Abstract: A method for measuring network performance parity includes the steps of computing a call completion ratio for at least one network provider, and determining whether the call completion ratio passes a first test. These steps may further include computing a first call completion ratio for a first network provider, a second call completion ratio for a second network provider, a difference between the first call completion ratio and the second call completion ratio, and a variance for the difference. The method also includes the step of assessing whether a second test is determinate if the call completion ratio does not pass the first test, by determining whether the variance is greater than a variance cutoff. In addition, the method includes the step of assessing whether a call completion ratio passes the second test, if the second test is determinate, by determining whether the difference is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: An efficient and effective method and system for providing to a customer an audible call notification of a current call and a subsequently received call waiting call. The present embodiments notify the customer that a current call is waiting in an effective manner that reduces confusion. Confusion is reduced by the combination of audible call waiting indicators and audible caller identification information associated with the calling telephone station. Additionally, both the indicator and the representation of the information can be provided automatically without significant delay. The indication is provided even when standard caller identification information is not available by prompting the caller to provide spoken caller identification information. The spoken caller identification information is provided to the called party along with call disposition options, such as options to accept or reject the call, route the call to voice mail or send a sales refusal message.

Abstract: A home office communication system (10) has a control and display system (16). A modem (12) is controlled by the control and display system (16) and connected to a telephone line (14). A multiplexer (18) is connected to the modem (12) and multiplexes a plurality of outgoing data streams in a predefined format and demultiplexes an incoming data stream from the modem (12). A speech encoding system (20) generates a plurality of speech packets to form one of the plurality of outgoing data streams. A telephone line control system (22) generates a plurality of control packets forming one of the plurality of outgoing data streams and an information channel (24) forms one of the plurality of outgoing data streams.

Abstract: A system and method for providing call information query stores modified call information associated with a telephone number within the local databases of a service provider's local network. The modified call information enables a service provider to unilaterally alter how calls are routed and rated. The service switching points (SSPs) located within a same local network are equipped with modified intelligent network or advanced intelligent network software that enables the local SSPs to receive remote call information resulting from a remote query performed by a remote SSP. The local SSPs analyze the remote call information and generate queries to their local databases to obtain modified call information. New services requiring modified call information can then be implemented based upon the modified call information received as a result of the queries.

Abstract: The method operates in a telecommunications network having at least one subscriber terminal corresponding to at least one subscriber at a subscriber location. The method implements a message waiting indication service for indicating the presence of a data message corresponding to the at least one subscriber in a data message platform. The method begins in step 100 by receiving the data message at the data message platform. A message waiting signal is generated as shown in step 102. The message waiting signal is transmitted to the telecommunications network as shown in step 104 and a message waiting indication signal is generated at the telecommunications network as shown in step 106. Finally, a message waiting indication signal is transmitted to the subscriber terminal in response to the message waiting signal.

Abstract: A system and method for exchanging telecommunication service information between a telecommunication service provider and a telecommunication service customer include electronically receiving a request in a predefined format to establish an interactive session with a telecommunications customer, determining whether the telecommunications customer is authorized for electronically exchanging information and continuing only if the customer is authorized, parsing the request to identify information related to at least one telecommunications service offered by the telecommunications services provider, the telecommunications service having an associated identification code, determining whether the requested telecommunication service is available in a particular location, and automatically generating information associated with the requested telecommunications service and transmitting the information using the predetermined format to the customer.

Abstract: A database for a telecommunication service includes a first record for a first number having a predetermined NXX, and a second record for a second number having the predetermined NXX. The first record includes an indication that a call having an automatic number identification associated therewith is acceptable for the first number. The second record includes an indication that a call having at least one of an automatic number identification and a calling party identification associated therewith is acceptable for the second number. Associated methods and systems for providing a telecommunication service for the predetermined NXX are disclosed.

Abstract: A system (100) and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information can not be provided, even when a subscriber to the service has per line blocking. A service control point (106) detects the directory number to which a terminating attempt trigger is assigned and places this directory number in a parameter for transmission to a service switching point (102) using a forward_call message (206). The per line blocking function does not interfere with transmission of this parameter so that the called party's directory number can be passed for processing and call completion by the system.

Abstract: A customer feedback acquisition and processing system is disclosed. Customer feedback, which may optionally include voice signals, is captured and stored in a database. The database can be searched to develop a subset of records pertaining to an area of interest. A data mining tool can then be used on the subset to identify trend(s) in the customer feedback records. The database tool assigns relevance scores to each word (“concept”) in one or more fields of the records in the subset. It then combines the concepts and develops new relevance scores for the combined concepts to identify trend(s) in the customer feedback records.

Abstract: A method and system for processing messages in a unified messaging system. In particular, the system enables legacy e-mail, voice mail and facsimile systems to be integrated with a unified messaging system. The system includes a filter or mechanism which enables the user to filter certain message attributes such as the identification of the sender, recipient or the subject header or the message type to enable messages to be processed in accordance with the recipients wishes.

Abstract: A system and method for electronically exchanging information related to telecommunication services includes separating data representing the information to be exchanged into predefined segments corresponding to telecommunication services, associating a segment identification code with each segment, and grouping each segment identification code with corresponding data. The system and method also include concatenating the segment identification codes and associated data according to a predefined sequence to form an electronic transaction and transmitting the electronic message to a telecommunications wholesaler or reseller. Preferably, the information is exchanged over a TCP/IP connection in an interactive, transaction-based exchange.

Abstract: A method of providing 911 service to a private branch exchange, includes grouping a plurality of private telephone numbers into a set. An outgoing telephone line for a 911 call is assigned to the set. A location information for the outgoing telephone line is input into a location database.

Abstract: A transaction record is received including transaction data corresponding to at least one telephone call placed by a subscriber. The transaction data is processed by a plurality of rate plans, each rate plan generating a toll amount corresponding to the telephone calls of the transaction record. The toll amounts from each of the plurality of rate plans are compared to determine a lowest toll amount. An amount x is deducted from the lowest toll amount to form a final toll amount. A billing record is generated for the subscriber based on the final toll amount.

Abstract: An efficient and effective method and system for providing to a customer an audible call notification of a current call and a subsequently received call waiting call. The present embodiments notify the customer that a current call is waiting in an effective manner that reduces confusion. Confusion is reduced by the combination of audible call waiting indicators and audible caller identification information associated with the calling telephone station. Additionally, both the indicator and the representation of the information can be provided automatically without significant delay. The indication is provided even when standard caller identification information is not available by prompting the caller to provide spoken caller identification information. The spoken caller identification information is provided to the called party along with call disposition options, such as options to accept or reject the call, route the call to voice mail or send a sales refusal message.

Abstract: A method and system for interfacing a legacy e-mail, voice mail and facsimile system into a unified messaging system. The system includes visual message notification for notifying a user of incoming messages. Visual notification may include a flashing light emitting diode and/or text messages. The text messages may include various characteristics of the waiting messages, such as identification of the sender, subject header, message type, time and date received and a like.

Abstract: A system (10) and method (40) for providing audible caller information to telephone service subscribers is presented. The system (10) includes a pre-processor (28) that converts textual caller information from a first data format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis (TTS). The pre-processor (28) can be incorporated in a service node/intelligent peripheral (SN/IP) (24) in an advanced intelligent network (AIN). In this configuration, the pre-processor (28) can be used to convert caller-ID with name database entries into a predetermined TTS format. The TTS formatted information can be provided to a TTS synthesized (30) included in the SN/IP (24). In conjunction with a switching service point (SSP) (20), the pre-processor (28) can provide a talking call-waiting feature to subscribers with significantly improved intelligibility.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving information regarding a telephony platform and for retrieving the object of the services provided by the telephony platform corresponding to the information received. The system includes a customer premises equipment having a display device and a plurality of function keys. The customer premises equipment is connected to the general switched telephone network and to a supplemental service network via a central office switch. A telephony platform is connected to the general switched telephone network for providing accessory services such as voice mail, electronic mail and facsimile services. When calls are made to the customer premises equipment, an event identifier is generated to identify the calling event. The event identifier may be attached to a message having caller identifier information. The event identifier is used if the user of the customer premises equipment does not answer and the caller is transferred to voice mail.

Abstract: Processing a call from a calling party at a calling communication station to a called communication station includes detecting signalling information for the call, including determining whether standard caller identification for the calling communication station can be provided to the called communication station and detecting a privacy level selected by a called party at the called communication station. The call is routed in response to the signalling information and the privacy level.

Abstract: The method operates in a telecommunications network having at least one subscriber terminal corresponding to at least one subscriber at a subscriber location. The method implements a message waiting indication service for indicating the presence of a data message corresponding to the at least one subscriber in a data message platform. The method begins in step 100 by receiving the data message at the data message platform. A message waiting signal is generated as shown in step 102. The message waiting signal is transmitted to the telecommunications network as shown in step 104 and a message waiting indication signal is generated at the telecommunications network as shown in step 106. Finally, a message waiting indication signal is transmitted to the subscriber terminal in response to the message waiting signal.

Abstract: A call schedule is received that includes a plurality of sample calls to be made by an automated calling station. The plurality of sample calls are automatically placed on the network using the automated calling station. At least one final billing record corresponding to the at least one completed sample call is received. The call data is processed to determine billed cost data. The billed cost data is compared to the previous cost data and a change in the rate plan is detected based on the comparison of the billed cost data to the previous cost data.