Abstract: The present invention is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) based system and method that allows a subscriber connected to the Internet via a dial-up connection to receive caller identification information concerning an incoming telephone call. The information may be provided via a pop-up dialog box on the subscriber's display, which includes but is not limited to a monitor of a personal computer (PC). The information displayed to the subscriber includes the name and number of the calling party, if available. In addition, several disposition options are presented to the subscriber solely via the Internet which, upon selection, determine the handling of the incoming call.

Abstract: A Call Alerting and Control System is provided in a communication environment to allow an Internet user (“user”) approximately real-time monitoring of information about an incoming call from a calling party while maintaining a connection with the Internet. The monitored information can include the calling party's name and telephone number. The system could also allow the user to provide an answering machine-type message to the calling party and the user to listen to the calling party's response to the message while still connected to the Internet. The system can further allow the user to reroute, answer or otherwise treat the incoming call while, at the user's discretion, either maintaining or disconnecting a connection to the Internet.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for testing a communications line. The apparatus comprises a spool having at least eight terminals, and a length of wire wound on the spool. The wire has at least four subpairs of wires, each of which has opposite ends. A first end of each of the subpairs of wires is electrically connectable to the communications line, and a second end of each of the subpairs of wires is electrically connected to a corresponding terminal on the spool.

Abstract: A method for accessing communication circuits information and customer data information. A communications facility information system is accessed by a user. A graphical user interface is provided by the communications facility information system. Search criteria is input to the communications facility information system by the user, the search criteria being related to equipment data or customer data. The graphical user interface provides input areas for the user to enter the search criteria. One or more databases are searched for the communication circuits information and/or the customer data information related to the search criteria. A result of the searching is displayed to the user where the result includes the communication circuits information and/or the customer data information related to the search criteria.

Abstract: An alerting system is provided for proactively ensuring awareness of pending 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 trouble tickets and determines whether each pending 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 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 trouble tickets to remove extraneous and invalid information. The parsing module also organizes the pending trouble tickets into data records according to a predefined format.

Abstract: A customer service call system that provides both manual (assisted by a service representative) and automated problem solving dialogs. A routing process determines which dialog is appropriate for incoming calls. The routing process determines a probability that the automated system will resolve the problem and also determines an expected hold time for the customer to reach the manual dialog. The routing process uses this information to determine how the call should be routed.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a control point and a switching point for discounting a customer's billing for telephone calls completed in a wide area centrex/PBX network that includes an abbreviated dialing plan. The control point receives, from the switching point, a query that is generated based upon receiving a telephone call. The control point determines a call type code that is based upon a calling station type and a called station type. When the call type code is eligible for discounted billing, the control point generates a billing record of a first type for the call. The billing record of the first type is used to discount the billing for the call. The control point forwards, to the switching point, the billing record of the first type for the call. The switching point generates a billing record of a second type for the call and, when the call type code is eligible for discounted billing, the billing record of the first type is used to modify the billing record of the second type.

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 for preprocessing transaction records indicative of subscriber activity on a telecommunication network for subsequent downstream processing is provided. The method includes receiving a file including a plurality of transaction records each having a plurality of fields, wherein each field contains at least one character. The characters of selected fields, or all fields, are analyzed to determine whether each of the characters is of a desired format. When any one of the characters is of an improper format, a first flag is set to indicate the existence of an erroneous character within the selected field of the transaction record. Each of the plurality of transaction records are also analyzed to determine whether each transaction record is within a desired category of transaction records. When any one of the plurality of transaction records within a file is not within the desired category of transaction records, a second flag is set to indicate an erroneous transaction record within the file.

Abstract: A telecommunications system determines a routing preference of a telecommunications service provider for a telephone call from a calling party to a called party. A switch in the telecommunications system includes a signal generator that generates a signal in response to receiving the telephone call. The signal includes a service variable and a telecommunications service provider identifier. The service variable indicates a subscription-type for a telephone number associated with the calling party or the called party. The signal is used to determine the routing preference at a service control point in the telecommunications system. The service control point receives the signal from the switch and determines the routing preference. The routing preference is forwarded to the switch. The switch receives the routing preference and routes the telephone call according to the routing preference.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method and system for processing data. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving data to be processed from a network communication channel, storing the received data to be processed in memory based files at a computer memory that is local to and directly coupled to a processor via a high-speed memory bus, processing the received and stored data at the processor to produce processed data, compressing the processed data using a data compression software routine resident at the computer memory to produced processed and compressed data, and storing the processed and compressed data at a computer disk storage unit.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing an indication of the busy condition to a calling party on a telecommunications system. The calling party may be the user of a text telephone device such as a TTY device. When a called party's line is busy, the method and system send a text message to the calling party that indicates that the called party's line is busy.

Abstract: A method for providing secure communications through a communications network comprising ATM channels and TDM channels. The communications network includes at least one closed user group of network elements configured to communicate with only other network elements in the closed user group. The method receives a connection setup request at an ingress ATM switch, via a UNI attached to the ATM switch, in response to a call initiated through a TDM channel. The UNI interfaces a first network element of the closed user group with the ATM switch. The method further verifies that an ATM End System Address (AESA) contained in calling party information of the connection setup request is consistent with the attached UNI. Additionally, the method establishes a connection with at least a second network element of the closed user group through an egress ATM switch in the communications network when the AESA is consistent with the attached UNI.

Abstract: A method of providing a caller with a directory assistance dialog. The dialog is configurable, at any level of the dialog, from an automated speech recognition (ASR) dialog to an operator-assisted (OP) dialog. The dialog is handed off to an operator if any level of the speech recognition dialog fails. Also, a configuration switch may be set to cause the dialog to be handed off to an operator even if a response at some level of the ASR dialog is successfully recognized.

Abstract: A wireless access protocol-capable telephone provides the ability to conference call numerous individuals. While maintaining the conference call, the telephone user simultaneously uses the wireless access protocol browser to perform data communication. The user then relays the information accumulated from the data communication back to the conference call.

Abstract: A method is provided for transferring service from a first local exchange carrier. The method includes connecting an interface of a second local exchange carrier to a distribution frame of the first local exchange carrier. The interface and a first switch of the first local exchange carrier each physically connect to at least one common terminal of the distribution frame. The method also includes disconnecting the first switch from the common terminal of the distribution frame.

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 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.

Abstract: A method of designing an interface system that allows users to map the representation of their task directly to the interface. There are three major phases to the Customer-Centric Approach to Interface Design (C-CAID). End-users' tasks are categorized to determine the frequency of reasons or tasks of why users interact with a particular system. These reasons and their relative frequencies are used to design interface options that emphasize the user's task categories. Finally, the customer-centric interface designs are evaluated and compared with existing system interfaces using usability tests with actual users performing the tasks. The results from usability tests are used to pinpoint the task-option combinations that do not work well and which should be revised. Benefits of this customer-centric design are improved systems performance and increased user satisfaction.

Abstract: A profile management system is provided for accessing and maintaining profile data associated with a telecommunications service subscribed to by a user. The profile data is stored on a telecommunications network which executes the telecommunications service subscribed to by the user in accordance with the profile data. The profile management system includes a client and a server. The client hosts a user interface allowing the user to view and update the profile data. The server processes user requests from the client to view and update the profile data by obtaining the profile data from the telecommunications network and forwarding the profile data to the client. The server also processes user requests from the client to update the profile data by forwarding user updates of the profile data from the client to the telecommunications network.