Patent ID: 7069002

Claim:
A message waiting indication update feature, operable in a cellular communication network, for maintaining a count of the unread messages stored for a subscriber who uses a mobile subscriber wireless communication device, comprising: Home Location Register means, associated with said subscriber's home Mobile Switching Center, for maintaining a profile for said subscriber comprising a set of data that identifies said subscriber, service authorizations for said subscriber, said data indicative of a present count of unread messages for said subscriber, and data indicative of a present count of acknowledged unread messages for said subscriber; subscriber profile means for storing data in said Home Location Register means indicative of a present count of unread messages for said subscriber; subscriber acknowledgement means for storing data in said Home Location Register means indicative of a present count of acknowledged unread messages for said subscriber; border condition determining means for identifying that a cell last accessed by said mobile subscriber wireless device is on a border with a Mobile Switching Center other than the serving Mobile Switching Center; Mobile Switching Center message indication means, responsive to the presence of unread messages in excess of those identified in said present count of acknowledged unread messages for said subscriber, for transmitting data indicative of a present count of unread messages for said subscriber to said other Mobile Switching Center; and message indication means, responsive to the presence of unread messages in excess of those identified in said present count of acknowledged unread messages for said subscriber, for transmitting data to said subscriber indicative of a present count of unread messages for said subscriber.