1. A method of assisting a completion of a call between a calling user equipment and a called user equipment, when the called user equipment is initially in a busy state, wherein the method is performed by a Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (\u201cUSSD\u201d) application server, the method comprising:
receiving a request to complete the call from the calling user equipment, wherein the request includes a calling number and a called number;
sending a USSD request to the called user equipment requesting the establishment of a USSD session;
receiving a notification from the called user equipment indicating that the called user equipment is in an idle state; and
sending a USSD notification to the calling user equipment indicating that the called party user equipment is in an idle state.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an instruction to the called user equipment to send a notification to the USSD application server when the called user equipment is in an idle state.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining whether the called number is a member of a compatible network;
if the called number is not a member of a compatible network, sending a rejection indication to the calling user equipment.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining further comprises performing a number analysis on the called number to determine if the called number belongs to a compatible network.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining further comprises:
determining if an acknowledgement responsive to sending the USSD request to the called user equipment has been received within a predetermined time.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a routing number for the called user equipment.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining a routing number comprises querying a number portability database to receive the routing number associated with the called number.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an instruction to terminate the USSD session responsive to receiving a notification from the called user equipment indicating that the called user equipment is in an idle state.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining if the calling user equipment is in a busy state, if the calling user equipment is in a busy state, then:
sending a USSD request to the calling user equipment requesting the establishment of a USSD session;
receiving a notification from the calling user equipment indicating that the called user equipment is in an idle state; and
sending a USSD notification to the calling user equipment indicating that the called party user equipment is in an idle state.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising using interrogation techniques to determine the state of the calling user equipment.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending an instruction to terminate the USSD session with the calling user equipment responsive to receiving a notification from the calling user equipment indicating that the calling user equipment is in an idle state.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to complete the call is initiated by entering a USSD activation code on a keypad of the calling user equipment and entering a number associated with the called party.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to complete the call is initiated by pressing a key on the keypad of the calling user equipment which retrieves a last number called for use as the called number.
14. A method of assisting a completion of a call between a calling user equipment and a called user equipment, when the called user equipment is initially in a busy state, wherein the method is performed by the called user equipment, the method comprising:
receiving a request from a Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (\u201cUSSD\u201d) application server to establish a USSD session with the USSD application server;
sending an acknowledgement in response to receiving the request;
establishing a USSD session with the USSD application server;
monitoring the state of the called user equipment; and
sending a notification to the USSD application server when the called user equipment is in an idle state.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving an instruction to monitor the state of the called user equipment.
16. The method of claim 14 further comprising terminating the USSD session.
17. A method of assisting a completion of a call between a calling user equipment and a called user equipment, when the called user equipment is initially in a busy state, wherein the method is performed by the called user equipment, the method comprising:
receiving an Short Message Service (\u201cSMS\u201d) request from a Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (\u201cUSSD\u201d) application server to establish a USSD session with the USSD application server;
sending an initial USSD message in response to receiving the SMS request;
establishing a USSD session with the USSD application server;
monitoring the state of the called user equipment; and
sending a notification to the USSD application server when the called user equipment is in an idle state.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising receiving an instruction to monitor the state of the called user equipment.
19. The method of claim 17 further comprising terminating the USSD session.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-32. (canceled)
33. An apparatus for connecting opposing panels of an insulated concrete form, comprising:
a pair of end portions to connect opposing foam panels of the insulated concrete form;
at least one structural member joining said end portions; and
said at least one structural member including a projection defining a tapered open seating surface to contain rebar in substantially vertical disposition.
34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said seating surface comprises one of several surfaces disposed adjacent one another.
35. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said projection is formed on a surface of said at least one structural member.
36. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said at least one structural member comprises a pair of structural members joining said end portions and being substantially symmetrically disposed above and below a central horizontal axis of the connecting apparatus.
37. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising at least one retaining member intersecting said at least one structural member to assist in positioning the connecting apparatus relative to the panels and resisting external loads applied to the end plates.
38. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said at least one structural member include receptacles for positioning horizontally disposed rebar.
39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said receptacles have a substantially V-shaped cross sectional shape.
40. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said receptacles space horizontally disposed rebar at a constant distance from at least one of the end portions regardless of the size of the rebar.
41. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said end portions comprise elongated end plates.
42. The apparatus of claim 33, where said structural member further comprises a substantially V-shaped recess containing a substantially horizontally disposed rebar, said recess being substantially open and unobstructed and having a first edge that is substantially vertical and parallel to said end portions and a second edge inclined relative to the first edge to position the rebar against the first edge wherein the outer surface of rebar received within the recess is spaced a constant distance from at least one of the end portions regardless of the size of the rebar.