Nortel Networks Corporation

Patrick Lee Price

William D Gentry

R Emery Hanzel

Gary Steven Franks

Chandrakant Gundecha

Barbara Cosgriff

James Ziesig

Francis Edward Skinner

Sherry Ann DeSoto

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention perform enhanced services for wireline and wireless subscribers in an integrated wireline and wireless switching system. The enhanced services may include, for example, group dialing plans, message waiting indicator activation, call forwarding, simultaneous ringing, call conferencing, calling line identification, automatic call back, automatic recall, speed dialing services, and/or any other services that may be provided by a switching system to wireless and/or wireline subscribers. When a calling wireline and/or wireless subscriber requests one or more of the enhanced services, the integrated wireline and wireless switching system determines the line types associated with the wireline and/or wireless devices of a called subscriber, and identifies references to one or more shared procedures for performing the enhanced services according to the determined line types without creating direct dependencies between wireline and wireless modules in the integrated wireline and wireless switching system. Finally, the integrated wireline and wireless switching system executes the identified procedures to perform the shared services.

Method and system for integrated wireline and wireless services in a switching system

An apparatus and a method for enabling the originator of a telephone call to send a customized message or signal to an unavailable telephony subscriber on a terminating telephone and to establish a direct operative connection therewith within the same telephone call. The apparatus and method include a Short Message Service device, typically operating in conjunction with a voice mail system and a call forwarding service, for providing the originator of a telephone call to the subscriber with the option of sending a short message to the subscriber's telephone in situations where the subscriber is unavailable. The subscriber may then send a response to the originator and/or choose to establish a direct operative connection therewith within the same telephone call and without requiring either party to place a separate telephone call.

Apparatus and method for sending a customized message to a telephony subscriber and establishing a direct operative connection therewith within the same telephone call

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Fuquay-Varina, NC, United States of America

Patrick Lee Price