Abstract: An Intranet/Internet/Web-based data management tool that provides a common GUI enabling the requesting, customizing, scheduling and viewing of various types of priced call detail data reports pertaining to a customer's usage of telecommunications services. The Web-based reporting system tool comprises a novel Web-based, client-server application integrated with an operational data management/storage infrastructure that enables customers to access their own relevant data information timely, rapidly and accurately through the GUI client interface. The data management system infrastructure is designed to enable the secure initiation, acquisition, and presentation of telecommunications priced call detail data reports to customer workstations implementing a web browser.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for evaluating the quality of a packet-switched voice connection. The apparatus includes measurement circuitry coupled to receive a voice signal. The measurement circuitry measures rate of packet loss and at least one other objective characteristic of the voice signal. The rate of packet loss and the at least one other objective characteristic are related to a plurality of quality characteristics affecting the quality of the voice signal as perceived by users, such that measurements of the rate of packet loss and the at least one other objective characteristic can be translated into subjective quantifications of each of the quality characteristics. A database stores an effects matrix. The effects matrix provides quality information for voice signals that include different combinations of subjective quantifications for each quality characteristic.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for achieving local number portability. Two databases are interfaced so that message data from one database is selectively passed to the other database and processed for transfer to corresponding requesting software applications. More specifically, a regional interface broadcast agent is interfaced to an interface broadcast agent repository so that message data from the regional interface broadcast agent is selectively passed to the interface broadcast agent repository.

Abstract: A probing router is used at a source site of a virtual private network. In-band probing operations are performed by components within the probing router, using processing resources available from a router engine portion of the probing router. In this way, changes in the network and service level agreement statistic collection processes may be quickly and easily accommodated within the probing router. Furthermore, the probing router communicates the probe message through an in-band communication channel so as to provide a direct measurement of service level data for the channel used for communicating information between the source site and a destination site.

Abstract: An exemplary composite optical fiber transmission line and method are provided that result in significant advantages. The composite optical fiber transmission line includes a standard single-mode fiber, such as an SMF-28 fiber, a dispersion shifted fiber, such as an NZDSF fiber, and a dispersion compensating fiber. The single-mode fiber receives an input optical signal at a first end and generates a single-mode optical signal at a second end. The dispersion shifted fiber receives the single-mode optical signal at a first end and generates an output optical signal at a second end. The dispersion compensating fiber receives the output optical signal and generates a chromatic dispersion compensated optical signal that, preferably, is at some desired chromatic dispersion level. In one example, the residual chromatic dispersion of the composite optical fiber transmission line is zero or near zero, and the residual chromatic dispersion slope of the composite optical fiber transmission line is zero or near zero.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method whereby the separate protocols: session initiation protocol SIP, resource reservation protocol RSVP, common open policy service COPS, and open settlement protocol OSP are used together to setup, maintain, and teardown Internet communications having an acceptable QoS. This process is accomplished by dynamically establishing RSVP policy based on SIP telephony requests to provide IP communications with QoS across the Internet. The QoS policy is installed in network elements at the request of the network elements.

Abstract: In a telecommunications switching network having a resource complex including network switches, an intelligent service platform for providing intelligent call processing and service execution for call events received at the switches and requiring call processing services. A centralized administration system is provided that comprises a system for storing one or more reusable business objects that each encapsulate a distinct call-processing function, and any associated data required by the business object; a system for distributing selected business objects and associated data to selected nodes in the switching network based on pre-determined node configuration criteria; and, a system for activating the business objects in preparation for real-time use. A computing platform is provided within each node for executing those business objects required to perform a service in accordance with an event received at the network switch.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for processing and routing electronic mail messages within a call center which include and involve an electronic mail server system for routing incoming and outgoing electronic mail messages and a mail parsing system coupled to the electronic mail server system. The mail parsing system is operative to receive an incoming electronic mail message from the electronic mail server system, to automatically parse the incoming electronic mail message for the existence of at least one predetermined term related to a particular call center activity, and to route the incoming electronic mail message via the electronic mail server system to a corresponding storage area when the incoming electronic mail message contains at least one predetermined term.

Abstract: A system and method for routing a telephone call on a PSTN network to a data device. The present invention utilizes an automatic call processing system that has a one number location service. A called party provides a calling profile that is stored in the automatic call processing (ACP) system. When a call is placed to a telephone number that is assigned to the called party, the call is routed to the ACP system. The ACP system calls each of the numbers of the calling profile for that called party until that party is reached. At least one of the destinations in the calling profile is a logical address for a data network. The automatic call processing system recognizes the logical address and queries a directory to determine if an IP address has been registered in the directory for the logical address of the called party.

Abstract: A system and method for managing the workflow for processing Service Orders among a variety of organizations within a telecommunications company. The system and method coordinates all of the tasks and activities related to order processing among the various entities within the telecommunications company. Workflows are used to model business procedures used for processing Service Orders. Each workflow comprises a plurality of workflow steps. Business process models are depicted as workflow diagrams. Upon receipt of a Service Order, an appropriate Work Plan is selected based on information within the Service Order. Each workflow step is assigned a Resource and is scheduled for completion. The Workflow steps are then placed in In-boxes associated with the selected Resource. Once the processing steps have been scheduled, a current work step is calculated. Notification messages are sent to the appropriate systems to notify them to begin activity associated with the current work step.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network provisioned with a distributed restoration algorithm, the spare links via which disrupted traffic may be rerouted are categorized into different quality levels based upon their respective anticipated near term availability and reliability. There are a number of categories ranging from dedicated high quality spare links along fully functional spans to low quality spare links that act as replacements for multiple working links in the same span as the failed working link.

Abstract: A call intercept process (CIP) for calling card calls originating from an international country and terminating at an international high fraud country. When a call is placed via a calling card and terminates to a high fraud terminating location, the call is first screened against a database to determine if the termination is in fact, a high fraud country. Regardless of whether this screening is implemented, the call is routed to a first level operator in order to verify the billing account information of the caller as an authorized user. This verification is based on customer and business name, address, zip code, and phone number. If the caller passes verification, a CIP process automatically overrides the calling card from any future Intercepts. If caller fails account verification, the a CIP process automatically places the card in a ‘LOCKED STATUS MODE’ which mode indicates that any additional calls based on that card be intercepted regardless of termination.

Abstract: A method of interrupting a call between two parties in a switched telecommunications. A monitoring switch monitors the call for a party initiated interrupt signal. Whenever the monitoring switch receives an interrupt signal initiated by its associated party, the monitoring switch initiates a call between the party initiating the interrupt signal and a serving platform, and parks the other party at a port of the monitoring switch. The monitoring switch then monitors the status of the call between the party initiating the interrupt signal and the serving platform, and the status of the parked call so that the parties may be reconnected at the conclusion of the call between the requesting party and the serving platform or informed if one of the parties disconnects before they are reconnected.

Abstract: A system and method for accepting customer calls for product related services and directing these calls to an appropriate customer service center. The system contains a customer service network and a customer transaction database for storing a plurality of product information and vendor/customer data. A transaction processor is arranged to process calls received through the network and to route the calls to an appropriate care center for a particular customer in accordance with data associated with a customer-entered personal identification number provided to the customer at the time of purchase. The services are provided on the basis of a pre-paid account, which is debited after a service agent answers the customer call based on signaling generated at the call center.

Abstract: An approach for processing a call from a calling party to a called party in which the called party requires operator assistance is disclosed. A bridging switch receives a call offer from the calling party and forwards the call offer to an automatic call distributor (ACD). The ACD selectively distributes the call offer to a local operator, instructing the local operator to establish the call with the called party. The local operator, such as an audio response unit (ARU), establishes the call. A remote operator collaboratively communicates with the ARU over a packet switched network to control call processing.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for managing transmission of electronic data between network entities. Two network entities are interfaced so that Electronic Data Interchange (“EDI”) data from one network entity is transmitted to the other network entity in a secure exchange using Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”) for connectivity and Secure Sockets Layer, Version 3 (“SSL3”) for security in transmission. The transmitted electronic message includes a header portion and a message data portion, and optional trailer portions, depending on a predefined format of message desired to be transmitted. The header portion includes a message format identifier and a length of a data message for a data message to be included in the message data portion.

Abstract: A system for communicating the location of an object, the system including a transmitter, the transmitter being capable of communicating using any one of a plurality of possible non-switched communications networks; a GPS receiver coupled to the transmitter, the GPS receiver being configured to providing data representing position of the GPS receiver, such that the data generated by the GPS receiver can be transmitted by the transmitter; a common housing supporting the transmitter and the GPS receiver to define a portable package; and a monitoring device remote from the portable package, the transmitter being configured to transmit communications to the monitoring device via a non-switched wireless network without need for human intervention in initiating a call from either the transponder or the monitoring device.

Abstract: An exemplary system and method for differential group delay compensation are provided that include a method for differential group delay compensation of an optical signal that increases overall bandwidth and reduces the bit-error-rate of a fiber optic transmission system. The method includes generating a translated polarization signal by translating the wavelength of either or both of a leading polarization signal and a trailing polarization signal of an optical signal. The wavelength(s) is translated by an amount that is related to the delay between the leading polarization signal and the trailing polarization signal. The translated polarization signal may then be introduced, along with the other polarization signal, to an optical fiber, such as a dispersion compensating fiber with high chromatic dispersion, that has the optical property of a group delay that varies with wavelength. This results in the generation of a differential group delay compensated optical signal.

Abstract: A system that provides measurements of speech distortion that correspond closely to user perceptions of speech distortion is provided. The system calculates and analyzes first and second discrete derivatives to detect and determine the incidence of change in the voice waveform that would not have been made by human articulation because natural voice signals change at a limited rate. Statistical analysis is performed of both the first and second discrete derivatives to detect speech distortion by looking at the distribution of the signals. For example, the kurtosis of the signals is analyzed as well as the number of times these values exceed a predetermined threshold. Additionally, the number of times the first derivative data is less than a predetermined low value is analyzed to provide a level of speech distortion and clipping of the signal due to lost data packets.