Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for processing data records from a telephone data repository to a receiving system having a message queue and a response queue. The method for processing data records comprising the steps of reading a response from the response queue and whenever the response is successfully read, processing the response. This step is then repeated until there are no more responses to be read. Next, a data record is retrieved from the telephone data repository and whenever the data record is successfully retrieved, the data record is formated into a message and putting the message in the message queue. This step is then repeated until a specified number of data records have been retrieved or there are no more data records to be retrieved.

Abstract: A contract system automates negotiation and generation of contract documents by managing the work flow in a contract approval process. Multiple users, coupled by a computer network, access a contract database containing multiple contracts with multiple contract components therein. The system manages communications and security between a client system and the contract database. A client applet facilitates user input at the client system and assists in a standardization of legal phrasing and contract negotiation. The client applet enforces business rules to qualify a contract for expedited approval. Generalized templates are employed to enable rapid prototyping and creation of new contracts. A method governs the automated contract negotiation and generation process within a business organization with assistance from a graphical user interface.

Abstract: An improved network restoration system is provided that generates restoration plans responsive to topology changes in the network. The improved network restoration system detects when a topology change occurs in the network and then uses the most up-to-date topology information to regenerate only those restoration plans that are affected by the topology change. By regenerating the affected restoration plans responsive to topology changes instead of continually regenerating all plans like in conventional systems, the improved network restoration system saves significant processing time. Additionally, regenerating the affected restoration plans responsive to topology changes ensures that the restoration plans are always valid and reflect the most up-to-date topology information for the network. When detecting that a topology change has occurred, the improved network restoration system applies a user-defined threshold to determine whether the restoration plans should be regenerated.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring network elements. A routing network enables one or more controllers to connect to any network element within a service provider's network via craft interface ports. The controllers are controlled by the service provider and configure network elements according to data in a service provider database.

Abstract: An optical telecommunications system node terminates a plurality of optical cable routes. Each of the optical cable routes includes a traffic route and a restoration route. The node includes a plurality of traffic wavelength division multiplexers and a plurality of restoration wavelength division multiplexers. A traffic wavelength division multiplexer is connected to each traffic route and a restoration wavelength division multiplexer is connected to each restoration route. The node includes a plurality of optical cross connect layers. Each optical cross connect layer includes a connection to each of the traffic wavelength division multiplexers and to each of the restoration wavelength division multiplexers.

Abstract: A method of and system for providing selective trunk group member termination service in a network of telecommunications switches. Each trunk group at a terminating switch that requires selective trunk member termination is identified by a terminating member trunk group parameter. A data access point (DAP) that is accessible by the switches of the network to provide call routing and number translation services identifies a set of trunk group members selected for selective trunk group member termination by means of a trunk group member range parameter. When a call is received at an originating switch of the network, the originating switch queries the DAP and the DAP returns call routing information. If the call requires selective trunk member termination, the call routing information includes the trunk group member range parameter.

Abstract: A system and method for creating customizable views of a database so that database users may view and update tables in a manner that requires no knowledge of the underlying database schema or of the database commands. The system includes a view database and a view/update utility. The view database includes database tables for associating a relational table with a particular view and for associating one or more fields of the relational table with the view. The view/update utility utilizes the view database in performing the processes of creating, displaying, and updating views.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a telecommunications network. The system and method employs a network management architecture that provides an overlay in which network management functions are performed. The network management architecture includes a workstation function that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for a user to interact with an object model of the physical telecommunications network, a telecommunications network management subsystem that provides an object model of the network including object models of network equipment and connectivity between the equipment, a database subsystem that stores "current" and "future" views of the network, and an object request broker that translates objects from a first object-oriented paradigm to a second object-oriented paradigm for use by the GUI. The network management architecture facilitates network design by determining network performance metrics.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the robustness of an optical ring network having a plurality of ring nodes. Optical data traffic is transmitted between a plurality of ring nodes via optical links. A first optical cross connect switch and a second optical cross connect switch are coupled to an alternate network. The first optical cross connect switch is coupled to a first ring node. The second optical cross connect switch is coupled to a second ring node. When a failure is detected in the first optical link, then the first optical cross connect switch couples the first ring node to an alternate path of the alternate network, and the second optical cross connect switch couples the second ring node to the alternate path, such that optical data traffic is transmitted between the first ring node and the second ring node via the alternate path.

Abstract: An improved network restoration system is provided that determines when a transitory condition, like a jeopardy situation, occurs that will likely affect network traffic. Upon making such a determination, the improved network restoration system regenerates the plans affected by the transitory condition using the most up-to-date topology information. As a result, the improved network restoration system performs preplanning for a transitory condition so that when a network failure occurs due to the transitory condition, network restoration occurs quickly. Furthermore, by regenerating the plans using the most up-to-date topology information, this network restoration is ensured to succeed.

Abstract: Delays are calculated for one or more virtual connections within a frame relay network. The delays may be calculated at periodic intervals for each virtual connection within the frame relay network so as to provide updated information about delays among the virtual connections. Each delay is calculated by sending a special delay measurement frame from an originating switch to a destination switch. The destination switch receives the frame and returns the frame to the originating switch. The time difference between when the frame was sent from the originating switch to when the frame is received back at the originating switch is calculated and designated as the delay value. A timestamp may be affixed to the frame to specify the time at which the frame is initially sent from the originating switch.

Abstract: A method and system for augmenting a communications network with spare components to efficiently re-route network traffic following a failure of one or more network components. The provisioning system of the present invention identifies components that are not configured into the communications network, but that could be configured into the communications network. The provisioning system identifies restoral routes to bypass a failed network component assuming that each of the identified components were configured into the network. The restoral routes are identified based on cost assigned to the identified components and the component currently configured into the network. The provisioning system then selects those identified components that are frequently used in the restoral routes to be configured into the communications network.

Abstract: A system and method for managing network resources using distributed intelligence and state management is described. Individual entities are defined for each managed network resource. A plurality of entities in one or more levels of a network management system are organized based upon association and containment relationships. Each of the individual entities has an associated state value. State changes are propagated between the individual entities through state change notifications. Upon receipt of a state change notification, an entity determines whether its own state is affected. An entity can also initiate actions to improve its state.

Abstract: A path verification message is integrated into a signal, or data stream, that traverses along a path connecting two end nodes of a distributed restoration network within a telecommunications network. To ensure that the integrated path verification message is transparent to equipment positioned along the path, the time period between the successive time intervals whereat the signal is probed by the nodes and the equipment is provisioned to have a predefined portion during which the value of at least one bit of each frame of the signal can be varied. The path verification message is subdivided into a number of parts so that successive parts are integrated into successive predefined portions of corresponding successive time periods. Upon receipt of the requisite successive time periods, the various parts of the path verification message are recombined to form the path verification message.

Abstract: A method of and a system for performing computer simulations to determine a number of blocked calls resulting from cutting selected spans in a telecommunications network with selected levels of overtrunking to determine a level of overtrunking necessary to make the number of block calls resulting from a cut span less than a blocked call threshold. The method forms a capacity demand matrix based on a selected level of overtrunking. The capacity demand matrix reflects a circuit capacity between each pair of origination nodes and destination nodes of the network prior to a cut span. The method forms updated capacity demand matrices that reflect the circuit capacity between each pair of origination nodes and destination nodes of the network after a cut span with various levels restoration. The method runs a call simulation program with data from the updated capacity demand matrices to determine the number of blocked calls resulting from said cut span.

Abstract: A virtual bearer channel platform includes a plurality of transaction processing units. Each transaction processing unit processes one or more service requests received as a call on a bearer channel. The call data is distributed to individual transaction processing units using a high-speed shared network such as a SONET-type network. In one embodiment, the standard SONET format is modified to eliminate fields which contain data of no significance to the present environment. In another embodiment, the standard SONET format, itself, is used. The platform includes a resource manager for allocating the newly received calls to individual transaction processing units. The resource manager sets up outbound calls when requested by a transaction processing unit. A gateway interfaces with the resource manager and the external communication network for assisting in call setup in both inbound and outbound directions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for testing a telephone data interface system. The telephone data interface is tested by reading one or more data records, connecting to the telephone data interface system, connecting the telephone data interface system to a external system emulator, sending one or more messages using the one or more data records to the telephone data interface system, formatting the one or more data records into one or more formatted messages that are compatible with the external system emulator, sending the one or more formatted messages to the external system emulator, and processing the one or more formatted messages. The present invention also provides a testing system comprising a test data source, a telephone data interface, an external system emulator, a first communications link connecting the test data source to the telephone data interface system, and a second communications link connecting the telephone data interface system to the external system emulator.

Abstract: A parking manager manages calls to be parked and parking resources on one or more parking platforms, and can be used in a system that combines the functionalities of call parking and intelligent call routing. The parking manager provides management of parking resources and complete control of the call throughout the entire duration of the call. The parking manager makes a common pool of parking resources available to all customers, and thus increases the availability of parking resources at call center ACDs and other customer premise equipment.

Abstract: In a restoration network including a distributed restoration algorithm (DRA) enabled network of a telecommunications network, path verification messages are embedded onto traffic bearing signals entering the network and removed from the signals leaving the network. By adding path verification messages to the signals that traverse within the DRA enabled network, the integrity of any communications path that interconnects the various nodes within the restoration network are confirmed. Further, by removing the path verification messages from the signals leaving the restoration network, equipment outside the restoration network are spared of any possibility that their operations may be affected by the path verification messages.

Abstract: Dense wavelength division multiplexing within a 1310 nm band is accomplished over a single mode fiber. Carrier wavelengths are selected from within two windows, a low subband and/or a high subband, on either side of a guardband. The guardband includes the zero dispersion wavelength .lambda..sub.0 of a single-mode fiber in the optical communication link and separates low subband and high subband within the 1310 nm band. Dispersion compensation is provided for carrier signals in each dense WDM channel in the low and high subbands.