Patent ID: 7221959

Claim:
A method for determining, storing and utilizing operating mode data of a user terminal in a telecommunication system in which a selected one of a plurality of user terminal operating modes is settable by the user, comprising the steps of: selectively changing, by the user, the user terminal operating mode from a first operating mode to a second operating mode of the user terminal; transmitting from the user terminal to a telecommunication server of the telecommunication system, via the telecommunication network, information regarding the selective change in user terminal operating mode from the first operating mode to the second operating mode; storing, on the telecommunication server, the transmitted information regarding the selective change in user terminal operating mode from the first operating mode to the second operating mode so as to dynamically maintain on the telecommunication server current operating mode data of the user terminal; and making available, by the telecommunication server, the current operating mode data of the user terminal for enquiries by other users, such that the current operating mode data is available to a calling party prior to attempting a connection to the user terminal.