Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the location of a train on a track or of a broken rail of a track, the track including a first section having a first end and a second end, the method including: injecting a current into the track at one end of the first end and second end; detecting the amplitude of the injected current at the same end at which the current was injected; and determining, based on the detected amplitude, the location of the train on the track or of the broken rail of the track.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the location of a train on a track or of a broken rail of a track, the track including a first section having a first end and a second end, the method including: injecting a current into the track at one end of the first end and second end; detecting the amplitude of the injected current at the same end at which the current was injected; and determining, based on the detected amplitude, the location of the train on the track or of the broken rail of the track.

Abstract: A universal line usage information collection system is described. The system includes a data collection component for collecting continuous line usage information for one or more items of equipment in a telecommunications network, wherein the data collection component is capable of receiving information for multiple equipment types. The system also includes a structural database component for storing information regarding the physical structure of the telecommunications network and a relational database component for organizing the line usage information accessed from the data collection component according to the structure of the telecommunications network accessed from the structural database component such that the information may be used to generate line usage reports.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for automatically auditing code routing instructions on switches in a telecommunication network. Code routing information is retrieved from at least one source containing code routing information. Based on the retrieved code routing information, the correct code routing instructions for a switch are automatically determined. The actual code routing instructions programmed on the switch are retrieved and discrepancies between the actual code routing instructions retrieved from the switch and the determined correct code routing instructions are identified.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically updating the structure of a telecommunications network are described. The system receives information that equipment has been added or removed from the telecommunications network; and automatically updates information regarding the structure of the telecommunications network to reflect that the equipment has been added or removed from the telecommunications network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for managing telecommunication trunk groups. Configuration, operational, and other information may be maintained regarding trunk groups in a telecommunication network. Various calculations and searches may be performed using the information maintained regarding the trunk groups of telecommunication network and provided to a user to allow a user to identify the performance of various trunk groups. The present invention may further allow a user to propose changes to the configuration or routing associated with one or more trunk groups and provide a user with predicted outcomes should such changes be made.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer system and method for displaying line unit performance details of equipment in a telecommunications network. The system includes a report display component for displaying a line unit performance report. The system further includes a line unit performance details component for displaying details regarding line usage information in a telecommunications network.

Abstract: In a railroad crossing warning system having an electronic transmitter located on a first side of a road crossing connected across both railway rails, a first electronic receiver on the first side of the road crossing connected across both railway rails, a second electronic receiver on the second side of the road crossing connected across both railway rails, a method for determining direction a vehicle is traveling, the method including monitoring a voltage profile from at least one of the first receiver and the second receiver, as a vehicle moves along the railway rails towards the road crossing, and determining a direction the vehicle is moving based on the voltage profile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a universal line usage information reporting system. The system includes a relational database component for storing line usage information from a telecommunications network organized such that the information may be used to generate line usage reports and a report information component for receiving report criteria and type of report to be generated. The system further includes a report generator component for generating a line usage report based on the report criteria and type of report received by the report information component using line usage information obtained from the relational database component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for maintaining and updating records of the routing of switches in a telecommunication network. Routing information is retrieved from a routing guide, and corresponding routing information is retrieved from switches in the telecommunication network. Routing information is retrieved from switches by using the routing information from the routing guide to iteratively retrieve routing information from switches by NPA code, switch, rate center, and NXX codes. Routing information from the routing guide is compared to routing information retrieved from the switches and discrepancies in the routing information is identified. Identified discrepancies are corrected in either the routing guide or the routing of the switch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a user interface for communicating line usage information. The user interface includes means for requesting type of report of line usage information and means for requesting report criteria. The user interface further includes means for displaying a line usage report based on the report criteria and requested type of report. The present invention also relates to a method for communicating line usage information to a user is described. The method: prompts a user to enter a type of report of line usage information and to enter report criteria. The method then displays a corresponding line usage report.

Abstract: In a railroad crossing warning system having an electronic transmitter located on a first side of a road crossing connected across both railway rails, a first electronic receiver on the first side of the road crossing connected across both railway rails, a second electronic receiver on the second side of the road crossing connected across both railway rails, a method for determining direction a vehicle is traveling, the method including monitoring a voltage profile from at least one of the first receiver and the second receiver, as a vehicle moves along the railway rails towards the road crossing, and determining a direction the vehicle is moving based on the voltage profile.

Abstract: A trunk-group request tool automates the process of manually receiving and analyzing trunk-group circuits pertaining to switch circuits located within a switch facility of a communications network. An embodiment of the computer-implemented method includes receiving a switch or vendor identifier from a data structure, presenting records of information of one or more trunk groups associated with the identifier(s), receiving one or more trunk-group attributes from one or more entry fields, populating a data structure by aggregating one or more records of information of a data structure of the switch and vendor identifier with one or more trunk-group attributes, providing an input field for receiving additional data to supplement one or more records of information or one or more trunk-group attributes, and presenting a report adhering to a predefined format using the information of the data structure.