Abstract: Certain aspects of the disclosure are directed to routing decisions implemented in response to data communications. According to a specific example, one or more computer processor circuits are to interface with remotely-situated client entities using a first programming language, and to provide a database of data communications services based on a subscription. In response to receipt of a data communication, client-specific sets of control data can be identified. The client-specific sets of control data are derived from programming instructions received over a message exchange protocol and corresponding to a second programming language that is compatible with the first programming language. Based on the client-specific sets of control data and using a numbering plan area (NPA) code of the received data communication, a nearby extension of the client entity can be identified, and the received data communication can be routed to the nearby extension.

Abstract: A field unit and ground station may use commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and share a common architecture, where differences in functionality are governed by software. The field units and ground stations may be easy to deploy, relatively inexpensive, and be relatively easy to operate. A novel file system may be used where datagrams of a file may be stored across multiple drives and/or devices. The datagrams may be received out of order and reassembled at the receiving device.

Abstract: A path redundant, hardware efficient communications interconnect (1) has embodiments that can present true any-to-any interconnect capability for first and second pathways (2) and (3) and can utilize double throw switches (25) with or without single throw switches (24) perhaps in staged collectives of sub arrays (4), (5), (6), (9), and (10). A loop-back communications interconnect (22) can be accomplished by an interleaved sub array (26). A quadrilateral center stage sub array (21) can be combined with asymmetric side stage sub arrays for hardware savings that are tenths of a percent of a traditional interconnect and even present eight fold savings over prior reduced hardware interconnects.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for enabling additional capacity or features on telecommunication nodes without requiring replacement of hardware. Service providers purchase hardware which is fully capable of providing a full suite of features and providing a large bandwidth capacity. However, depending on the amount of payment by the service provider, not all of the features or the bandwidth capacity is enabled. If the service provider wishes to increase the number of features or the capacity of a node, the additional features or capacity are enabled using software after payment to the vendor. This allows service providers to enter the market at an initially relatively low expense. Additional features and capacity can be purchased and enabled using software as demand grows, without having to purchase replacement hardware.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method of combining an emergency standalone switching device with a switching system interface used to bypass the common control and switch matrix of a class 5 digital switch. The emergency standalone switching device provides call control of the switching system interface. The call control of the emergency standalone switching devices provides local and emergency calls to local subscribers.

Abstract: In a telecommunication system configured to provide a connection between a caller and a callee via a telephone network, wherein the telephone network is configured to connect the caller and the callee, a method for allowing the callee to prevent the caller from establishing the connection with the callee. The method includes receiving an instruction from the callee to prevent the caller from establishing the connection with the callee and identifying a first telephone number associated with the caller. The method also includes preventing one or more phone calls from the first telephone number from being forwarded to a second telephone number associated with the callee.

Abstract: A method includes receiving an inbound call from a caller to a device. A plurality of outbound calls are initiated from the single device based on information received from the inbound call.

Abstract: A switch-based feature that dynamically designates a class B line as class A if the call is a GETS call. The line remains class A until a non-GETS call is placed, whereupon the line reverts to its normal class B designation.

Abstract: A method of introducing a feature during a communication between subscribers of a telecommunications network. The first step of the method is executing, at each predefined trigger point during the communication, an operation to activate a particular requested feature. The method then requires accessing data stored in a network memory for use in the activation operation. The data is arranged in the memory in table and bit map format so as to enable the features to be customized. The method then requires executing the particular requested feature upon activation. The method may also include repeating the method steps for each feature available to be activated at a respective trigger point in an order determined by the stored data. The method is independent of the type of requested feature.

Abstract: A common package serves as, for example, a common network interface package for a switching system. Since the common package is usable for various purposes, its cost is reduced and the cost of maintenance and management of the switching system is reduced. The common package is a printed board package (35) installed in an apparatus and used for a variety of purposes. The common package includes a programmable device (36), memories (45 to 48) for storing programs to configure the programmable device, a selector (41) for selecting one of the programs from the memory so that the selected program may so configure the programmable device as to make the common package serve as a specific circuit, and an instruction unit (51) for issuing an instruction to specify the program to be selected by the selector.

Abstract: A method for bypassing the common control and switch matrix of a class 5 digital switch, comprising providing a means to convert the signals and protocols used with the line/trunk frames associated with the class 5 digital switch to those used by the remote end of a DLC; providing network interfaces for one or more digital transmission facilities that make up the remote end of a DLC; and providing a means to couple the line/trunk frames with the switching system interface. A switching system interface comprising one or more network interfaces for terminating digital transmission facilities; one or more interfaces for coupling to line/trunk frames of a digital switch; a time-slot assignment means for connecting time slots of the digital transmission facilities to those of the line/trunk frames; and a call processing means for coordinating call setup and teardown between the DLC local terminal and the line/trunk frames, and for managing the time-slot assignment means to complete calls.

Abstract: A communications network is managed so that a user is enabled to manage user-related features provided in the network through a user interface. A call is established to a server provided with a feature management service including an individual register of characteristics and available features for predetermined user interfaces. The user's access to the network through the user interface to the server is then terminated. At least one characteristic of the user interface is used to identify the user interface. That characteristic is input into the server to enable the user to manage features associated with the characteristic.

Abstract: A telephony device such as a digital telephone or personal computer attaches to phone lines and automatically determines both the type of switch to which is connected, and the type of line card in the switch providing that connection. In addition, device functions and data types supported by the switch and line card are automatically determined, providing a fully automatically configurable device. Programming in the device monitors polling messages provided by the switch and line card having different formats to make the determination. The devices switch between two different flow control types supported by the different line cards, while listening for the polling messages. If a message is not received while using a first flow control type, the second is used. The capability of channel, voice or data, is also automatically determined once the switch type is known.

Abstract: A method for bypassing the common control and switch matrix of a class 5 digital switch, comprising providing a means to convert the signals and protocols used with the line/trunk frames associated with the class 5 digital switch to those used by the remote end of a DLC; providing network interfaces for one or more digital transmission facilities that make up the remote end of a DLC; and providing a means to couple the line/trunk frames with the switching system interface. A switching system interface comprising one or more network interfaces for terminating digital transmission facilities; one or more interfaces for coupling to line/trunk frames of a digital switch; a time-slot assignment means for connecting time slots of the digital transmission facilities to those of the line/trunk frames; and a call processing means for coordinating call setup and teardown between the DLC local terminal and the line/trunk frames, and for managing the time-slot assignment means to complete calls.

Abstract: A direct inward-outward dialing (DIOD) trunk circuit having a DIOD detecting/sending circuit connected to tip and ring terminals connected to a central office line and a primary coil of a transformer, for detecting a polarity of the voltage potential at the tip and ring terminals and the current flowing therethrough to determine reception of one of an incoming and outgoing telephone call, and a switch, controlled by a relay driver responsive to an interface circuit used for interfacing the DIOD trunk circuit with a switching circuit of a private branch exchange (PBX), for enabling the current to flow between the tip and ring terminals through the DIOD detecting/sending circuit via one of a low or high impedance path, wherein the low impedance path is used to establish a speech path between a central office line subscriber and a corresponding extension subscriber of the PBX.

Abstract: The present invention is a switch controller that provides an interface between a public switched telephone network and intelligent services network components. The switch controller controls the operation of one or more programmable switches that accept calls from the public switched telephone network. Intelligent service network components are used for enhanced service processing, interconnection to external networks, and other call functions. The switch controller includes a switch controller application program. Within the switch controller application program are multiple routines that perform call processing. The design of the switch controller application program hides vendor-specific processing and service-specific processing from routines not needing the vendor-specific and service-specific details.

Abstract: A method of introducing a feature during a communication between subscribers of a telecommunications network. The first step of the method is executing, at each predefined trigger point during the communication, an operation to activate a particular requested feature. The method then requires accessing data stored in a network memory for use in the activation operation. The data is arranged in the memory in table and bit map format so as to enable the features to be customized. The method then requires executing the particular requested feature upon activation. The method may also include repeating the method steps for each feature available to be activated at a respective trigger point in an order determined by the stored data. The method is independent of the type of requested feature.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for establishing communication between an originating station and a destination station over a computer network such as the Internet, for example. In accordance with the invention, at least one service attribute requested by the originating station is received over a signaling path. A communication path is then established between the originating and destination stations in conformance with the requested service attribute. The signaling path is an out-of-band signaling path with respect to the communication path.

Abstract: A system for processing outbound calls includes a system controller that controls the placement of an outbound call to a called number. The called number placed by the system controller has an associated country. The system includes a storage mechanism that stores multiple sets of call classification parameters. Each set of call classification parameters is associated with a particular country. A call classifier is coupled to the system controller and the storage mechanism. The call classifier can classify the result of the outbound call based on call classification parameters associated with the target country. The call classification parameters can include call progress tones associated with the country to which the outbound call was placed. The call classifier can also classify the answer status of the outbound call.

Abstract: A CCS network architecture is provided that segregates traffic. The CCS network includes a first network dedicated to a first type of traffic and a second network dedicated to a second type of traffic. Internal switches, foreign mated STP pairs, and foreign switches are provided with dual-homing features.

Abstract: A telecommunications network architecture is known comprising a switching system for effecting basic call processing to set up, maintain and clear calls, and service-providing means (SPA) communicating with said switching system for providing services additional to said basic call processing. Due to the high availability requirements typically placed on telecommunications networks, the service providing means will generally need to be of a fault-tolerant design. A fault tolerant architecture is provided that relies on the checkpointing to a reliable store of state data for services currently being provided from first service logic of the service-providing means; should the first service logic fail, a second service logic is brought into operation and provided with required state data on current services from the backup store.

Abstract: An interexchange carrier (IXC) switch and an associated database route qualified calls dialed to local service provider (LSP) subscribers onto interconnecting facilitiies with local access settlement rates, thereby allowing a local rather than toll cost structure. The IXC switch and associated database operate with existing toll features including those features which translate a private dialed number into a public number. The IXC switch and associated database classify the call into a jurisdictional classification from a customer billing and feature application perspective, and from a routing perspective independent of the customer billing and feature application classification. The jurisdictional classification can include, example, local, toll, interLATA toll or intraLATA toll.

Abstract: A method of operating a network by sharing resources associated with various classes among calls in the various classes according to a state dependent reservation parameter. Nominal amounts of one or more resources are allocated to each call class. When a call of a class of service operating in the network requires resources in excess of those allocated to the class, resources allocated to other classes of service are advantageously shared with the class of service. The sharing is based on a reservation parameter associated with the class of service of the call. The reservation parameter is advantageously a function of the network state. The role of the reservation parameter is to protect underloaded classes (i.e., those classes not using all of their allocated nominal capacity) from excessive borrowing by overloaded classes (i.e., classes using more than their allocated nominal capacity).

Abstract: Special subscriber features within a telecommunications system are programmed using a number of finite state tables. Such tables are stored as data in an erasable memory to enable the telecommunications system to provide different services. The tables are modified to provide different subscriber services by updating the values stored in the state tables without recompiling the executable codes.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to provide enhanced wide area audio response services through an enhanced wide area audio response network which includes a central controller and a plurality of audio peripherals distributed over a wide area, each audio peripheral being connected to telephone lines for receiving and originating telephone calls, converting received analog audio signals into digital representations, recording and storing digital representations, converting stored digital representations into analog audio signals, playing audio signals over connected telephone lines, and communicating with, including receiving commands from, the central controller over a Packet Switched Public Data Network (PSPDN), which controller is a highly reliable general purpose controller which offers utility grade service to each audio peripheral and utilizes Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS) tables for various applications, including voice messaging, audio text, remote information provider accessing, and testing to provid

Abstract: Processes and devices for enhancing communication management and control in an intelligent network. A Service Management System Information Model serves as the basis for generation of Network Element Images which facilitate data communication between the Service Management System and the various Network elements. The Service Management System Information Model also allows a more intuitive and efficient provisioning interface for the Service Management System user. Network Element Interfaces according to the present invention contain embedded Service Management System/Network Element Interface Protocol functionality and may be employed to interpret the Network Element Images and communicate them over the network to the Network Elements. A Network Element Interface Server allows requests from client programs in the service management system to be queued and prioritized as desired for further efficiency, flexibility and reliability.

Abstract: An alarm collection apparatus for use in an exchange system has a plurality of local offices, a central maintenance office, a toll switch, and an alarm link. The local offices include an enhanced local office and a conventional local office, the enhanced local office having enhanced features with respect to the number of alarm collection points, a display function thereof, and a man-machine alarms interface. An alarm collection shelf collects alarm information from the conventional local office in the same manner as from the enhanced local office, by converting the data format used for the conventional office to one which corresponds to the data format used for the enhanced office. The alarm collection shelf also collects alarms from a radio base office.

Abstract: A communication system offering specific services to specific persons bears a portable memory device with a record of personal information such as the bearer's identification number, class of service, personal data, etc. In making a call, the bearer of the memory device puts it on a communication terminal device and the terminal device reads out the personal information, which is transferred to a data processor such as a central processor in the exchange so that a service specific to the calling person is rendered.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to provide enhanced wide area audio response services through an enhanced wide area studio response network which includes a central controller and a plurality of audio peripherals distributed over a wide area, each audio peripheral being connected to telephone lines for receiving and originating telephone calls, converting received analog audio signals into digital representations, recording and storing digital representations, converting stored digital representations into analog audio signals, playing audio signals over connected telephone lines, and communicating with, including receiving commands from, the central controller over a Packet Switched Public Data Network (PSPDN), which controller is a highly reliable general purpose controller which offers utility grade service to each audio peripheral and utilizes Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS) tables for various applications, including voice messaging, audio text, remote information provider accessing, and testing to provi

Abstract: In a method implemented by a telecommunications switch, a call request is made for a called party having a predetermined directory number. A determination is made if preconnection services are to be provided for the called party, and if such services are to be provided, a service node to provide the services is identified. A further determination is made if the call request is from other than the selected service node. If the call request is not from the selected service node, the call request is routed to the service node for preconnection services. If a call request is from the selected service node, the call is routed to the called party. This permits a selected service node to originate a separate call to the called party so that services can be provided on behalf of the called party in response to a call request made by a calling party. This method allows preconnection services to be provided without the requirement of multiple directory numbers being assigned to the called party.

Abstract: A communication system offering specific services to specific persons bears a portable memory device with a record of personal information such as the bearer's identification number, class of service, personal data, etc. In making a call, the bearer of the memory device puts it on a communication terminal device and the terminal device reads out the personal information, which is transferred to a data processor such as a central processor in the exchange so that a service specific to the calling person is rendered.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for accessing a service bureau or utility via a telemetry call from automated customer premises equipment, such as device state reporting or alarm equipment, without permitting features assigned to the associated customer to interfere with that call. Customer features such as call waiting are canceled for the duration of the telemetry call and are reactivated after the call has been terminated. Advantageously, access from the customer premises equipment to a service bureau or utility may be provided over a telephone line without limiting the customer's choice of telephone features.

Abstract: In a shared-tenant services arrangement, numbering-plan independence and cross-plan access is provided to tenant groups by a call-processing arrangement (200) that stores separate definitions of both syntax (320, 350) and grammar (400, 410) of each group's own extension numbering plan. In response to receipt from a member of an individual tenant group of an extension number unaccompanied by a network dial-access code (DAC), the received extension number is analyzed (210) using the syntax and grammar definitions of the extension numbering plan of the individual group. But in response to receipt from the member of the extension number accompanied by a DAC, the DAC is analyzed using the syntax and grammar definition of the extension numbering plan of the individual group to determine an extension numbering plan that corresponds to the received DAC, and the received extension number is then analyzed using the syntax and grammar definitions of whichever extension numbering plan corresponds to the received DAC.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to provide enhanced wide area audio response services through an enhanced wide area audio response network which includes a central controller and a plurality of audio peripherals distributed over a wide area, each audio peripheral being connected to telephone lines for receiving and originating telephone calls, converting received analog audio signals into digital representations, recording and storing digital representations, converting stored digital representations into analog audio signals, playing audio signals over connected telephone lines, and communicating with, including receiving commands from, the central controller over a Packet Switched Public Data Network (PSPDN), which controller is a highly reliable general purpose controller which offers utility grade service to each audio peripheral and utilizes Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS) tables for various applications, including voice messaging, audio text, remote information provider accessing, and testing to provid

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and a method for controlling a Digital Access and Crossconnect System (DACS) from a connected toll switching system. All control messages from operations support systems (OSS) for making crossconnect changes in the DACS are first routed to the toll switch. The toll switch extracts information needed to update its database and sends a control message to the DACS. In addition, the toll switch responds to changes in traffic patterns, perhaps due to the loss of a transmission facility, to generate a crossconnect change message to the DACS to rearrange facilities for more optimum performance. Advantageously, the OSSs for DACS control and switch control is combined and the toll network is made more responsive to traffic pattern changes and to losses of transmission facilities.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to provide enhanced wide area audio response services through an enhanced wide area audio response network which includes a central controller and a plurality of audio peripherals distributed over a wide area, each audio peripheral being connected to telephone lines for receiving and originating telephone calls, converting received analog audio signals into digital representations, recording and storing digital representations, converting stored digital representations into analog audio signals, playing audio signals over connected telephone lines, and communicating with, including receiving commands from, the central controller over a Packet Switched Public Data Network (PSPDN), which controller is a highly reliable general purpose controller which offers utility grade service to each audio peripheral and utilizes Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS) tables for various applications, including voice messaging, audio text, remote information provider accessing, and testing to provid

Abstract: A private branch exchange for controlling the calls terminated from a direct-in line receives a call set-up message containing termination information including termination address information and termination subaddress information. The termination subaddress information is supplied by the originating station and includes a security code and an internal station number. A dial signal deciding part converts the security code into a class-of-service number in accordance with a security code table containing to class-of-service numbers. The services of the private branch exchange which are offered to a subscriber, for example termination to station or origination of call, are determined by indexing a class-of-service table containing class-of-service information using the class-of-service number.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and a method for use in conjunction with a service wherein a called telephone customer receives a display of the number of a calling telephone customer. In conjunction with this service, customers are offered a class of service and/or an option to dial a privacy request wherein their telephone number will not be displayed to the called telephone customer. In accordance with this invention, the customers are offered a class of service wherein they will receive calls only from telephone customers willing to have their telephone number displayed. If a call is made from a caller who does not wish to have his number displayed to a called customer who will not accept calls from customers unwilling to identify themselves, the caller is given a special announcement; in response to this announcement if the caller keys a special privacy override code then the call is completed with the caller's number displayed.

Abstract: Subscribers (100-108) of an electronic mail system (1-2) service are divided into a plurality of subscriber communities (30-34). Subscribers in each community have common rights of access to one or more communication service--the sending and receiving of mail messages--which rights are generally different from those of subscribers in other communities. Permissions to send and receive messages between any two communities are specified on each mail system in a permissions matrix (40), wherein each row (41) represents a different sender community, each column (42) represents a different recipient community, and the value stored at their intersection (43) indicates the permission vis-a-vis the two communities. A function (50) is invoked on the sender's mail system (1,2) at message addressing, and on the sender's and recipients' mail systems (1,2) at message delivery, to enable or prevent (FIG. 3) message sending or delivery according to the matrix-specified permissions.

Abstract: The communication facilities access control arrangement of the telephone munication system detects the dialing of an unauthorized or invalid long distance transmission facility access code and identifies the calling station. A record is maintained of all invalid attempts to access the long distance facilities. When the number of invalid attempts by a calling station exceeds a predetermined limit, the telephone communication system restricts the calling station from all further long distance transmission facility access and generates an alarm indication to identify a possible facility access problem.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying the class of an operator assistance call in order to reduce the operator work time for serving such a call. A customer dials 0 or dials 0 plus a directory number and is connected to a program controlled operator assistance system or switch. The switch initially connects the calling customer to a voice processing unit and prompts the customer to speak a command or key a command code. The command or command code is recognized and used to direct the flow of the control program to selectively defer a connection to an operator position. For example, for person-to-person calls, the operator position is only connected after the called customer terminal answers. Advantageously, such a method and apparatus substantially reduces operator work time for broad classes of frequently used operator assistance services.

Abstract: Information(s) to be processed for call set up, as well as for testing and maintenance are supplied to a switching unit. The former are prioritized. A loadability measuring circuit, which compares actual-loading with reference-loading during leveling longer period, short term fluctuations, and continuously sets an adjustment standard related to the inflow of information, which is pre-supplied to a corresponding counter, for continuing inflow measurement, then measures loading caused by information of both kinds, measures instead, average corresponding reduced reference-value dependent, reference-actual comparison, for the case where this loading is too high, only the loading dependent upon call set up information to be processed. The adjustment standard is only reduced when the latter loading is too high, it is increased instead when the latter loading, as well as the loading dependent upon both kinds of information is too low.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for providing extended subscriber features, e.g., equal access, to otherwise non-conforming central offices of a telephone switching system. According to the invention, a register module is interposed between the subscriber line and an input of the central office for intercepting digits from the subscriber line intended for the central office and for receiving subscriber information from the central office identifying the subscriber line. The register module includes a memory having a plurality of address locations and a control circuit for analyzing the intercepted digits to determine whether processing of the subscriber call requires an extended subscriber feature. If so, the intercepted digits are processed to generate a coded signal, the coded signal including the address location where the stored digits and the subscriber information resides in the memory.

Abstract: In a telecommunication switching system, incoming calls of various call types directed to a group of associated subscriber terminals are queued by call type and distributed on a priority basis. A separate queue is created for each call type and a table is provided which defines a number of priority levels and the call types to be served in each priority level. A priority frequency array is used for each of the terminals to assure that each terminal serves calls at the various priority levels with a prescribed frequency. When calls of different types but having the same priority level are waiting to be served, the oldest call will be selected on the basis of a time-of-day stamp recorded with each call on queue.