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: 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 wireless terminal is dynamically placed into a call coverage group based on the location of the wireless terminal. Similarly, a wireless terminal is dynamically removed from a call coverage group on the basis of the location of the wireless terminal. In addition, within a call coverage group, the position of a wireless terminal that is in communication with an auxiliary desktop unit is determined by a preassigned position within the call coverage group of the auxiliary desktop unit. The wireless terminal in communication with the auxiliary desktop unit is always assigned this preassigned location in the call coverage group. Other call coverage groups that are based on geographical location and where the wireless terminal is not communication with an auxiliary desktop unit have wireless terminals assigned into the call coverage path group based on a predefined algorithm.

Abstract: A wireless terminal dynamically positions itself into a terminating ring group based on the location of the wireless terminal. Similarly, a wireless terminal dynamically removes itself from a terminating ring group on the basis of the location of the wireless terminal. A wireless terminal can be excluded from joining a terminating ring group in a specific location. The wireless terminal positions itself into the terminating ring group by communicating information with other wireless terminals already in the terminating ring group. This communication is controlled by a controlling wireless terminal with which the wireless terminal first communicates upon entering the location. The wireless terminal determines its position by communication with a fixed unit assigned to the location of terminating ring group. Upon determining that it is leaving the location, the wireless terminal transmits a message to controlling wireless terminal to inform it of this fact.

Abstract: A wireless terminal dynamically positions itself into a call pickup group based on the location of the wireless terminal. Similarly, a wireless terminal dynamically removes itself from a call pickup group on the basis of the location of the wireless terminal. A wireless terminal can be excluded from joining a call pickup group in a specific location. The wireless terminal positions itself into the call pickup group by communicating information with other wireless terminals already in the call pickup group. This communication is controlled by a controlling wireless terminal with which the wireless terminal first communicates upon entering the location. The wireless terminal determines its position by communication with a fixed unit assigned to the location of call pickup group. Upon determining that it is leaving the location, the wireless terminal transmits a message to controlling wireless terminal to inform it of this fact.

Abstract: Automatically connecting an unauthorized wireless terminal to a service provider agent so that online registration can be performed to provide permanent service to the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal is initially connected to a service provider agent by a telephone call from the wireless terminal via a call center having a plurality of agents when the wireless terminal first attempts to register with the service provider's wireless switching network. From the point of view of the user, the user may purchase a wireless terminal off the shelf of a mass merchandiser or in the corporate setting simply check a wireless terminal out of a stock room. When the user initially turns the power of the wireless terminal on, a call is placed to an agent of the service provider so that the registration may take place. All necessary information that must be loaded into the wireless telephone will be downloaded during this registration process.

Abstract: A wireless terminal is dynamically placed into a terminating ring group based on the location of the wireless telephone. Similarly, a wireless terminal is dynamically removed from a terminating ring group on the basis of the location of the wireless terminal. A wireless terminal can be excluded from joining a terminating ring group in a specific location.

Abstract: A wireless terminal is dynamically placed into a call pickup group based on the location of the wireless telephone. Similarly, a wireless terminal is dynamically removed from a call pickup group on the basis of the location of the wireless terminal. A wireless terminal can be excluded from joining a call pickup group in a specific location.

Abstract: Allowing a service vendor to establish a set of Internet access accounts with an Internet service provider and to have the capability of activating or deactivating an Internet access account by directly interacting with the Internet service provider system via a digital link. In addition, the service vendor can determine the amount of access time that has been spent on each of the Internet access accounts owned by the service vendor. The service vendor can also rent to a user an Internet terminal that can only be utilized to access the Internet access account rented to that user. In the Internet terminal, the Internet access account number is encrypted and cannot be modified by the user. In addition, the service provider has the capability of disabling the rented Internet terminal by transmission of a message via the Internet service provider system.

Abstract: Wireless terminals automatically and dynamically establish call coverage groups based on physical locations. Each location is assigned a call coverage telephone number. When a new wireless terminal enters the location, the wireless terminals automatically and dynamically determine a new call coverage path. The wireless terminals establish the new call coverage path by communicating with each other. The wireless switching system to which the wireless terminals are connected does not administer the call coverage group. The criteria utilized to establish the call coverage group is stored within the wireless terminals that will be part of that call coverage group. When a call is received by the wireless switching system for the call coverage number, the wireless switching system broadcasts a page message for the call coverage number. The wireless terminals in the call coverage group for the call coverage number each wait an individual predefined amount of time before attempting to respond to the page message.

Abstract: Allowing the setting and resetting of a message waiting indicator on a wireless set when a message is waiting in a messaging system. When a messaging system receives a message for a wired set, it places a telephone call to the wireless set associated with the wired telephone set. The messaging system will continue to place telephone calls to the wireless set after every elapse of a predefined period. The wireless set is connected to a wireless switching system which is responsive to telephone calls from the messaging system to set a message waiting indicator. If a telephone call is not received within the predefined period from the messaging system, the wireless switching system resets the message waiting indicator. In another embodiment, the messaging system is responsive to a user accessing messages stored for that user to place a telephone call to a second telephone number identified with the wireless set of the user.

Abstract: Interconnecting a central computer to Internet service providers (ISPs) via normal Internet interconnections to directly provide Internet service to Internet users. The central computer is responsive to requests from Internet users received via an ISP to transfer the web page to the user via a satellite connection to the user's PC. The central computer maintains a cache of frequently requested web pages each identified by a universal resource locator (URL). If the user is requesting one of the cached web pages, this web page is immediately transmitted to the user. If the central computer does not have the web page cached, the central computer makes a request to the appropriate web server, obtains the requested web page, and transfers the requested web page to the user. Further, utilizing statistical data gathered based on time of day and day of the week, the central computer automatically caches certain web pages.

Abstract: Assigning a wireless terminal as the only piece of telecommunication equipment for providing an individual user with full business telephone operations. The wireless terminal can be inserted into a plurality of different types of auxiliary desktop units, recognize the type of auxiliary desktop unit, and customize the displays of the auxiliary desktop unit to be that designated by the user of the wireless terminal. Each type of auxiliary desktop unit has a plurality of programmable buttons and indicators. The labels for the programmable buttons and indicators are LCD displays. The wireless terminal utilizes these LCD displays to customize the programmable buttons and indicators of the user interface for each individual user when the user's wireless terminal is in communication with the auxiliary desktop unit. This allows the user to receive the same label information regardless of the auxiliary desktop unit they are utilizing.

Abstract: A wireless terminal is dynamically placed into a call coverage group based on the auxiliary unit with which the wireless terminal is in communication. A wireless terminal can be in a plurality of call coverage groups and be assigned a relative position in each of these call coverage groups based on the auxiliary unit with which the wireless terminal is in communication. The call coverage groups are dynamic, and a wireless terminal will assume a different position within the call coverage group based on whether higher positions within the call coverage group assigned to other auxiliary units have wireless terminals in communication with these other auxiliary units. The wireless terminals of a call coverage group dynamically establish their position by communicating and identifying the other active wireless terminals and the auxiliary units to which these other wireless terminals are assigned with no involvement of the wireless switching system controlling the wireless terminals.

Abstract: Allowing the alerting of supervisors and off duty agents to conditions on a split of an ACD system via wireless terminals. The conditions under which the wireless alerting will be performed are programmed by the owner of the ACD system rather than the manufacturer. The ACD center is connected to a wireless switching system via a primary rate ISDN interface (PRI) link. The ACD system considers the wireless switching system as another ACD system and utilizes the look ahead interflow operation to communicate information to the wireless switching system concerning the condition of a split. This is done by the ACD placing informational telecommunication calls to pseudo telecommunication numbers via the PRI link to the wireless switching system. The wireless switching system is responsive to each of these pseudo numbers to interpret the pseudo number as to the wireless terminal that should be contacted and an alphanumeric message that is to be displayed on that wireless terminal.

Abstract: Allowing a separate system owned by a service provider to access telephone terminals of consumers to determine the calling patterns of each consumer, utilize service plan information of different network carriers, automatically change the network carriers used by an individual consumer to more closely match the calling patterns of the consumer and the plan incentives, and to store information in the telephone terminal so that calling information is provided to the individual consumer in accordance with the service plan of the selected network carrier. The information stored in the telephone terminal of the consumer causes that telephone terminal to alert the consumer to special times during which the consumer should make telephone calls. In addition, the telephone terminal will warn the consumer upon the consumer attempting to place a call if there is a more advantageous time to place the call within some predefined time period.