are received during a selected time interval. Incoming information can be organized by user-specified criteria such as sender identity or by information content so that, for example, work-related and personal messages are distinguished. Message classifications and numbers of messages associated with message classifications are displayed on a mobile device.

Abstract: A method of recovering lost frames transmitted between a packet data sending unit and a packet data receiving unit in a data communications system is disclosed. When a frame is successfully received by the packet data receiving unit, it identifies a failure to successfully receive prior frames, i.e., at least one frame prior to the frame successfully received at the packet data receiving unit. The packet data receiving unit starts a selective reject wait timer and determines whether the number of frames missed so far is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold. If the number of missed frames is greater than or equal to the preset limit, the packet data receiving unit generates a selective reject message that includes a payload indicating a first missed frame and subsequent missed frames.

Abstract: A discrete multitone stacked-carrier spread spectrum communication method is based on frequency domain spreading including multiplication of a baseband signal by a set of superimposed, or stacked, complex sinusoid carrier waves. In a preferred embodiment, the spreading involves energizing the bins of a large Fast Fourier transform (FFT). This provides a considerable savings in computational complexity for moderate output FFT sizes. Point-to-multipoint and multipoint-to-multipoint (nodeless) network topologies are possible. A code-nulling method is included for interference cancellation and enhanced signal separation by exploiting the spectral diversity of the various sources. The basic method may be extended to include multielement antenna array nulling methods for interference cancellation and enhanced signal separation using spatial separation. Such methods permit directive and retrodirective transmission systems that adapt or can be adapted to the radio environment.

Abstract: A variety of methods and systems can be used to avoid a hairpin loop scenario. For example, in a system involving a redirecting switch and a service platform switch, correlation between calling party identities for outgoing and incoming call legs can be done to identify a potential hairpin loop scenario. Upon detection of such a scenario, appropriate call legs can be released while routing the call to its destination. Correlation information can be collected from available call setup signaling parameters. The methods and systems can be applied, for example, to systems involving directory assistance call completion, voice-activated dialing, voicemail callback, and prepaid services.

Abstract: A variety of methods and systems can be used to achieve electronic surveillance when a call is directed to a destination as a result of service processing. For example, in a system involving a redirecting switch and a service platform switch, correlation between calling party identities for outgoing and incoming call legs can be done to identify a hairpin loop scenario. Upon detection of such a scenario, an appropriate electronic surveillance message can be sent to a monitoring device indicating the call's destination. Correlation information can be collected from available call setup signaling parameters. The methods and systems can be applied, for example, to systems involving directory assistance call completion, voice-activated dialing, voicemail callback, and prepaid services.