Abstract: An alerting system is provided for proactively ensuring awareness of pending customer generated trouble tickets which have not been resolved for at least a predetermined time duration corresponding to an escalation level. A customer service center selects the time duration. The alerting system includes a manager module which periodically monitors the pending customer generated trouble tickets and determines whether each pending customer generated trouble ticket remains unresolved for the time duration corresponding to the escalation level. The alerting system also includes an alerting module which sends an alert to a recipient assigned to the escalation level when the manager module determines the pending customer generated trouble ticket has not been resolved for the time duration corresponding to the escalation level. The alerting system may also include a parsing module which parses the pending customer generated trouble tickets to remove extraneous and invalid information.

Abstract: A local routing system is provided for selectively routing traffic in a telecommunications network according to a local service provider's preferences. The local service provider provides service for telephone lines acquired from a local exchange carrier. The telecommunications network supports an originator subscribing to the local service provider. The originator initiates a trigger when originating a call to a destination by dialing a number. The local routing system includes a classifier, a detenniner, and a router. The classifier analyzes the dialed number and categorizes the call into one of several predetermined classes of traffic. The determiner determines whether the local service provider has a routing preference for the class of traffic into which the classifier has placed the call.

Abstract: According to the present invention, intelligent call routing and call return capabilities are provided in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) or AIN-type network environment. The intelligent call routing features of the present invention may be utilized for routing service calls to an appropriate service or control center (e.g., a Poison Control Answering Point (PCAP)), in accordance with the location of the calling party and one or more routing options. For example, the Number Plan Area (NPA) and Central Office Code (NXX) of the calling party's telephone number may be analyzed in order to determine where to route the call. In addition, other routing features may be provided to facilitate handling of the call. For instance, calls may be routed according to the time-of-day and/or day-of-week, and recorded announcements may be provided to indicate when a particular service call cannot be completed.

Abstract: An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)-based distributed virtual tandem switching system is provided in which a network of ATM-based devices is combined to create a distributed virtual tandem switch. The system includes an ATM switching network that dynamically sets up individual switched virtual connections. The system also includes a trunk interworking function (T-IWF) device and a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device. The trunk interworking function device converts end office voice trunks from TDM channels to ATM cells by employing a structured circuit emulation service. The centralized control and signaling interworking function device performs call control functions and interfaces narrowband signaling and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the ATM switching network. Consequently, the ATM based distributed virtual tandem switching system replaces a standard tandem switch in the PSTN.

Abstract: An apparatus for selecting a preferred wireless carrier from a plurality of wireless carriers for use by a mobile station when the mobile station is roaming outside of a home market area is provided. The apparatus comprises a database, a generator, and a data providing device. The database stores preferred wireless carrier identities for a plurality of market areas based upon predetermined classes of service, predetermined national accounts, and predetermined home market areas. The generator generates a list of the preferred wireless carrier identities based upon a selected class of service, a selected national account, a selected home market area of the mobile station. The data-providing device transmits the generated list to each mobile station designated with the selected class of service, selected national account and selected home market area.

Abstract: An adjustable bit rate (ABR) feedback control scheme is provided where the effects of multiloop delays and high priority traffic transmission are built into the control model. The data traffic is filtered by a low pass filter. Then, the low frequency bandwidth of the filtered traffic is measured and compared to a predetermined threshold. If the measured value exceeds the threshold, the ABR traffic flow is reduced. If the measured value is less than the threshold, the ABR traffic flow is increased. In addition, a General Prediction Control (GPC) method may be applied to the control model for optimal performance. An object of the invention is to minimize the unused link capacity subject to no congestion, where the ABR traffic is adapted to the low frequency variation of high priority traffic flow for high efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for routing a call to dedicated number through an AIN-based network. A predetermined sequence of preferred or ranked carriers is assigned to an end office from which a call originates. Input of the dedicated number at an end office number triggers the network to assign a primary carrier to connect the call based on a user selection, a Primary Interexchanged Carrier, or the first carrier indicated by the predetermined sequence. An alternate and secondary carrier may also be assigned based upon the predetermined sequence. The call is routed sequentially to the primary, alternate, and secondary carrier until a connection is established or until all routes are exhausted. The features of the invention are particular useful for routing calls to the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for routing a telephone call according to the geographic location of the originating party. A subscriber with multiple network locations within a service territory may have all of their offices accessible to customers through a single publicized telephone number. The single telephone number may trigger advanced intelligent network technology. The network may ascertain the geographic location from which the call originates and accordingly, route the originating call to a subscriber's office which is located closest to the originating caller. Further, exception periods may be provided to enable subscribers to individualize their service by only routing to the closest satellite office at specified days, times, etc. The exception periods may also be employed to reroute calls intended for the closest satellite office to a predetermined location.

Abstract: A call forwarding system for an AIN telecommunications environment is provided in which a destination has changed from an old telephone number to a new telephone number. A calling party places a call which attempts to contact the destination by dialing the old telephone number. The call forwarding system includes a hub switch, and an old address switch with which the calling party connects to upon dialing the old telephone number. The old address switch, upon recognizing that the calling party has called a telephone number which has been changed, prefixes the old telephone number with a three digit code, and forwards the call, along with the prefixed old telephone number, to the hub switch. The hub switch recognizes the three digit code, and launches an AIN trigger to an AIN platform which determines the new telephone number and whether the destination has elected to pay for forwarding the call to the new telephone number.

Abstract: According to the present invention, intelligent call routing and call return capabilities are provided in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) or AIN-type network environment. The intelligent call routing features of the present invention may be utilized for routing service calls to an appropriate service or control center (e.g., a Poison Control Answering Point (PCAP)), in accordance with the location of the calling party and one or more routing options. For example, the Number Plan Area (NPA) and Central Office Code (NXX) of the calling party's telephone number may be analyzed in order to determine where to route the call. In addition, other routing features may be provided to facilitate handling of the call. For instance, calls may be routed according to the time-of-day and/or day-of-week, and recorded announcements may be provided to indicate when a particular service call cannot be completed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for transferring caller information or tele-communication information to a video device adapted to convert video format signals into a medium of expression. The caller information may include Calling Identity Delivery information. A detecting device detects the presence of a communication present on an incoming tele-communication line; a decoder device decodes the information present on the tele-communication line to produce caller information or tele-communication information related to the communication; and a transfer device causes the caller information or tele-communication information to be converted to the medium of expression by the video device. A frequency band capability conversion apparatus is also disclosed which accepts a composite signal and processes the composite signal so that it falls within the frequency band of a prescribed channel of a receiver.

Abstract: A system and method for improved mobile assisted handoff in a digital cellular communication system that gives the mobile station the ability to synchronize to candidate base station transmissions in order to read the transmitted digital voice color code (DVCC) of the candidate station. This process is performed during the idle period between two designated time slots in a TDMA frame. The invention is an enhancement to the existing mobile assisted handoff procedures described in the existing IS-136 standard. The present invention improves on the IS-136 standard's use of received signal strength measurements in that it allows the mobile station to acquire and report information regarding the digital verification color code (DVCC) of the candidate base station channels. Since the DVCC uniquely identifies the cell site to which a channel belongs, it is used to distinguish the candidate base station channel from its co-channel interferers, allowing the network to make a more informed handoff decision.

Abstract: A method of intelligent roaming wherein a Systems Access List (SAL), programmed into the memory of a mobile station over-the-air or via a physical interface, is used to select a preferred system for service. When the mobile station is powered on, it scans the home band first, then a secondary band if a control channel is not found on the home band. If the mobile station determines that it is located in its home system, it remains on that band and obtains service from the home system. If the mobile station is not located within its home system, the SAL is searched to determine if there is a preferred system in the same area as the current system. If not, then the mobile station obtains service on the current system. If the SAL indicates there is a preferred system in the same area as the current system, then the SAL also indicates the exact band(s) where a preferred system may be located. The SAL may include information on the blocks of channels to scan.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for managing the operation and interaction of one or more telephony-based services (such as AIN-based services). A feature interaction manager is utilized performing a predetermined decision process to determine which one of a customer's AIN services will be executed, and in what order the customer's AIN services will be initiated. The feature interaction manager may reside at a Service Control Point and may be executed whenever an AIN trigger is encountered at a switch based on a call request to establish communication with the customer. Once the last of the customer's services have completed execution, the feature interaction manager returns control to the switch encountering the AIN trigger for appropriate handling or routing of the call request.

Abstract: An advanced intelligent communication system is provided as an overlay application to, for example, one or more private networks. The system adds increased flexibility to an existing private network by facilitating remote access to the private network from non-network locations or stations. The system authorizes the remote access to the private network based on a calling party number of the non-network station and/or an authorization code entered by the remote calling party. Once authorized, the remote calling party is then enabled to terminate a call to a private network station identified by a private network telephone number.

Abstract: An ATM-Ethernet portal/concentrator permits a transparent interconnection between Ethernet segments over an ATM network to provide remote connectivity for Ethernet segments. The portal includes an Ethernet controller and an ATM cell processor, both of which receive and transmit data to and from a dual port shared memory under control of a direct memory access controller. A control microprocessor monitors and controls the shifting of data through the dual port memory. In this scheme, original data is written and read directly into and out of the dual port memory to thereby eliminate any requirement for copying of data, to thereby significantly increase the data throughput capability of the portal. In the concentrator embodiment, a plurality of Ethernet controllers, each of which is connected to its own associated Ethernet segment, is multiplexed through the concentrator to an ATM network to thereby provide remote connectivity for each of the Ethernet segments.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for transferring caller information or tele-communication information to a video device adapted to convert video format signals into a medium of expression. The caller information may include Calling Identity Delivery information. A detecting device detects the presence of a communication present on an incoming tele-communication line; a decoder device decodes the information present on the tele-communication line to produce caller information or tele-communication information related to the communication; and a transfer device causes the caller information or tele-communication information to be converted to the medium of expression by the video device. A frequency band capability conversion apparatus is also disclosed which accepts a composite signal and processes the composite signal so that it falls within the frequency band of a prescribed channel of a receiver.

Abstract: Tuning mechanisms are provided for tuning tunable parameters of a memory subsystem's cache. A simplified tuning mechanism switches drain mechanisms on and off depending upon the amount of updated buffers present within the cache at a particular time. The drain mechanisms may include a drain-on-read module and a drain-on-write module. In addition, a tuning mechanism automatically and continuously tunes tunable parameters of a storage control processor, by measuring durations of I/O processing events being performed by the storage control processor, and gathering sample values which form sample sets based upon the durations measured. After a first sample set is obtained, a tunable parameter is changed by incrementing or decrementing the parameter by a pre-defined delta value. A second sample set is then obtained after the parameter was changed.

Abstract: An ATM-Ethernet portal/concentrator permits a transparent interconnection between Ethernet segments over an ATM network to provide remote connectivity for Ethernet segments. The portal includes an Ethernet controller and an ATM cell processor, both of which receive and transmit data to and from a dual port shared memory under control of a direct memory access controller. A control microprocessor monitors and controls the shifting of data through the dual port memory. In this scheme, original data is written and read directly into and out of the dual port memory to thereby eliminate any requirement for copying of data, to thereby significantly increase the data throughput capability of the portal. In the concentrator embodiment, a plurality of Ethernet controllers, each of which is connected to its own associated Ethernet segment, is multiplexed through the concentrator to an ATM network to thereby provide remote connectivity for each of the Ethernet segments.