Abstract: A billing method and system include discounting a customer's billing for telephone calls completed in a wide area centrex/PBX network, which includes an abbreviated dialing plan. A service control point (SCP) determines a call type code based upon a calling station and a called station of a telephone call. The SCP determines whether the call type code is eligible for discounted billing. When the call type code is eligible, the SCP generates a unique billing record that is forwarded to a service switching point (SSP). The SSP receives the forwarded unique billing record and modifies the billing record to indicate that a discount should be applied to the billing for the call when the call is completed. When the SSP does not receive the unique billing record, it creates a normal billing record.

Abstract: A method of collecting information is provided. The method includes sending an interactive text markup programming language script, using a session initiation protocol (SIP) message, to a communications device. The interactive script includes a first query and a second query that depends on a response to the first query. The method also includes receiving the response from the communications device. The response is based upon input from a user of the communications device.

Abstract: An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)-based distributed network switching system includes an ATM switching network that dynamically sets up individual switched virtual connections. The system also includes multiple access interworking function (A-IWF) devices each operating as a gateway that enables customer premises devices to directly interface into the distributed ATM switching fabric. The system further includes a centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device that performs call control functions and administrative functions and is adapted to interface narrowband and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the ATM switching network. The CS-IWF device may be a server farm.

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: At least one user profile is created for at least one user. The profile may represent interests and trends of the user. A multimedia story is developed based on the user profile and a customized presentation of the multimedia story is generated. The customized presentation is displayed to the user in accordance with the delivery context.

Abstract: A system and method for ensuring security in a voice trunking over ATM (VTOA) environment is provided. A telecommunications network is provided that carries control traffic and bearer traffic via ATM communications channels and TDM communications channels. The telecommunications network includes at least one closed user group consisting of multiple closed user group members. The closed user group members include trunk interworking function (T-IWF) devices configured to receive end office voice trunks from TDM channels and convert the trunks to ATM cell streams and to receive ATM cell streams and convert the ATM cell streams to end office voice trunks; and at least one centralized control and signaling interworking function (CS-IWF) device. The CS-IWF device performs call control functions and interfaces narrowband and broadband signaling for call processing and control within the ATM switching network. The closed user group members also includes a VTOA switch management system (SMS).

Abstract: A filter passing only desired frequencies is selected according to a desired level of service for copper lines. At a point of access between a loop plant and Central Office, the filter is interposed in series over a telephone service line to provide spectral containment by restricting the frequencies of transmission passing along the line. The filter is preferably mounted within a 5-pin module used in a protector block at the Central Office or remote terminal facility, interfaces with a 5-pin module, or is placed upstream or downstream of a protector block such that it does not interfere with the operation thereof. Service is activated, and the spectral containment apparatus prevents the transmission of unexpected or unintended services over the line.

Abstract: A data modem aggregator system and a method of initializing a data modem is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the data modem aggregator system includes a plurality of data ports configured to communicate data traffic. The data traffic is carried over dedicated data twisted pair lines. The data modem aggregator system further includes shared data processing resources to process the data traffic communicated over the plurality of data ports and a high-speed multiplexed output responsive to the plurality of data ports and the shared resources. In a particular embodiment, the method of initializing a data connection for a data modem includes detecting power-on of the data modem, handshaking from the data modem with a far end connection, negotiating a data rate with the far end connection, and communicating data between the data modem and the far end connection over a dedicated data twisted pair line.

Abstract: A presence device operable in a first mode and a second mode is associated with a communication device. In the first mode, a user using the presence device is biometrically authenticated and a presence confirmation input is received from the communication device. In the second mode, a user-entered log-in input is received from the communication device. A central presence database is updated to indicate that the communication device is active for the user. A received message which is to be routed to the user is sent to the active device indicated by the central presence database.

Abstract: A rule based capacity management system for an inter office facility is provided. The system includes a presentation layer for providing a graphical user interface to a user. The presentation layer is capable of receiving one or more rules from the user and for providing one or more analytical reports of the equipment based on the rules. The system also includes a data layer for storing rules, including the rules received from the user, and for connecting to an inventory system such as trunks integrated record keeping system (TIRKS). The system also includes a business layer interfacing between the presentation layer and the data layer. The business layer creates the analytical reports responsive to the rules and the raw data.

Abstract: A method and system include restricting destinations of a telephone call from a calling station, which has been assigned a privilege class. A service control point (SCP) stores blocking tables, based on privilege classes, and a privilege class control table, which associates the blocking tables with each privilege class. The SCP ascertains the assigned privilege class of the calling station and determines whether the telephone call corresponds to one of the types of blocking tables. When the telephone call does correspond, the SCP determines whether the assigned privilege class corresponds to the blocking table that corresponds to the attempted call. When there is no privilege class correspondence, the SCP bypasses validation of the called number. When there is privilege class correspondence, the SCP validates the called number and blocks the call when the called number is validated or continues call processing when the called number is not validated.

Abstract: A communications system is provided for routing calls based on a location of a calling party. The communications system includes a processor that determines routing of a call placed by a calling party using one of a plurality of call origination devices. The call origination devices are operatively connected to a switching device that is operatively connected to the processor. The call is placed to a destination corresponding to a service having a service area. The switching device services calls placed from call origination devices located within the service area and calls placed from call origination devices located outside the service area. The processor determines whether the calling party is within the service area, and the processor instructs the switching device to route the call to the destination based upon the processor determining that the calling party is within the service area.

Abstract: A flexible network platform and call processing system are disclosed. The call processing system includes a particular call processing architecture and a resource managing system which allow new services to be implemented rapidly. An OAM&P subsystem and systems for performing data provisioning and service creation are each provided for use with the disclosed call processing system. The call processing system may include a call processing mechanism for performing call processing in accordance with defined service logic, and call processing resources connected to the call processing mechanism. The call processing resources are designed so that any service logic unit may be linked to any particular event that might occur in connection with the call processing system. A resource managing system is also disclosed for assigning resources for use by a call processing system. A resource is assigned in response to a request made by the call processing system specified capability.

Abstract: A new destination number determination switching system is provided for a telecommunications environment in which a called party has discontinued an old called party destination number and obtained a new called party destination number. The new destination number determination switching system is used to obtain the new called party destination number when a calling party places a call to the old called party destination number. The switching system includes a hub switch that receives a rerouted call from a corresponding original destination switch. The hub switch corresponds to a routing number prefix used to reroute calls from the corresponding original destination switch to the hub switch. The routing number prefix causes the hub switch to initiate a trigger to a network platform that obtains the new called party destination number.

Abstract: A desired signal and at least one interfering signal are joint demodulated with a Viterbi equalizer having an adaptive total number of states. The total number of states is based on channel impulse response (CIR) coefficients associated with the desired signal and the at least one interfering signal.

Abstract: A filter passing only desired frequencies is selected according to a desired level of service for copper lines. At a point of access between a loop plant and Central Office, the filter is interposed in series over a telephone service line to provide spectral containment by restricting the frequencies of transmission passing along the line. The filter is preferably mounted within a 6-pin module used in a protector block at the Central Office or remote terminal facility, interfaces with a 5-pin module, or is placed upstream or downstream of a protector block such that it does not interfere with the operation thereof. Service is activated, and the spectral containment apparatus prevents the transmission of unexpected or unintended services over the line.

Abstract: A cross-connect switch for implementing local number portability between a current local service provider originating switch and a desired local service provider ported switch. The cross-connect switch comprises an Originating Dial Tone (ODT) port, a Ported Dial Tone (PDT) port, a Main Distribution Frame (MDF) port, a switch, and a controller. The ODT port receives a first line from the originating switch associated with a subscriber's directory number. The PDT port receives a second line from the porting switch associated with said subscriber's directory number. The MDF port connects the cross-connect switch to a MDF associated with the originating switch and the ported switch. The controller is in operative communication with the switch, ODT, PDT and MDF ports.

Abstract: Communications between an agent and a party using a communications device involve sending an interactive script using session initiation protocol (SIP) to the communications device. The interactive script gathers information from the communications device or a user of the communications device and the requested information is then forwarded to an agent terminal using SIP. The interactive script is written in a high-level language and securely stored, such that an authorized party can easily access and alter the script to suit a need for particular information.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium are provided for defining a service area served by a service location of a telecommunications network customer. The method includes ascertaining a geographic designator of a geographic area. The geographic area includes a plurality of geographic sub-areas that each correspond to a geographic sub-designator. The method also includes determining whether any two of the plurality of geographic sub-areas are not served by the same service location. When any two of the plurality of geographic sub-areas are not served by the same service location, the service area is defined by only the sub-designators corresponding to the geographic sub-areas served by the service location. When each of the plurality of geographic sub-areas are served by the same service location, the service area is defined by the geographic designator.

Abstract: A method and system for automated speech-enabled responses to caller requests for information prompts caller requests for information from a menu that lists options based upon the frequency of requests for information and for automated collection and updating of content based upon the feedback provided by customers. For instance, a task analyzer classifies information requested by caller opening statements with the classifications based on the task the caller intends to accomplish. For a menu that provides information on telephone services, classifications may include instructions on how to use a service, pre-purchase information, identification of the services that the caller subscribes to, the cost of services, post-purchase information and identification of the caller's long distance carrier.