Abstract: A signal band width limiter is provided in a telecommunication path that includes a leased unbundled subscriber line. The limiter may be a low pass frequency filter having a band pass range set to the frequencies corresponding to subscribed services. If only POTS service is offered, the filter has a passband range for passing only telephone service signals in a POTS analog frequency range. For ISDN service, the filter has a passband range for passing only telephone service signals within a frequency range prescribed for ISDN. For higher speed data services, such as HDSL and ADSL, filters with appropriate pass bands, up to complete pass through, are provided in the subscriber communication path. As the subscribed service is changed, replacement by the appropriate passband filter readily can be made.

Abstract: To eliminate interference with digital broadband service created by bridge tapped connections in local loop distribution cables, a switch is associated with each broadband customer drop cable connection in the terminals along the length of each distribution cable. In one position, a switch connects the upstream portion of a metallic circuit to the downstream portion of the circuit. The switch also may connect the metallic circuit to an associated one of the connectors. This bridge tapped connection enables use of the metallic circuit for a subscriber drop connection through a downstream terminal. In a second position, a switch connects the upstream portion of the metallic circuit only to the connector associated with the switch in the local terminal. A drop cable for broadband service runs from the connector in the local terminal to a nearby subscriber premises.

Abstract: A mobile audio program selection system includes a radio frequency based information distribution system having mobile users. The distribution system includes a mobile switching office selectively connecting the mobile users of the information distribution system, and information service providers. At least one of the information service providers receives user selection signal inputs received by the mobile switching office, and transmits user selected information to the mobile switching office. In addition, the distribution system includes at least one mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a receiver receiving the user selected information from the at least one of the information service providers via the mobile switching office.

Abstract: A telecommunications system wherein the dialing of a directory number which has been ported triggers an intelligent network signal which is directed to the Internet. The signal is transmitted through the Internet to a database in the Internet. The database returns call set up directions which are used by the originating switching system to establish a voice link from the calling station to the station having the ported number. The intelligent network signal may be transmitted from the originating switching system to a signal transfer point (STP) and to the Internet. Within the Internet the signal is directed to an Internet database where a real number for the ported number is obtained. This is transmitted back to the signal switching point, which then uses the real number to complete the connection. In another embodiment, where a number has been ported to a station that is connected only to the Internet, the Internet database may provide a domain name address.

Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring operations of advanced intelligent network (AIN) elements of a public switched telephone network by transporting standardized network management messages across a data network. A maintenance and operations console (MOC) sends and receives Simplified Network Management Protocol (SNMP) objects from AIN elements such as an Intelligent Peripheral (IP) via a packet switched network using a standardized transport protocol such as TCP/IP. The IP includes an error monitoring system that collects error messages and generates an error status report. An SNMP agent internal to the IP converts the error status report to SNMP objects outputs the SNMP objects onto the packet switched network. The MOC receives the SNMP objects, assigns an operational priority to the SNMP objects, and displays the operational priority of the received SNMP objects based on object relationships identified by a Management Information Base (MIB).

Abstract: A telecommunications system wherein the dialing of a directory number which has been forwarded triggers an intelligent network signal which is directed to the Internet. The signal is transmitted through the Internet to a database in the Internet. The database returns call set up directions which are used by the originating switching system to establish a voice link from the calling station to the station having the forwarded number. The intelligent network signal may be transmitted from the terminating switching system to a signal transfer point (STP) and to the Internet. Within the Internet the signal is directed to an Internet database where a forwarding number for the forwarded number is obtained. This is transmitted back to the signal switching point, which then uses the forwarding number to complete the connection. In another embodiment, where a number has been forwarded to a station that is connected only to the Internet, the Internet database may provide a domain name address.

Abstract: The Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) wireline system connects to and controls processing of calls to a Personal Communication Service subscriber's wireless handset via a home base station or a wireless communication network. Depending on its current location, the subscriber's handset automatically registers with the base station or with a mobility controller of the wireless network. A new registration with the base station when the handset comes within range causes that station to update the subscriber's home location register in a central data base of the AIN. Similarly, when a handset first registers with a mobility controller, that controller updates the subscriber's home location register in the central data base of the AIN. In response to calls directed to the subscriber, the AIN accesses the home location register to determine the current location where the handset is registered. The AIN then uses that data to route the call to the current location.

Abstract: A communications network having a plurality of distributed offices includes a test center at a central location for testing line and/or trunk circuits (`links`) throughout the communication network. The links are selectively coupled to a maintenance port of a selected office and are backhauled from the maintenance port to the test center via a shared network serving a plurality of offices of the communications network. The shared backhaul network may use optical fibers connecting the offices to the test center or a SONET fiber optic ring. The test center includes a switch and test devices, such as digital test devices, optical test devices and protocol analyzers. The test center includes or is in communication with a central controller and one or more associated maintenance and operation consoles (MOCs).

Abstract: Within a desired service area, multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcast the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate substantially throughout the service area and overlap in a substantial portion of the area. The signals are broadcast as spread spectrum signals and the receivers include despreaders with rake capabilities to obtain enhanced output signals with multi-path reception. In the preferred implementation, the channels are 6 MHz wide channels broadcast in the super high frequency microwave portion of the spectrum. Each such channel carries a multiplexed digital data stream containing packets of information for a plurality of programs, e.g., television programs.

Abstract: A switch in an optical network unit selectively couples line side ports of the line cards of the unit to individual line circuits in drop cable wiring extending to the customer premises served by the unit. The switchable optical network unit (SONU) permits rapid automated upgrades of service. For example, automatic switching of a line circuit to a line card offering an upgraded service together with automatic provisioning of the SONU to activate service through that line card provides the new upgraded service over the existing line circuit, without requiring a technician to install a new line card or manually connect the line card to the line circuit. If the drop cable to the customer premises includes a primary line circuit and an auxiliary line circuit, the line port can be switched over from the primary line circuit to the auxiliary line circuit to automatically restore service in the event of a failure of the primary line circuit.

Abstract: A telephone communications system Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) platform provides a voice activated call dialing functionality through speaker independent phoneme speech recognition having a minimum volume of storage without requiring user template training. Speaker independent phoneme recognition identifies phoneme strings of caller spoken utterances which are then compared to phoneme string representations that previously have been stored in respective caller processing records (CPRs) for those subscribers listed in the ISCP database, or stored in an equivalent peripheral database with which the ISCP can communicate. Each stored phoneme string representation is associated in the CPR with a destination telephone number that may then be extracted to route a call.

Abstract: Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) platforms include data bases populated with information pertaining to all phone numbers within a communications network. A large number of telephone numbers may concurrently be prespecified in a data base by a subscriber, together with alternate telephone number destinations corresponding to different locations, for redirection. Redirection set up for all of the subscriber's lines is accomplished by a single data entry operation into the data base in accordance with a template or table of designations customized by the subscriber. Redirection information may be transmitted to the AIN data base via a telecommunication line and an adjunct processing device associated with the AIN data base, using a terminal interface or dialed digit inputs; or the redirection information may be entered by interaction with a network switching office which sends the information to the data base via the network's signalling channels.

Abstract: A telephone network provides personalized communication services based on a voice identification of the subscriber. When a person requests a service, the network executes a speaker identification/verification procedure to identify the person as a subscriber. A switching office utilizes profile data associated with the identified subscriber to control services over a predetermined communication link. For example, on an outgoing call over a telephone line, the speaker identification/verification process provides a virtual office equipment number corresponding the identified subscriber. The central office switch servicing the outgoing call receives the virtual office equipment number and uses that number to retrieve a service profile associated with the subscriber. The switch provides a personalized form of "dial tone" like service to the subscriber by processing the outgoing call using the profile. The personalized services to several subscribers sharing a common line.

Abstract: Set-top terminals utilized in broadband broadcast networks are becoming increasingly intelligent (programmable). However, transmitting executable code, data and interactive audio/video materials through a selectively dedicated link requires an extensive, broadband point-to-point broadband network, which is prohibitively expensive to implement for large numbers of customers. The present invention provides for downloading application software and transmitting audio/video information through one channel of a digital broadcast network. The network also provides two-way, low-speed data communications capacity, e.g. for signaling and/or interactive text services. Signaling via data communication with a text server controls downloading of executable code from the digital broadcast channel into a programmable digital set-top terminal. Execution of the downloaded code in turn controls selective capture and presentation of audio and video segments received over one of the digital broadcast channels.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for selectively executing a resident terminal application and an information provider-specific application stored in a digital entertainment terminal adapted to decode broadband data signals from a video dial tone network. The digital entertainment terminal stores the resident terminal application related to native operations including network communications in a nonvolatile memory, and stores the information provider-specific applications used for accessing the information provider's services in a dynamic memory. The digital entertainment terminal is adapted to suspend execution of one of the resident application and the information provider-specific application and begin execution of the other application in response to a toggle input from a user's remote control, and resume execution of the suspended application in response to a second toggle input from the user's remote control.

Abstract: An arrangement (apparatus and method) for detecting jitter caused during transport of digitally-coded information, such as MPEG-encoded data packets, and for correcting time stamp reference values in accordance with the detected jitter. The disclosed arrangement detects program clock reference (PCR) values from an MPEG-encoded transport stream, where each PCR value represents an expected arrival time of a corresponding stream segment. An actual arrival time for the corresponding stream segment is determined in response to detection of the corresponding PCR value and an independent clock signal. The expected arrival time of the stream segment and the actual arrival time are correlated with an accumulation of expected and actual arrival times of previously-received data packet stream segments in order to determine the jitter and the desired expected arrival time of the corresponding stream segment.

Abstract: A method, system, and product for communicating data text messages, such as E-Mail, between computers connected to a network while providing selectable degrees of security for each message. The methodology comprises the procedure of creating in the originating computer a data message having a header which specifies, in addition to the address of the intended recipient computer, one or more security parameters which control the processing of the data message in the recipient computer. The security parameters include instructions for erasure of the data message following its storage in the recipient computer. The security parameters also include instructions as to whether or not copying, archiving, forwarding and printing of the data message is permitted. The recipient computer processes the data message in accord with the instructions. The erasure is of such a nature as to render the data message irretrievable following erasure.

Abstract: A web page type interface is provided, which enables subscriber access to control and reporting functionalities of a communication network, such as the advanced intelligent telephone network, via a public packet data network, typically the network now commonly known as the Internet. The web page based Internet access opens the personal control of services provided by the communication network to any subscriber who also uses the Internet, for example using the subscriber's existing PC and browser software or their Web-TV terminal. A secure access platform provides the interface and communicates via a private data network with various systems used to manage the communication network. The secure access platform includes a firewall coupled between the public data network and the private data network. The firewall implements the web page interface and validates certain users of the public data network as subscribers to services of the communication network.

Abstract: In an administration system for a public switched telephone network, a method of provisioning and maintaining the working status of customer network facilities is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a service request from a customer at a living unit requesting service, and determining whether the service request from the living unit is eligible for processing by the adjunct processor. When the service request is eligible, the method automatically provisions customer equipment to execute the service request based upon information including customer identification data and customer facilities. The information is generally maintained without altering the customer facilities when a subsequent disconnect request is received from the customer.

Abstract: The present invention uses capabilities of the advanced intelligent network (AIN) to control an authentication process of caller ID information data generated at a calling PBX system. The central office switching facility associated with the calling PBX system identifies calls therefrom that contain caller ID numbers that are not the PBX assigned telephone number. For such calls, the switching facility invokes triggers through the AIN common channel signaling network to access data base information in an Integrated Service Control Point (ISCP) and/or system LIDB for authenticating and controllably transmitting caller ID information. Unauthenticated information may be blocked or transmitted with notice that the information has not been authenticated.