Notify me service in wireless networks

A method of operating a wireless network for providing notify me service, said wireless network comprising a network interface adapted to serve a calling station, and a called station network adapted to serve a called station, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a notify me dialing instruction in said network interface from said calling station placing a call to said called station not currently registered;
• transmitting a notify me dialing indicator from said network interface to said called station network;
• determining if notify me service has been activated for said called station in said called station network responsive to the reception of said notify me dialing indicator;
• monitoring said called station in said called station network to determine when said called station registers;
• and
• transmitting an indication from said called station network for receipt by said calling station indicating that said called station is registered responsive to said determination.

A wireless network adapted to provide notify me service, said wireless network comprising:

• an originating Mobile Switching Center (O-MSC) that serves a calling station;
• a Home Location Register (HLR) for a called station;
• a serving Mobile Switching Center (S-MSC) that serves said called station;
• and
• a message center;
• said O-MSC receives a call from said calling station to said called station and transmits a query message to said HLR for said called station;
• said HLR for said called station determines that said called station is powered off responsive to said query message, and transmits a response message to said O-MSC indicating that said called station is powered off;
• said O-MSC indicates to said calling station that said called station is powered off, receives a notify me dialing instruction from said calling station, and transmits a notify me dialing indicator to said HLR for said called station;
• said HLR for said called station receives said notify me dialing indicator, identifies when said called station powers on, and transmits an instruction to said message center;
• said message center transmits a message, identifying that said called station powered on, to said calling station through said O-MSC responsive to said instruction.