Abstract: In a telecommunications system (100), a method and apparatus for buffering the initial speech of an initial speaker in a push-to-talk call is disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining at least one participant or group to call (410, 510), sending a call request to the at least one participant or group (520), determining if the at least one participant or group is registered with the telecommunications system, notifying the initial speaker to begin speaking after determining at least one participant is registered with the telecommunications system but prior to connecting all called parties, receiving and digitizing voice packets from the initial speaker, storing the digitized data packets in a storage medium and transmitting the digitized voice packets when a predetermined packet transmission triggering event occurs.

Abstract: Separate file servers are located in different geographic areas to serve users in each area. A centralized system manager with communication links to the file servers and users controls documents stored in the file servers. The system manager must approve each request by a user to download a document from a local file server. If the requested document is not stored at the local file server, the system manager will cause the requested document to be transferred from another file server to the local file server for access by the user. Documents being accessed by users are locked thereby denying access to other users until the current access by another user of the sought document is terminated.

Abstract: A method of operating a telecommunications device (10) is provided. The method includes receiving and storing a plurality of first audio samples. Each of the first samples corresponds to one of a set of individual dialing elements, the set of individual dialing elements including numeric digits 0-9. The method also includes receiving and storing a plurality of second audio samples. Each of the second samples corresponds to one of a set of executable commands, the set of executable commands including a first command defined to dial a phone number loaded into a buffer (22). A plurality of audio inputs are received and compared to the stored samples. Individual dialing elements are loaded into the buffer (22) in response to receiving audio inputs substantially matching first samples corresponding to the respective individual dialing elements. The individual dialing elements loaded in the buffer (22) define the phone number.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for billing a packet switched call utilizing a prepaid account in which a prepaid packet note (PPN) monitors a subscriber's usage during the call. The PPN is logically associated with a wireless packet serving node (WPSN) that executes call processing that is associated with the call. Moreover, the present invention provides apparatus and method for enabling the subscriber to replenish the subscriber's prepaid account.

Abstract: The present invention enables a wireless communications system to support prepaid charging for a packet-switched call and a circuit-switched call that are associated with a subscriber and that are coexistent. The present invention utilizes an integrated accounting processor that fetches an amount remaining in the subscriber's prepaid account and determines a balance that the subscriber may consume. An integrated prepaid node (IPPN) that is logically associated with an integrated wireless packet services node (IWPSN) monitors the usage associated with the packet-switched call and the circuit-switched call. When the packet-switched call ends, the IPPN reports the usage consumed during the packet-switched call and the circuit-switched call to the integrated accounting processor. The integrated accounting processor adjusts the subscriber's prepaid account in accordance with the usage.