Abstract: A method of seizing Time Division Multiplex terminations at a media gateway controlled by a plurality of media gateway controllers. The method comprises receiving at the media gateway from one of said media gateway controllers, a gateway control protocol request to seize a TDM termination, the request specifying a route but not a specific Time Division Multiplex termination (103). The specified route is mapped to a set of Time Division Multiplex terminations, and one termination from the set seized on behalf of the requesting media gateway controller (104). A gateway control protocol response is then sent from said media gateway to the requesting mobile switching center, the response identifying the seized termination (105).

Abstract: Method for grouping terminations of a media gateway by a grouping parameter. When a command containing a grouping parameter is received, the command is executed for a termination if the grouping parameter contained in the received command corresponds to the grouping parameter stored in connection with said termination.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of detecting faults within a telecommunications network, said telecommunications network comprising a plurality of entities. The method comprises grouping said entities into one or more groups based on the call traffic handled by said entities or on the call traffic said entities are configured to handle, for at least one of said groups, monitoring the call length pattern of a plurality of grouped entities of said group, and for at least one of said grouped entities, comparing the monitored call length pattern of the grouped entity with the monitored call length pattern of one or more of the other grouped entities to determine if the behavior of said grouped entity is indicative of a fault. The entities may comprise nodes of the network or hardware elements within one or more nodes of the network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing information to a subscriber (14; 25; 35) of a mobile communication network, said method comprising the steps of receiving a call setup message (110; 210; 314) which is used to set up a call between the originator associated to the call setup message (110; 210; 314) and the subscriber (14; 25; 35), detecting (111; 213; 315) an indicator in the call setup message which indicates the sending of a message to the subscriber (14; 25; 35), releasing the call (112; 215; 316) towards the originator and sending (114; 217; 318) a message to the subscriber.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of detecting faults within a telecommunications network, said telecommunications network comprising a plurality of entities. The method comprises grouping said entities into one or more groups based on the call traffic handled by said entities or on the call traffic said entities are configured to handle, for at least one of said groups, monitoring the call length pattern of a plurality of grouped entities of said group, and for at least one of said grouped entities, comparing the monitored call length pattern of the grouped entity with the monitored call length pattern of one or more of the other grouped entities to determine if the behaviour of said grouped entity is indicative of a fault. The entities may comprise nodes of the network or hardware elements within one or more nodes of the network.

Abstract: Method for grouping terminations of a media gate-way by a grouping parameter. When a command containing a grouping parameter is received, the command is executed for a termination if the grouping parameter contained in the received command corresponds to the grouping parameter stored in connection with said termination.

Abstract: A method of selectively improving the quality of calls carried by a communications network. The method comprises defining off-peak and peak call periods, and during off-peak periods, for each call carried by the network, analysing call data to determine whether or not a network based Voice Quality Enhancement function should be applied to the call and, if yes, applying the function to the call. A database is maintained containing subscriber and/or terminal identities together with respective Voice Quality Enhancement function requirements, said requirements being updated based upon determinations made during said off-peak periods. During peak periods, said network based Voice Quality Enhancement function is invoked on a per call basis in dependence upon the requirements contained in said database for the user(s) and/or terminal(s) participating in the calls.

Abstract: A method of seizing Time Division Multiplex terminations at a media gateway controlled by a plurality of media gateway controllers. The method comprises receiving at the media gateway from one of said media gateway controllers, a gateway control protocol request to seize a TDM termination, the request specifying a route but not a specific Time Division Multiplex termination (103). The specified route is mapped to a set of Time Division Multiplex terminations, and one termination from the set seized on behalf of the requesting media gateway controller (104). A gateway control protocol response is then sent from said media gateway to the requesting mobile switching centre, the response identifying the seized termination (105).

Abstract: A method of selectively improving the quality of calls carried by a communications network. The method comprises defining off-peak and peak call periods, and during off-peak periods, for each call carried by the network, analysing call data to determine whether or not a network based Voice Quality Enhancement function should be applied to the call and, if yes, applying the function to the call. A database is maintained containing subscriber and/or terminal identities together with respective Voice Quality Enhancement function requirements, said requirements being updated based upon determinations made during said off-peak periods. During peak periods, said network based Voice Quality Enhancement function is invoked on a per call basis in dependence upon the requirements contained in said database for the user(s) and/or terminal(s) participating in the calls.

Abstract: A method for avoiding unnecessary signalling in a cellular system is disclosed whereby a “VMSC data generation” or similar field of information can be utilized in an HLR queue. When the HLR is storing Location Erasure data in the queue, the HLR can also store the most current “VMSC data generation” field together with the Location Erasure data in the queue. Prior to sending a Location Erasure message to a VMSC from the HLR's queue, the HLR determines whether the current “VMSC data generation” field is different than the one stored in the queue. If so, the HLR can discard the Location Erasure data in the queue, and thus defer from sending the Location Erasure message to that VMSC. Alternatively, when the HLR notes a new “VMSC data generation” field, the HLR scans the complete queue and discards all Location Erasure messages associated with an older “VMSC data generation” field than the current one noted by the HLR.

Abstract: Selective carrier denial in a cellular system restricts some or all carrier-handled calls from a given cellular subscriber while simultaneously allowing other cellular calls. A restriction flag or indicator in a Visitor Location Register (VLR) of the cellular system is set by a Home Location Register (HLR) which contains a list of those carriers denied to subscribers. When the restriction flag is set, the HLR is interrogated to determine if the call is restricted. Alternatively, the restriction flag may reside within the subscriber's mobile phone. Further, the VLR or mobile phone may, respectively, contain a list of denied carriers and internally determine if carrier denial applies without resort to the HLR.

Abstract: A request for call forwarding activation along with forward-to-number is received from a mobile station via one of the data channels such as a Stand-alone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH). The activation request itself is transported by an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message. The serving mobile switching center (MSC) analyzes the forward-to-number and establishes a speech connection with the mobile station by calling back the mobile station. Next, the MSC originates an outgoing call towards the forward-to-number and, as a result, establishes a speech connection between the mobile station and the telephone terminal associated with the forward-to-number. By establishing a speech connection between the two parties, the mobile subscriber requesting the call forwarding activation can verbally verify the forward-to-number.

Abstract: A communication network and associated method, which includes a plurality of switches, routes a call from a receiving switch to a destination switch either directly or through an alternate switch. Either the receiving switch or the destination switch, or both, analyze the contents of a store to determine whether the calling party or the called party is marked for alternate routing. The call may be routed to the alternate switch either from the receiving switch or the destination switch if the call is marked for alternate routing.

Abstract: A mobile subscriber is able to request an outgoing call setup without dialing a Numbering Plan Area (NPA) number. A mobile subscriber specifies a particular NPA number to be used with all subsequently dialed local calls. The user specified NPA number is encapsulated into an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message and transported over to the associated home location register (home HLR). Whenever the mobile station performs a location update, or stores a new NPA number, the home HLR copies the stored NPA number to the serving mobile switching center (MSC). Subsequently, whenever the mobile station originates an outgoing call setup with only a local directory number, the MSC retrieves the copied NPA number and generates a complete B-number by concatenating the retrieved NPA number with the subscriber dialed local directory number. The generated B-number is then utilized to properly process the outgoing call setup.

Abstract: A call is originated from a mobile station being served by a visited mobile switching center (MSC) and associated with a particular MSC as a home MSC. A base station subsystem (BSS) connected to the visited MSC dynamically establishes an A-interface with an application module within the home MSC transparently through the visited MSC. Thereinafter, all subscriber transmitted data are routed from the serving BSS to the home MSC. The application module within the home MSC then processes the data to provide mobile service to the mobile station.

Abstract: A mobile station communication network includes a high penetration network which schedules high transmission power level paging to reach a mobile station for which an acknowledgment signal is not received. A home location register stores mobile station high penetration network (HPN) subscriber feature information. The HPN analyzes mobile station class to determine an appropriate response when a mobile station fails to acknowledge a page request. The HPN further maintains a record of short message service (SMS) time out (timer) values and examines the ID of the center that generated the message to determine when the SMS center will time out. Just prior to the time out, the HPN will send a "user unavailable" signal to the originating SMS center to avoid unnecessary paging request retries by the SMS center.

Abstract: Incoming calls or messages for a mobile station that has been ported from a first HLR to a second HLR are first received by a gateway node. The gateway node, in turn, transmits a signal requesting routing instruction to a centralized database connected to a gateway node. Utilizing the received Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number, the centralized database determines the network address of the new HLR currently serving the ported mobile station. The received signal requesting routing information is then routed to the new HLR. The new HLR retrieves the requested information and transmits it back to the gateway node. The gateway node, utilizing the received routing information received from the new HLR, accordingly routes the incoming calls or messages to the ported mobile station.

Abstract: A routing address representing an alternative terminal is assigned to a particular service area. Such a service area comprises a Local Access and Transport Area (LATA), Mobile Switching Center (MSC) area, Location Area, and Cell Area. Whenever an incoming call is received towards a mobile station currently located within the particular service area, instead of transmitting a routing address representing the mobile station, the serving mobile switching center (MSC) transmits a signal containing the routing address representing the alternative terminal. Instead of routing the call to the intended mobile station, the gateway mobile switching center (GMSC) utilizes the received routing address and reroutes the incoming call to the alternative terminal. By rerouting all incoming calls towards the alternative terminal in case of an emergency, all available access channels are reserved for making outgoing calls by the mobile subscribers located within the emergency service area.

Abstract: An International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number transmitted by a mobile station is first analyzed by the serving mobile switching center (MSC) associated with an International Telecommunication Union (ITU)-based SS7 network. If the received IMSI number instead belongs to an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-based SS7 network, the serving MSC prepends a country code representing the mobile subscriber to the received IMSI number. The least significant digits of the resulting number are further truncated to conform to the E.214 standard (the maximum length of fifteen digits). A Mobile Application Part (MAP) based signal, such as a location update signal, is transmitted utilizing the generated E.214 number as the Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP) called party number parameter and routed to an international gateway connecting the ITU-T based SS7 network with the ANSI based SS7 network.

Abstract: A call forwarding activation request is transmitted from a mobile station to the serving mobile switching center (MSC) over a data channel incapable of carrying voice data. However, mobile subscribers and mobile service providers would like to establish a speech connection between the mobile station and the forward-to-number to ensure that the forward-to-number has been dialed correctly and that desired parties are at the other end. Accordingly, whenever a call forwarding activation request is received by the mobile station, the mobile station itself initiates an outgoing call setup toward the forward-to-number. The connection-less signal encapsulating the activation request is transmitted to the serving MSC only after the successful completion of such call setup. After receiving the transmitted connection-less signal, the serving HLR alters the call forwarding feature status to active.