Abstract: This invention relates to real time accumulation of telephone usage data and real time reporting of such data to a telecommunications system administrator. Telephones being monitored are identified in translation information of the connected switching system. When a reportable event occurs for one of these telephones, a data message is sent to a management information system (MIS) for the group that includes that telephone, and the records of that MIS are updated and displayed. Advantageously, real time information is displayed for selected individual and/or group telephone stations.

Abstract: Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) signal streams are converted into Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells for switching and transmission across a telecommunications network. Each cell carries one PCM sample of up to 48 different voice connections, the voice connections being selected from the PCM data streams because they have a common destination. The cells are transmitted over ATM virtual paths, each path transmitting one cell every 125 .mu.s. The ATM signals are switched by units for switching cells (cell switching), while keeping their payload contents intact, and by units for switching the signals for individual voice connections between cells of an ATM signal (cell remapping). Advantageously, ATM transmission systems interface with PCM systems without adding appreciable delay and without requiring additional buffering. Advantageously, new voice paths can be established most of the time by using available slots in the cells of existing virtual paths.

Abstract: Customers that have groups of stations served from multiple digital switching systems, which frequently include mixtures of PBXs and Centrex, require capabilities that will allow those station groups to operate as one global group. This invention permits customer station groups, including PBXs and Centrexes interconnected by private facilities or by the public switched telephone network (including long distance carriers), to act as a single entity that supports integrated voice and data communications. Advantageously, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) Primary Rate Interface (PRI) facilities are used to carry the communications and signaling to and from the PBXs.

Abstract: This invention relates to a universal authenticator for use with an ordinary telephone station over an ordinary telephone line. The authenticator, which is the size and shape of a credit card, receives a query number by being held against the receiver of the telephone station and receiving audio signals in a receiver. Using its own key, it transforms the received query number into an individualized response number which it transmits via its speaker when the authenticator is held against the microphone of the telephone station.

Abstract: An arrangement for selectively routing traffic to alternate destinations. If the network or switch for accessing the primary destination is inaccessible (i.e., out of service), as opposed to simply being busy, calls are routed to an alternate destination; however, if the primary destination is simply busy, calls are not routed to any alternate destination. This is useful, for example, for emergency (E911) calls which are routed to alternate emergency bureaus only if the network or switch for accessing the home bureau is out of service. Alternatively, the tandem switch can select an alternate toll carrier on the basis of allocation of traffic to different alternate toll carriers. The same general kind of arrangement can be used to route calls to an alternate toll carrier if the preferred toll carrier selected by the customer is not accessible.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing cellular mobile telecommunication service in accordance with the requirements of the Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard. A modular switching system is provided which performs the functions of the mobile switching center plus those of a home location register, authentication center, visitor location register, and equipment identity register. The latter functions are advantageously spread among the modules of the switching system, thus avoiding the getting started cost of expensive dedicated data bases. A wireless global switching module advantageously switches mobile communications control messages among the modules of the system and between the modules and the base station systems, and terminates signaling links between the mobile switching center and the base station systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering operator supplied information into a telephone operator assistance system. An operator interfaces with the system via an operator position having a terminal that includes a keyboard and a video display monitor. The operator operates a macro key, which is equivalent to operating a predefined string of keystrokes. The operator then keys data specific to a particular call, which data is interpolated into a predefined position within the string.

Abstract: An expanded telemetry feature protocol allowing the provision of additional transport capabilities: 1) switch alert of CPE or voice equipment, 2) activation of other switch capabilities, 3) a barge-in capability, and 4) a broadcast capability. A telemetry function identification is included in the protocol to define a plurality of telemetry applications. Other extensions to the protocol allow sequential broadcast of voice or data to a list of destinations, operation with an analog display station interface (ADSI) station, and subaddressing to specify particular destinations.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) service from a mixture of local and remote agents. The remote agents are connected via a voice connection to the home switch of the ACD and voice data connection to a Home Agent Server (HAS). The HAS passes call event data to a Management Information System (MIS) of the ACD, which informs the ACD switch of call events that make a remote agent available or unavailable, and passes applications data to a host processor for serving the applications of the ACD. Advantageously, ACD service can be provided efficiently and economically from a remote server.

Abstract: A connecting block is used to connect a single 10 base T cable to two separate devices such as computer terminals or personal computers. The connecting block allows a single cable arranged to transfer signals for a single computer terminal or personal computer to two such devices by separating the signals in the cable into two sets of the four signals required to carry signals to such devices. Advantageously, the building wiring for 10 base T networks can have its capacity essentially doubled without performing any rewiring or adding electronic equipment.

Abstract: Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) signal streams are converted into Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells for switching and transmission across a telecommunications network. Each cell carries one PCM sample of up to 48 different voice connections, the voice connections being selected from the PCM data streams because they have a common destination. The cells are transmitted over ATM virtual paths, each path transmitting one cell every 125 .mu.s. The ATM signals are switched by units for switching cells (cell switching), while keeping their payload contents intact, and by units for switching the signals for individual voice connections between cells of an ATM signal (cell remapping). Advantageously, ATM transmission systems interface with PCM systems without adding appreciable delay and without requiring additional buffering. Advantageously, new voice paths can be established most of the time by using available slots in the cells of existing virtual paths.

Abstract: An alarm system is described wherein both an open connection between an alarm monitor and an alarmed unit or a short circuit across the connection between the monitor and the unit can be detected. A controllable, normally open test device is placed in parallel with a normally open alarm contact. If current flows when the test device is open, either a short circuit or an alarm condition exists. If current does not flow when the test device is closed, an open connection between the monitor and the unit exists. Advantageously, the integrity of connections between alarm monitors and alarmed units is enhanced.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving the performance of intelligent networks. In a departure from the prior art, when a data base system, such as a service control point, receives an inquiry from a switching system, if the data base system recognizes that it cannot provide the complete data requested by the inquiry, it directly launches another inquiry to another data base system to provide the missing data. Advantageously, such an arrangement reduces the number of messages transmitted among switching systems and data base systems.

Abstract: This invention relates to the minimizing of call set-up time for calls requiring the use of service circuits provided from a separate switching system, such as a service circuit node (SCN). Groups of semi-permanent circuits through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) are allocated to each of the switching systems served by the SCN. Thus, whenever a switching system has a call that requires the use of a service circuit housed in the SCN, the connection is already established. Traffic is controlled by limiting in the size of the semi-permanent circuit groups, but these groups can be made larger or smaller, up to some overall total for the SCN, as traffic to each switching system changes. Advantageously, this arrangement permits efficient use of a large group of service circuits at the SCN, while minimizing the total call set-up time.

Abstract: A method of establishing a telecommunications call connection in a cellular wireless system. If a mobile station is near the border between areas served by two mobile switching center (MSCs) then the mobile is paged from appropriate base stations of one of the MSCs while the other MSC is alerted to listen for page responses from the paged mobile station. Advantageously, the number of paging orders is substantially reduced thus increasing the call handling capacity of the base station systems. The second MSC is initialized to be prepared to process a page response from the mobile station being paged from the base stations of the first MSC. Advantageously, this permits straightforward recognition of a valid paging response and a record of the call with which that response is associated.

Abstract: In accordance with the principles of this invention, Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) signal streams are converted into Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells for switching and transmission across a telecommunications network. Each cell carries one PCM sample of up to 48 different voice connections, the voice connections selected from the PCM data streams because they have a common destination. The cells are transmitted over ATM virtual circuits, each circuit transmitting one cell every 125 .mu.s. Advantageously, ATM transmission systems interface with PCM systems without adding appreciable delay and without requiring additional buffering. Advantageously, new voice paths can be established most of the time by using available slots in the cells of existing virtual paths. This application relates to the use of the principles of this invention for implementing a large switching system or a cluster of highly interconnected smaller systems.

Abstract: This invention relates to arrangements for simplifying the transfer of a source of telecommunications signals, such as a telecommunications customer line or telecommunications trunk, from a first port of a switching system to a second port of that same switching system. Such a transfer requires a transfer of a connection in the outside plant, usually in a manhole, and establishment of a connection from the outside plant to the second port, usually in a distributing frame of the switching system. Translation data is stored for the second port to indicate availability of the second port for assignment to a customer, and, in one embodiment of the invention, to identify the customer to be connected to that second port. In accordance with that embodiment of the invention, the customer line to the first port is tested in the manhole to verify the identity of that customer; the line to the second port is tested to see if the translation data for that second port comprises the same customer identification.

Abstract: In a master/slave multiprocessor system, process execution tasks are allocated on the basis of anticipated execution time. Work which can be performed by either the master or the slave is entered on a double ended queue in a non-descending order of anticipated execution times. Processes having high anticipated execution times are selected for execution by the slave processor and processes having low anticipated execution times are selected for execution by the master processor. Anticipated holding times are computed on the basis of the time spent by the slave computer in the execution of a segment of a process without requiring interaction with the master processor. The slave processor records the time spent in execution each time a segment of the process is completed and the process has to be returned to the master. The master uses the recorded time as a measure of the anticipated execution time for a next segment of the same process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for offering wireless telecommunication service. Pairs of the transceivers of a wireless cell site are directly interconnected. When a request for service is received, a controller allocates a pair of the transceivers to handle the call. If the call is to the public switched telephone network, an unconnected transceiver is connected to a switching system, such as a toll switch, and a protocol converter converts between call control messages to and from the cell site and call control messages to and from the toll switch. If the cell site has directional antennas, a pair of transceivers connected to the directional antennas for serving the calling and called stations is selected; transceivers connected to an omni-directional antenna can be used for overflow traffic and for traffic between the toll office and the cell site.

Abstract: An improved call waiting arrangement where a caller is free to exercise discretion in interrupting ongoing telephone calls because the caller is prompted, for example via an audible announcement, that the called party is busy on another call but that the caller may request interruption of the call by remaining off-hook. If the caller believes that his call is sufficiently important, he requests call interruption by remaining off-hook. If the caller chooses not to interrupt, he may make subsequent call attempts promptly because he knows that the called party is busy on another call rather than being away from home. Alternatively, the caller may activate auto-callback such that a call is completed between the two parties as soon as the status of the called station returns to on-hook.