Abstract: A system, controller and method are described that can effectively alert a mobile subscriber about an emergency situation including, for example, a weather alert, a hostage situation or a hazardous material leak. In particular, the system includes an emergency warning system capable of generating information identifying a geographic area in which there is an emergency situation. The system also includes a controller capable of receiving the information identifying the troubled geographic area and is further capable of requesting and receiving from a wireless communications network a list of the mobile subscribers currently located within the troubled geographic area. Thereafter, the controller is capable of initiating an emergency notification message that is sent to at least one of the mobile subscribers. The emergency notification message can be in the form of a page, a voice message or a short text message.

Abstract: A wireless communications network, a home location register and a method are provided that have an improved signal strength arbitration scheme which can ensure that a mobile terminal is registered at the most appropriate mobile switching center. In particular, the home location register includes a database coupled to a processor capable of implementing a signal strength arbitration scheme that assigns a provisional quality value to a registration signal that was received from a mobile switching center which failed to include a quality parameter within the registration signal, wherein that mobile switching center may now be considered and possibly registered as the most appropriate mobile switching center to process a wireless call of a mobile terminal that broadcasted a registration access signal to a plurality of mobile switching centers.

Abstract: A telecommunications network environment (10) includes a signaling server (20) accessible by maintenance interfaces (12) and network interfaces (14). The signaling server (20) includes a signaling link controller (83) that receives and processes signaling information received from network elements and other signaling servers. The signaling link controller (83) extracts a data portion of the signaling information for message transfer part level two processing. For additional processing, the data portion of the signaling information may be routed over an Ethernet switch (76) to another signaling link controller (83) or to a signaling services controller (99) for signaling connection control part processing. The signaling services control element (99) may perform local number portability lookup and global title translation on the received data portion. After processing, the signaling link controller (83) generates a return message in response to the signaling information.

Abstract: A system for generating a timing signal is disclosed. A processor generates a selection command. A clock receives a signal selected in response to the selection command and converts the selected signal to a timing signal. A framing module inserts a phase of the timing signal into a framed signal. A method for generating a timing signal for a telecommunication system is disclosed. A selection command is generated using a processor. A signal is selected in response to the selection command. The selected signal is converted to a timing signal using a clock. A phase of the timing signal is inserted into a framed signal using a framing module.

Abstract: STS-n with enhanced granularity is achieved by using an ATM cell framer which includes a plurality of cell delineators and cell assemblers for conversions between broadband STS-n which occupies at least a portion of a bandwidth of a synchronous payload envelope (SPE), such as a synchronous optical network (SONET) bandwidth, and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells. The SONET bandwidth is flexibly and efficiently allocated for transporting the broadband STS-n which carries ATM data, wherein n can be varied in small increments to allow the SONET bandwidth to be shared with narrowband STS if the broadband STS-n does not occupy the entire SONET bandwidth.

Abstract: A congestion control mechanism for use with a receiver in a telecommunications network using the Service Specific Connection Oriented Protocol (SSCOP). The receiver is disposed in an access network portion of the telecommunications network such that it receives messages from an aggregate portion of the network over an Access Network Interface (ANI) and from a plurality of users over User-Network Interfaces (UNIs) in a distribution network portion. Credit windows granted by the receiver to the transmitters for transmission of message frames are managed by the receiver when it experiences congestion. The congestion control method monitors buffer usage for ANI-based traffic and UNI-based traffic in the receiver by setting appropriate buffer use counters and timers. When the number of available buffers reaches certain predetermined threshold values, the receiver sends an indication to the transmitter to restrict its message transmit window, thereby throttling the message flow therefrom.

Abstract: One embodiment of a communication equipment shelf system includes a communication shelf, a backplane assembly, a plurality of communication cards and a plurality of backplane connector assemblies. The communication equipment shelf has a prescribed shelf depth. The prescribed shelf depth is defined between a first face and a second face of the communication equipment shelf. The backplane assembly is mounted on the communication equipment shelf at a position between the first face and the second face of the communication equipment shelf. The backplane assembly includes a backplane circuit substrate. A plurality of card edge connectors is mounted on a first side of the backplane circuit substrate and a plurality of backplane connectors is mounted on a second side of the backplane circuit substrate. A first row of the backplane connectors is offset from a second row of the backplane connectors.

Abstract: Connection methods and systems and databases manage resources including digital loop carriers, data network service providers in communication with a data network, and local telecommunications networks. The data network or networks used may include the Internet, frame-relay networks, and asynchronous transfer mode networks. Connections are made compatible between the various devices. The connection methods and systems allow for direct connections between digital loop carriers and data network service providers for direct routing of calls from a calling device to the data network. A call path may be established over the data network, followed by two-way communication. Various calling devices and systems may be used including conventional telephones, IP capable computers with modems, PBX networks, FAX devices.

Abstract: A node management method and system that supports multiple SNMP agents in a single platform (e.g., a network element or node) with capability to include the AgentX standard. An SNMP master agent and one or more subagents are provided for managing the node, and use the AgentX standard for communication therebetween. At least a select portion of a MIB associated with the management functionality of the managed node is supported by an SNMP peer agent that is proxied via an AgentX subagent (PSA).

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing reliability in a communication system. In the system and method, redundant signal paths are continuously tested to determine if any faults are present while the operating signal paths are in use. If any faults are present in the redundant signal paths, they can be addressed while the operating circuits are still in use. This minimizes the chance that a switch from an operating signal path to a redundant signal path because of a fault in the operating circuit will result in downtime.

Abstract: A multi-stage clock distribution scheme for use in a signaling server organized into a plurality of uniquely addressable shelves. The signaling server includes a system timing generator, one or more clock distribution modules arranged in a nested hierarchical manner, and a plurality of bus control modules, wherein each bus control module interfaces with at least a portion of line cards disposed in a shelf. The system timing generator provides a framed serial control signal, SFI, for controlling the operation of the multi-stage clock distribution scheme. The SFI signal encodes the IDs of the clock distribution modules and bus control modules whereby a system clock generated by the system timing generator based on a select reference input is successively fanned-out by the intermediate clock distribution modules based on address and ID information encoded in select fields of the SFI frames until the fanned-out system clocks are received by the bus control modules.

Abstract: A storage card module having a front panel card component and a rear panel transition module disposed on a backplane in accordance with the Compact Peripheral Component Interconnect (CPCI) bus standard, wherein the front panel card component is provided with at least one Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) storage medium drive. Power is supplied to the SCSI drive from a CPCI bus connector on the backplane, whereas a user-defined I/O connector on the backplane provides interconnection between the drive and the SCSI bus that is coupled to an I/O controller via an interface formed on the real panel transition module. Bus cabling coupled via the user-defined I/O connector may be used to daisy-chain other SCSI-based cards, mass storage devices, or may be terminated. A power cable deriving power from the CPCI bus connector provides auxiliary power output via a rear panel power connector to such daisy-chained mass storage devices.

Abstract: A signal transfer point (STP) includes a plurality of control and sense points that enable the STP to collect sensory information of all types and to provide control of individual pieces of equipment. The STP is operable to generate reports that record the activity of external devices that are either being monitored or where operation is being controlled. Each sense and control point board provided within the STP is operable to provide up to 32 sense points and twenty-four control points in one described embodiment of the invention. The sense points are operable to detect either a low voltage condition or a high voltage condition. The sense points are operable to monitor up to 60-volt signals and thus may monitor telecom voltage levels for US (48 volts) as well as European systems (60 volts). The sense points are optically isolated to eliminate the possibility of unwanted current flows. The control points are relays capable of handling up to a 60-volt difference in potential in its switching operations.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network (1), a signal transfer point (10) receives an Initial Address Message (IAM) generated by an originating service switching point (12) according to a call from an originating subscriber (20). The IAM includes a destination number associated with a destination subscriber (22). If the destination number has not been ported, the signal transfer point (10) sends a return message to the originating service switching point (12) indicating that no changes are to be made to the IAM. As a result, the originating service switching point (12) forwards the IAM to a destination service switching point (13) for processing of the call. If the destination number has been ported, the signal transfer point (10) performs a local number portability look-up in a database (24). The signal transfer point (10) obtains a redirection number from the database (24) for transfer in a return message to the originating service switching point (16).

Abstract: A redundancy system for a telecommunications system is provided. The redundancy system includes one or more resources, such as circuit cards containing circuits that process data for telecommunications channels. A controller bus is used to connect a controller to the resources. Another controller bus is also used to connect another controller to the resources. The resources are each coupled to the controller bus and the other controller bus, such that a change in control between the controller and the other controller may be accomplished by transferring data for the resources from the controller bus to the other controller bus.

Abstract: A switching matrix interface for a delivery unit that transports network data on telecommunications media to a switching matrix. The interface shares a “common building block” format with other modules of the delivery unit. Specifically, a bus interface port of the interface transports network data from the delivery unit (prior to switching) and back to the delivery unit (after switching) in a common data format. Buffers provide timing and align for transport to and from the switching matrix. The interface provides a path verification scheme using a superframe format for path integrity bits.

Abstract: A method of auditing a first local number portability database (31) associated with a first signal transfer point (22) includes sending, by a first audit manager (26), a request to the first signal transfer point (22), the request specifying at least one ported telephone number. A first audit agent (30) receives the request at the first signal transfer point (22), looks up the specified at least one ported telephone number in the first local number portability database (31), and obtains at least one corresponding local routing number. The first audit agent (30) then sends the at least one corresponding local routing number to the first audit manage (26). The audit manager (26) then compares the received at least one corresponding local routing number to data local to the first audit manager (26). The audit manager (26) then reports the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A cable holder is described that includes a connector holder that is configured to receive several cable connectors each of which are attached to a cable. The cable holder also includes one or more latch bars that are connected to the connector holder and configured to enable a user to interact with each latch bar so as to depress a tab on each of the cable connectors which enables the user to insert at the same time all of the cable connectors into a connector. Thereafter, the user can interact with each latch bar so as to depress a tab on each of the cable connectors which enables the user to remove at the same time all of the cable connectors from the connector.