Abstract: A method and system for providing anonymous sidebars between participants in a existing conference session such as a push-to-talk session for instance. Each applicable participant in the session has a private handle that represents the participant but that does not reveal the true identity of the participant. Further, the conference server hosting the session maintains or has access to mapping data that correlates each participant's private handle with a participant identifier that is sufficient to allow the conference server to engage in network communication with the participant. The server provides each participant with a list of other participant's private handles, and a given participant can then initiate a sidebar by sending a sidebar-initiation request designating one or more private handles selected from the list. Using its mapping data, the server then identifies the corresponding participants and sets up the anonymous sidebar.

Abstract: A prepaid service platform monitors a prepaid balance for a mobile station that operates in accordance with a prepaid wireless service plan. When the prepaid balance reaches a predetermined value, such as zero, the prepaid service platform signals to the mobile station's home location register (HLR). In response, the HLR changes at least one call authorization in an HLR profile for the mobile station and also signals to the serving system currently serving the mobile station. The serving system responsively changes at least one call authorization in a serving-system profile for the mobile station. As a result of these changes to the mobile station's call authorizations, the mobile station may be prevented from making and/or receiving chargeable calls.

Abstract: A prepaid service platform monitors a prepaid balance for a mobile station that operates in accordance with a prepaid wireless service plan. When the prepaid balance reaches a predetermined value, such as zero, the prepaid service platform signals to the mobile station's home location register (HLR). In response, the HLR changes at least one call authorization in an HLR profile for the mobile station and also signals to the serving system currently serving the mobile station. The serving system responsively changes at least one call authorization in a serving-system profile for the mobile station. As a result of these changes to the mobile station's call authorizations, the mobile station may be prevented from making and/or receiving chargeable calls.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for identifying the carrier to which a phone, such as a mobile phone, subscribes in real time, at the time a call is originating from or terminating to the mobile phone. Where both parties to a call are subscribers to the same carrier, the methods can be used for applying preferential call rates to intra-carrier calls, e.g., making the calls free. The methods are particularly useful in the telephony networks with local number portability, in which the mere identification of the phone number does not necessarily identify the carrier to which the phone subscribes. The methods can use either existing databases to identify the carrier, such as LERG (Local Exchange Routing Guide) tables, number portability databases, name databases, and home location registers, or a new database can be created correlating mobile phone directory numbers with carriers.

Abstract: A prepaid service platform monitors a prepaid balance for a mobile station that operates in accordance with a prepaid wireless service plan. When the prepaid balance reaches a predetermined value, such as zero, the prepaid service platform signals to the mobile station's home location register (HLR). In response, the HLR changes at least one call authorization in an HLR profile for the mobile station and also signals to the serving system currently serving the mobile station. The serving system responsively changes at least one call authorization in a serving-system profile for the mobile station. As a result of these changes to the mobile station's call authorizations, the mobile station may be prevented from making and/or receiving chargeable calls.