Abstract: A cost-efficient process and system for the centralized monitoring and/or control of a telephone network. The centralized computer system maintains simultaneous and continuous communications links with a plurality of reporting computer systems that are each used to monitor and/or control at least a portion of a telephone network. A user can monitor and/or control the entire telephone network or any portion thereof from a single location at the centralized computer system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for servicing multiple external interfaces in a pseudo-parallel fashion which simulates multi-tasking. An application program is programmed to switch control during the servicing of multiple external units and/or time-consuming CPU steps to optimize overall application execution time. An application services each of these external interface units through calls to respective program modules. Relatively long program modules contain calls to transfer system control to shorter program modules which await servicing. These calls are strategically inserted in a long program module after one or more partial logic of units of work have been completed. At the time of each call, a check is first made to determine whether servicing of another external interface unit with a short program module is required. If servicing is required, then control is transferred to execute the short program module.

Abstract: A method for selecting one link out of M outbound links in a linkset (10) coupling a first component and a second component is provided. The first component includes N devices coupled to the M links. The method includes the steps of first providing an X-bit code having 2.sup.x possible code combinations used for link selection, and assigning a predetermined number of code combinations for each device where the assigned code combinations for a device is a function of an unique device number associated with each device. The outbound link is then selected for transmitting outbound data based on the code combination assignment.

Abstract: A system and method for time synchronized reconfiguration of a telecommunications network is disclosed. The method first identifies a new configuration for the telecommunications network. After the configuration has been identified, the new configuration is stored with the old configuration for the telecommunications network. Next, the new connection information associated with the new configuration is identified. After the new connection information is identified it is downloaded to the network elements. The new connection information is stored with the old connection information at the network elements. Next, the clocks of the network elements are synchronized through an external clock. An activation time is then downloaded to the network elements specifying an activation time for the new connection information. After the activation time is downloaded, the new connection information is activated at the specified downloaded activation time.

Abstract: A method and system of improved routing to WATS completes calls through a wide area telephone service using indirect routing. When a call is placed from a calling telephone station to a called telephone station, a telephone network attempts to route the call from the originating switch, on which the call entered the network, to a local exchange carrier serving the called station. If other routing paths in the network are unavailable or unsuccessful, a network processor recommends a routing from the originating switch to the local exchange carrier through a tandem switch and the WATS line of another telephone network. This capability provides a reduced incidence of blocked calls, such as may result from telecommunications system outages.

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

Abstract: A conference billing system with ID tagging allocates charges for a conference based on a prior reservation. The billing system also supports different tariffs and pricing structures for individual call legs in the conference, such as audio, video, digital data, or mixed. In addition, the billing system prepares a consolidated bill for dial-in and dial-out calls based on a unique ID assigned to each conference. The bill contains the description of the conference with its individual call legs grouped together for easy identification and verification by the customer, even though the individual call legs of the conference may be serviced by different long distance switching offices.

Abstract: A system and method for representing a network according to a hierarchy of views of varying detail. The system models networks as a plurality of interconnected nodes. The display is made more simple by combining network elements (i.e., nodes and connections) in two ways. Nearby nodes within a user-selectable proximity are displayed as a single "supernode." Similarly, connections between all the nodes represented by two supernodes are displayed as a single connection between the supemodes. The system adjusts the relative size of each supernode in proportion to the number of nodes each supernode represents. Similarly, the thickness of each inter-supernode connection is adjusted in proportion to the number of inter-node connections it represents. The system allows a user to conveniently "zoom-in" or "zoom-out," and to adjust the level of detail depicted in the display.

Abstract: To verify that a communications path restored in response to a failure to a telecommunications network is a validly restored path, each of the end nodes terminating the restored communications path sends out a message containing data that identifies that node and the ID of the access/egress port to which the STS-1 circuit forming the communications path is connected. Once the respective path verification messages are exchanged between the two end nodes of the communications path, the Operations Support System (OSS) that oversees the topology of the network retrieves those messages and compares the data contained therein with the data of the same type of messages from the same ends nodes that were stored just prior to the occurrence of the disruption to the communications path. The restored communications path is deemed to be verified if there are no differences between the path verification messages retrieved after the failure event and the path verification messages stored just prior to the failure event.

Abstract: Provided is a method and system for telecommunications language support. A telephone user is enabled to specify a language preference for telephone calls through an account language preference field or with telephone commands from a telephone. In accordance with the telephone user's language preference, operators and automated telephone services appropriately serve the telephone user in the appropriate language should the telephone user need assistance. Audible messages, which are played to a telephone user in the event of a connection error, are played according to the telephone user's language preference.

Abstract: A method of locating concentrator switches in an existing network that includes a plurality of sites interconnected by existing links so as to minimize total network cost in terms of transmission cost, equipment cost, and facility cost, while meeting all traffic demands. The method uses a Lagrange relaxation technique to perform the optimization. First, the method assigns to each site j an initial Lagrange multiplier .lambda..sub.j. Then the method selects from the sites a set of core nodes j such that the facility cost v.sub.j for each selected core node j is less than the Lagrange multiplier .lambda..sub.j for the site multiplied by the number of ports k.sub.1 in a concentrator switch, inherently forming a set of remaining source nodes i. Then the method homes the source nodes i to the core node j such that the cost to connect a source node i to a selected core node j plus the Lagrange multiplier .lambda..sub.j for the selected core node j multiplied by the traffic a.sub.

Abstract: A test system for testing a plurality of switches. A test platform requests the resources required for performing a test. A central configuration queue manager (CQM) determines whether the requested resources are available and allocates the resources to the test platform. However, Some resources may be allocated in blocking mode. That is, subsequent commands requesting such an allocated resource are queued until the resource is released/available. An example of a resource which may be allocated in blocking mode is a connection to a switch from a test platform. Other resources may be allocated in a non-blocking mode. An example of a resource which may be allocated in a non-blocking mode is an operator services trunk.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a number of approaches in which a virtual homing to overcome outages can be achieved whereby a single terminating destination or an egress node can be formed from multiple terminating switches that would allow the network to route calls based on the capacity, economics or survivability of those switches to accept the call. A first network processor (NP) approach includes a number of methods that relies on the processor of the dynamic control routing (DCR) network, and the switch based routing that directs a call to the appropriate terminating node. A second approach of the instant invention is based on the data access point (DAP) of the network. This DAP approach utilizes the intelligence of the network and requires that all call queries be directed to the DAP for locating the appropriate terminating switch for routing the call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for dynamically generating routes within a diverse interconnected network which may be in a state of flux. This routing process will utilize node source/target sets and route intersection sets to reduce route generation time. In addition, the routing process makes route costing an integral part of the process rather than a completely predefined portion of the data fed to the process, thus eliminating the need to rebuild the data fed to the process if costs need to be dynamically adjusted. Data defining connectivity within a network is gathered from an existing database of network interconnections (referred to here as the topology). An existing route within this topology is deemed to be non-viable due to some failure within the network. The invention will locate, if available, the optimal route around the network failure point utilizing short/long routing and route intersection sets.

Abstract: A system broadcasts a call record via an interface in a telecommunications network having a plurality of network components and client platforms. A network component generates a call record following a particular call transaction over communications lines. A message including the call record is then broadcast by the network component via a high speed interface, such as a local area network. The message also includes a call record type indicator for identification of the type of the call record. After the message is received by a client platform connected to a processor, the call record type indicator is analyzed. Based on this analysis, the client platform either stores and subsequently processes the call record if required, or otherwise discards the call record.

Abstract: A wireless communication device, operating over frequencies allocated to Personal Communications Services (PCS), uses Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to determine the subscriber's exact location on a periodic basis. The device sends the location information to a database for storage and subsequent retrieval by a Geographical Information System (GIS) software application. The GIS converts the location information represented by a latitude/longitude combination to a user-friendly classification of a block, street, city, etc. The user-friendly classification of the subscriber's location is then automatically communicated to emergency services and/or a designated contact, if an emergency button has been activated on the device. Alternatively, the device responds to on-demand inquiries on the subscriber's location via a computer link or a computerized voice processing equipment, such as a Voice Response Unit (VRU).

Abstract: To restore partial outages within a communication network having numerous switching nodes and links interconnecting the nodes, a three-stage distributed restoration protocol is activated to use spare links to bypass failed links and restore normal network connectivity. The three-stage protocol detects and resolves contention for spare resources among separate restoration processes and is therefore particularly advantageous in the event of multiple simultaneous network failures. A conservative flooding approach is used during the first forward signalling stage. Data elements added to the forward signals convey the likelihood that the path will be needed for restoration. The second reverse signalling stage uses reverse signals with attached contention data to detect contention among separate processes for spare resources and to alert the respective processes.

Abstract: A structure having dimensions for transportation on an airplane, and which when assembled into a module has sufficient headroom for an average height person. The structure includes two portions, a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion fits over and envelopes the bottom portion prior to assembly. The pre-assembly structure is thus easily transportable. To form the module, the top portion is raised to a higher level using pneumatic compressors. Folding walls are also provided in the structure, which when unfolded form the walls for the module. The folding walls may further include doors also provided in a folded form. The pre-assembled structure is designed for ease of construction to form the corresponding module. Several such modules may be combined to form a building.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically interfacing a telephone user to an automated telephone service. The system allows a user to record interfacing to an automated telephone service and save the recording for later recall. The recording can be saved to personal local storage or to a shared storage area for use by a plurality of users. The system allows a user to invoke the saved recording of interface activity at any time so that the automated telephone service is interfaced to in an automatic manner. The system monitors for the press of telephone buttons (such as DTMF signals). The system determines whether a telephone button has been pressed or a command has been entered. If a telephone button has been pressed and record mode is set to ON, the system records a macro which can subsequently be used to automatically navigate within an automated service.

Abstract: The invention is a generalized process for dynamically restoring traffic in the event of an outage in a telecommunications network. A Centralized Processing System (CPS) receives alarms from communications ports of diverse network equipment (DNE) elements. The CPS then proceeds to analyze and correlate the alarms in an effort to isolate the location of the outage. In doing so, the CPS utilizes a Network Topology database that is preferrably updated in real-time with topology data obtained directly from the DNE network. The CPS will then identify and prioritize all traffic-bearing trunks impacted by the outage. The CPS then generates and implements a restoral route for each impacted trunk by issuing appropriate reroute command to the DNEs. If a DNE responds with an indication that a command failed and that its particular restoral segment is not possible, the CPS updates Network Topology database to indicate this segment as unavailable and proceeds to generate another restoral route.