Abstract: A distributed network switching system includes a data network. The system also includes multiple access interworking function (A-IWF) devices each operating as a gateway that enables customer premises devices to directly interface into the data network. The system further includes a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device that performs call control functions and administrative functions and is adapted to interface narrowband and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the data network.

Abstract: An interactive voice response system that allows a caller to perform a series of sequential tasks based on an instruction set. The caller is queried after each instruction to ensure that the caller has successfully completed all of the steps. Additionally, provisions are provided to automatically pause the instruction set and present reminders to the caller. Further the caller may elect to repeat instructions, back up the instruction set, receive additional details, transfer to a service representative, or receive summary information.

Abstract: A method for location-based communications routing includes determining a location of a requesting party in accordance with an originating communications address of the requesting party. The method also includes determining whether the location of the requesting party is in a first subscriber service area and, when the location of the requesting party is not in the first subscriber service area, determining whether the location of the requesting party is in a second expanded subscriber service area larger than and including the first subscriber service area. When the location of the requesting party is determined to be in the first subscriber service area, a communication from the requesting party is forwarded to a routing communications address associated with the first subscriber service area.

Abstract: The present invention is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) based system and method that allows a subscriber connected to the Internet via a dial-up connection to receive caller identification information concerning an incoming telephone call. The information may be provided via a pop-up dialog box on the subscriber's display, which includes but is not limited to a monitor of a personal computer (PC). The information displayed to the subscriber includes the name and number of the calling party, if available. In addition, several disposition options are presented to the subscriber solely via the Internet which, upon selection, determine the handling of the incoming call.

Abstract: A method and system for routing a communication through an alternate carrier. The A method includes recognizing an input number upon which a call is based, assigning primary, alternate and secondary interexchange carriers responsive to the recognizing, and sequentially routing an input number from a node among primary, alternate, and secondary carriers until a connection is established.

Abstract: Location-based communications routing includes determining whether a network apparatus which receives a communication, from a calling party attempting to contact a service corresponding to at least one predefined service area, provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area. When the network apparatus provides service to multiple of the predefined service areas, the location-based communications routing includes determining whether the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area. When the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area, the location-based communications routing includes determining which predefined service area the calling party is in. The communication is routed based upon determining whether the network apparatus provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area.

Abstract: Virtual circuits are dynamically established in a telecommunications network. A cache duration is adaptively determined based on at least one characteristic of the telecommunications network. A virtual circuit is established for a connection between a source and a destination. The virtual circuit is cached when the connection between the source and the destination terminates. The cached virtual circuit is reused when a new connection request occurs during the cache duration. The cached virtual circuit is released after the cache duration when no new connection request occurs during the cache duration.

Abstract: A communication network element determines a service provider's routing preference for routing communications and routes these communications from an originating connection address to a destination connection address over a network. The communication network element includes a receiver configured to receive a signal, which comprises the originating connection address and the destination connection address. The communication network element also includes a processor that determines the service provider associated with at least one of the originating connection address and the destination connection address of the received signal. The processor also determines the routing preference associated with the service provider using routing data.

Abstract: A method and system include routing telephone calls from multiple private networks via public lines and trunks in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to a host switch, at which the connections would begin to run parallel. The host switch routes the telephone calls via a private trunk group to a private facility, such as an electronic tandem network (ETN) node or an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch. If the private trunk group is full or unavailable, the host switch routes the telephone calls over alternate private or public trunk groups and selected carriers.

Abstract: A provisioning server implements a telephony service associated with a user, in which calls involving a directory number of the user are processed in accordance with the telephony service and customized call service data. The provisioning server interfaces a call processor with a web server and an interactive voice response (IVR) platform. The provisioning server includes a first interface for receiving the customized call service data from the web server, and a second interface for receiving at least portion of the customized call service data from the IVR platform. The provisioning server also includes a third interface for sending the customized call service data to be stored in a database accessible to the call processor. An instruction is received over the first interface or the second interface to activate the telephony service, in accordance with the customized call service data, via one of the web server and the IVR platform.

Abstract: An adaptive SVC caching method and system are provided to offload the high processing capacity burden of ATM switches. After an SVC is established in a usual way for a call, it is not torn down after the conversation ends. Instead, the SVC is kept alive for a variable duration (i.e., delayed release) with the expectation that there will be another call request for the same terminating end office during that time. The caching duration is adaptively changed with call arrival rate and call setup delay in the ATM network in order to stay within a delay budget specified by the requirements.

Abstract: A method for location-based communications routing includes determining a location of a requesting party in accordance with an originating communications address of the requesting party. The method also includes determining whether the location of the requesting party is in a first subscriber service area and, when the location of the requesting party is not in the first subscriber service area, determining whether the location of the requesting party is in a second expanded subscriber service area larger than and including the first subscriber service area. When the location of the requesting party is determined to be in the first subscriber service area, a communication from the requesting party is forwarded to a routing communications address associated with the first subscriber service area.

Abstract: A system and method include implementing and accessing a subscriber's telecommunications services, using a graphical user interface (GUI) via the Internet, and an interactive voice response (IVR) system via the public switched telecommunications network (PSTN). The system and method enable a subscriber to review, schedule and modify call forwarding information stored and implemented by a service control point (SCP) through a common server from any dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) telephone and IVR system via the PSTN or any GUI and Web client via the Internet. The subscriber is able to build and edit call forwarding data, such as a scheduler and priority and rejection screening lists, by the GUI via the Internet for subsequent implementation.

Abstract: A telecommunications system determines a telecommunications service provider's routing preference for routing a call for a subscriber. The telecommunications system includes a storage that stores call routing data and a call routing service application for determining the routing preference using the call routing data. The call routing data includes an indicator that indicates when the subscriber subscribes to resold local switching services and when the subscriber subscribes to unbundled local switching services. The telecommunications system also includes a processor that executes the call routing service application, and that generates call routing instructions for routing the call according to the determined routing preference.

Abstract: A system for providing telecommunications equipment information and customer information that includes a display and a processor. The display displays a graphical user interface that allows a user to access the equipment information and the customer information. The graphical user interface includes at least one input area that allows a user to input search criteria, related to at least one of equipment data and customer data, to initiate a search. The graphical user interface also includes at least one results area that displays a result of the search, the result including at least one of the equipment information and the customer information related to the search criteria. The processor implements the search for at least one of the equipment information and the customer information in response to the input search criteria.

Abstract: Location-based communications routing includes determining whether a network apparatus which receives a communication, from a calling party attempting to contact a service corresponding to at least one predefined service area, provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area. When the network apparatus provides service to multiple of the predefined service areas, the location-based communications routing includes determining whether the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area. When the calling party is in one of the at least one predefined service area, the location-based communications routing includes determining which predefined service area the calling party is in. The communication is routed based upon determining whether the network apparatus provides service to at least one of the at least one predefined service area.

Abstract: Outgoing call log data associated with a call from a subscriber's terminal is provided by a system including a switch, which receives the call from the subscriber's terminal and launches a query in response to the call, and a service controller, which receives the query and forwards call data to an interface server in response to the query. The switch continues to process the telephone call after querying the service controller. The interface server obtains additional information from a directory database based on at least the received call data. An outgoing call log database receives and stores the call data and the additional information from the interface server as the outgoing call log data. A web server retrieves the outgoing call log data from the outgoing call log database, in response to a query from a web client, and displays the outgoing call log data at the web client.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing and surviving failures in a voice trunking over ATM (VTOA) environment includes an ATM network having a plurality of interconnected ATM switches. The VTOA system also includes a CS-IWF complex having a plurality of interconnected CS-IWF units, each unit having a plurality of processors. An end office building may also be provided for interaction with the VTOA system. The end office building includes multiple T-IWFs, and a switch that distributes calls among the T-IWFs in a load sharing manner. Each T-IWF has a plurality of processors and is part of the VTOA system. A switch management system is also provided in the VTOA system. In order to reduce and survive failures, the switch management system includes a plurality of switch management system units. At least one of the switch management system units is a backup unit for at least one primary switch management system unit. Each switch management system unit provides application redundancy within itself.

Abstract: A network node sets up a virtual connection in a network based on a virtual connection request initiated from an access port different from a first location previously associated with an account of a user. The network node includes a receiver for receiving a signaling message from the access port requesting the virtual connection. The signaling message has at least one field modified to include an address of the access port. The network node further includes a profile database and a registration server. The profile database stores a service policy associated with the user account. The registration server stores an address of the first location associated with the user account as a default registration, determines whether the user is authorized to establish the virtual connection based on the service policy, and replaces the first location address with the access port address when the user is authorized.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium are provided for defining a service area served by a service location of a telecommunications network customer. The method includes ascertaining a geographic designator of a geographic area. The geographic area includes a plurality of geographic sub-areas that each correspond to a geographic sub-designator. The method also includes determining whether any two of the plurality of geographic sub-areas are not served by the same service location. When any two of the plurality of geographic sub-areas are not served by the same service location, the service area is defined by only the sub-designators corresponding to the geographic sub-areas served by the service location. When each of the plurality of geographic sub-areas are served by the same service location, the service area is defined by the geographic designator.