Abstract: A method of handling an incoming call to a mobile station (MS) in a radio telecommunications network having a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC) and a home location register (HLR), and the MS communicates with the network via a satellite link comprising a satellite and a satellite gateway. The method includes storing in the HLR, a plurality of primary gateways and an associated backup gateway for each primary gateway in the network. If the primary gateway serving the MS fails while the satellite is still operational, the incoming call is routed from the G-MSC to the backup gateway. The backup gateway's base station subsystem (BSS) is reconfigured to cover the service area of the primary gateway, and the MS is notified that the backup gateway has replaced the primary gateway as the MS's serving gateway. Subscriber data for the called MS is provided to the backup gateway by the HLR.

Abstract: A telecommunications system, apparatus and method is disclosed for optimizing the use of paging channels within the network by dividing location areas (LAs) into sub-location areas (sub-LAs) and providing a more efficient and flexible method of paging mobile subscribers. The amount of usage of the paging channels and the number of location updates performed by a mobile subscriber can be monitored by the network to determine either statistical data or a subscriber category, e.g., heavy-user or light-user, which can be stored within the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card within the mobile station (MS). The sub-LA information along with the LA information for the cell that the mobile terminal is in is broadcast and monitored by the SIM card within the MS, which can then perform location updates based upon the category or data. The Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register can also use the data or category for paging purposes, e.g.

Abstract: A telecommunications system, and method for providing a called party with the location of the calling party. When a call is received by a switch serving the calling party, the location of the calling party is determined, which is then transmitted to the called party.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for encapsulating header information associated with a Short Message Service (SMS) message within that SMS message, which can then be sent over a broadcast channel. This header information can contain, for example, additional information regarding the intended recipients of the SMS message. For example, a business with 100 employees may want to be able to broadcast a SMS message to all employees, but not to anyone else. Therefore, in this case, the header information can indicate “private” and include a unique user group identification (ID) code. A Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), or other memory, within each of the mobile terminals within the predefined group can contain a message application, which can compare the received group ID to a group ID stored in the SIM, and determine whether the message should be displayed on the mobile terminal.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for enhancing business card services implemented within cellular networks to provide additional features to mobile subscribers. Business card information associated with a mobile subscriber can be stored within a mobile station (MS) of the mobile subscriber and transmitted by a business card application within the MS through the cellular network to another MS that has the business card application. The business card application within the sending MS records the telephone number of each receiving MS as historical data. When a change is made to the business card information, the business card application within the sending MS transmits updates to all or some of the MS's that received the business card before the change was made by using the historical data. In addition, the business card application can interface with existing supplementary services to tailor the supplementary services to the individual mobile subscriber.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for optimizing multi-party calls within a satellite network. This can be accomplished by the Mobile Switching Center (MSC) that the subscriber is currently registered in receiving a multi-party request from the subscriber and determining the most optimal MSC for the given multi-party call. The subscriber can then be re-registered in the most optimal MSC, and either the subscriber or the optimal MSC can set up the entire multi-party call. Alternatively, the subscriber can be re-registered in the optimal MSC, which then sets up the call to the first party of the multi-party call. Thereafter, the subscriber can set up the rest of the multi-party call.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method for enabling a subscriber to determine the current time period, e.g., peak or off-peak, for that subscriber based upon the broadcasted system date and time prior to answering or placing a call on a mobile terminal. The Mobile Station (MS), or a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card within the MS, can be programmed with the relevant time periods for that subscriber, e.g., dates and hours for peak and off-peak time periods. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a time period application within the SIM card receives the system information from the air interface and compares it with the stored time period information associated with the subscriber to determine the current time period. The SIM card can then instruct the MS to display the current time period, along with the amount of air time usage associated with that time period.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for organizing SMS messages sent to a mobile terminal based on the location of the mobile terminal or the time of delivery of the SMS messages. Thus, when a subscriber sends a short message to another subscriber, the originating subscriber can specify the time of delivery of the message. In addition, the originating subscriber can specify the priority associated with the message, e.g., the SMS message can have an indication of priority one, which indicates to the receiving subscriber that the message is urgent. Furthermore, the originating subscriber can also specify that the message is to be delivered only when the called subscriber is in a certain location. The receiving subscriber can also control the display of the SMS messages by moving the received SMS messages to an action list, and then specifying when and/or where the SMS messages should be displayed again.

Abstract: Selective acceptance of short messages enables a cellular subscriber to predetermine which short message will actually be delivered to the subscriber's mobile station. Using an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) transmission, the subscriber determines which selection criteria will be used and then builds in the network Home Location Register (HLR) a list of originating entities from which short messages will either be accepted or rejected. A screening application resident on the HLR then determines the identity of the entity associated with any request for short message routing information and causes the short message to be delivered or deleted according to the input provided by the subscriber. A confirmation message is returned to the originating entity indicating delivery or the reason for failure.

Abstract: Selective carrier denial in a cellular system restricts some or all carrier-handled calls from a given cellular subscriber while simultaneously allowing other cellular calls. A restriction flag or indicator in a Visitor Location Register (VLR) of the cellular system is set by a Home Location Register (HLR) which contains a list of those carriers denied to subscribers. When the restriction flag is set, the HLR is interrogated to determine if the call is restricted. Alternatively, the restriction flag may reside within the subscriber's mobile phone. Further, the VLR or mobile phone may, respectively, contain a list of denied carriers and internally determine if carrier denial applies without resort to the HLR.

Abstract: Before routing an emergency call setup request signal received from a mobile subscriber toward a particular emergency service terminal, subscriber specified data associated with that particular subscriber are retrieved. By analyzing such retrieved data, the serving mobile switching center is better able to ascertain the individual need of the mobile subscriber and accordingly routes the emergency call towards the appropriate emergency service operator capable of providing effective assistance to the mobile subscriber in need.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for providing a substantially immediate electronic receipt after a consumer has made a purchase. When a consumer makes a purchase, the sales terminal, which is attached with a short message/e-mail sending capable terminal, can generate and route a short message along with the detailed purchase information to a transport address or alias address associated with the consumer via a Gatekeeper for the Internet for the area that the sales terminal is located in. Upon receipt of the short message, the Gatekeeper can then convert the alias address to the transport address, if the alias address is given and the consumer does not want the short message sent to the alias address, and forward the short message through the Internet to that transport address (or alias address) as an Internet Protocol datagram for storage and retrieval of the short message by the consumer either immediately or at a later time.

Abstract: A memory register correlating an access code for accessing a particular long distance carrier within a particular telecommunications network is coupled either to a mobile station or to a telecommunications node serving the mobile station. Whenever the mobile station travels outside of its home Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) and dials an access code in an attempt to access that particular long distance carrier, an application module associated with the mobile station or the telecommunications node automatically determines the current network serving the mobile station and converts the dialed access code to another access code appropriate for accessing the desired long distance carrier within the current PLMN. A call connection, thereafter, is established with the indicated long distance carrier utilizing the converted access code.

Abstract: Subscriber data for a particular mobile station are correlated with a particular service area and stored at a home location register (HLR) associated with that particular mobile station. Whenever the mobile station travels into a mobile switching center (MSC) serving that particular service area, the MSC performs a location update with the HLR. A location update signal further includes data representing the identity of the service area currently serving the mobile station. Upon receiving the location update signal from the serving MSC, the HLR analyzes the received data to determine the identity of the service area currently serving the mobile station and retrieves the subscriber data correlated with that particular service area. The retrieved subscriber data are then transmitted back to the serving MSC in order to provide service area dependent mobile service to the roaming mobile station.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for invoking barring features within a satellite network when calls to a subscriber within the satellite network are optimized. When a call is optimized for the satellite subscriber, the actual geographic location of the satellite subscriber is sent to the HLR and the new (optimal) MSC/VLR. This location can be sent as an MSC address, or other form. Therefore, when a barring feature is associated with the call, this MSC address is checked by the serving MSC or the HLR (in the case of barring of incoming calls when roaming outside of the home Public Land Mobile Network country). If the satellite subscriber's actual geographic location is within the barred area, the barring feature is invoked. Otherwise, the barring feature is not invoked.

Abstract: A wireless telecommunications system and method for basing the voice coder selection for the speech channel on the current location of the subscriber. Subscribers having a voice coder of less quality, such as a half-rate voice coder, can specify that while making or receiving calls in certain locations, e.g., from home or from the office, an improved voice coder should be allocated, such as the enhanced full rate voice coder. The location based voice coder selection can be implemented in either the mobile station itself or within the cellular network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for restricting operation of a cellular telephone to well delineated geographical areas. The cellular telephone is equipped with a location device for ascertaining the current geographical location of the cellular telephone. The ascertained geographical location is compared with information pertaining to the allowability of operation of cellular telephones in various geographical locations. A determination is made as to whether the cellular telephone is allowed to operate in its current geographical location. The cellular telephone accordingly enables or disables transmitting by the transceiver of the cellular telephone.

Abstract: A calling party subscriber informs the serving telecommunications node that the dialed called party number represents a mobile number. The serving telecommunications node then interrogates the home location register (HLR) associated with the called party mobile station to determine the current location of the called party mobile station. Upon determining the mobile switching center (MSC) currently serving the called party mobile station, the serving telecommunications node then directly establishes a call connection with the serving MSC. The serving MSC then establishes a speech connection over a radio channel with the called party mobile station traveling within its coverage area to enable the calling party terminal to communicate with the called party mobile station.

Abstract: A first mobile station is correlated with a second mobile station as a permitted home zone party. The second mobile station is in speech connection with another telecommunications party. In the event that the first mobile station wishes to join in on the conversation, the first mobile station simply transmits a selected service code A to the serving mobile switching center (MSC). The serving MSC retrieves the data correlating the first mobile station with the second mobile station, determines that the first mobile station is currently located within the same home zone, and conferences the first mobile station into the existing call connection involving the second mobile station by utilizing one of the call conference circuits. As an illustration, members of the same household can designate and correlate each other as permitted home zone parties.

Abstract: Call forwarding data, including forward to numbers for a particular mobile station are correlated with a particular service area and stored at a home location register (HLR) associated with that particular mobile station. Whenever the mobile station travels into a mobile switching center (MSC) serving that particular service area, the MSC performs a location update with the HLR. A location update signal further includes data representing the identity of the service area currently serving the mobile station. Upon receiving the location update signal from the serving MSC, the HLR analyzes the received data to determine the identity of the service area currently serving the mobile station and retrieves the call forwarding data associated with that particular service area.