Abstract: A personal communication network distribution system includes a predetermined number of node devices, a controller, and a network connecting the controller to each of the node devices. The network carries a time division multiplexed signal having a plurality of channels for carrying digital communication information signals between the controller and the respective node devices. Each respective node device is assigned a respective predetermined number of the plurality of channels for receiving digital communication information signals from and/or for inserting digital communication information signals into the time division multiplexed signal. The time division multiplexed signal also includes a second predetermined number of non-assigned channels.

Abstract: A system and method for restoring communication between at least one pair of nodes in a network. Distributed intelligence is provided by messaging between adjacent nodes in the network. The messages in combination with user-configurable timers and rules provide fault isolation, forward flooding, reverse linking and connection.

Abstract: A number of work stations are configured as clients in a client-server environment. The clients enter requests that must be validated and approved prior to loading into mainframe databases. This occurs by staging. The server connected to the various workstation clients is a mid-range server that cooperates with a mid-range database. The mid-range database allows the mid-range server to check incoming requests against other requests being processed by the system. If the request does not repeat or conflict with a request undergoing processing by the system, as noted by the mid-range database, the request is transferred to a staging database, connected to a universal server. The universal server accesses the mainframe databases to perform more precise checks of the request. If validated, the request is entered into a mainframe database and the mid-range database is updated accordingly.

Abstract: Telecommunications electronic interface exchanges trouble administration information between a long distance carrier and a Telco site. The interface provides fast and cost-effective electronic transmission of problem information with little or no changes to the current operating procedures, eliminating the need for manually calling each other's personnel to enter the information needed to open a ticket on their respective trouble management systems. This electronic exchange of information will insure the timely and accurate distribution of problem information to all concerned parties. This interchange of information occurs via an industry standardized transportation and data format. Standards compliance allows easy implementation of the electronic interface with all companies which are likewise compliant.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the performance, in a multichannel optical transmission system, of an optical signal regenerator, by compensating for input signal power fluctuation and for output signal gain change, and by mildly filtering individual wavelengths between gain block stages. A system and method to provide amplification and refinement of a bidirectional optical signal in a single amplification and refinement stage.

Abstract: The system and method for tracing a path of a call through a telecommunications network includes at least two switches, a database, a user interface device and a control processor. Each switch has an associated adjunct processor that has a memory that stores call record data. The database stores call routing data for calls traversing each switch. The user interface device accepts selected call parameter data related to a call having a path through the telecommunications network that is to be traced. The control processor accesses the call routing data and the call record data for searching for a call having call parameter data corresponding to the selected call parameter data. The control processor provides report data that is related to the path through the telecommunications network of a call having call parameter data corresponding to the selected call parameter data.

Abstract: A system and method optimize a fiber optic network arrangement in terms of load balancing and equipment placement at network sites. The present invention accomplishes this optimization by transforming a network of rings into a directed graph of nodes and arcs. The two parameters, which are load balancing and equipment placement, are set up as state variables in a mathematical algorithm for optimization. Following the transformation, descriptive linear equations are derived from the directed graph. The linear equations are then optimized for load distribution and equipment placement at network sites. The present invention may be applied to equipment placement and load distribution in new networks, as well as new load accommodation in existing networks by equating a state variable, corresponding to equipment placement, to a constant value.

Abstract: A telecommunications system comprises two groups of intelligent platforms in a common carrier's network. Each intelligent platform includes an application or a service for processing a call related transaction. The intelligent platforms in each group are arranged in the Local Area Network configuration, such as a Fiber Distributed Data Interface, to transfer the call related transaction to each other for further processing. Each group of the intelligent platforms comprises a node on the Wide Area Network, such as an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), which provides the high speed support for transferring the call related transaction among the intelligent platforms of each group. The combination of these two transport mechanisms will provide a high speed interface and sufficient bandwidth for the projected increase in traffic volume.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network, to provide both statistical reporting functions and reporting on a call by call detail basis, a Traffic View Server (TVS) system is incorporated with a MCI Traffic Statistics (MTS) system. The TVS is responsive to instructions provided by subscribers so that reports may be provided on a given time period, at a given frequency and in a particular format, as instructed by the subscribers. Standard reports are delivered via E-Mail, fax or hard copy. A subscriber may obtain a static view of the traffic for a special service call number by communicating with the TVS. Moreover, a remote subscriber may download from the TVS a data file which contains raw call details and statistics that he can import to his own reports. Different types of call detail reports may be generated from the TVS.

Abstract: A telephone network has elements that generate application data field (ADF) requests to data access points, requesting routing information for telephone calls. The data access points respond with application data field (ADF) records. A request and responding record constitute an ADF message pair. Call detail records are also generated by network elements during a call. A centralizing storage and verification system (SAVE) replaces prior art adjunct processors. It includes a network data buffer followed by a formatter for the network data that formats the data blocks and identifies them by corresponding sequence numbers. A buffer is provided for the blocked data and corresponding sequence numbers. An archiving hard disk is present for storing the network data blocks and corresponding sequence numbers. An interface expedites bi-directional data communication between the SAVE and an external information concentrator.

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 the 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, it is easily accomplished by changing the rules for interrogating the CDR data, as opposed to the prior art approach of changing programming coding. A network information concentrator collects, at a single point, call records from various network elements.

Abstract: A system and method to modify in real time the location of carriers in an optical fiber to avoid harmonic interference. Fiber means supply a spectrum of carrier wavelengths. Controller means sweep the entire spectrum of the carrier wavelengths for wanted and unwanted carrier wavelengths. Analyzer means plot wanted carrier signals versus unwanted signals in the spectrum. Control circuit means track the unwanted carrier signals; calculate the amount of spectrum that any or all of the carrier signals must move to avoid unwanted harmonics, and generate a control signal to change carrier frequencies of wanted carriers to avoid harmonics of unwanted carrier signals in the optical fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus continuously monitors the T1 output signal from a customer telecommunications equipment to a telecommunications network and provides a substitute input signal to the network whenever the T1 output signal from the customer equipment is interrupted. When the output signal from the customer equipment is present, the apparatus passes through the input and output signals between the customer equipment and the network. When the output signal from the customer equipment is interrupted, the apparatus loops back the output signal from the network into the input to the network, providing the network with a substitute signal. The monitor uses a high impedance, non-intrusive sensing circuit.

Abstract: Telephone fraud is monitored by effectively interfacing workstations with a fraud data server. Multiple customers may have their respective workstations coupled to the data server with attendant limited access to ensure security. A workstation manager and alarm manager cooperate with a management system database to process login and alarm detail requests from the various workstations. The managers are coupled to a single shared memory. The interface between the workstations and the fraud data server is by means of a message-based interface which standardizes the various functions of the workstation.

Abstract: A deterministic approach further refines the self healing network (SHN) distributed restoration algorithm (DRA) used for restoring traffic disrupted between two adjacent nodes. Upon detection of a fault, the sender node constructs a restoration signal that includes a weighed identifier field. The restoration message is broadcast to tandem nodes each of which had been provisioned with a memory table having stored therein a plurality of weights each associated with a particular spare link connected to the node. Upon detection of an incoming restoration message, a tandem node retrieves from its table the weight associated with the spare link from which the restoration message was received. The weighed identifier is retrieved from the restoration message and updated with the weight that the tandem node had retrieved from its table.

Abstract: A call directed to a mobile telephone station from a public switch telephone network is received in a mobile services switching center of a mobile telephone network. An attempt is made to locate the profile of the mobile telephone station in a visitor location register. If the mobile telephone profile is not found in the visitor location register, a query message is sent to a home location register requesting routing information for the call. The profile has an HLR query flag for indicating whether the home location register should be queried. If the profile of the mobile telephone station is found in the visitor location register, the status of the HLR query flag is checked. If the HLR query flag is set to yes, a query message is sent to a home location register requesting routing information for the call. If the HLR query flag is set to no, the call to the mobile telephone station is completed using the profile in the visitor location register.

Abstract: A test system for emulating a point of sale transaction from a common carrier switch site. The emulated transaction is monitored and various events which occur during the transaction are timed. The system places a test transaction to a host computer making an inquiry as to the credit status of a particular customer. The various events required to complete the transaction are timed and compared to specific limits to rate the event as either within a predetermined time, or outside a second longer timeout period. Each test transaction is logged to a test result file which may be accessed by an operator interface or by a remote national view computer.

Abstract: A method for controlling telephone fraud of the type whereby a caller places calls or accesses services via unauthorized use of a credit card number or other authorization number. For such control, an initial call using the number and meeting a certain primary criterion (such as placement to a geographical area known to receive numerous fraudulent calls) is intercepted and it is determined whether or not that call is an authentic use of the number. If authentic, other calls are then allowed without interception, even though they may meet the primary criterion, unless or until a secondary criterion is met. Meeting the secondary criterion (which may relate to calling patterns indicative of fraud) also causes a call to be intercepted and a determination made as to whether the use is authentic. For interception due to either criterion, if the call is determined to be inauthentic, the authorization number may be removed from service.

Abstract: A long distance telephone switching system is adapted to provide various enhanced subscriber services, such as an audio news and information service, conference calling, voice messaging, message storage and forwarding, and speed dialing, in addition to conventional long distance calling. Additional improvements include the use of prerecorded opening and closing scripts to facilitate the handling of operator-assisted calls, the retrieval of stored subscriber billing data prior to each call reorigination in order to detect instances of possible abuse, and the concatenation of subscriber-input authorization codes with access number data to allow the use of shorter authorization codes by the subscribers.

Abstract: In a traffic view server (TVS) system in which the traffic through a telecommunications network is monitored, a database system is provided to enable high processing rate for the TVS, both for inserting the data into the system and for extracting the stored data out for reporting purposes. The database system is structured in three pieces, a first one handling statistics data from records that are collected by a traffic statistics system (MTS), a second one handling enhanced call detail records (ECDR) screened from the MTS, and a last one handling common material references. The statistics data are first stored in a fast response electronic storage medium, after they have been segregated into different basic types of statistics data. The thus segregated basic types of statistics data are then combined and forwarded for long term storage in a magnetic storage medium at a brief period of time after a predetermined time interval.