METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING CALLS

1 . A method for processing a call from a calling station to a mobile station, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at a gateway switching center, in response to the call, an indication that the mobile station is non-reachable;

transmitting from the gateway switching center to an SMS center, in response to the indication that the mobile station is non-reachable, a message comprising parameters of the call;

transmitting from the SMS center to the mobile station, in response to the message comprising parameters of the call, a first SMS message;

receiving at the SMS center an indication that the first SMS message has been received; and

transmitting from the SMS center to the calling station, in response to the indication that the first SMS message has been received, a second SMS message indicating that the mobile station is now reachable.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in the first SMS message identifies the calling station and the time of the call.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the message comprising parameters of the call includes fields selected from the group consisting of a message type, a caller number, a called number, a timestamp, and a text string for use in the second SMS message.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication that the mobile station is non-reachable is a response from a Home Location Register (HLR) having a value “absent subscriber.”

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the calling station is selected from the group consisting of digital phones, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, and personal computers.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of connecting a second call from the calling station to the mobile station.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an SMS message fee is charged to the calling station.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first SMS message identifies a plurality of previous calls from the calling station to the mobile station.

9 . A system for processing a call, comprising:

a Short Message Service Center (SMS-C); and

a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) adapted to receive a call setup signal intended to establish a communication channel between a calling station and a mobile station, and further adapted to transmit to the SMS-C, in response to an indication that the communication channel was not established because the mobile station is non-reachable, a message comprising parameters of the call;

wherein the SMS-C is adapted to transmit to the mobile station, in response to the message comprising parameters of the call, a first SMS message to the mobile station, and the SMS-C is further adapted to transmit to the calling station, in response to a confirmation that the first SMS message was received by the mobile station, a second SMS message indicating that the mobile station is now reachable.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein in the first SMS message identifies the calling station and the time of the call.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the message comprising parameters of the call includes fields selected from the group consisting of a message type, a caller number, a called number, a timestamp, and a text string for use in the second SMS message.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the indication that the mobile station is non-reachable is a response from a Home Location Register (HLR) having a value “absent subscriber.”

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the calling station is selected from the group consisting of digital phones, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, and personal computers.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the SMS-C is adapted to charge an SMS message fee to the calling station.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first SMS message identifies a plurality of previous calls from the calling station to the mobile station.