Abstract: A method of and system for providing selective trunk group member termination service in a network of telecommunications switches. Each trunk group at a terminating switch that requires selective trunk member termination is identified by a terminating member trunk group parameter. A data access point (DAP) that is accessible by the switches of the network to provide call routing and number translation services identifies a set of trunk group members selected for selective trunk group member termination by means of a trunk group member range parameter. When a call is received at an originating switch of the network, the originating switch queries the DAP and the DAP returns call routing information. If the call requires selective trunk member termination, the call routing information includes the trunk group member range parameter.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the robustness of an optical ring network having a plurality of ring nodes. Optical data traffic is transmitted between a plurality of ring nodes via optical links. A first optical cross connect switch and a second optical cross connect switch are coupled to an alternate network. The first optical cross connect switch is coupled to a first ring node. The second optical cross connect switch is coupled to a second ring node. When a failure is detected in the first optical link, then the first optical cross connect switch couples the first ring node to an alternate path of the alternate network, and the second optical cross connect switch couples the second ring node to the alternate path, such that optical data traffic is transmitted between the first ring node and the second ring node via the alternate path.

Abstract: An improved network restoration system is provided that determines when a transitory condition, like a jeopardy situation, occurs that will likely affect network traffic. Upon making such a determination, the improved network restoration system regenerates the plans affected by the transitory condition using the most up-to-date topology information. As a result, the improved network restoration system performs preplanning for a transitory condition so that when a network failure occurs due to the transitory condition, network restoration occurs quickly. Furthermore, by regenerating the plans using the most up-to-date topology information, this network restoration is ensured to succeed.

Abstract: A system and method for managing network resources using distributed intelligence and state management is described. Individual entities are defined for each managed network resource. A plurality of entities in one or more levels of a network management system are organized based upon association and containment relationships. Each of the individual entities has an associated state value. State changes are propagated between the individual entities through state change notifications. Upon receipt of a state change notification, an entity determines whether its own state is affected. An entity can also initiate actions to improve its state.

Abstract: A method and system for augmenting a communications network with spare components to efficiently re-route network traffic following a failure of one or more network components. The provisioning system of the present invention identifies components that are not configured into the communications network, but that could be configured into the communications network. The provisioning system identifies restoral routes to bypass a failed network component assuming that each of the identified components were configured into the network. The restoral routes are identified based on cost assigned to the identified components and the component currently configured into the network. The provisioning system then selects those identified components that are frequently used in the restoral routes to be configured into the communications network.

Abstract: A path verification message is integrated into a signal, or data stream, that traverses along a path connecting two end nodes of a distributed restoration network within a telecommunications network. To ensure that the integrated path verification message is transparent to equipment positioned along the path, the time period between the successive time intervals whereat the signal is probed by the nodes and the equipment is provisioned to have a predefined portion during which the value of at least one bit of each frame of the signal can be varied. The path verification message is subdivided into a number of parts so that successive parts are integrated into successive predefined portions of corresponding successive time periods. Upon receipt of the requisite successive time periods, the various parts of the path verification message are recombined to form the path verification message.

Abstract: A method of and a system for performing computer simulations to determine a number of blocked calls resulting from cutting selected spans in a telecommunications network with selected levels of overtrunking to determine a level of overtrunking necessary to make the number of block calls resulting from a cut span less than a blocked call threshold. The method forms a capacity demand matrix based on a selected level of overtrunking. The capacity demand matrix reflects a circuit capacity between each pair of origination nodes and destination nodes of the network prior to a cut span. The method forms updated capacity demand matrices that reflect the circuit capacity between each pair of origination nodes and destination nodes of the network after a cut span with various levels restoration. The method runs a call simulation program with data from the updated capacity demand matrices to determine the number of blocked calls resulting from said cut span.

Abstract: A virtual bearer channel platform includes a plurality of transaction processing units. Each transaction processing unit processes one or more service requests received as a call on a bearer channel. The call data is distributed to individual transaction processing units using a high-speed shared network such as a SONET-type network. In one embodiment, the standard SONET format is modified to eliminate fields which contain data of no significance to the present environment. In another embodiment, the standard SONET format, itself, is used. The platform includes a resource manager for allocating the newly received calls to individual transaction processing units. The resource manager sets up outbound calls when requested by a transaction processing unit. A gateway interfaces with the resource manager and the external communication network for assisting in call setup in both inbound and outbound directions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for testing a telephone data interface system. The telephone data interface is tested by reading one or more data records, connecting to the telephone data interface system, connecting the telephone data interface system to a external system emulator, sending one or more messages using the one or more data records to the telephone data interface system, formatting the one or more data records into one or more formatted messages that are compatible with the external system emulator, sending the one or more formatted messages to the external system emulator, and processing the one or more formatted messages. The present invention also provides a testing system comprising a test data source, a telephone data interface, an external system emulator, a first communications link connecting the test data source to the telephone data interface system, and a second communications link connecting the telephone data interface system to the external system emulator.

Abstract: In a restoration network including a distributed restoration algorithm (DRA) enabled network of a telecommunications network, path verification messages are embedded onto traffic bearing signals entering the network and removed from the signals leaving the network. By adding path verification messages to the signals that traverse within the DRA enabled network, the integrity of any communications path that interconnects the various nodes within the restoration network are confirmed. Further, by removing the path verification messages from the signals leaving the restoration network, equipment outside the restoration network are spared of any possibility that their operations may be affected by the path verification messages.

Abstract: Dense wavelength division multiplexing within a 1310 nm band is accomplished over a single mode fiber. Carrier wavelengths are selected from within two windows, a low subband and/or a high subband, on either side of a guardband. The guardband includes the zero dispersion wavelength .lambda..sub.0 of a single-mode fiber in the optical communication link and separates low subband and high subband within the 1310 nm band. Dispersion compensation is provided for carrier signals in each dense WDM channel in the low and high subbands.

Abstract: The present invention is a telecommunications system having separate switch fabric and switch intelligence. The system comprises a switch fabric, a switch intelligence, and a feature processor. The switch intelligence is logically separated from the switch fabric and comprises a switch fabric proxy, a facility service, a connection manager service, and a call segment instance service. The switch fabric proxy is coupled to the switch fabric via a vendor-specific first Application Programming Interface (API). The switch fabric proxy supports a second API, which is common across all vendors, representing functions supported by the switch fabric. A facility instance, which is instantiated by a facility service using a facility model, represents the bearer and signaling facilities of a party to a call, and interacts with the switch fabric proxy via the second API to communicate with the switch fabric.

Abstract: The present invention measures the usage level of removable media devices using residency time. In one embodiment, a usage level measurement software facility receives a number of data storage medium access requests. For reach received request, the facility performs a number of steps. The facility first assigns the request to a particular one of the removable media devices. Then, under the control of the assigned removable media device, the data storage medium access request is performed. For each performed request, the facility records a residency time. The residency time reflects the amount of time taken by the assigned removable media device to perform the request. The facility aggregates the recorded residency times to produce a measure of the collective usage level of the plurality of removable media devices.

Abstract: A headset, and a method for using a headset, to communicate with two separate devices. The headset comprises a mounting member for mounting and holding the headset on the head of a wearer, at least a first speaker, and means for connecting the speaker to the mounting member for holding the speaker adjacent an ear of the wearer. The headset further comprises first and second microphones, and a boom member connecting the microphones to the mounting member for holding the microphones adjacent the mouth of the wearer. A signal conducting circuit is provided for transmitting input communication signals from at least the first device to the first speaker, and for transmitting output communications from the first and second microphones to the first and second devices respectively.

Abstract: A plurality of optical cross-connect switches are freely interconnected to form a mesh type network. At least three of the optical cross-connect switches are switched to form a line-switched ring network, thereby forming a ring/mesh network. Simply by changing the switching logic of the optical cross-connect switches within the ring/mesh network, new rings can be created and existing rings can be modified, thereby providing a great deal of flexibility to make changes to the network as traffic patterns change without incurring hardware costs or significant network downtime. Another advantage of the ring/mesh design approach is that spare capacity within the line-switched ring can be utilized by the mesh network, and spare capacity within the mesh network can be utilized by the line-switched ring, thereby significantly increasing the spare efficiency.

Abstract: A computer implemented method responds to a telephone call from a caller. In response to receiving the telephone call, a first call receiving device obtains call information for the caller. The first call receiving device transfers the telephone call and transmits the call information to a second call receiving device. A call recognition service may be employed as a central repository for the call information and as an interface between the call receiving devices. Transmitting the call information to the second call receiving device enables the second call receiving device to service the caller without having to reobtain the call information for the caller.

Abstract: A method of selecting an optimal set of spans for fiber cut simulations for a network carrying a plurality of demand-routes between a plurality of nodes interconnected by a plurality of fiber spans includes the steps of selecting from the plurality of spans a set of critical spans and selecting from the set of critical spans a minimal set of critical spans.

Abstract: A telephone system and method is provided for delaying authorization validation queries until a dialed phone is answered. This way, authorization validation queries are avoided in cases where a requested phone line is busy or not answered. In a collect call scheme the system may even delay queries until a party agrees to accept the collect call billing charges. This way, query charges are avoided not only for busy signals and no-answers, but also in the event that the requested party declines to accept the charges. Because authorization validation queries typically take less than one half of a second, parties are not significantly affected by the delay.

Abstract: A system for establishing a restoral route to bypass a failed component in a communications network. The network has components that include nodes and links. Each link connected to a node is either an input or an output link for that node. When a component failure is detected on a output link of a node, the system selects a source node and a target node for the restoral route and sends messages through output links of the source node to establish a restoral route to the target node. When a message to establish a restoral route to the target node is received at a node, the node forwards the message through its output links. When a message that a restoral route has been established to the target node is received through an output link of a node, the node connects the input link through which the message to establish a restoral route was received to the output link, and forwards the message that a restoral route has been established through the input link.

Abstract: A method and program product for organizing a relational database used for the storage of data related to the configuration and placement of equipment in field sites. The method includes recording, maintaining, and viewing placement and configuration of equipment in remote field sites. Additionally, the method includes defining equipment in terms of components, such as modules, shelves, and racks. Once components are defined and stored in the database, they are configured by specifying interrelationships between components. The program product includes a computer useable medium having computer program logic stored therein for enabling a computer to store data associated with the configuration and placement of equipment in field sites, the equipment includes rails, shelves, and modules.