Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for processing event records. The present invention includes a detection layer, an analysis layer, an expert systems layer and a presentation layer. The layered system includes a core infrastructure and a configurable, domain-specific implementation. The detection layer employs one or more detection engines, such as a rules-based thresholding engine and a profiling engine. The detection layer can include an Artificial Intelligence based pattern recognition engine for analyzing data records, for detecting new and interesting patterns and for updating the detection engines to insure that the detection engines can detect the new patterns. In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a telecommunications fraud detection system. When fraud is detected, the detection layer generates alarms which are sent to the analysis layer. The analysis layer filters and consolidates the alarms to generate fraud cases.

Abstract: A system for transporting public switched network (PSTN) terminated signaling across an Internet protocol (IP) network includes a gateway between the PSTN and the IP network. The gateway receives a telephony signaling message from the PSTN and determines if the telephony signaling message maps to an IP signaling message. If the telephony signaling message does not map to an IP signaling message, the gateway packages the telephony signaling message in a special IP signaling message for transport over the IP network. If the gateway receives a special IP signaling special message, the gateway unpackages the telephony signaling message from the special message for transport over the PSTN. If the gateway receives DTMF signals from the PSTN, the gateway translates the DTMF signals to digits and packages the digits in a special IP signaling message for transport over the IP network. The gateway also packages the DTMF signals in an IP media transport protocol message for transport over the IP network.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that prevalidates service orders that are placed by an inter exchange carrier with a local exchange carrier for connection of the inter exchange carrier with a business customer. An integrated prevalidation system and service order system is disclosed in which prevalidation requests are performed using the data that is entered for the service order. Prevalidation responses are then used to ensure that the order will be correct when submitted, thereby avoiding, the necessity for expensive supplemental orders. Further, the present invention allows for stand alone prevalidation requests which enable a provisioner to determine availability of circuits, and to determine location information and equipment identification directly from the LEC databases. Further, the present invention is capable of reconciling the database of the inter exchange carrier with the database of the LEC to avoid submission of incorrect service orders.

Abstract: A method and system for providing intelligent network control services in IP telephony, wherein the system includes a location manager and an IP telephony proxy server. The location manager includes an interface to a legacy telephony service control entity and the IP telephony proxy server includes an IP interface to the location manager. If the IP telephony proxy server requires intelligent network services, then the IP telephony proxy server sends an IP telephony session initiation request to the called party at the location manager. The location manager uses the information to query the legacy telephony service control entity for routing information. When the location manager receives a routing response from the service control entity, the location manager maps the response to an IP telephony session control message back to the IP telephony proxy server.

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: A telecommunications network includes computing intelligence for billing call processing on a per transaction basis. In particular, a customer is charged separately for each usage of a remote computing resource that assists in call processing. The remote computing resource, may be, for example, an intelligent call router located within the telecommunications network or on a customer's premises. The transaction billing performed by the present invention results in equitable billing of customers based upon use.

Abstract: An approach for processing voice calls over a packet switched network as to efficiently utilize the functionalities of a Voice Response Unit (VRU). According to one embodiment, a call originator, acting as a User Agent Client in accordance with the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), issues messages to establish a first call-leg with the VRU. The VRU performs digit collection to obtain information to authenticate the call originator and to authorize the voice call. Based upon the issued messages from the call originator, the VRU establishes a second call-leg with the call terminator. The VRU is released from the voice call after binding the call-legs to connect the call originator to the call terminator.

Abstract: A fiber optic communications link having PMD characterization across multiple optical channels to identify PMD problems. The communications link has adaptive PMD controls employed along the optical link, whereby PMD phenomena detected by instruments, such as PMD compensators, are interpreted as being either attributable to perturbation of fiber characteristics at large, or by failure of PMD equipment along the link. The present invention avoids taking unnecessary control or maintenance actions upon PMD related controllers and compensators. PMD notifications from various PMD compensators are correlated to identify which portion of the link has undergone a change in polarization characteristics to further identify PMD related errors and problems.

Abstract: A virtual private network includes an internet protocol (IP) network and a public switched telephone network (PSTN). An enterprise gateway is operably connected to the IP network. The enterprise gateway is operably connected to a switch of the PSTN through a direct access line (DAL). The set-up signaling for virtual private network calls and the calls themselves are transported across the internet protocol network and the public switched telephone network through the direct access line.

Abstract: A method for signaling an Integrated Messaging System (IMS) on an Internet Protocol (IP) based network to deposit a message, including the steps of sending a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) SIP INVITE request to the IMS indicating a message deposit action; receiving a corresponding SIP message from the IMS agreeing to participate in the message deposit action; and sending an SIP acknowledge message to the IMS confirming receipt of the corresponding SIP message; and depositing the message in a destination mailbox. A method of signaling an IMS on an IP based network to retrieve a deposited message, the method including the steps of sending a SIP INVITE request to the IMS indicating a message retrieval action; receiving a corresponding SIP message from the IMS agreeing to participate in the message retrieval action; sending an SIP acknowledge message to the IMS confirming receipt of the corresponding SIP message; and retrieving the deposited message from a mailbox corresponding to known account information.

Abstract: A resource management system for an intelligent communications network having one or more distributed service nodes, each service node for providing services relating to an event received at a network resource associated with a service node. The system comprising a first processing tier comprising one or more local execution environments located at a node, each execution environment including a mechanism for instantiating one or more service objects capable of performing event services at a first local execution environment, and, for generating status information relating to executing service objects; and, a second processing tier associated with a service node and including a system processor for tracking status and availability of service objects and local execution environments.

Abstract: To ensure the integrity of a telecommunications network provisioned with a distributed restoration algorithm (DRA), a communications network is provided for routing signaling messages such as DRA restoration and maintenance messages among the various nodes of the network. Thus, while data is sent among the nodes via the working links interconnecting the various nodes, signal messages are communicated among the various nodes by way of the independent communications network, which may be a wide area network. By reallocating the signal messages to a separate network, an efficient telecommunications network is effected.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting and preventing a fraudulent telephone call in telecommunication system is provided. First, a terminating number of a first call and a originating number of a second call are received from a telecommunication network. The terminating number of the first call is compared with the originating number of the second calls which are originated within a predetermined time period from a termination of the first call. After comparison, it is determined whether the first and the second calls are fraudulent telephone call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus performing fault management in an optical communications system including a polarization mode dispersion (PMD) compensator. The method and apparatus utilizes a controller receiving notifications indicative of PMD in the system, as well as at least one indicator from a system device providing an indication of an attribute of the communication system. Such system devices include a receiver providing a Q factor and a bit error rate (BER) of an optical signal, and a signal-to-noise ratio meter providing an SNR of the optical signal. The method intelligently provides fault management by correlating the PMD notifications and system indicators to distinguish between fiber failure, PMD-related degradations, and failure of monitoring equipment itself.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network provisioned with a distributed restoration scheme, to determine the reactions and responses of the network while the network is “live” or operational, an exercise information message is provided to the network for presenting a simulated failure or failures thereto. This exercise information message is broadcast to all of the nodes of the network so that every node is aware of the simulated failure scenario. Modified DRA messages that indicate that they are exercise only messages are used by the nodes for executing the exercise restoration process. Such exercise restoration process will proceed as if an actual failure has occurred with the notable exception that no actual cross-connections will be made. Certain functionalities are provisioned to the nodes to allow the exercise restoration process to be aborted if a real failure is detected or upon the expiration of a timer.

Abstract: Terminating number screening to block portable billing products from terminating to a designated high fraud domestic or international terminating numbers. When a call is placed and it is billed to a portable billing product, the dialed digits of the terminating number is verified against the terminating number screening database. If the sequence of dialed digits is found in the terminating number screening database, the call is denied. The caller is then informed that they cannot place a call to this destination and asked if there is another terminating number they wish to call. If the sequence of dialed digits is not found in the terminating number screening database, the call is allowed to process without interruption. The purpose of this functionality is to protect the Operator Service network from repeated fraudulent calling to individual telephone line numbers either international or domestic.

Abstract: A platform provides access to multiple telecommunications services via a single telephone number. These services may include, for example, voicemail services, facsimile messaging services, paging services, and outbound calling services. A guest caller may call the single phone number to speak to a subscriber, leave a voicemail message for a subscriber, leave a facsimile message for a subscriber, or place a page to a subscriber. A subscriber may call the phone number to place outbound calls. In addition, a subscriber may call the single phone number to retrieve or send facsimile messages and/or voicemail messages. A subscriber may also call the phone number to configure service options. For instance, a subscriber may select routing options and choose what services are available to guest callers.

Abstract: An Internet/Intranet World Wide Web (Web)-based centralized common interface repository system for event notifications and report outputs generated by different server applications and/or application platforms is provided as a message center. Such message center includes a common graphical user interface to a customer for viewing and receiving the report outputs and event notifications. The report outputs and event notifications are communicated in priority order using multithreading and multiprocessing mechanism wherein multiple messages may be serviced or received simultaneously. An Internet/Intranet Web-based information delivery system infrastructure capable of providing for the secure initiation, acquisition, and presentation of information from any customer computer platform having a Web browser is also provided.

Abstract: A web/Internet-based Outbound Network Management tool that enables customers of telecommunications network providers to modify outbound access to their virtual networks via a Web/Internet-based graphical user interface. Via a secure Web/Internet-based connection, the tool enables customers to add, create, modify or view their outbound network telecommunications network assets including: calling party numbers, calling cards, virtual network dialing plans, and their Code ID/Set attributes and features associated with their virtual networks.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting forecasting performance metrics from among a plurality of performance metrics includes a data mining kernel that receives performance metrics from a collection agent. The data mining kernel performs a factor analysis on the performance metrics to identify one or more factors and associates each performance metric with a corresponding one of the one or more factors. For each of the one or more factors, the data mining kernel selects the performance metrics having a weight greater than a predetermined value thus pairing the selected performance metrics down to the forecasting performance metrics. The forecasting performance metrics are then stored in a database for access by a capacity planning system.