Abstract: Apparatus and a method for establishing a cellular mobile call. If no radio traffic (voice or data) channels are available for a calling Mobile Station (MS), then a test is made to determine the expected wait time before a channel becomes available. If the expected wait time is less than a first threshold, then the call request is queued. If a channel does not become available before a second time threshold, then the caller is notified that the call has been queued and is expected to be established in a short time. A control message is sent to the MS to trigger an indication of the queued status to the user. The indication may be one or more tones, a data display, or the playing of a pre-recorded announcement. If the expected wait time is more than the first threshold, the caller is given the opportunity to be called back when a radio channel becomes available. Advantageously, the number of failed calls because of unavailable traffic channels is reduced, and the caller's annoyance level is reduced.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for establishing a cellular mobile call. If no radio traffic (voice or data) channels are available for a calling or called mobile station (MS), then a test is made to determine the expected wait time before a channel becomes available. If the expected wait time is less than a first threshold, then the call or the call request is queued. If a channel for an incoming call to an MS does not become available before a second time threshold, then the caller is notified by an announcement that the call has been queued and is expected to be established in a short time. If the caller of an incoming call to the MS does not disconnect, then the MSC waits for an available channel and establishes a connection to the MS over that available channel. For an outgoing call from an MS, a control message is sent to the MS to trigger an indication of the queued status to the user. The indication may be one or more tones, a data display, or the playing of a pre-recorded announcement.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for establishing a cellular mobile call. If no radio traffic (voice or data) channels are available for a calling Mobile Station (MS), then a test is made to determine the expected wait time before a channel becomes available. If the expected wait time is less than a first threshold, then the call request is queued. If a channel does not become available before a second time threshold, then the caller is notified that the call has been queued and is expected to be established in a short time. A control message is sent to the MS to trigger an indication of the queued status to the user. The indication may be one or more tones, a data display, or the playing of a pre-recorded announcement. If the expected wait time is more than the first threshold, the caller is given the opportunity to be called back when a radio channel becomes available. Advantageously, the number of failed calls because of unavailable traffic channels is reduced, and the caller's annoyance level is reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for permitting a wireless telecommunications caller to use an alternate service provider if the primary service provider has no available bearer channels. If the primary service provider has no available bearer channels for a call, that service provider sends a message to the caller's mobile station to switch its control channel to one of the control channels of an alternate service provider. The caller then attempts to complete the call over the facilities of the alternate service provider. Advantageously, spare facilities of the alternate service provider can be employed to good use; advantageously, the caller's service is improved because the call is not finally blocked when no bearer channels are available for the call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a wireless telephone connection when a call cannot be made immediately. The caller and the wireless system negotiate for a later time when another attempt will be made to establish the call. Shortly before that time arrives, the wireless system reserves a radio channel and retains that channel for the deferred call. Then, the system calls the customer back, or waits for the customer to attempt the call. A reserved channel is then used for the call if the system has been successful in reserving such a channel. Advantageously, there is a high probability that the deferred call will have a radio channel available.

Abstract: In a cellular mobile telecommunications system, apparatus and a method for altering the charge for a call if the occupancy of radio channels is above or below an appropriate threshold. For one proposed service, the users are charged less if they make calls during the time when the occupancy of radio channels is less than a threshold. For users having another proposed service, the charge is greater when the occupancy of the radio channels is above another threshold. Advantageously, users are encouraged to use the mobile telecommunications service when the occupancy of regular channels is low, and to use the service less when the occupancy of the radio channels is high.