Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting at least one mode of operation of a mobile terminal based on predicted network performance parameters are provided. The methods and systems include determining, by a mobile terminal, the predicted network performance parameters based on at least one of (i) a mobile terminal parameter and (ii) environmental information. The at least one the mobile terminal parameter and the environmental information may be measured by the mobile terminal or obtained by the mobile terminal. The methods and systems include adjusting, by the mobile terminal, the at least one mode of operation based on the predicted network performance parameters.

Abstract: Example embodiments provide methods of delivering content from a content provider to a plurality of users connected to a network. In one embodiment, an indication of available content items is received at a content management server from a content provider. An indication of the available content items is provided from the content management server to the plurality of users. The content items include at least one of programming content items and advertisement content items. A content item is selected from among the available content items for delivery. A group of users from among the plurality of users is determined to receive the selected content item. The selected content item is caused to be transmitted to the group of users via multicast streams.

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: Methods and systems are presented for providing custom ring back tones to parties calling a wireline subscriber, in which an end office selectively connects the incoming call to a ring back tone server to hear a custom ring back tone until the wireline phone is answered, after which the incoming call is connected to the called wireline device.

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: Methods and systems are presented for notifying a previously unsuccessful mobile calling party of a mobile called party's availability, in which a home location register causes an announcement to be sent to the unsuccessful calling party indicating that the called party is currently unavailable and that the calling party will be sent a short message when the called party becomes available. The called party status is then monitored and once the called mobile becomes idle or active, the HLR facilitates, utilizing a short message service center, sending a short message to the caller indicating that the called party is available to receive a call.

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: 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; 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: 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 for paging a mobile station (40) served by a wireless telecommunications network (A). The method includes: remembering a last known location of the mobile station (40); selecting a paging strategy based upon the last known location of the mobile station (40), the paging strategy defining a number of page attempts and a region to be paged with each attempt; and, selectively paging the mobile station (40) over the wireless telecommunications network (A) in accordance with the selected paging strategy when the mobile station (40) is sought.

Abstract: A system and method for providing Custom Ring Back Tones (CRBTs) to calling party terminals calling called party wireless terminals in a wireless communications network is provided. A Gateway Switching Node connected provides a centralized interface between the PSTN and the switching nodes serving the called party terminals. The Gateway Switching Node connects a CRBT Server with the calling party terminals to provide the CRBTs thereto.

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: Caller ID information provided coincident to a Voice over IP (VoIP) call is validated by one or more network devices. An originating router detects an offered IP address associated with a calling party node, for example, upon receiving a SIP Invite message initiated by the calling party node. The originating router determines the validity of the offered IP address and hence determines the validity of the Caller ID information based on the validity of the offered IP address. The originating router sends indicia of the validity to a terminating router, connected to a called party node, by inserting a verification bit in the SIP Invite message and sending the transformed SIP Invite message to the terminating router. Alternatively, the terminating router may query the originating router for indicia of validity. Upon receiving the indicia of validity, the terminating router may notify the called party node and so inform the called party whether it can rely on the Caller ID information.

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 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 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).