Abstract: A method and apparatus employing an improved user interface for satellite communications user terminals in satellite communications systems provides call routing information, in particular gateway selection information, during channel request portion of call initiation. In one approach, a symbol, for example a key on a keypad, is associated with gateway selection information, such as a country code and national destination code. When a user thereafter initiates a call by selecting the symbol and causing a subscriber number for a desired destination to be entered, the satellite communications user terminal automatically transmits the gateway selection information associated with the symbol during the channel request portion of call initiation. In another approach, some gateway selection information is selected as a default.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for synchronizing transaction identifiers used by two mobile stations in a mobile communication system. A network station determines the transaction identifier used by each mobile station and sends a signalling message to each mobile station containing a counterpart transaction identifier element. The counterpart transaction identifier element which is sent to each mobile station contains the transaction identifier value which is used by the other mobile station to identify the connection. The counterpart transaction identifier is received and stored in each mobile station. When a signalling message containing a transaction identifier is sent from one mobile station to another, the mobile station inserts the counterpart transaction identifier rather than its own transaction identifier into the outgoing message. In this way, the receiving mobile station will recognize the signalling message as belonging to the connection.