Abstract: A system and method for processing traffic study requests in a communications network. The system provides a log-in window for a user identification validation. If a user is an authorized user of the system, the system provides a window for displaying a CPNI disclaimer. The system provides a new order request window for receiving customer information and input parameters. The system provides a new study request window for receiving a telephone number to be studied. Once the traffic study is completed, the system receives a report of the traffic study. The system then forwards the report to the user.

Abstract: A communications base station is installed at a selected new location and the base station, prior to going “on line” monitors the wireless traffic from other base stations within interference range of the new base station's coverage area. The new base station also monitors the wireless traffic between mobile devices within its coverage area and these other base stations. Based upon these monitored conditions, as well as other known conditions, the new base station then determines the transmitting parameter configuration it should imply in order to achieve a desired optimization between capacity and coverage area. After the new base station is on line, a central control can monitor the entire network to determine if any additional changes are necessary and if so the new transceiver, or any other transceiver, can be instructed to monitor itself with respect to interference and to take corrective action to improve overall network coverage and capacity.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring a communication network is described. In one example, call detail record data generated by network elements in the communication network is parsed to identify occurrence of a plurality of blocked calls over a time period. A plurality of consolidated call detail records for the plurality of blocked calls are respectively generated from the call detail record data. Each of the plurality of consolidated call detail records includes an originating telephone number. The originating telephone number of each of the plurality of consolidated call detail records is then processed to identify unique originating telephone numbers for the plurality of blocked calls.

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: Systems and methods are provided for the management and analysis of detail records in a mobile telephony network, including the ability to store remotely and retrieve detail records given a specific call or a data session for signaling analysis in such networks. Computer program products which can execute such methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for forecasting telephony traffic trends on a network of a given service provider includes storing number portability records in a database. Each record contains information regarding a corresponding telephone number having been ported between service providers. First and second images of the database are obtained at first and second times. The first and second images are indicative of the records stored in the database at the first and second times. The images are compared to determine migration of the ported telephone numbers between the service providers. Movement of telephone traffic on the network of the given service provider is forecasted as a function of the determined migration of the ported telephone numbers between the service providers.

Abstract: Systems for monitoring, storage, and analysis of information in signaling messages, communicated from originating networks to a destination network through one or more intermediate networks are described. Correlation and comparison between signaling messages of interest sent from an origination network to signaling messages received by the destination network allows for the detection of inconsistent information, e.g., information fields in a communicated message that have been altered, either intentionally or unintentionally, by an intermediate carrier. The introduction of an additional communications path over which notification messages are forwarded from signaling monitoring equipment in the origination network to signaling monitoring equipment in the destination network allows for a significant reduction in the memory storage requirements at the destination network and in the amount of processing required to match, compare, and evaluate signaling messages.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for confirming that a remote consultation between a professional and a client occurred, including monitoring a remote consultation call between a professional and a client using a remote consultation system, storing information of the consultation, and confirming that the consultation took place using the stored information. The consultant can be a healthcare professional such as a doctor, and the client can be a patient.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to monitor incoming and outgoing calls associated with one or more communication devices, identify communication identifiers initiating the incoming calls and communication identifiers targeted by the outgoing calls, determine one or more related communication identifiers for each of the initiating and targeted communication identifiers, record in a communications log the incoming calls with the initiating communication identifiers and one or more related communication identifiers, and record in the communications log the outgoing calls with the targeted communication identifiers and one or more related communication identifiers. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A methodology for optimizing the access charges paid by a long distance carrier involves the use of a “sizing” operation to determine the optimal balance between direct trunks and access tandems (on a per LATA basis) so as to provide minimal access charges. Once the sizing has been completed, a mixed integer program is used to find the optimal MUX assignments for each LATA. The sizing operation is then re-visited, based on the MUX assignments, to determine if adjustments are required to reduce costs. Any changes in the sizing are then reviewed in the MUX assignment mixed integer program. The end result is a definition of the quantity of direct trunks, access tandem trunks and overflow minutes-of-use charges for each end office, as well as the number of high capacity facilities required for each MUX.

Abstract: The method of controlling the user calling load in Soft Switch system in present invention comprises the steps of: basic calling module receives the congestion direction message; judge whether the system congestion indicated by said congestion direction message is sporadic or sustaining; control the switching of user calling load according to the judgment whether the system congestion indicated by said congestion direction message is sporadic or sustaining. The aggressive effectiveness brought by present invention are: the system has the higher stability and reliability; when the traffic overload state occurs, the setup of maximum calling number can be guaranteed and the system can also restore to the normal load state. Soft module doesn't influence the setup of normal calling, nor does the setup of urgency special service calling; the system possesses good adaptability, the controlling of load is efficient and stable, and has the self-adapting overload controlling capability.

Abstract: A method for tracing communications includes receiving trace criteria from a first remote element and determining whether a call signaling message matches the trace criteria. The method includes attaching a trace tag to the call signaling message, if the call signaling message matches the trace criteria. The method further includes transmitting the call signaling message to a second remote element.

Abstract: A technique for near real-time reporting of telephone number usage to a computer is disclosed. According to the technique, signaling protocol data is collected for telephone calls that involve telephone numbers associated with the user. The signaling protocol data is decoded and call information records (CIRs) are generated from the decoded signaling data. The CIRs contain information about calls associated with the telephone numbers. The CIRs are used to generate a report which is made available to the user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the analysis, marking and summing of audio channel content and control data, the apparatus and method generating a summed signal carrying combined audio content, marking and summing data in the summed signal.

Abstract: A method for the active and passive monitoring of a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) network infrastructure is provided. Monitoring software on a VoIP phone of the VoIP network infrastructure is configured to collect statistics associated with phone calls made or received by the VoIP phone. A silent phone call is made from the VoIP phone to another VoIP phone in the VoIP network infrastructure. Statistics associated with the silent phone call are collected. Additionally, normal phone calls made and received on the VoIP phone are also monitored. Statistics are collected for these monitored phone calls as well. The collected statistics are stored. The collected statistics are sent to a central monitor. The collected statistics are displayed to a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting, correlating, and storing telecom data as call detail records (CDRs) are described. A computer system collects real-time call data from a plurality of sources and stores the data in different memory locations. A real-time buffer is used to correlate the data into a CDR. A separate process collects reference data from one or more third-party sources to supplement each CDR and stores this data in different memory locations. A reference data buffer is then used to correlate the reference data into existing CDRs. A data manager layer then inserts each enhanced CDR into a plurality of distributed database systems. CDRs may be separated among multiple database systems, may be inserted into more than one database depending on application use, and may be partitioned to optimize access and retrieval.

Abstract: A telecommunication node controls overload conditions in a distributed processing environment using processing nodes that include: (i) a load monitor configured to monitor a loading factor for the processing node and produce real-time loading factor information; and (ii) a call processor operable to process signaling messages. In addition, the telecommunication node uses signaling nodes that include: (i) a load information list including the real-time loading factor information received from each of the processing nodes; (ii) an overload policy list including programmable overload reaction policies for each of the processing nodes, in which the overload reaction policies control overload conditions of the processing nodes based on the real-time loading factor information; and (iii) a load distributor configured to select one of the processing nodes to process one of the signaling messages based on the real-time loading factor information and the overload reaction policies.

Abstract: For use in a telecommunication node, a scalable call-processing system is provided to process signaling messages in a distributed processing environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for obtaining statistics from the use of a voice application. More particularly, the invention may comprise an interception engine that is configured to receive a document from an IVR application server and inject a marker(s) into the document, and pass the document on to an IVR browser. The interception engine is further configured to receive a response document from the IVR browser, remove the marker results, and pass the document on to the IVR application server. The marker results are used to create statistical information useful in the analysis of the operation of the voice application in the IVR system. In an exemplary embodiment, the markers are used in connection with a map of the call flow of the voice application.

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: The present invention enables a graphical display of network call volumes in a predefined period before and after network alarm indications that show serious service disruptions to help determine if surges in call volumes precipitated the service disrupting event. When a surge of call volumes occurs and subsides, the graphical display of current network call volumes can be compared against historical trends of normal call traffic volumes and rates. The network will be placed in a high alert state and monitored for the predefined period of time. If the comparison shows aberrations between the historical trends and the current trend within the predefined period time window, then the network operator will be informed to take actions.

Abstract: A communication device implementing a function of retransmitting to a destination includes an operation unit detecting an input operation, a communication module starting a transmission to a destination specified by the input operation, a storage unit storing one or more pieces of destination specifying information on every destination, a judging module judging whether the communication can be attained upon the transmission, a searching module searching for, if judged to be impossible of the communication, one or more pieces of destination specifying information stored corresponding to the destination from the storage unit, a display unit displaying a list of the searched destination specifying information, a selection module accepting a selection of a desired piece of destination specifying information from the list of the destination specifying information displayed, and a retransmitting module retransmitting based on the selected destination specifying information.

Abstract: A method, and a device are disclosed for logging management information during a call completion process in an Internet call-waiting environment The logging of information is performed by an ICW application server (4) that is connected to an ICW web server (3). The ICW application server (4) may also handle provisioning-requests coming from the ICW web server (3), may offer tools used by a helpdesk and the operational maintenance, may store user-profiles of ICW users, may play a role during the execution of the ICW service. During the execution of the ICW service the ICW application server (4) can communicate to an ICW client (10). The ICW application server (4) may also comprise an interface for accessing, by humans or devices, the information that is logged. The disclosed method for the logging of information comprises the creation of a service detail record (200) that comprises parameters. Values can be assigned to the parameters during the provisioning and/or the execution of the ICW service.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking telephone usage and notifying a user of his telephone usage includes a software program for tracking telephone usage based on the time and day that a phone call is made. The software program designates a timer for tracking phone usage. The timer has a time block and a time usage variable associated therewith. When a call is made, the time used by the call is recorded to the time usage variable if the call was made within the time block. The user may then be notified of how much time has been used. The software may be implemented in a number of environments, including a computer system accessible remotely or a processor located on the user's telephone.

Abstract: A method of monitoring, and a system to perform the method of monitoring, a mobile network, the method including generating detail records of information transactions in the mobile network; correlating dissimilar detail records from different ones of the monitoring points according to one or more common attributes of the dissimilar detail records, and aggregating at least a portion of the correlated detail records into a single group; and presenting the aggregated detail records in a high level presentation in a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A system including a first client data collection device, a host server, and a host user interface. The first client data collection device can store traffic data relating to a first call market of the first client data collection device. The host server can receive the traffic data, parse the traffic data according to settings of the first client data collection device, and evaluate the parsed traffic data based on historical data corresponding to the first client data collection device. The host user interface can receive the evaluated data for displaying the health of the call market.

Abstract: The present invention uses a software program to analyze all of the SS7 message traffic in a telephone network. By comparing point codes in the message data, the present invention can detect invalid and undesirable network inefficiencies in different types of telephone networks, including for example, wireline, wireless, or hybrid networks.

Abstract: One embodiment of such a method for maintaining a call log can be broadly summarized by the following: receiving an incoming call on a telephone device; obtaining call information about the incoming call via the telephone device; updating a call log with the call information via the telephone device; and enabling the call log to be accessed from a remote Internet location. Other methods and systems are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically partitioning context servers in a network in response to changes in network conditions. Context servers store information about calls in a telecommunications system. Network control elements can obtain call information from one or more partitions of the context servers to help make call control and reporting decisions.

Abstract: A telecommunications network includes a management system for analyzing call detail records (CDR's) from terminating switches. The management system recovers CDR's by polling through switch managers which poll dependent exchanges. CDR's indicating a call clear occurring within a short predetermined time after a call answer are stored and used to indicate potentially faulty access network lines.

Abstract: In a radio communication system that includes multiple service areas, each service area is associated with a predetermined number or amount of radio communication resources. Each radio communication resource can be used for a prescribed period of time corresponding to one or more time units. An operator or other entity identifies a set of service areas to be tested at an increased effective load. A desired test level (e.g., increased traffic load) is determined, and a corresponding number of radio resource time units is determined to achieve the desired test level conditions. Use of radio communication resources in the determined one or more time units is blocked for a test period. Performance by each service area during the test period is determined.

Abstract: A method employs call detail records for developing a report on the usage of VoIP calling along a network path or through a network location. By utilizing, for example, a call-beginning record and a call-ending record for each connection, a report is created of the number of concurrent VoIP calls that a specified equipment or network path carries at any given instance by retrieving batches of stored call detail records, culling the records that are relevant to the specified equipment or network path, considering the culled records in a time sorted manner, and incrementing or decrementing a counter based on whether a considered record is a call-beginning record or a call-ending record, respectively. The state of the counter is reported, illustratively, as a line entry each time the counter's state is modified.

Abstract: A method for tracing communications includes receiving trace criteria from a first remote element and determining whether a call signaling message matches the trace criteria. The method includes attaching a trace tag to the call signaling message, if the call signaling message matches the trace criteria. The method further includes transmitting the call signaling message to a second remote element.

Abstract: In a signalling network employing the SS7 signalling protocol, it is known to use masks to mine CDR stores in order to obtain data for analysis in respect of a particular customer of a communications network associated with the signalling network. However, the use of masks to mine the CDRs can result in the retrieval of unwanted CDRs or the omission of relevant CDRs. The present invention therefore provides a call monitoring apparatus that receives a CDR and accesses a reference database, comprising a list of customers and respective telephone numbers, in order to identify an association between the CDR and a given customer. Consequently, speed and efficiency of analysis of CDRs is increased.

Abstract: A network includes a space chattering mechanism for maximizing server throughput under overload conditions. The server provides control messages to various network traffic sources, which can require differing control instructions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a telephone subscriber with data of uncompleted calls. A determination unit detects an uncompleted call by receiving a signal from a telephone switch or by monitoring the operation of the network exchange switch. The switch is then interrogated to provide the call details. The data is stored in a format for forwarding to the called party.

Abstract: A system and method for processing traffic study requests in a communications network. The system provides a log-in window for a user identification validation. If a user is an authorized user of the system, the system provides a window for displaying a CPNI disclaimer. The system provides a new order request window for receiving customer information and input parameters. The system provides a new study request window for receiving a telephone number to be studied. Once the traffic study is completed, the system receives a report of the traffic study. The system then forwards the report to the user.

Abstract: Specialized telecom network users who burden the network, such as high-volume users of Internet services, are identified by analysis of network traffic data to identify addresses (e.g. telephone numbers) for callers to destinations associated with the particular call-in service. Destination telephone numbers may be identified from a list of known service providers or from a network traffic study, which identifies destination numbers receiving unique patterns of incoming traffic. Analysis of the records of calls to the destination numbers then identifies numbers for callers who made more than some minimum number of calls during the study or who accumulate more than some threshold amount of total connect time on such calls. The preferred embodiments utilize automated systems to compile and analyze call records from standard messages of a telephone network, such as interoffice signaling messages or automated accounting messages. Data from the records can be translated to identify the calling subscribers, e.g.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for selecting or generating a single call detail record (CDR) from a plurality of CDRs associated with a call that includes a plurality of legs are disclosed. According to one aspect, a CDR selection/consolidation function may analyze CDRs for calls that involve a plurality of legs and select a representative CDR for the call. The selected CDR is provided to a network services application. According to another aspect, the CDR selection/consolidation function may locate a plurality of CDRs associated with a multi-leg call and produce a single consolidated or “blended” CDR that is representative of the call. The consolidated CDR may contain information from some or all of the multiple CDRs.

Abstract: A system and a method for creating an analytical report on top of a multidimensional data model built on top of a relational or multidimensional database. The database operates in a computer system and provides returned values responsive to queries. Such a query is generated automatically and is deduced from a report definition. According to one embodiment, a report specification is used by the system and method of the present invention is able to defer the initial query of the data source, as is the case with conventional reporting tools and methods, until after the report has been defined. That is, the manner in which a analytic report is defined provides for an automatically generated query. Once the report has been defined, the data to populate such a report is retrieved to build the document.

Abstract: Methods and systems for defining and distributing network data collection rule sets and for filtering messages using the rule sets are disclosed. Message-based filter criteria are automatically deduced from CDR-based filter criteria and downloaded to site collectors. The site collectors implement rule changes on-the-fly using a table-driven system. The message-based rule sets downloaded to the site collectors are supersets of the messages required by multiple different network monitoring applications. As a result, non-redundant, multi-application data streams are sent across the service provider's internal network, resulting in efficient bandwidth utilization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing operational information regarding a networked system. System configuration information regarding the configuration of the system is obtained. Activity of the system is continuously monitored to obtain system activity information. The system configuration information is combined with the system activity information to obtain real time operational information.

Abstract: A method for tracing communications includes receiving trace criteria from a first remote element and determining whether a call signaling message matches the trace criteria. The method includes attaching a trace tag to the call signaling message, if the call signaling message matches the trace criteria. The method further includes transmitting the call signaling message to a second remote element.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamic, rules-based peg counting are disclosed. According to one method, a user creates peg counter definitions using a rules-based language accessible via a graphical user interface. The peg counter definitions are downloaded from an administration server to network monitoring site collectors. The site collectors automatically detect the new peg counter definitions and begin using the new peg counter definitions without ceasing existing peg counting. Peg counter software on the site collectors periodically sends peg counter instances to a data gateway server. The data gateway server aggregates the peg counter instances generated by the various site collectors into system wide peg counter instances.

Abstract: A method for tracing communications includes receiving trace criteria from a first remote element and determining whether a call signaling message matches the trace criteria. The method includes attaching a trace tag to the call signaling message, if the call signaling message matches the trace criteria. The method further includes transmitting the call signaling message to a second remote element.

Abstract: Call detail records are generated for usage of a telecommunications service established in a telecommunications network, by monitoring messages in a signalling system for co-ordinating operation of the network and carried over signalling links in the signalling system between a service switching function entity and a service control function entity. Messages are selected that relate to instances of usage of the telecommunications service initiated by the service switching function entity to at least one signal switching point in the network. These selected messages are correlated in accordance with the usage instance to which they relate, and information in the correlated selected messages is used to derive a call detail record for an instance of usage of the telecommunications service.

Abstract: A method for detecting an atypical occurrence, such as a public health crisis, within a given region in a telecommunications network. The method includes assigning a given weight to each of a plurality of destination addresses within the region according to a weighting system, collecting call data for the region for a given period of time, where the call data includes destination addresses and corresponding call occurrence times, developing a weighted call traffic pattern based upon the call data, and using the weighted call traffic pattern to detect an atypical occurrence within the region.

Abstract: A monitoring tool for use with one or more automatic call distributors (ACD) which automatically and continuously polls or queries the ACDs to monitor not only alarm conditions but other conditions, such as agent staffing levels, call answering time, call routing and traffic conditions. Such continuous and automatic monitoring and querying of the ACD in accordance with the present invention is thus able to improve the overall efficiency of such ACDs by improving the service response time of such ACDs. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the status records of the ACDs maybe directed to a website, for example, on an enterprise Intranet website to enable any of the company representatives with access rights to access the performance of the ACD network from any location. Other data, such as the trunk inventory record keeping system (TIRKS) may also be displayed on the web site to facilitate troubleshooting of alarm conditions.

Abstract: Method and system for automatically configuring supervision and performing supervision in a supervision system comprising a supervision center; and a supervision block which contains processes performing supervision tasks. The supervision system is preferably a telephone switching system. In the method, the supervision block performing supervision functions is monitored and/or controlled via the supervision center. Furthermore, the objects monitored by a supervision block process performing supervision tasks are automatically registered in the supervision center as the supervision block processes become ready for operation, and information about the supervision block processes and/or about the services produced by them and/or about the objects being monitored is stored in the supervision center.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for detecting a fraud event on a distributed network are disclosed. A fraud event is indicated if data analysis reveals that there is a lack of consistency between elements in the network.