Abstract: Data incorporated in call detail records (CDR), obtained from network switches, are subjected to processing by a statistics engine which maintains separate counts for CDR events relating to certain calls, such as 800 number and 900 number calls. Such events, such as attempted calls, completed calls, and duration, form statistics for network users. Compilation of statistics may be done for different services, such as total summary counts and counts by originating area code. In case of 800 numbers, the statistical counts for the various services are compiled in accordance with the 800 number or 900 number called. When a network user decides to change the statistical services required, this is easily accomplished by changing the rules for interrogating the CDR data, as opposed to the prior art approach of changing programming coding.

Abstract: Described herein are a system and method of determining a far-end format of a customer service unit (CSU) operating using an Extended SuperFrame (ESF) framing format. The CSU is in communication with a network element over a DS 1 circuit. The system operates by determining whether any performance data was received from the CSU during a preceding time interval. If no performance data was received from the CSU during the preceding time interval, then the system determines whether the network element is currently configured to operate according to ANSI standard T1.403 or AT&T Recommendation 54016. If the network element is currently configured to operate according to AT&T Recommendation 54016, then the system commands the network element to operate according to ANSI standard T1.403. The system then waits a predetermined time period for receipt of valid performance data conforming to ANSI standard T1.403 from the CSU. If valid performance data conforming to ANSI standard T1.

Abstract: A system and method for performance monitoring of a telecommunications network that uses a layered performance monitoring structure. First, the monitoring points within the network are identified according to a customer request. The customer request is used to generate a service provisioning request, which indicates the path endpoints and the desired level of service. If the service is a digital data service and is supported for monitoring purposes, the network elements closest to the path endpoints are identified as primary monitoring points and activated, and based upon the desired level of service, a number of intermediate secondary points along the path are also identified but not activated. If the service is not a digital data service but the customer desires monitoring, then monitoring points are similarly identified and activated. Second, an end-to-end threshold is set for each service requiring thresholding per the service provisioning request.

Abstract: Upon receipt of a billing detail record from either an operator or automatic console, a host receiver of the fraud evaluation and reporting system of the instant invention would route a record to either a bad billed number module, a call intercept module or a fraud filter module. Depending on where the record is routed, a determination is made on whether the account number is bad or whether the account number is being used by a fraudulent user. Moreover, calls may be intercepted to determine whether specific predefined thresholds have been exceeded and whether or not subsequent calls are to be processed or denied. Furthermore, by means of the fraud filter processes, various alerts may be generated by applying thresholds relating to different products and division with the account number.

Abstract: A method of and system for managing telecommunications system testing. The system displays a list of available originating and terminating bulk call generators. The user can graphically select the bulk call generators to be used in the test and can communicate with selected bulk call generators through the interface. The system also displays a list of available test case scripts. The system enables the user to formulate a mix of scripts to be executed by displaying a control for each selected test case script. The system further enables a user to designate different mixes of scripts for selected time periods over a test run. The system then assigns each script to a call program and a group of call programs to a set. The system then starts the set at the user predefined time. The system the stops the set and resets each call program and set based on the previously chosen call mixes.

Abstract: A system and method for improving database system reliability and availability and ensuring database consistency in multiple network database system sites, for example, home location register (HLR) sites of a wireless telecommunications network. There are a plurality of database system sites, each of which contains at least one complete copy of the entire database. The database is partitioned into multiple partitions, with each partition serviced by multiple database system sites with differing priority. The highest priority database system site which is available for each partition provides access and update service to the partition. In addition, the serving database system site sends update messages to the other database system sites, so that all copies of the partition are consistent. Update messages are sent on a deferred basis, so as to even out message traffic on the network.

Abstract: The present invention is a set of common utilities, implemented as object classes, that provide common channels of communications among applications that run on a distributed platform. An application developer can program communications interfaces to other applications by creating a single application interface using these utilities. Creating this single interface simply involves abstracting an object class from a base class, and defining a few key methods. The invention allows an application developer to focus efforts on the application itself and rapidly prototype the application, by removing the need to develop communication interfaces with other applications. All requirements for inter-application communications are contained within the common utilities.

Abstract: A system and method that produces an acoustic waveform representing a semantically encoded modem waveform, transmits the acoustic waveform over an operational telephone line to a destination location, and records the transmitted acoustic waveform at the destination location. Semantic bit errors are identified at the destination and segments of the recorded acoustic waveform that corresponds to the semantic bit errors are isolated. The isolated segments of the recorded acoustic waveform are compared to corresponding segments of an ideal acoustic waveform to identify waveform distortions. The waveform distortions are then characterized as circuit component effects of the operational telephone line.

Abstract: The invention provides a mechanism for acknowledging in a NSPP environment when a data packet has been received at a destination. The invention provides an Ack Bit in the NSPP header of a data packet. If acknowledgment of receipt is not received, the data packet is resent. A timer may be used to determine the length of time to wait for acknowledgment.

Abstract: Telephone network switches and other network elements are connected to the inputs of respective storage and verification elements (SAVE) which are a distinct improvement over prior art adjunct processors. The SAVE cooperates with a network information concentrator so as to provide raw data that is filtered of extraneous data so as to be useful as raw (filtered) data for downstream clients. The network information architecture described herein also operates upon input network event data to achieve event matching and database enhancement of the network event data. The end result is matched or enhanced data for downstream clients, when required. The network information architecture further cooperates with a generalized statistics engine for summarizing network event statistics or preselected types of calls, such as 800 or 900 number calls. These statistics become available, when desired, for downstream clients.

Abstract: A system and method for photonic facility and line protection switching in an optical network to permit fault tolerant operation. The optical network comprises components whose operation is monitored by a controller. If the controller determines a component in a signal path has failed, the controller will re-route the signal path through a spare, or protect, component.

Abstract: A method of serving a roaming subscriber in a telecommunication system having at least one wireless service carrier that can communicate with the roaming subscriber. A wired exchange carrier can communicate with the wireless service carrier and has access to a long distance trunk. A call destined for the roaming subscriber is received at the wired exchange carrier via the long distance trunk, and includes both a routing number corresponding to the roaming address of the roaming subscriber and a call routing parameter corresponding to the wireless service carrier. The call is selectively sent to the wireless service carrier in response to the call routing parameter, and a communication channel between the wireless service carrier and the roaming subscriber is then established in response to the routing number.

Abstract: The present invention effects optimal handling of validation requests from a telecommunications or data communications network by focusing on the process that needs to be done instead of estimating how long the processing will take based on the frequency of incoming validation requests. This is achieved by enabling the front end processor of a server, which receives the requests from a client, to look at each of the incoming messages to determine its message type. Once a message type is assigned to an incoming message, that message is routed to a queue assigned to that particular type of message. Processing is performed sequentially on each of the message waiting in the queue. And by adjusting the number of process modules available to each particular queue, the required end-to-end response time for that particular type of message requests is controlled. The number of queues is determined by the perceived number of message type requests forwarded to the server.

Abstract: A system for providing phone mail service for customers using either conventional voice telephones or text telephone units. The system of the present invention includes a phone mail unit for receiving a message from a caller, a switch connected to the phone mall unit for receiving the message and routing it to a translation unit for translation. The system also includes a gateway for receiving a data packet, containing call information related to the message. The data packet is routed to a console in the translation unit. A control interface is disposed between the gateway and the console. The control interface transfers the data packet from the gateway to the console. A communications assistant of the translation unit receives the message and data packet and translates the message from voice-to-text or text-to-voice. The translated message is then sent back to the customer's mailbox for storage and subsequent retrieval.

Abstract: A hybrid, bi-directional, three-color, wave-division multiplexer (HB3-WDM), fiber optic communication system employs a combination of wide band and narrow band WDMs to multiplex three pairs of optic signals over two fiber optic cables. The three pairs of signals include two pairs in a range centered about 1550 nm and one pair in a range centered about 1330 nm. In one embodiment, modularized HB3-WDMs are used to modify a pre-existing, multi-cable, bi-directional, two-color WDM system. The modified system communicates thirty percent more data while maintaining pre-existing signal attenuation levels and pre-existing back-up capabilities.

Abstract: A communication network call traffic management system includes a plurality of special resource devices, at least one telephone switch connected to a telecommunications network, a switch control interface, a plurality of application platforms, a control network, and a call traffic manager. The telephone switch has a plurality of telephone switch ports with each switch port being associated with a special resource device. Each special resource device detects user-selectable information contained in a telephone call. The call traffic manager uses initial call information to allocate a special resource device, control the switch to direct the telephone call to a switch port that is associated with the allocated special resource device, and allocate a first application platform for interacting with the telephone call.

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: The invention provides a generic session layer protocol that enables many generic complex transactions and exchanges between a client and a service/server. The generic session layer transactions and exchanges are available via a set of programming language functions. The functions reside in the Network Information Distribution Service (NIDS) Application Program Interface (API) of an operator services network. To introduce a new service on an operator services network, only the functions are need to be used. Accordingly, each time a new service is created, new functions calls, new protocols and a new session layer do not need to be created.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically processing telephone calls for alternative billing or for providing automated operator services. In one form, a call for which operator or alternative billing services are sought is routed through a telephone network to an automated operator facility. The call is accompanied by certain parameters which are indicative of the characteristics of the call. A menu of available automatic services is presented to the caller and the caller's selection from the menu is then received by the automated facility. The call parameters are used to retrieve a record containing customization features, preselected by a subscriber, which are those to be used in providing the particular service selected from the menu by the caller. The call is then automatically processed in accordance with the preselected customized features to provide the selected operator servile.

Abstract: A system and method for isolating a problem in a network. Upon a report of error activity in a first signal transport level, a first layer in the network management system uses performance data to identify the highest signal transport level that exhibits simultaneous error activity. The first layer attempts to isolate the problem if it determines that it has access to enough information.