Abstract: When opaque films are deposited on semi-conductor wafers, underlying features may be concealed. In accordance with one implementation, such concealed features may be re-exposed via an ablation recovery process. One ablation recovery process entails aligning an energy source with a target position on a first surface of a semiconductor wafer based on position information retrieved from a second opposite surface of the semiconductor wafer, and firing a beam of the energy source to ablate opaque material at the target position and to expose a recovery feature underlying the opaque material.

Abstract: When opaque films are deposited on semi-conductor wafers, underlying features may be concealed. In accordance with one implementation, such concealed features may be re-exposed via an ablation recovery process. One ablation recovery process entails aligning an energy source with a target position on a first surface of a semiconductor wafer based on position information retrieved from a second opposite surface of the semiconductor wafer, and firing a beam of the energy source to ablate opaque material at the target position and to expose a recovery feature underlying the opaque material.

Abstract: Wireless networks and methods provide call waiting distinctive ringback. A wireless network of the invention comprises a switching system and a subscriber database. The switching system receives a registration request from a mobile device of a subscriber, transmits a registration message to the subscriber database, and receives a response message from subscriber database that includes a call waiting distinctive ringback indicator for the subscriber. If the switching system receives a call attempt from a calling party directed to the mobile device of the subscriber that is busy, then the switching system processes the call waiting distinctive ringback indicator to determine the type of ringback to provide for the call attempt, either distinctive ringback or non-distinct ringback.

Abstract: The present Inter-System Message Delivery System increases the SMS text message delivery success rate. When a mobile subscriber station roams outside of the confines of the cell in which it is presently registered, the delivery of SMS messages to mobile subscriber stations fails, since the mobile subscriber station is not present in the Serving Mobile Switching Center to receive the SMS message. This is particularly common when the mobile subscriber station is moving within the confines of a border cell or multiple cells of a Border Mobile Switching Center and is not yet registered at this Border Mobile Switching Center. The SMS message delivery process initiates a page to the mobile subscriber station via inter-system or inter-Mobile Switching Center paging.

Abstract: Wireless networks and methods are disclosed that provide call waiting distinctive ringback. A wireless network of the invention comprises a switching system and a subscriber database. The switching system receives a registration request from a mobile device of a subscriber, transmits a registration message to the subscriber database, and receives a response message from subscriber database that includes a call waiting distinctive ringback indicator for the subscriber. If the switching system receives a call attempt from a calling party directed to the mobile device of the subscriber that is busy, then the switching system processes the call waiting distinctive ringback indicator to determine the type of ringback to provide for the call attempt, either distinctive ringback or non-distinct ringback.

Abstract: The resource release system minimizes the time that the Mobile Switching Centers in a call initiation process commit resources after the call is terminated. This is accomplished by propagating a Call Release message through the cellular network from the Originating Mobile Switching Center to the Serving Mobile Switching Center as soon as the termination of the call initiation process is determined by the Originating Mobile Switching Center. As the Call Release message is propagated through the cellular network, each Mobile Switching Center that receives the message immediately propagates the message along the path through the cellular network toward the Serving Mobile Switching Center and releases the network resources that have been reserved for this call initiation process, thereby minimizing the amount of time network resources are maintained in a held state for this call initiation.

Abstract: The present Inter-System Message Delivery System increases the SMS text message delivery success rate. When a mobile subscriber station roams outside of the confines of the cell in which it is presently registered, the delivery of SMS messages to mobile subscriber stations fails, since the mobile subscriber station is not present in the Serving Mobile Switching Center to receive the SMS message. This is particularly common when the mobile subscriber station is moving within the confines of a border cell or multiple cells of a Border Mobile Switching Center and is not yet registered at this Border Mobile Switching Center. The SMS message delivery process initiates a page to the mobile subscriber station via inter-system or inter-Mobile Switching Center paging.

Abstract: A system is provided to allow a network to obtain the location of a mobile station (e.g. mobile phone) having AGPS/AFLT CDMA capability during an emergency call—without the use of the MPCAP parameter. The MPC invokes the PDE, which is IS-801 AGPS capable, without the MPCAP parameter. The PDE then queries the mobile for its geolocation capabilities, in the absence of the MPCAP parameter. This allows a visited network (e.g. the network in which the mobile station is roaming) to obtain a position (based on IS-801 AGPS/AFLT) for roaming mobile stations that are CDMA AGPS/AFLT capable—without the use of the network MPCAP parameter.

Abstract: A system is provided to allow a network to obtain the location of a mobile station (e.g. mobile phone) having AGPS/AFLT CDMA capability during an emergency call—without the use of the MPCAP parameter. The MPC invokes the PDE, which is IS-801 AGPS capable, without the MPCAP parameter. The PDE then queries the mobile for its geolocation capabilities, in the absence of the MPCAP parameter. This allows a visited network (e.g. the network in which the mobile station is roaming) to obtain a position (based on IS-801 AGPS/AFLT) for roaming mobile stations that are CDMA AGPS/AFLT capable—without the use of the network MPCAP parameter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for restricting call terminations for a roaming mobile unit. A serving MSC, which is an MSC providing call processing a mobile unit that is not the home MSC of the mobile unit, sends a registration notification request to the home location register (HLR). The HLR retrieves the termination access code parameter from the HLR and sends it to the serving MSC. The termination access code parameter includes a value that indicates if the mobile unit is allowed to roamer port calls. The parameter is stored at a VLR associated with the serving MSC. When a call request comes in to the serving MSC and requests a roamer port call with the mobile unit, the serving MSC checks the value of the termination restriction code to determine if it should terminate, or complete, the call.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing authentication for a subscriber of a wireless communication system employing one type of authentication technology roaming into a wireless communication system employing a second type of authentication technology. The method and apparatus involves transmitting (or receiving) a first message to a first system comprising a mobile identifier for a subscriber of the first and a second system indicator indicating that the subscriber is attempting to gain access to a second system that uses an authentication process different than an authentication process used by the first system; determining shared secret data for the subscriber using the mobile identifier; receiving (or transmitting) a second message from the first system having shared secret data associated with the subscriber; generating an expected response to a unique challenge using the shared secret data and an encryption algorithm, and transmitting the expected response to the second system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing authentication for a subscriber of a wireless communication system employing one type of authentication technology roaming into a wireless communication system employing a second type of authentication technology. The method and apparatus involves transmitting (or receiving) a first message to a first system comprising a mobile identifier for a subscriber of the first and a second system indicator indicating that the subscriber is attempting to gain access to a second system that uses an authentication process different than an authentication process used by the first system; determining shared secret data for the subscriber using the mobile identifier; receiving (or transmitting) a second message from the first system having shared secret data associated with the subscriber; generating an expected response to a unique challenge using the shared secret data and an encryption algorithm, and transmitting the expected response to the second system.

Abstract: A system for providing location based service telephone call to wireless subscribers. The system of the present invention provides processes for receiving location data about a wireless subscriber telephone and using the information to find the telephone number of the nearest service provider. The wireless subscriber telephone set can then be connected to the nearest service provider. It is also possible to a plurality of different location identifiers to determine the nearest service provider. In performing a look-up, the list can be used on a priority basis to determine the nearest service provider.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for restricting call terminations for a roaming mobile unit. A serving MSC, which is an MSC providing call processing a mobile unit that is not the home MSC of the mobile unit, sends a registration notification request to the home location register (HLR). The HLR retrieves the termination access code parameter from the HLR and sends it to the serving MSC. The termination access code parameter includes a value that indicates if the mobile unit is allowed to roamer port calls. The parameter is stored at a VLR associated with the serving MSC. When a call request comes in to the serving MSC and requests a roamer port call with the mobile unit, the serving MSC checks the value of the termination restriction code to determine if it should terminate, or complete, the call.