Abstract: A method of and apparatus for obtaining information about a product or service offering having an associated receiver responsive to an information request or query. The method comprise providing a portable subscriber device linked with a communication network, presenting at least one selectable query for information to a subscriber via the subscriber device, selecting the at least one query for information, providing a desired privacy status of the subscriber utilizing the subscriber device, transmitting the query and the privacy status and, at the associated receiver, processing the privacy status and responding to the query by providing the requested information to the subscriber. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Voice mail service in an environment having multiple voice mail technology platforms is provide by an Automatic Message Attendant (AMA) device and a subscriber profile database. The AMA device has a platform selector element that queries the subscriber profile database for voice mail technology platform indicator information, which it then uses to select a voice mail technology platform. Additionally, the AMA device may also have a greeting player and message recorder element that queries an announcement database, and a content adapter element that queries a message format requirement database. Thus, the AMA device may also provide call termination functionality by playing a greeting and recording a message from the caller, and converting the recorded message into a format suitable for use with the selected voice mail technology platform.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for formatting information for a communication. The apparatus has an interface to receive an identifier that identifies at least one physical property or capability of a communication device or an identifier that identifies at least one service to be provided to the user of the communication device, and further includes a controller that formats information to be sent to the communication device based on the identified physical property or capability of a communication device or based on the identified service to be provided to the user of the communication device.

Abstract: An arrangement where a transmitter has a plurality of transmitting antennas that concurrently transmit the same symbol, and where the signal delivered to each transmitting antenna is weighted by a factor that is related to the channel transmission coefficients found between the transmitting antenna and receiving antennas. In the case of a plurality of transmit antennas and one receive antenna, where the channel coefficient between the receive antenna and a transmit antenna i is hi, the weighting factor is hi* divided by a normalizing factor, ?, which is ( ? k = 1 K ? ? h k ? 2 ) 1 / 2 , where K is the number of transmitting antennas. When more than one receiving antenna is employed, the weighting factor is 1 a ? ( gH ) H , where g=[g1 . . . gL], H is a matrix of channel coefficients, and ? is a normalizing factor ( ? p = 1 L ? ? q = 1 L ? ? ? k = 1 K ? h pk ? h qk * ? ) 1 / 2 .

Abstract: A surveillance and reporting system (SRS) is provided that enables a user to monitor and generate reports from multiple related sources pertaining to events associated with each of these sources. The SRS is internet based, thereby providing access to remote users. The SRS also provides for identification of the sources by combining multiple databases related to each source in a tabular form in order to enable generation of complete reports and in order to enable sorting and filtering based upon more extensive source identification criteria. The SRS also accommodates changes in the underlying identification data by revising or generating up to date tables containing current identifying data for each of the multiple sources in a tabular form, thereby avoiding the need to reprogram the report procedures as a result of changes in the underlying data.

Abstract: A system that facilitates detecting, analyzing, and selectively enabling mobility management messages in connection with providing dual mode services comprises a receiver component that receives a mobility management message from an enterprise network. An analysis component communicatively coupled to the receiver component determines a type of the mobility management message and further determines whether or not to allow a mobility management transaction corresponding to the mobility management message based at least in part upon the determined type.

Abstract: An existing network conversion element built to an existing standard is used to obtain the information needed to perform location-based services for a multi-technology wireless device operating in a foreign technology mode. A system includes a database relating temporary dialable numbers with corresponding equipment serving those numbers and a mobile position server in communication with the database. The mobile position server is operative to request and receive a temporary dialable number for a multi-technology wireless device operating in a foreign technology mode, utilize the database to obtain the identity of the equipment serving the wireless device from the temporary dialable number, and initiate appropriate location signaling to the serving equipment. Also, a method includes utilizing the temporary dialable number to determine the identity of the equipment serving the wireless device and obtaining the location of the device directly from the serving equipment.

Abstract: Methods of billing telephone calls in networks that utilize shared modem pools. A request from a user of the network is received along with user identifying data. The user identifying data is correlated with records in a database of user identifying data and if a match is found, the call is passed through the network. The user has then been authenticated as a valid user of the network and can be billed accordingly, even though a random modem in the modem pool was used to place the call. This allows the user to be billed for the call so that the owner of the modem pool is not left financially responsible for the long-distance and/or other toll charges incurred by the user in making the call. The methods also ensure that the modem pool owners can bill for all calls, thereby enhancing the network's revenue stream.

Abstract: A Transmit Diversity Redundancy controller dynamically mediates implementation of diversity and antenna hopping by detecting and remediating faults on antenna branches while minimizing the capital investment required. The controller monitors the equipment along the antenna branches. If a fault occurs, the controller determines the appropriate fault remediation measures to implement based on default settings, or relays an indicator to an external processor (e.g., a BTS or BSC CPU) and awaits instructions. If traffic on the BTS is high, the external processor instructs the TDR controller to combine the signals carried by the downed branch with the signals carried by the active branches, and the combined carrier signals are transmitted over the active branches. Otherwise, the external processor instructs the controller to allow signals carried by the downed antenna branch to be dropped, and notifies the BSC to suspend assignment of calls to the dropped carriers until the branch is restored.

Abstract: A method that provides improved invoice validation in a wireless telecommunication system comprises receiving billing input data for a circuit and indicating a discrepancy if a billed amount and a calculated amount differ by greater than a threshold amount, the billing input data including the billed amount. In addition the method includes indicating billing parameters used to create the calculated amount.

Abstract: Improved techniques for communicating short messages forward an electronic message to an alternate communications device if the system is unable to deliver the short message to a destination communications device. The electronic message is formatted to be compliant with the alternate communications system. Alternatively, the short message may be formatted in compliance with a destination communications device that is not short message compliant and sent to the destination communications device. In some embodiments of the present invention, a method for communicating short messages includes forwarding an electronic message to a first communications device, the forwarding in response to at least an indicator of unsuccessful delivery of a short message to a destination communications device. The first communications device may be incompatible with short message service. The forwarding may be enabled from the destination communications device, the first communications device, or a web browser.

Abstract: A wireless adjunct for routing communications data between a switching unit and a radio transmit point over a packet based network. The wireless adjunct includes a switching unit interface, a network interface, and a processor. The switching unit interface is for communicating with the switching unit and receiving the communications data. The network interface is for communicating with the packet based network and transmitting the communications data to the radio transmit point; and the processor, in communication with the switching unit interface and the network interface, is operable to manage call processing and provide communications data from the switching unit interface to the network interface.

Abstract: A method for accessing a reverse channel for communication from a remote unit to a base station is disclosed. The method includes waiting a random period of time in response to determining that the reverse channel is available at a first time. The method also includes monitoring a forward channel after expiration of the random period of time to determine whether the reverse channel is available at a second time. The method further includes transmitting a first portion of data on the reverse channel in response to determining that the reverse channel is available at the second time.

Abstract: A user device (e.g., a mobile telephone) communicates with an access node in a manner that causes the access node to provide call control and service options available through the access node. The capability and cost information is presented to a user device subscriber. The user device communicates to the access node a selection of call control and service options to use with the device.

Abstract: A third generation (3G) mobile communication system supports an over-the-air activation scheme utilizing a wireless packet data protocol. A subscriber identity module (SIM) is preloaded with temporary operating parameters such as a temporary international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) that is used for initial access to a network. Once a packet data protocol communication link is established between the mobile device and a network support node, the user may remotely subscribe to a number of service terms using the mobile device. In addition, an activation procedure is carried out to assign permanent operating parameters, e.g., a permanent IMSI, to the SIM. After activation, the user can remotely modify existing terms or remotely enroll in additional service features via a wireless IP link between the mobile device and a network support node.

Abstract: A system for providing wireless telecommunications services to mobile devices includes structure and functionality to obtain a request from a first mobile device for a meeting with a person associated with a second mobile device. The system automatically determines locations of the first and second mobile devices, and automatically provides information to at least the first or second mobile device regarding a meeting location based at least in part on the determined location of the first or second mobile device. The system can determine a local time, or time zone, of the first or second mobile devices. Further, with one or a minimum number of menu choices, a user of a mobile device may readily receive a location of a user or another mobile device.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to determine the supported quality of service in an anticipated network session between a calling device and a called device that exchange information between at least two independent IP networks. The calling SIP device generates and sends an SIP message to a first IP network, which message is then propagated to a second IP network, and so on. The SIP message includes a desired quality parameter, i.e., maximum delay requested, and an accumulated delay parameter inserted in the body thereof. The accumulated delay parameter is modified by cummulatively adding delays between respective devices and/or networks between the calling and called devices. At the receiving end, the called device compares the requested and accumulated/supported delay, and then reports the results of the comparison back to the calling device via a return acknowledgement packet so that the calling device may decide whether to proceed with or reject the call.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a system and method for prioritizing access requests from a plurality of remote units, wherein the access requests are requests for uplink access in a fixed wireless network. In one embodiment, the system receives an access request from at least two remote units. The system also receives a priority request from the remote units, which may be separate or related to the access requests. The system analyzes the access requests based on the priority requests and determines which remote units will be granted uplink access to the network. The system then transmits an indication of at least one remote unit that is allowed to transmit on an uplink channel. In one embodiment, the access request and priority request are encompassed within two or more tones transmitted from a remote unit. Many other alternatives and alternative embodiments are also disclosed.

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 method provides early estimation of product life using accelerated stress testing data. In an embodiment, data measured from a product operating in a first, high-stress environment is used to predict how long the product will operate in a second, normal operating environment before failure using a quadratic acceleration model. An additional feature of the present invention provides a quantified indication of how much the product has improved from a redesign.