Abstract: An air-to-ground telecommunications system allows callers to store messages on an aircraft data server when sufficient air-to-ground communication bandwidth is unavailable for transmitting a call. The system allows aircraft callers to leave voice, fax, e-mail or other data messages. The messages are stored on the aircraft until sufficient bandwidth becomes available for transmission to the ground. Transmitting messages requires shorter air time and more efficient bandwidth usage because messages do not require a high degree of interaction between parties. The messages can also be compressed before transmission for further efficiently using aircraft-to-ground bandwidth.

Abstract: One method described includes the steps of monitoring, at a wireless transceiver unit, communications involving address assignment between a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server and one or more computer devices; storing, at the wireless transceiver unit, at least one computer device identifier corresponding to at least one computer device that was assigned an address by the DHCP server; receiving, at the wireless transceiver unit, traffic from a first computer device of the one or more computer devices; identifying, at the wireless transceiver using the at least one computer device identifier, that the first computer device is one that was assigned an address by the DHCP server; transmitting, from the wireless transceiver unit over a wireless communication link, traffic from the first computer device based on identifying that it was assigned an address by the DHCP server; receiving, at the wireless transceiver unit, traffic from a second computer device of the one or more computer devices; failin

Abstract: An air-to-ground telecommunications system allows callers to store messages on an aircraft data server when sufficient air-to-ground communication bandwidth is unavailable for transmitting a call. The system allows aircraft callers to leave voice, fax, e-mail or other data messages. The messages are stored on the aircraft until sufficient bandwidth becomes available for transmission to the ground. Transmitting messages requires shorter air time and more efficient bandwidth usage because messages do not require a high degree of interaction between parties. The messages can also be compressed before transmission for further efficiently using aircraft-to-ground bandwidth.

Abstract: Methods and systems for routing information to a destination through a plurality of networks, wherein at least one of the networks is a packet network. The system comprises a routing processor for receiving a routing query signal, which specifies the destination to which the information will be routed and a memory for storing at least one characteristic of the destination. The processor determines a route for the transmission of the information based on the routing query and on the characteristics stored in the memory.

Abstract: A method and a communications system in which a request for data transmitted by an airborne transmitter over a low-bandwidth air-to-ground communication system uplink and received by a ground-based receiver. The requested data is then transmitted over a high-bandwidth communication system downlink, such as a DBS satellite system downlink, preferably using an MPEG-2 compression technique, and received by an airborne receiver located on the same aircraft as the airborne transmitter. The received request for data is transmitted to a data network that contains the requested data, such as the Internet or a private data network, using circuit-switched techniques. According to the invention, the requested data includes one of video information, audio information and textual information.

Abstract: A Call Message Delivery System (CDS) in response to a request from a caller to deliver an international voice call message, uses the country code digits of the called station number to select the language to be used in the system announcement which precedes the delivery of the caller's message to the called station. Another feature enables the caller to select a system announcement to be delivered with the call message. An additional feature enables the caller to record his or her own announcement as the system announcement.

Abstract: A call delivery service (CDS) apparatus and method are disclosed which enable non-subscriber callers to a common carrier network to bill a voice message delivery to their billing code, and to check the delivery status of the message from the network during a subsequent call. Optionally, at the caller's request, CDS can deliver the message status to the caller at a predesignated station. In one embodiment the caller can optionally request a response from the message recipient or answering party at the called station.

Abstract: A Call Message Delivery system (CDS) enables an attendant to control the delivery of a recorded call message from a caller to a specified party at a called station. The CDS alerts the attendant at a delivery time, selected by either the caller or the system. When the attendant determines that the specified party has answered the call at the called station, the caller's recorded call message is outputted to the specified party. If the specified party is not available, the attendant may schedule the call for a later delivery or may forward the call to another station specified by the answering party at the called station.

Abstract: This invention relates to arrangements for providing a new spontaneous voice message service to any telephone customer at any telephone station when that customer encounters any destination that is busy or that does not answer. When a customer having a dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) station calls any destination that is busy or does not answer, the customer is invited, via an announcement identifying the new service, to record the caller's voice message. The announcement accompanies the returned busy tone or audible ring signal. The customer keys *867(=*VMS) and is then connected to a Voice Message Operations Center (VMOC) which prompts the customer to record the message. Advantageously, customers need not redial a VMOC number, their own number, and a destination number to reach a VMOC for storing the video message; the added convenience of this arrangement should stimulate substantial additional use of voice message service.