Abstract: A system and method for dispatching commands to switching elements within a network in response to an outage comprising a control computer and a plurality of instructions resident on a memory device for operating the control computer, the plurality of instructions including a code segment for receiving and organizing connect and disconnect commands for the switching elements, a code segment for sending connect and disconnect commands to the switching elements, and a code segment for analyzing responses from the switching elements to determine whether communications are restored are disclosed.

Abstract: A spare capacity planning tool for planning spare capacity in a transport network during a multiple-span failure following a single failure event. The spare capacity planning tool simulates restoration of a transport network regardless of the sequence of failures. The system and method utilize a permutation reducer to minimize the number of sequences to be verified during simulated or actual restoration activities. The permutation reducer reduces the number of sequences to to during simulated restoration activities to a first order function rather than a factorial function of the number of failed spans.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes multiple redundant processes for gathering and archiving information. The processes are well adapted for use within a call center which has multiple agents for processing inbound/outbound calls. The information concerns the calling activity of the agents. One of the processes is designated as a primary process for providing archived information to clients. The other processes are redundant secondary processes which assume the role of the primary process upon failure of the primary process. Once a failed process is reinitiated, a data synchronization mechanism is used to reconcile data to ensure that each of the processes has current and up-to-date information.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for dynamically restoring communications within a network following an outage comprising a database containing the configuration of switching elements within the network and a plurality of instructions resident on a memory device for operating a control computer, wherein the plurality of instructions includes a code segment for receiving network parameters following the outage, a code segment for selecting restoration switching elements from the database based upon the network parameters, a code segment for generating connect and disconnect commands for the restoration switching elements, and a code segment for sending the connect and disconnect commands to the restoration switching elements, thereby restoring communications within the network.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus suppresses echo in telephone communication systems having a send path and a receive path. A first filter is coupled to the send path carrying a voice signal. The first filter removes a first set of frequencies but allows either fundamental frequencies or second harmonics in the voice signal to pass through. Thus, the first filter preserves the fundamental frequencies or the second harmonics in the voice signal. A complementary filter is coupled to the receive path carrying the echo. The complementary filter is used to remove the remaining frequencies that are present in the echo. By operating jointly in a complementary way, the first filter and the complementary filter removes the echo.

Abstract: A system and method for virtual networking work at home provides the capability to bill business calls from an employee's home telephone to the business and to bill personal calls from the same telephone to the employee. Upon entry of an access code by a caller, a second dial tone is presented to the caller, who then dials the desired virtual network station number. A signaling message containing the dialed number and the ANI of the calling station is sent to a service control point which translates the dialed number and ANI to corresponding numbers. The dialed number is translated to a telephone number which allows the call to be completed to the desired virtual network station. The ANI is translated to a number which allows correct billing of the call. The call is then presented to an inter-exchange carrier network which completes and bills the call, using the translated numbers. This allows virtual network work-at-home stations to be located anywhere in the country.

Abstract: A method of and a system for transmitting a serial stream of electrical data bits by substantially simultaneously converting each bit of the serial stream of electrical data bits, or a selected subset of bits of the serial stream, into an optical bit, each optical bit having a different wavelength, and multiplexing each optical bit into a single multiwavelength optical pulse.

Abstract: A system and method for processing performance metric data and converting the data from Universal/Uniform Data Format (UDF) to a form readable by data analysis/reporting tools such as SAS IT Service Vision. Performance metric data is collected by collection agents in UDF files. Universal/Uniform Data Format files produced by the same type of collection agent are reformatted and mapped to a dataset having a number of records or observations. The datasets are sorted by grouping the records according to a characteristic such as an attribute and performance data tables are constructed from the sorted datasets in the form of SAS datasets. The SAS datasets may be read by data analysis/reporting tools that use the datasets to produce charts and graphs of computer system performance for display.

Abstract: A system and method for confirming the receipt of a message by a messaging unit or pager. The system allows a caller to request page confirmation from the service provider. The system uses a caller identifier, entered by the caller at an input source, and a sequential index to store and locate data relating to the page confirmation request in a data structure. A page confirmation message is sent to the pager and the pager immediately sends a confirmation reply message back to service provider. At this point the service provider indicates in the data structure that the page was successful. At any time, the caller can then access the service provider to determine if his message was received by the pager.

Abstract: A system and method for translating special dialing strings and/or mobile feature codes in a wireless telecommunications network. Upon receipt of a special dialing string ("SDS") or mobile feature code ("MFC"), a mobile switching center passes the SDS or MFC to a centralized processing center. The centralized processing center includes a home location register (HLR) containing an SDS lookup table and/or an MFC lookup table. The SDS lookup table includes information pertaining to the dialed string, a subscriber group number, the mobile switching center group number, and a number to be dialed (translated number). The MFC lookup tables include information pertaining to the dialed string, the subscriber group number, and feature action to be invoked. Using the SDS lookup table in the HLR, an SDS can be translated into a number to be dialed. Using the MFC lookup table, an MFC can be processed to change the mobile subscriber's profile.

Abstract: A system for digitally capturing a product image includes a digital camera, a computer interfaced with the digital camera and programmed to provide a graphical interface including indicators relating to the exposure setting of the camera, the resolution image size of the image to be captured and the product identification number. The camera is controlled through the operation of a pointing device, such as a mouse and "buttons" displayed on the interface including setting the camera in a remote control mode, capturing a product image, selecting an image resolution, saving an image and resetting the system for digital capture of the next product image. A sensing device such as a bar code scanner is provide for recording the product number and inputting the number into the computer. Captured product image data is saved to a database along with product dimensions. One or more processors are used to process the data to crop, resize and silhouette the product image.

Abstract: A signaling network management system (SNMS) collects network topology, traffic, performance and fault information, correlates that information and displays the information to system operators. It includes a distributed client/server platform that receives and processes information relating to network events that is generated by various signaling network elements. Each network event is parsed and formatted to a standardized format to allow processing of events generated by any type of element. The formatted events are correlated and displayed to system operators. Correlation of the different types of events is performed using programmable analysis rules. The system also correlates signaling network events with transmission alarms and network maintenance schedule information. This allows the system operators to account for outages due to transmission events, such as fiber cuts, and to network maintenance. It also allows operator to worn maintenance personnel of maintenance impacting events.

Abstract: A system and method for modifying voice signals to avoid triggering tone detectors in a telephone network. The system includes a voice processor coupled between the handset and station set of a conventional telephone unit. The voice processor modifies the voice signal to prevent triggering DTMF tone detectors.

Abstract: An integrated system of user interfaces for communicating with remote services. A backplane architecture controls and manages the user interfaces by instantiating, launching, overseeing and closing the user interfaces associated with a plurality of applications residing in a remote server. Each application communicates with one another and with the backplane via messaging interfaces. The backplane provides a single uniform user authentication procedure during logon for the user interfaces and also provides session management for a duration of a user session. Session information is maintained by exchanging a session key or keys for identifying the session with remote servers.

Abstract: An method, apparatus, and computer program product for restoring a failed system in an optical mesh network. A system includes a first light termination element (LTE) and a second LTE. A first node in the network includes an optical switching unit (OSU) coupled to the first (LTE) of the system. A second node in the network includes a second OSU coupled to the second (LTE) of the system. The first node is coupled to the second node by a path. Optical data traffic can be transmitted between the first node and the second node via the path. Upon detection of a failure of the system, the first OSU and second OSU are notified of the failure. A primary role is assigned to one of the first and second OSUs, and a secondary role is assigned to the other one of the first and second OSUs. A primary restoration plan is determined by the primary OSU. Information identifying the primary restoration plan is sent from the primary OSU for effecting the restoration path to restore the system.

Abstract: A system for routing telephone calls to operator consoles based on the type of call so that an appropriate operator can handle the call. The system comprises an Automated Call Distributor (ACD), adjunct processor nodes, and a call routing distribution system. The ACD receives calls, offers the calls to an adjunct processor node, receives instructions on routing the calls from the adjunct processor node, and routes the calls based on the received instructions. The ACD has links through which the calls are offered and the instructions on call routing are received. Each adjunct processor node is connected to the ACD through the links.

Abstract: A network simulator for use as a testing tool for a network management system includes an input device for inputting data containing network elements, their attributes, and information about their configuration, for storage in memory. User-defined scenario instructions for specifying particular network behavior and user directives are input in real time, or in advance of simulation. The simulator includes an input/output processing component that receives commands from the network management system and user-scenario data or directives and forwards received commands and directives to a response generator processing component that generates appropriate responses in accordance with the network element behavior data stored in memory. The response generator processing component transmits responses back to the network management system.

Abstract: A system and method for testing a telephone connection using an interactive telephone response module (ITRM). In one embodiment, the ITRM is connected between the handset and station set of a telephone terminating one end of the connection to be tested. In another embodiment, the ITRM is connected between the telephone connection and the station set of a telephone terminating one end of the connection to be tested. By operating switches on the ITRM, a user can impose predetermined conditions on the connection. A test coordinator located at a test point or other termination in the telephone network then tests the connection under the predetermined conditions.

Abstract: A method and system for transporting ancillary network data is provided. A sub-carrier modulation signal containing ancillary network data is superimposed on a high bit-rate data signal prior to transport over an optical link. The monitoring subcarrier signal is significantly lower in both frequency and amplitude than the main data signal so as to not impact reliable reception of the main data signal. A low-pass filter filters the sub-carrier modulation signal from the data signal. By demodulating the sub-carrier signal, the ancillary network data is recovered. The ancillary network data includes any combination of data type information related to different network elements. The recovered ancillary network data is useful for any network management purpose. Especially important applications include restoration, wavelength re-use and routing, and any other general network management operation.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for reducing unwanted mixing products on multiplexed optical communications lines, based upon the dispersion characteristics of the particular optical transmission line, in which a plurality of optical carriers are transmitted at substantially equally spaced apart frequencies over an optical fiber. When an unwanted mixing product is detected, a set of carriers that can be involved in producing the unwanted mixing product is determined. A carrier of the set is selected based upon the dispersion characteristics of fiber, and the frequency of the selected is shifted to eliminate the unwanted mixing product.