Abstract: According to a system for switched cutover with paced transition, subscribers are transitioned to a new communication system while the capacity needed by the cutover facility is minimized. A cutover facility between a pre-cut switch and a post-cut switch for transitioning a first and a second set of subscribers from a first communication system to a second communication system is established. The migration of the first and the second set of subscribers from the pre-cut switch to the post-cut switch is begun. A transition midpoint is identified. The transition midpoint occurs when the number of subscribers migrated to the post-cut switch is equal to the number of subscribers remaining on the pre-cut switch. End office traffic routed to the pre-cut switch is then shifted to the post-cut switch in response to the transition midpoint being identified. Finally, the remaining subscribers are shifted to the post-cut switch. This transition may be performed using a slice-cut dial-with-dial transfer.

Abstract: A method of controlling a telecommunication network management is disclosed. By the method, a managing subject of a telecommunication network carries out a management sequence for management information of the telecommunication network in an agent subject. The method comprises the steps of (a) locating a cache storing the management information in the managing subject; and (b) partitioning attributes of the management information into attribute classes corresponding to demands for cache coherency. In the method, the managing subject carries out the management sequence with a higher speed by accessing the cache, and manages the cache for each attribute class efficiently.

Abstract: In a telephone network having a number of telephone switching offices which have CCS7 signalling capabilities and wherein each switching office is linked to STPs (Signalling Transfer Points), or other switching offices with CCS7 signalling links, a method of detecting mass calling events using CCS7 signalling data is disclosed. Each signalling link connecting a switch is monitored. For each call, an Initial Address Message sent from an originating switch to a terminating switch is identified. The IAM is then temporarily stored in storage means. When the occurrence of a release message indicative of an unsuccessful call attempt is detected, an identification of which of the stored IAMs corresponds to the release message is made. A count is computed for each directory (DN) having an IAM with a corresponding release message indicative of an unsuccessful call attempt such that mass calling events directed to a directory number can be detected.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network of the kind which handles non-time-critical calls (NTCC) in addition to normal telephony, a congestion indication is transmitted to NTCC transmitting platforms if volume and/or rate limit for a particular communications route or switch is exceeded. Transmitting platforms (9,10,11) establish a transmission rate based on a gapping ration (GR). On receipt of a congestion signal the platforms calculate and Inter call delay based on a random number multiplied by a weighting factor determined from the current value of GR. This provides a period during which calls are not attempted after which GR is adjusted using a common ratio to provide a higher value of GR thus transmission rate (or the rate at which calls are offered) to the congestion route is less onerous. Consecutive call failures result in a rapid increase in the value of GR leading to longer ICDs (to allow the congested route/switch to recover) and a lower traffic loading on recovery.

Abstract: In the Intelligent Networks environment, where multiple Service Providers and multi-Vendor equipment are involved in new service offering, the risk of overloading the network elements are real and managing the traffic is a challenge. Network traffic overloads could result from equipment failures, major equipment outages, or widespread loads above engineered levels. To solve the problem of network traffic overload, a Mediation Point (MP) is connected to a group of service control points (SCP). The MP includes control feature to balance the load and manage the overload controls for the multiple SCPs that are deployed in load sharing mode in the network.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for monitoring the performance of a multi-line automated telephone system and detecting complete or intermittent faults on the incoming phone lines and in interactive applications accessed by the automated telephone device. The system gathers and analyzes statistical parameters associated with each incoming phone line and compares the parameters with those of other phone lines and with past statistical averages to detect out-of-tolerance lines. The system also gathers and analyzes statistical parameters associated with the execution of various applications and compares the parameters with past statistical averages to detect out-of-tolerance accesses to the applications.

Abstract: A method and system permit monitoring the performance of a call center agent or similar service representative in servicing calls in a call center by determining an interval within which to monitor the service representative's performance in responding to calls, as well as by determining a number of calls or length of time for monitoring the representative within the interval. The invention automatically and randomly determines the precise time within the interval for monitoring the agent for a pre-determined period of time or for a pre-determined number of calls and records the performance of the service representative at the automatically and randomly determined time with or without notification to the agent. The recorded performance may then be listened to and annotated by a call center supervisor.

Abstract: An electronic, computer based telecommunication system has an object oriented processor system with the aid of which data are exchanged between data bases and customers connected thereto. A data record is created from a selected memory in which all the information from for example a telephone call is stored, this record being common to all customers. The record comprises only that information which is required by the customers. From this data record then the specific data which are desired by an individual customer are extracted. Three kinds of objects are defined and stored in corresponding memories, service templates, customer templates and an output type. The first objects define the types of service which is used. In a second object the information is defined which a customer wants to extract from the common data record. Thus each customer has its own customer template.

Abstract: A communication method for providing information in an intelligent network includes a step of entering by a user a connection number of the user terminal, a connection number of an information provider terminal and a time to receive the information providing service into a user database provided in a transmission layer, a step of reading the data registered in the user database into a service control database provided in the intelligent layer, a step of referring to the service control database to automatically connect the user terminal and the information provider terminal when a service start time is reached and automatically disconnect the connection therebetween when a service end time is reached.

Abstract: A system for generating an exception report for a particular problem based on call traffic. The system maintains a count of occurrences for that problem, happening within a sliding window of call traffic volume. When the count exceeds a threshold value, the system generates the exception report whereby appropriate action may be initiated to correct the problem.

Abstract: A system for, and method of operation of, estimating a blocking probability for at least a portion of a network and a model of the same are provided. The blocking probability represents a likelihood that a transmitted signal will arrive at least at the portion of the network. The system includes an estimator controller and a processing controller. The estimator controller derives both a direct and an indirect estimator. The direct controller is derived as a function of a number of losses and arrivals occurring with respect to at least the portion of the network during a period of time, and the indirect estimator is derived as a function of an offered load with respect to at least the portion of the network during the period of time. The processing controller, that is associated with the estimator controller, applies a weighting factor to the direct and indirect estimators to derive the blocking probability. The weighting factor minimizes variance of combined estimates.

Abstract: A system and method monitors a wireless network such that degradation of performance, as measured by such performance parameters as data throughput and service availability is estimated accurately on a real time basis. The system and method scan each cell in a wireless telecommunications network for cell statistics data. Using the scanned cell statistics data, the system and method generate a model of the performance of the telecommunications network by modeling each cell in the network. The model is based on a control system relationship. Using the control system relationship, the system and method forecast the performance of the cells between actual data collection times. Forecasting the state of the cells reduces the amount of data required to monitor the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A call management system is disclosed that may interface with an existing PBX or may be utilized as a separate unit. In a preferred embodiment, the call management system includes a tariff data server, a local client computer and one or more line units. The tariff data server holds tariff data of service providers and transmits the tariff data to the local client computer via a communications link. The communications link can include the Internet making the tariff data widely available. Each line unit couples a telephone set to the telephone line provided by the LEC. The local client computer maintains a communications link with each line unit. Each line unit can be coupled to more than one LEC, allowing cost optimizations to take into account the LEC in addition to long distance carriers. The line unit intercepts the dialed digits and transmits them to the local client computer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a telephony messaging transfer system permitting a messaging host to redistribute its processing and/or storage load to another messaging host. An administrator can dynamically control the amount of time needed to transfer specified mailboxes by monitoring the progress on-line and increasing or decreasing the number of transfer dialogs to be used in the transfer process. Also provided is a predictive simulator for simulating the transfer process and providing statistics that can be used to adjust the timing of the actual transfer.

Abstract: A broadcast network, which may have multiple affiliated television stations each broadcasting in different geographic areas, is provided with one or more easy-to-use telephone numbers. The broadcast network, in turn, assigns one or more the these numbers to its affiliated television stations, each of which allows advertisers to prominently display one of its broadcast network's telephone numbers in direct-response television advertisements broadcast by the affiliated stations in their respective geographic areas. Different advertisements broadcast on different television stations affiliated with that broadcast network may then display that same number, regardless of the geographic area in which the broadcast is received, and the time at which the advertisement is displayed. When a particular advertisement sponsored by a particular advertiser is displayed on a TV program, viewer/listeners can dial the broadcast network's telephone number in response to the advertising, in order to initiate a transaction.

Abstract: A least cost routing system comprises at least one telephone dialing unit, at least one least cost router and a database updating unit. The telephone dialing unit dials a telephone number to place a telephone call. Each least cost router has a corresponding routing database of tariffs of telephone service providers and determines, from information in its corresponding routing database, which telephone service provider or providers to utilize to execute the telephone call. The database updating unit electronically updates tariff information into each of the routing databases shortly after updated tariff information is entered therein.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing an automatic call-back when a calling party encounters a ring-no-answer condition upon calling a called party. An exemplary system includes: a first originating switch node (OSN) coupled to a first originating telephone call location corresponding to a calling party and, a terminating switch node (TSN) coupled to a destination telephone call location corresponding to a called party; a database coupled to the TSN for storing the called party's times of calling activity; a processor coupled to the TSN and to the database for processing the times of calling activity to determine a best time to call (BTTC) the called party (wherein the BTTC comprises a best exact time and/or a window of time) and providing the TSN with the BTTC; a signaling network for routing the BTTC to the OSN; and an adjunct coupled to the OSN for receiving the calling party's automatic call-back request and initiating an automatic call back to the calling party at the BTTC the called party.

Abstract: To provide a complete picture of the calling pattern of calls placed to a destination entity which permits the destination entity's routing plan to be adequately administered, a) information is collected about all call attempts to particular, specified dialed numbers even before they are switch routed, including even calls terminated before a network control point (NCP) returns instructions as to where to route the call and, if applicable, after they are rerouted and b) the collected information is periodically delivering as it becomes available, for use by the destination entity, without requiring the calls being monitored to have been terminated. Thus, for example, information is collected about calls being held by the NCP in a queue even before the calls are NCP routed. The collected information also includes information for calls that were never routed, because they were terminated before routing, independent of whether they were placed in a queue.

Abstract: Telephone network switches and other network elements are connected to the inputs of respective storage and verification elements (SAVE) which are a distinct improvement over prior art adjunct processors. The SAVE cooperates with a network information concentrator so as to provide raw data that is filtered of extraneous data so as to be useful as raw (filtered) data for downstream clients. The network information architecture described herein also operates upon input network event data to achieve event matching and database enhancement of the network event data. The end result is matched or enhanced data for downstream clients, when required. The network information architecture further cooperates with a generalized statistics engine for summarizing network event statistics or preselected types of calls, such as 800 or 900 number calls. These statistics become available, when desired, for downstream clients.

Abstract: An intelligent configuration system automatically logs a sample of a PBX Call Detail Recording (CDR) message. The sample CDR messages are sent via modem from a local call accounting system connected to the PBX to a central configuration server. The configuration server analyzes the sample CDR messages to determine the PBX type. The appropriate PBX interface file for the identified PBX type is transmitted back to the call accounting system and used by the accounting system to interpret and price CDR messages output from the PBX into call accounting and traffic analysis reports. Identification and location data is transmitted from the accounting system to the configuration server. The configuration server uses the data to automatically transmit and update rate tables used in the accounting system.

Abstract: An integrated international telephone circuit monitoring system to restrict and substantially prevent abusive types of international telephone call reorigination, the system including a circuit monitoring card to monitor international telephone circuits from a reorigination country and thereby detect DTMF tones associated with telephone call reorigination and transmitted over the international circuit, and/or a second dial tone associated with the initiation of an international reorigination call, on a connection completed call, for subsequent blocking. Additionally, the telephone circuit monitoring card is structured to detect questionable DTMF tone dialing patterns associated with telephone call reorigination for subsequent blocking of completed transmission of the DTMF tone codes.

Abstract: A method and system permit monitoring the performance of a call center agent or similar service representative in servicing calls in a call center by determining an interval within which to monitor the service representative's performance in responding to calls, as well as by determining a number of calls or length of time for monitoring the representative within the interval. The invention automatically and randomly determines the precise time within the interval for monitoring the agent for a pre-determined period of time or for a pre-determined number of calls and records the performance of the service representative at the automatically and randomly determined time with or without notification to the agent. The recorded performance may then be listened to and annotated by a call center supervisor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for terminal-oriented performance monitoring in a telecommunications network having a public side and a mobile subscriber side with terminals. Information with respect to network performance is collected by the subscriber terminals or in connection with the subscriber terminals and transferred to the public side. The information includes the grade of service, information on error conditions and information on the quality of the transmission channel in the network and non-connection information. With the aid of the invention the network operator is provided with a picture of the performance from the point of view of the customer and he can thus operate the network more effectively at the same time as the performance experienced by the customer is kept under control.

Abstract: An individual telephone line call event buffering system is disclosed which provides backup memory storage for incoming and outgoing call events, including calling line identification (CLID) information in a computer based telephone line monitoring system when the computer or its call processing application software is off-line. The call event buffering system includes a hardware based call processor, distribution controller and memory system, and a software based computer monitoring system, all of which operate in conjunction with a standard personal computer, a standard telephone line, standard telephone line equipment including, but not limited to, a telephone, facsimile, and modem, and standard telephone central office services including, but not limited to, Caller-ID, distinctive ring, call transfer, forwarding and conferencing, voice mail, and visual message waiting.

Abstract: A telecommunication system comprises a network for carrying a traffic of information, terminals connected to the network, a transfer unit provided in the network for transferring a call coming in from a calling terminal to a first destination terminal and from the first destination terminal to a second destination terminal. An accumulation unit is provided in the network for accumulating information indicative of occurrence of a transfer of an incoming call each time the transfer of the call occurs from the first destination terminal to another destination terminal. The network further includes a transfer notification unit for notifying the first destination terminal of the occurrence of the transfer by transmitting a control signal from the network to the first destination terminal. A transfer reporting unit is provided in the network for receiving a request signal from the first terminal and for transmitting the call transfer information from the accumulation unit to the first destination terminal.

Abstract: Method for establishing a telecommunication connection wherein a calling party at a first telecommunication terminal station external to a private branch exchange (PBX) sets up a first connection to the PBX via a public telecommunication network and transmits information to the PBX which indicates, inter alia, a telephone number of a second telecommunication terminal station. In response, the PBX sets up a telecommunication connection between the first telecommunication terminal station and the second terminal station and, in addition, the PBX stores information relating to call charges resulting from the connection to the second terminal station.

Abstract: An Operations Support System, comprised of a computer and workstation, stores digit analysis specifications for telecommunications call processing. A graphical user interface displays digit analysis specifications visually as subtrees made up of nodes representing the digits of the dialed number. Two subtrees can be displayed contemporaneously for evaluation and manipulation independently and from one to another. Operations performed on the nodes also operate on the embedded digit analysis specifications permitting manipulation of the specifications without the need to view or deal with the specifications themselves directly. Related information such as Routing Table Indexes and local exchange numbers called NXX numbers are displayed contemporaneous with display of a subtree of interest and are manipulated with regard to that subtree.

Abstract: An system and apparatus records and displays information received from a premises such as ambient temperature or information received over a telephone network. A wireless transmitter generates and transmits a packet of telephone information received from the telephone network. The generated signals can be radio, infrared and ultrasonic. A packet receiver is spaced distant from the premises recording unit but within range of the packet transmission generated for receiving and storing the packet of telephone information. The packet receiver displays at least a portion of the packet of telephone information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the load on a communications link in a common channel signalling system connecting an exchange in a telephone network to regional equipment such as a remote subscriber switch or a remote cellular base station. The length indicator field of each signal unit transmitted over the reserved channel of the communications link is monitored by the exchange to determine the number of bytes of message data being transmitted over the link during a predetermined time period. The load on the communications link is identified by taking the ratio of the determined number of bytes to the number of full value bytes capable of transmission over the communications link during an identical time period.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of providing information for display at a calling party telecommunications station or at an idle station. Two signaling arrangements are described, the D-channel of an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) channel, and an in-band frequency shift key signal. The information that is displayed is related to the called party (such as information identifying that party), the carrier of the conversation, or represents general information (an emergency announcement).

Abstract: Telecommunication switches (e.g., PBX's or local exchange carrier's switches) route calls in accordance with economic incentives (e.g., least cost routing) resulting from a bidding process between participating interexchange telecommunication carriers (Carriers) by operation of a central processor, a computer referred to as a bidding moderator (Moderator). Each of the Carriers informs the Moderator of the rate it is willing to charge (or other economic incentive it is willing to offer) for service between two specific points in the telecommunication network at some particular time. The Moderator collects this bid information from all the Carriers, sorts it among originating points and transmits it to an adjunct processor at each subscribing switch location and to all participating Carriers' network management centers. From the list of all Carriers providing bid information to the Moderator, each Subscriber can select those Carriers to which it wants traffic routed and can change that selection at any time.

Abstract: An system and apparatus records and displays information received from a premises such as ambient temperature or information received over a telephone network. A premises recording unit is connected to a the received telephone network and receives and stores telephone information. The premises recording unit includes a wireless transmitter for generating and transmitting a packet of telephone information received from the telephone network. The generated signals can be radio, infrared and ultrasonic. A packet receiver is spaced distant from the premises recording unit but within range of the packet transmission generated for receiving and storing the packet of telephone information. The packet receiver displays at least a portion of the packet of telephone information.

Abstract: During an execution of communications between an originating terminal and a receiving terminal which are connected through an ISDN, when an item of information saying that a rate at which charges for the communications are shared between these terminals is changed to a given rate is transmitted from either the originating terminal or the receiving terminal to the ISDN, the communication charges after transmitting this item of information are imposed on the originating terminal and/or the receiving terminal in accordance with this rate presented. If an agreement of the other terminal is not obtained on this occasion, the charges are imposed on the originating terminal and/or the receiving terminal in accordance with an original accounting rate or the rate presented from the other terminal.

Abstract: A communication method and apparatus which provides information in an intelligent network. The communication method and apparatus allows a user to enter a connection number of the user terminal, a connection number of an information provider terminal and time to receive information from the information providing service into a user database provided in a transmission layer. The data registered in the user database is read into a service control database provided in the intelligent layer. The service control database is referred to in order to automatically connect the user terminal and the information providing service when a service start time is reached and automatically disconnect the connection therebetween when a service end time is reached.

Abstract: A method of regulating and managing network traffic at a mediated access service control point in an advanced intelligent switched telephone network that allows a local exchange carrier to monitor and enforce traffic rates negotiated between the local exchange carrier and other third party providers. The invention is implemented at a mediated access service control point in the network, and is activated when a query destined for a third party service control point is generated at a service switching point. The mediated access service control point receives this query and processes the query to determine if the query should be forwarded to the third party service control point. If the query does not violate any of the rates that have been negotiated between the local exchange carrier and the third party, the query is passed from the mediated access service control point to the third party service control point.

Abstract: The Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) wireline system connects to and controls processing of calls to a Personal Communication Service subscriber's wireless handset via a home base station or a wireless communication network. Depending on its current location, the subscriber's handset automatically registers with the base station or with a mobility controller of the wireless network. A new registration with the base station when the handset comes within range causes that station to update the subscriber's home location register in a central data base of the AIN. Similarly, when a handset first registers with a mobility controller, that controller updates the subscriber's home location register in the central data base of the AIN. In response to calls directed to the subscriber, the AIN accesses the home location register to determine the current location where the handset is registered. The AIN then uses that data to route the call to the current location.

Abstract: A telecommunications network is arranged to provide equal access to a user of a text telephone device, such that a TDD user may dial directly a desired telephone number, without having to first place a call to a so-called relay center and directing the relay center to dial the desired telephone number.

Abstract: A method for controlling an overload of a main processor by assigning to the main processor of a distributed switching system with a hierarchy structure a function of informing associated lower-level processors of an occurrence of the overload, an increase in call suppression, a decrease in call suppression and a release of the overload upon controlling the overload, and assigning to the lower-level processors a function of automatically calculating the number of calls to be processed in response to a demand of the main processor, and controlling traffic affecting the main processor on the basis of the result of the calculation, so as to maintain a stable service condition for the overload control interval.

Abstract: A method for placing a surcharge on telephone solicitations including the steps of providing a local telephone number to a customer for accessing a call from an originating caller and identifying the originating caller's telephone number, as for example, by conventional caller identification systems. The method also includes the steps of advising the caller of the surcharge and providing an opportunity to complete the call by accepting the surcharge or terminating the call without charge. For example, the subscriber's equipment may incorporate an automatic answering system including voice responsive functions and call forwarding. The method also includes the steps of billing the caller for the surcharge and crediting a portion of that charge to the customer's account.

Abstract: A system for service control and operations for a telecommunications network. In particular, an architecture and method for a service control and operations element system. The system communicates with a plurality of interconnected telecommunications network elements via a switching and signaling subsystem. The system provides and controls the functions of the telecommunications network, including a method of measuring delay between the time a customer dials a phone number of a called party and the time the customer hears a ringback tone indicating that the called party was alerted to the call, a method of synchronizing clocks located at individual network elements with a centralized time source, and a method of time-of-day clock surveillance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a billing system which provides the most cost-effective long-distance telephone service for long-distance telephone calls made by an account by analyzing long-distance telephone calls in the aggregate, comparing the cost thereof between at least two different providers, and charging the account based on the lowest cost. Providers of long-distance telephone services aggregate those long-distance telephone calls for which an account is responsible and determine the cost of service based either on mileage or aggregate time. In a first embodiment, the billing system compares the costs of service associated with two different service plans, both of which determine the cost of service based on mileage. In a second embodiment, the billing system compares the costs of service associated with two different service plans, one which determines the cost of service based on mileage, the other of which determines the cost of service based on aggregate time.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring the activity of a subscriber line to determine the adequacy of the current service and service options. Central to the method is determining the number of missed calls and attempted calls to the line in a given time period. A missed call is defined as a call which is not received due to the line being busy or unattended. The method comprises the steps of: monitoring the subscriber line for activity; determining the number of attempted calls to the line in a period of time; determining the number of missed calls to the line in the period of time; and generating a missed calls percentage which can be presented to the subscriber to show the inadequacy of the current level of subscriber service.

Abstract: A communication network (1) comprises a number of network nodes (2, 3, 4 and 5) linked together by transmission paths (6, 7 and 8). A network manager (9) controls acceptance of calls onto transmission paths by classifying an incoming call and selecting from the database (14) an appropriate mean to peak bit rate distribution. This selected distribution is then used with the monitored transmission path load to determine a posterior distribution which reflects the load. The decision to accept or reject the call is made on the basis of the posterior distribution by a call acceptance algorithm considering the effective bandwidth for example.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus and a telephone set are connected to one telephone line in parallel with each other. A voltage variation .DELTA.V caused by closing and opening of a DC circuit of the telephone set is detected via an off-hook detector of the facsimile apparatus to establish the operation mode of the telephone set. The detected operation mode of the telephone set is stored in a RAM. The detected mode of the telephone set, and thus the closing and opening of the DC circuit of the telephone set, is displayed and/or printed.

Abstract: A computer system employs a repeater unit which repowers a serial channel link. The repeater unit also monitors and records non-idle usage and errors for both directions of the repeated serial link. Non-idle usage of the serial link is recorded as a number of seconds that non-idle traffic flowed in the link over a given period of time. Link serial code violations and loss-of-light transitions are also counted. Link code violations are counted with an accuracy that permits targeted serial link bit-error rates, of no more than one bit error in approximately two months, to be accurately verified for the first time in a normal customer environment. The repeater unit permits an attached monitoring computer to read and reset all its usage and error counters as often as required by the customer, and without losing any counts of any counted event.

Abstract: A method for controlling an overload of distributed processors of a full electronic switching system, capable of automatically calculating the number of calls to be accepted for a current interval by use of the number of calls accepted for a previous interval and the number of standby processes of a call processing program so that only the number of calls corresponding to the number of services calculated is acceptable, thereby maintaining a stable service condition for an overload control interval, and capable of realizing a priority control depending on the type of call.

Abstract: Billing records for call attempts directed to an inbound subscriber are sorted by originating telephone number, date and time of day in order to group together a) sequences of call attempts initiated at each telephone number, and b) corresponding disposition for each call attempt in that sequence. When the billing records indicate that all call attempts initiated from an originating telephone number have been unavailing (blocked calls, ring-no-answer), a caller associated with that telephone number is deemed "lost" with respect to a selected time window. The number of lost callers within a predetermined period of time is then used to determine the desirability of committing additional resources to a call center.

Abstract: Televoting method in which a large number of subscribers (1) connected to a telecommunications network (2) are able to make a call to a subscriber number, referred to as televoting number, of a televoting processor (4) in order then to transmit their vote to said processor. At the calling subscribers' end, the probability of transmission of calls intended for the televoting number are deliberately reduced substantially in a random manner, either directly by `balloting` or indirectly by random time delay. The system for carrying out this method comprises televoting devices (3) at the subscribers' (1) end, said subscribers having a balloting device which substantially reduces the probability of transmission of calls intended for the televoting number and/or a delaying device which postpones the transmission of calls intended for the televoting number by an arbitrary length of time. The system is intended to prevent an explosion of calls to the televoting processor in televoting, for example in TV programs.

Abstract: An international telecommunications network includes a set of international exchanges located in a particular country which connect a national telecommunications network situated in that country with networks situated in other countries. The international network includes a traffic management system having an expert system with a set of knowledge sources. An identifier identifies alarms relating to traffic and a prioritizer arranges the alarms in order of priority. A diagnoser diagnoses the cause or causes of the alarms by proposing suspected causes and investigating them in relation to traffic and network data. A resolver proposes remedies for the causes of the alarms by reasoning over each cause in relation to data on traffic associated with the cause, reasoning over each remedy in relation to data on traffic in the neighborhood of the remedy to determine a figure of merit for the remedy, and then arranging the remedies in order of merit.

Abstract: The present invention automatically initiates a telephone call to a given destination. At the same time, the progress of the call is monitored. The time of a ring back and voice answer received from the destination are recorded to an output file. At the end of the voice answer, a pre-recorded voice message is sent by the system to the person answering at the destination. Thereafter, the recorded data is used to determine the response time for that particular telephone destination. A plurality of destinations can be tested. A second embodiment of the present invention provides for the interactive correspondence between a remote evaluation unit and a called destination and the measurement of the performance characteristics of the telephone network.