Abstract: An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM and closed user groups are provided that can provide significant advantages. A method for providing a closed user group service to authorize VToA calls includes determining the closed user group identifiers for a calling party, determining the closed user group identifiers for a called party, locating a common closed user group identifier that is common to the calling party and the called party, analyzing the privileges of the calling party in the common closed user group to determine if the calling party can make calls to other users of the common closed user group, and analyzing the privileges of the called party in the common closed user group to determine if the called party can receive calls from other users of the common closed user group. An illustrative intelligent network and data structure to provide closed user group services is also provided.

Abstract: A system includes a database configured to store account information relating to users of a telecommunications network. Additionally, a session initiation protocol (SIP) server receives first messages initiating call transfers. The server appends billing information and a digital signature to the first message based on account information of one of the users stored in the database. The digital signature provides for authentication of the call transfers.

Abstract: An approach for providing an on-line directory assistance services is disclosed. An on-line directory assistance system includes a server that receives a request message for information over a packet switched network from an access device. The server forwards the information to the access device in response to the request message, wherein the information includes basic content data and optional enhanced content data. The system also includes a database that stores the information. Further, the server selectively receives a modification message to modify the enhanced content data associated with the information from the access device. The server then updates the database based upon the modification message.

Abstract: An approach provides support for automatic fault isolation in a managed services system. A fault indication corresponding to a communications network of a customer is determined. An analysis is performed to determine a root cause of the fault indication using information associated with the determined fault to output an alarm. A determination is made whether the alarm is associated with a maintenance event to update the alarm. Further, a workflow event corresponding to the alarm is created.

Abstract: An approach provides management of digital assets. A request for a digital asset is received. A template specifying a distribution channel for delivery of the digital asset is retrieved. The digital asset is delivered according to the template.

Abstract: An approach for supporting automated fault isolation and recovery is provided. A workflow event corresponding to an alarm indicative of a fault within a customer network is generated. Recovery from the fault is automated according to the workflow event. Alarm information is transmitted to a maintenance management system, wherein the alarm information specifies information about the alarm. A maintenance event information from the maintenance management system is received in response to the transmitted alarm information. Additionally, it is determined whether the alarm is correlated to a maintenance event based on the maintenance event information. Automated handling of the alarm is differentiated based on the correlation.

Abstract: An approach for providing self-service call plan application development is disclosed. A graphical system includes a computing system that is configured to cause a graphical user interface (GUI) to be present for automated creation of an application for controlling call flow logic. The application supports a predefined feature set. Additionally, the system includes a database that is coupled to the server and configured to store the application. The server is further configured to determine whether the application is valid and to initiate deployment of the application. The deployment may be performed on a real-time basis.

Abstract: An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM and alias addressing are provided that can provide significant advantages. The intelligent network includes a multi-service control point, an ATM signaling intercept processor, and a service administration. The multi-service control point receives an input extracted from an input ATM setup message that includes a called party phone number value and a VToA designator, and generates an alias ATM address of a called party CPE that corresponds to a network gateway in communication with a PSTN switch through a plurality of trunk lines and a desired trunk line of the plurality of trunk lines. The multi-service control point generates an output in response that will be used to generate an output ATM setup message that includes the alias ATM address.

Abstract: A data processing system program to develop, train, and implement a neural network for identifying customers who represent a bad debt risk is disclosed. A feature vector is applied to a neural network to generate outputs that approximate the relative likelihood that customers who are the subjects of the records used to generate the feature vector will be a bad debt risk. Statistical values relating categorical attributes of the customers to the likelihood of their becoming a bad debt risk are substituted for the categorical attributes, and the attributes are normalized before the feature vector is applied to the network. In one embodiment the customers are customers of a long distance service provider.

Abstract: An illustrative intelligent network and method for providing voice telephony over ATM and alias addressing are provided that can provide significant advantages. The intelligent network includes a multi-service control point, an ATM signaling intercept processor, and a service administration. The multi-service control point receives an input extracted from an input ATM setup message that includes a called party phone number value and a VToA designator, and generates an alias ATM address of a called party CPE that corresponds to a network gateway in communication with a PSTN switch through a plurality of trunk lines and a desired trunk line of the plurality of trunk lines. The multi-service control point generates an output in response that will be used to generate an output ATM setup message that includes the alias ATM address.

Abstract: A method of routing a telephone call includes receiving an indication, at a handset device 112, to initiate a telephone call. It is then determined, preferably by the handset device 112, whether the telephone call is an emergency services telephone call. If the telephone call is not an emergency services telephone call, it is routed to a proxy server 134. On the other hand, if the telephone call is an emergency services telephone call, it is routed to a local gateway 116 without first accessing the proxy server 134.

Abstract: A database system stores data relating to media objects and includes a meta table, a supplementary meta table, a content table, a supplementary content table, each supplementary content data record being linked to a supplementary metadata record and to a content data record. An object type link table links together records in the meta table, and a content data link table links together records in the content data table. An information retrieval system analyzes the tables and provides, for a selected instance of an object, information about that object's attributes and relationships with other objects in a hierarchical form.

Abstract: A session initiation protocol (SIP) server adds billing and authentication information to conventional SIP messages used in establishing call transfers. This additional information is later verified by a SIP server and used to enable advanced billing and fraud protection features for call transfers in a SIP telecommunications network.

Abstract: A method for the verification of customer information entered via an Internet based order entry system, including the steps of generating an order list containing a plurality of call records corresponding to Internet based customer requests for a plurality of fulfillment items, said call records containing a plurality of data fields; storing said order list in a database; determining a plurality of search criteria; extracting a results list from said order list, said results list containing a plurality of matching call records that match said plurality of search criteria, said matching call records containing a plurality of data fields; comparing said plurality of data fields of said matching call records contained in said results list with a plurality of data fields contained in call records of at least one additional customer information database; verifying said results list as containing authentic customer information upon a match with said call records of said customer information database to release said

Abstract: A radio communication network includes a plurality of base station receivers coupled to a switch for communication with at least one mobile station. A network monitoring device queries the switch for data related to the radio coverage provided by the communication network and, in response, the switch sends the data to the monitoring device. A report is generated that is related to the data received by the switch. The report indicates areas of the communication network providing deficient or redundant radio coverage in the communication network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing inmate security threat group information includes correlating inmate identification records from a plurality of correctional facilities in a central database with call detail records from inmate telephone activities together with security threat group data comprising inmate affiliations and telephone numbers associated with security threats and security threat groups.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining what level of performance must be maintained by a second communication service so as to be perceived as being of equal quality to a first communication service, especially where the second communication service is subject to additional impairments not experienced by the first communication service. In one example embodiment, the present invention is applied to determining what combinations of packet loss rate and packet delay are tolerable where a packet switched telephony service is desired to be perceived to be substantially equivalent to a traditional toll-quality non-packet-switched telephone service. Empirically derived models are used to relate user perception to objectively measurable characteristics, such as packet loss rate.

Abstract: An approach provides distributed editing and storage of digital media. Video information is retrieved during recording of the video information to a video file. The video information is edited during the recording of the video information. An index file for the media is generated during the recording of the media, wherein the index file include indices for decoding the media; and periodically updating the index file throughout the recording of the media. After completion of the recording of the media, another index file is generated corresponding to the media for inclusion into the media file.

Abstract: An approach for providing retrieval of information over a packet switched network is disclosed. A client is configured to transmit a request message for information over the packet switched network. A stateless-server is configured to communicate with the client and to forward a portion of the information to the client in response to the request message, wherein the client transmits a selection message specifying whether the remaining portion of the information should be retrieved from the server. The server selectively forwards the remaining portion of the information to the client. The above approach has particular applicability to a communication system providing directory assistance services.

Abstract: A system for malicious code detection includes a front-end processor, multiple scanning computer systems, and a detection management system. During operation, the multiple scanning computer systems scan content for malicious code and generate an alarm when the content contains malicious code. The front-end processor receives a flow of content from an external network and distributes copies of the flow to each of the multiple scanning computer systems in parallel for scanning. The detection management system employs a countermeasure on the flow if at least one of the scanning computer systems generates the alarm.