Abstract: An automated order processing system for a telecommunications services carrier is capable of activating customer orders and provisioning telecommunications services for customers. The system includes a client application including a graphical user interface for receiving one or more customer orders from a remote location, each customer order having at least one unique identifier, the client application further up-front validating the format of customer orders received. A server application is provided for entering the validated customer orders in a database storage device, prior to initiating customer order activation and provisioning. In addition to controlling the order entry, activation, provisioning and installation processes, the server application tracks the status of each customer order by receiving status information updates for each customer order throughout the entry, activation, provisioning and installation process, and accordingly updates the database storage device.

Abstract: A real-time device data management (RTNDD) system for managing access to data describing devices in a telecommunications network. The RTNDD system maintains a partition data structure for each device. The partition data structure has a header section and a port data section. The header section contains data elements describing the device (e.g., number of ports and device type). The port data section has a port data structure for each port of the device that contains data elements describing the port (e.g., current cross-connect and actual port address for device). The RTNDD system also provides a standard interface through which external systems access the device data. The standard interface has functions for reading and writing to the partition data structures. Each read function reads multiple data elements of a header section or a port data structure at a time, and each write function writes a single data element of a device at a time.

Abstract: A method of forecasting having the steps of extracting a number of computer usage records and storing the computer usage records in a records file (102). The computer usage records are then sorted according to date (104). The computer usage records are summarized within a number of date ranges to form a usage summarization record (106). A curve fitting model is applied to the usage summarization record to predict a computer usage trend curve (108). A computer usage forecast is then input (110). A computer usage growth curve is based on the computer usage forecast (112). The computer usage trend curve and the computer usage growth curve are displayed (114).

Abstract: An immediate audio or data response billing information method and system allows an authorized caller or called party to a toll telephone call to receive the billing information record of the toll telephone call either during the toll telephone call or after the toll telephone call, but prior to termination of the requesting party's telephone connection to the telephone system. An authorized caller or called party may request billing information by entering a valid DTMF sequence. The billing information is extracted from the originating switch, which maintains the billing information record for the call, upon request. If the authorized party requesting billing information is the caller, the billing information is then provided directly to the caller from the originating switch by audio or data stream means.

Abstract: A system and method for securing access to network elements by user elements, wherein the network elements and the user elements are coupled to a network. A network security server coupled to the network, wherein the network security server provides network security mechanisms to control access to the network elements and protect network resources and information. The network security mechanisms include: an authentication server responsible for authentication of the network users to network elements, a credential server responsible for controlling the network user credentials or privileges, and a network element access server responsible for controlling of access to the network elements by the user elements. A registration database facilitates administration and management of access to the network by the user elements. The registration database stores user profiles and administrative information to enhance effectiveness of the network security mechanisms.

Abstract: A system and method for making a call from a dual mode mobile station functioning in either a PCS (personal communication service) mode or a cellular mode permits PCS communications if the station receives a beacon of a sufficient strength in a PCS frequency band, and alternatively permits cellular communications if the station does not receive a beacon of a sufficient strength in the PCS frequency band. In order for the dual mode station to perform in both a cellular mode and a PCS mode, a single service provider (reseller) will attempt to provide both types of services. The reseller must ensure that a call can be properly billed to a mobile station user for both a call received at the dual mode mobile station and a call transmitted from the dual mode mobile station. Accordingly, methods and systems are provided for controlling cellular service access to and from the mobile station.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a network and method capable confirming proper communications of high data rate optical signals between communications network devices. In particular, the present invention teaches a method of creating a "Line Trace" byte to be placed in the Line Overhead portion of the Transport Overhead of a SONET STS-1 frame optical data signal. Current Line Overhead does not incorporate any Trace functionality. With the increasing use of optical cross-connect switches within a communications network, it is essential for a network service provider to have the flexibility to move Line Terminating Equipment around via the optical switches. Thus, the present invention offers a straightforward, efficient way to achieve this necessary flexibility.

Abstract: A network architecture and service platform for providing virtual private network services ("VPN") over an ATM network. The architecture provides services for voice, video, and data traffic among multiple VPN customers over a shared ATM network by implementing intelligent control devices to perform enhanced processing of ATM call setup messages, including validations and routing translations. Hierarchical routing mechanisms provided by ATM, along with customized customer addressing schemes, are used to overlay customer VPNs as higher-level networks onto the shared ATM network. The control devices translate customer ATM VPN address to internal ATM network addresses. The ATM switch network then performs lower-level network processing, using internal network addressing, to setup a virtual connection for a VPN call. The intelligent control devices may also explicitly state the end-to-end route.

Abstract: A method and apparatus analyzes network topology data of a telecommunications network. Each physically diverse path in the network is assigned a unique path identifier. Trunks along each path, and ports at nodes through which the trunks are routed, are assigned the corresponding path identifier. If a trunk fails, the ports facing the point of failure issue alarms that include the corresponding path identifier for the trunk. A computer or other system compares the path identifiers of the alarming trunks with the path identifiers of restoral routes, such as other trunks extending between end nodes at opposite ends of the failure. Only those trunks having path identifiers differing from the path identifier of the alarming trunk are selected as possible restoral routes for the failure.

Abstract: The telecommunications networks of the present invention include a wireless enhanced service platform which is coupled to a home location register database and a prepaid platform. The telecommunications networks of the present invention may also include a mobile switching center for accepting calls from a wireless handset, an interexchange network that carries calls to the prepaid platform, and a local network for terminating calls.The present invention also includes a method for setting up a call in a telecommunications network comprising sending transaction capabilities application part messages containing prepaid parameters between a wireless enhanced service platform and a prepaid platform. The prepaid parameters are the information needed to process and bill a debit call. The present invention also includes a method for sending transaction capabilities application part messages containing prepaid parameters between a mobile switching center and a prepaid platform.

Abstract: A telephone call processing system and method includes and involves a data storage sub-system for storing call routing and forwarding information, and a data processing and call switching system that is coupled to the data storage sub-system. The data processing and call switching system is operable to receive an instruction from a subscriber to a call forwarding service provided within the telephone call processing system to forward calls intended for the subscriber to a call termination location having a telephone system network address for a particular period of time, to store the network address in the data storage sub-system, to receive a call intended for the subscriber, to retrieve the network address from the data storage sub-system in response to the call, to route the call to the telephone system network address, and to initiate and route a notification call to the telephone system network address after the particular period of time expires.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a root cause of error activity in a network is described herein. Root cause analysis includes the correlation between reported error activity for path, line and section entities along a provisioned channel in the network. Root causes can also be identified based upon the correlation of simultaneous error activity on various signal transport levels. Finally, root cause analysis can correlate error activity along various path entities.

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture for communicating to or querying telecommunication switches in a telecommunications network first gathers relevant information from a technician. Such information can include user IDs, passwords, switch identification codes, and required commands. The routine then automatically establishes communication links with appropriate servers and identified switches within the network using previously supplied IDs and passwords. Thereafter, commands are presented to such switches and results reported to the technician. Numerous switches may thereby be rapidly accessed and queried by the technician.

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: 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: 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 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.