Abstract: A communication system and method are disclosed for allowing a consumer to place wireless calls over their wireless communication device from telephones connected through-out their location. The communication system includes a first interface to communicate with a telephone network, a second interface to communicate with a wireless network, a third interface to communicate with a first communication device (e.g., telephones, facsimile machines, computers), a fourth interface to communicate with a second communication device, and control circuitry. The control circuitry connects the third interface to the first interface and connects the fourth interface to the second interface to provide simultaneous communication between the first communication device and the telephone network and between the second communication device and the wireless network.

Abstract: A system and method for caching local number portability (LNP) information comprises an LNP cache that can be located in a signaling processor. The LNP cache is a memory cache that contains the LNP information, such as the dialed number (DN) and the location routing number (LRN) for an associated DN. The signaling processor receives and processes call signaling. If the signaling processor determines that a DN may be assigned to a portable communication device, such as a portable signaling processor, then the signaling processor accesses the LNP cache to determine the LRN for the DN, if it exists. The LNP cache returns the LRN if a match is found for the DN and if the DN has a corresponding LRN. If a match is not found, the signaling processor can be configured to query an LNP service control point (SCP). Alternately, the LNP cache can be configured to include DNs that have a corresponding DN entry or a blank entry, but not an LRN entry, to signify that the DN is not ported.

Abstract: According to the invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for allowing a consumer to place wireless calls over their hand-held wireless communications device from telephones connected through-out their location, while keeping the convenience and flexibility of a hand-held communications device. More specifically, the present invention includes a communications premises station system for receiving a hand-held wireless communications device which communicates with a wireless network and has a premises station interface. The communications premises station system has one or more telephonic interfaces for communicating with one or more telephonic devices (e.g., telephones, facsimile machines, computers). When the hand-held wireless communications device is placed in premises station (similar to a battery charger cradle), the hand-held wireless communications device electrically connects to communications premises station system.