Abstract: A system and method for managing and providing customer account information within a telecommunications system include and involve a data storage system for storing a link record corresponding to a customer account managed by an account management system maintained within the telecommunications system, and a processor that is coupled to the data storage system. The processor is operative to receive a message containing a process request related to the customer account from a requesting system, to convert the message into a process object, to retrieve the link record from the data storage system in accordance with the process object, to generate a response message including the link record, and to submit the response message to the requesting system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) optical subcarrier management and reception in a communication network. In a multiple-wavelength optical communications link, ancillary signals that are conveyed by low-level intensity-modulated subcarriers are received with increased sensitivity in the subcarrier channel of the network. An increased SNR is accomplished by passing the same ancillary signal along all the carriers and by combining the received signals at a summing amplifier in the electrical domain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing a telecommunications network and isolating failures within the network first receives alarms from various nodes in the network as a result of a failure. The method selects one alarm and then retrieves topology data associated with a trunk that caused the selected alarm to be generated. The method collects all alarms from the nodes traversed by the selected trunk and applies the collected alarms to the retrieved topology. The method identifies or retrieves information corresponding to maximum failure spans that can be restored with a single restoration route (failure spans) for the selected trunk. Thereafter, the method applies the selected alarms to the corresponding failure spans to identify the single failure span containing the failure to thereby isolate the failure.

Abstract: A dynamic authentication process having multiple tiers of validation. A first tier of validation authenticates the credit transaction based upon static personal identification numbers. If this first tier of validation is satisfied, a threshold determination is made as to whether a secondary tier of validation is required. These thresholds are defined by either the service provider or the card holder to address the additional costs of a second tier of validation.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for defining equipment, in terms of components, such as modules, shelves and racks, down to the rackface level to be used for recording data related to the configuration of equipment within field sites. Once components are defined and stored in a database, they are configured by specifying interrelationships between components. Accordingly, shelves are configured by populating them with modules. Likewise, racks are configured by populating them with configured shelves. Graphical tools can be used to assist the user in configuring components. Data related to components, and configured equipment are stored in a central database.

Abstract: A system software solution for testing various network elements/entities and processes in a telecommunications network is provided. A network under test contains network entities which save data to a common database that is associated with processing particular test cases. A server correlates database data from the network under test and compares it to anticipated test case results. A disposition of the test cases is determined. Various elements of the invention interface appropriately, and process accordingly, to accomplish the testing and test result(s) disposition. In addition, the test system provides a means to verify billing records within the telecommunications network. Integrated into the system is logic that captures timepoints associated with critical events in a phone call from a test application perspective (particularly the events important to correct billing) and comparing those timepoints with actual results from the tested network.

Abstract: A tool performs automated documentation checking of program instructions written in a scripting language, such as Job Control Language JCL. The tool checks whether each of the identified procedures, programs and data definitions are properly documented. The tool operates by first processing the JCL instructions to identify what documentation should be included for the job and then processing the documentation to determine how it compares with what documentation should be included for the job. If the documentation is not complete and accurate, the tool produces error codes to identify the errors. The tool may prevent a job from being processed until it is properly documented. The tool may include a bypass mechanism that enables the job to be processed despite the tool not being properly documented.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically configuring routing for international telephone calls in a hierarchy of switches. The present invention provides a set of routing rules to route international telephone calls through a hierarchy of switches. The rules act upon data stored in a computer. The data is stored in a configuration table. The configuration table contains information describing network topology. Using the network topology data, the rules generate routing tables. The routing tables provide routing for international telephone calls through a switch hierarchy.

Abstract: A test of digital communications facilities identifies facilities that have AMI/H8ZS line coding mismatches. A test apparatus and method transmits a test tone signal simultaneously on contiguous channels over a trunk to produce a series of consecutive zeros which span the two channels to invoke the B8ZS code. The test apparatus method then compares the sent signal to the received signal to determine whether the received signal deviates from predetermined thresholds. If so, then the currently analyzed channel suffers an AMI/B8ZS mismatch.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically provisioning digital data services. Connection setup for the digital data services is accomplished through messages transported on a common channel signaling network. These messages permit an originating user to automatically provision a data communications connection that has a dynamically adjustable bandwidth.

Abstract: A dual-band optical amplifier uses a single pump source, such as a YAG solid-state laser emitting a pump light at a wavelength of 1047 nm, to provide amplification in both the 1550 nm and 1310 nm bands which are commonly encountered in the optical telecommunications environment. The pump light is fed into a fiber doped with praseodymium fluoride having Pr atoms in a +3 ionization state. These ions exhibit a ground state absorption that includes the 1047 nm wavelength. The same pump light is also coupled to a separate amplification fiber doped with trivalent erbium ions and ytterbium. This combination of ions also can be pumped to a metastable excited state by a 1047 nm wavelength source. Accordingly, when photon emission is generated, there is signal amplification in both fibers results.

Abstract: A system software solution for testing various network elements/entities and processes in a telecommunications network is provided. A network under test contains network entities which save data to a common database that is associated with processing particular test cases. A server correlates database data from the network under test and compares it to anticipated test case results. A disposition of the test cases is determined. Various elements of the invention interface appropriately, and process accordingly, to accomplish the testing and test result(s) disposition. In addition, the test system provides a means to verify billing records within the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically updating subscriber service accounts to accommodate a numbering plan change, such as an NPA split, is provided. Subscriber service account information, such as account information pertaining to speed dialing, is automatically updated by a subscriber account update process, which runs periodically on an administrative computer system connected to an ISN via a wide area network. The subscriber account update process accesses NPA split tables to determine pending NPA splits. For each pending NPA split, the update process determines impacted ANIs that have existing service accounts. Then, for each such impacted ANI, the update process creates a new service account, which is indexed by the new ANI, to which the impacted ANI is being converted. The new service account includes account information previously stored in the existing account. The existing account is updated to refer to the new account.

Abstract: A cost-efficient method that utilizes encryption techniques to prevent the unauthorized use of telephone customer calling card account and personal identification numbers (access codes), by electronic telephone network eavesdroppers and telephone company employees. The access codes are encrypted by the telecommunications carrier's access code collection device. The encrypted access codes are subsequently used instead of the clear-text access codes in all subsequent transmissions and subsequent processes that make use of access codes including billing and printing of calling card access codes.

Abstract: A methodology for determining optimal calling periods of an automated telephone system allows a user of the automated telephone system to access billing plan and detailed rate information prior to completing a toll telephone call. The user may request billing rate information for the applicable billing rate plan by entering an entire valid DTMF sequence. The optimal call periods billing information is extracted in accordance with callee and caller parameters and when the toll telephone call is to be placed. A user accessing billing rate information can use the billing rate information to determine prior to completing the toll telephone call when the optimal billing period will occur. The user can then make an informed decision as to when to complete the toll telephone call. Upon request, the user is automatically connected to the called party and the toll telephone call is completed.

Abstract: Error reporting may be enhanced, by utilizing a programming language, such as C++ and its attendant enhanced error reporting facility. The invention generates an error message at the function level where the error occurs, as well as noting the line of source code during which time the error occurred. The resulting populated error message is then rolled up toward the main program. At each preceding roll up level, an additional error message is populated which notes the original error message information as well as adding return path information. Thus, after completed roll up to the main program, stacked error messages are made available to the user that fully define the complete path involving the error, in addition to the identification of the source code line where the error occurred.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for quickly generating responses to vast numbers and types of inputs employs a command response table that includes instructions for generating simple responses and various levels of detailed logical responses. In a preferred embodiment, the command response table provides three levels of responses: a first level of response for unintelligently responding to certain inputs, a second level of response for intelligently responding to certain input using simple commands and a third level of response for providing detailed logical responses by invoking scripts. Preferably, detailed logical responses are provided via scripts that are invoked by a script invocation instruction stored in the command response table. The command response table can include thousands of responses indexed by thousands of input messages. When an input command is received, the command response table is searched for the input command.

Abstract: System and method for monitoring calls parked on one or more automatic call distributors (ACDs). Calls parked on an ACD are monitored through the use of a call park server that maintains a relational database. The relational database includes a call-leg information table and a method table. The call-leg information table is used to track and maintain the status of each call-leg parked on an ACD. The method table includes pre-determined methods that can be executed in response to a change in status of the parked call-legs. The method table provides a suite of methods that can be selected by a parking facility, for example, an automated response unit or an operator console, to be applied to the parked call-leg when particular events occur.

Abstract: The present invention telecommunications system provides validation of authorization codes input by a user for placing a call from a service area of a first telecommunications service provider with a calling card issued by another telecommunications service provider. The present invention allows the subscriber to place a special service call irrespective of whether the signaling protocol of the first service provider is different from the service provider to which the subscriber is a customer of. If the protocol of one telecommunications service provider is indeed different from the other service provider, a gateway residing in an intelligent service network node would convert the signaling protocol of the first service provider into a signaling protocol that is compatible with the other service provider.

Abstract: A computer system includes hardware for interfacing with the public telephone network and for accepting incoming telephone calls. The computer system detects from the incoming telephone calls automatic number identification data (ANI data), such as Caller-ID data, which identifies the calling telephone and further accepts personal identification codes from the caller. The system generates reports of the incoming telephone calls in which reports the location of the calling telephone is correlated with the person who is making the telephone call. Preferably, the system is applied for recording remotely, through the telephone network, the arrival and departure times of field based employees at various work sites.