Abstract: A first communication device of an apparatus in one example shares a billing relationship with a second communication. The second communication device comprises a primary communication device, where a user associated with the second communication device comprises a primary user associated with the primary communication device. The primary user associated with the primary communication device sets one or more restrictions for the first communication device. The first communication device employs one or more of the one or more restrictions to make a determination of allowability of one or more communication sessions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, method and article for porting a directory number for a duration of time. A portability component automatically updates one or more provisioning components to port the directory number for the duration of time. The value for the duration of time may be one or more of a period of time, a date in the future, or a permanent status. Upon the expiration of the duration of time, the portability component initiates one or more notifications of the expiration of the duration of time to a management component and/or the provisioning components to remove and/or alter the port of the directory number.

Abstract: An application server component of an apparatus in one example receives an indication of one or more communication devices that are to receive one or more invitations to join a communication session. The application server component notifies the one or more communication devices of the one or more invitations to join the communication session. Upon acceptance of one or more of the one or more invitations by one or more of the one or more communication devices, the application server component connects the one or more of the one or more communication devices to the communication session.

Abstract: One or more control components of an apparatus that connect with one or more mobile phones one or more toll-free calls placed by one or more users of one or more communication devices to one or more toll-free numbers associated with the one or more mobile phones.

Abstract: Information that is based on a database portion of a first user equipment component is translated from a first database format to a second database format for a download of the information from a network storage component to a second user equipment component. The first database format is understood by the first user equipment component. The second database format is understood by the second user equipment component. The first database format is not understood by the second user equipment component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing real time updates of a database describing the features of individual terminals of a shared plan telecommunications group for communication sessions from and to that individual terminal. The characteristics (numbering plan, incoming and outgoing screening, alternate routing, types of service provided) of each of the individual stations of the shared communication plan are stored in a database accessed through a server. The database can be updated in real time by a designated one of the stations in the shared group. The designated station can also handle appeals for an exception to the restrictions stored in the database. The designated station can receive immediate or periodic information on activity of individual stations, or can receive such information on request.

Abstract: An application server component of an apparatus in one example receives one or more notifications of one or more open communication sessions from one or more first communication devices. The application server component sends one or more of the one or more notifications of one or more of the one or more open communication sessions to one or more second communication devices. Upon a request by a communication device of the one or more second communication devices to join an open communication session of the one or more of the one or more open communication sessions, the application server component initiates a connection of the communication device to the open communication session.

Abstract: Conditional reconnection of a suspended call occurs responsive to a mobile unit (108) sending a mobile-originated reconnect (MORC) message into the network (102). Reconnection does not occur not if the mobile unit does not send a MORC message or affirmatively declines reconnection within a designated waiting period.

Abstract: Reconnection of a mobile unit to a call session controlled by a first MSC is supported responsive to a network-initiated or mobile-originated reconnect attempt even in instances where the mobile unit has roamed to a border cell controlled by a second MSC. In a network-initiated reconnect attempt, the first MSC sends a suspended call page request to a second MSC. The second MSC pages the mobile unit, sets up a bearer channel to the mobile unit, and sends to the first MSC a suspended call page response including indicia of the bearer channel set up by the second MSC. The first MSC establishes a bearer channel to the second MSC thereby reconnecting the mobile unit to the call session. In a mobile-originated reconnect attempt, the mobile unit sends a mobile-originated reconnect message to the second MSC.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing multimedia telecommunications network-based voicemail and multimedia mail messages with a wireless communications device and an external message recording device. The method includes connecting the wireless communications device to the external device, establishing a call between the wireless communications device and a voicemail/multimedia mail server in the network, exchanging information between the wireless communications device and the voicemail/multimedia mail messages about the subscriber's messages, which messages may be stored on the external device and the voicemail/multimedia mail server, determining the status of the subscriber's messages. If there is at least one new message for the subscriber on the server, then any new messages are downloaded to the external device and the server is updated. If there are no new messages for the subscriber on the server, then a message is played for the subscriber indicating that there are no new messages.

Abstract: A method of sending personalized outgoing voicemail/multimedia mail messages based on the caller ID in a multimedia telecommunications network, the method including storing the subscriber's personalized outgoing voicemail and multimedia mail messages at a first network element, receiving a call having a unique caller ID for the subscriber at a second network element, determining at the second network element whether the subscriber has activated the service and whether the subscriber is unavailable to take the call, forwarding the call to the first network element where the service has been activated by the subscriber and the subscriber is unavailable to take the call, analyzing at the first network element the caller ID of the call to determine which of the stored outgoing messages is an appropriate outgoing message for the caller, and playing the appropriate outgoing message to the caller.

Abstract: An application server component of an apparatus in one example communicates to one or more mobile stations, of a plurality of mobile stations, one or more updates of one or more statuses of respective one or more mobile stations of the plurality of mobile stations. The plurality of mobile stations comprise a first mobile station and a second mobile station, wherein the one or more updates of the one or more statuses of the respective one or more mobile stations comprise an update of a status of the first mobile station. The application server component communicates the update of the status of the first mobile station to the second mobile station to indicate to the second mobile station whether the first mobile station is available for participation in a call with the second mobile station.

Abstract: An application server component of an apparatus in one example receives one or more notifications of one or more open communication sessions from one or more first communication devices. The application server component sends one or more of the one or more notifications of one or more of the one or more open communication sessions to one or more second communication devices. Upon a request by a communication device of the one or more second communication devices to join an open communication session of the one or more of the one or more open communication sessions, the application server component initiates a connection of the communication device to the open communication session.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing real time updates of a database describing the features of individual terminals of a shared plan telecommunications group for communication sessions from and to that individual terminal. The characteristics (numbering plan, incoming and outgoing screening, alternate routing, types of service provided) of each of the individual stations of the shared communication plan are stored in a database accessed through a server. The database can be updated in real time by a designated one of the stations in the shared group. The designated station can also handle appeals for an exception to the restrictions stored in the database. The designated station can receive immediate or periodic information on activity of individual stations, or can receive such information on request.

Abstract: Information that is based on a database portion of a first user equipment component is translated from a first database format to a second database format for a download of the information from a network storage component to a second user equipment component. The first database format is understood by the first user equipment component. The second database format is understood by the second user equipment component. The first database format is not understood by the second user equipment component.

Abstract: An application server component of an apparatus in one example communicates to one or more mobile stations, of a plurality of mobile stations, one or more updates of one or more statuses of respective one or more mobile stations of the plurality of mobile stations. The plurality of mobile stations comprise a first mobile station and a second mobile station, wherein the one or more updates of the one or more statuses of the respective one or more mobile stations comprise an update of a status of the first mobile station. The application server component communicates the update of the status of the first mobile station to the second mobile station to indicate to the second mobile station whether the first mobile station is available for participation in a call with the second mobile station.