Abstract: A system and method for opening and tracking trouble tickets over the public Internet. A customer service management system provides information included within a customer profile record to a Web enabled infrastructure which is accessible by a remote customer workstation having a web browser and Internet access. The customer profile information is used to prepopulate data fields in dialogs used to open a trouble ticket. Once a trouble ticket is opened, the customer workstation tracks the existing trouble tickets through a browser based graphical user interface. The graphical user interface provides current and historical status reports of the actions taken to resolve a network event and the service organizations responsible for resolving the network event.

Abstract: A timing output panel may include a rear portion and a front portion. The rear portion may include a number of network connectors respectively configured to connect to a number of network elements, and at least one timing connector connected to the number of network connectors and configured to connect to synchronization electronics. The front portion may include a number of equipment jacks corresponding to and electrically connected to the number of network connectors. The equipment jacks may facilitate temporary connection of cables for testing or patching signals to the network elements. The front portion also may include a number of timing jacks corresponding to and electrically connected to the at least one timing connector. The timing jacks may facilitate temporary connection of cables for testing the synchronization electronics or patching to the equipment jacks.

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: A method and system for improving the passage of silent or unused status of DsO channel to a data switch with a DsO switching capacity. The method allows the DsO channel source to be the only equipment that must engage a digital signal processor to remove silent and unused DsO channels from a DsO channel carrying data packet. The method provides for the DsO channel source, the intermediate nodes (data switches with DsO switching matrixes included) and DsO channel destination to recognize a simple and efficient means of passing suppression status of a DsO channel through the entire network.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing user-to-user information transfer services over a communications network having switches, a voice network, and a signaling network. The invention establishes a connection path over both the voice network and the signaling network for connections requested by users to follow such that multiple connections may utilize the same connection paths. Each of switches have available a database for tracking and maintaining current connection information for connections with other switches.

Abstract: A system and method for providing Time Slot Assignment (TSA)-compatible routes that optimize demand transport in a network with optimal placement of network equipment. A demand input structure having a plurality of demands organized by their time points and MUX levels is provided as an input to a model generator and an optimization processor associated therewith. After recursively optimizing the network for each MUX level/time point combination, demand routes are analyzed to verify whether they are TSA-compatible. Where demands with TSA-blocked routes are found, blocking spans are identified and a cost associated therewith is increased during an iterative re-routing process with respect to each of such blocked demands. Accordingly, alternate spans are discovered that may allow TSA transport for the blocked demands. The iterative re-routing process is effectuated by using a capacitated shortest path algorithm, and may be bounded by a limit on the number of iterations or a timeout period.

Abstract: A wireless communication system and method for determining a location of a mobile station communicating within the system. The system comprises a plurality of base receivers for receiving wireless communication, a controller, and at least one mobile station for transmitting a signal for receipt by at least two of the base receivers. The base receivers that received the transmitted signal determine a timing error associated with the transmitted signal, and the controller determines a separation distance between the mobile station and each base receiver that received the transmitted signal based at least upon the timing error. The controller further determines the location of the mobile station within the wireless communication network based upon the separation distance between the mobile station and the base receivers that received the transmitted signal.

Abstract: In a communications network that provides services to a plurality of users, events occurring during service processing are accumulated in an event record and sent to a record processor to perform post-processing, such as assessing charges to be billed to users of the network. Each service processing node in the communications network accumulates event records, bundles them with instructions as to how they are be processed, and dispatches them to one or more record processors. Before being sent to a record processor, an event record is augmented with instructions describing how to perform processing upon the events in the event record. The record processors are general-purpose processors and the instructions for post-processing are carried within the event records themselves. Post-processors are no longer required to be dedicated to a particular purpose such as billing computation.

Abstract: A virtual private branch exchange (PBX) system that routes calls within a packet-switching network. Login information is received from a data device. The login information includes an alias identifying a user at the data device and a network address identifying the location of the data device on the packet-switching network. The virtual private branch exchange system associates the user's private branch exchange extension with the network address and routes calls to the user's (PBX) extension to the data device on the basis of the network address of the data device.

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: Disclosed is a system that prevalidates service orders placed by an interexchange carrier with a local exchange carrier for connection of the interexchange carrier with a business customer. An integrated prevalidation system and service order system is disclosed in which prevalidation requests are performed to ensure that a service order will be correct when submitted, thereby avoiding the necessity for expensive supplemental orders. The present invention further provides for generating accurate service orders based upon information separately maintained by the interexchange carrier regarding the local carrier's facilities and using prevalidation requests to reconcile the separately maintained information with the database of the local exchange carrier.

Abstract: A method and system for allocating distributed resources connected to a computer network to application programs running on computers attached to the communications network. The distributed resource allocator system comprises a number of identical processes running on one or more computers attached to the communications network. Application programs request allocation of resources from a local distributed resource allocator system process running using a resource allocator applications programming interface. Application programs request allocation of resource from a remote distributed resource allocator system process via a resource allocator access protocol. The distributed resource allocator system is fault-tolerant and provides contention control and load balancing. The resource allocator system also manages information about the capacities and capabilities of resources connected to the communications network.

Abstract: An interactive computer-based training (ICBT) system operable over a computer network for training users. The ICBT system is provided with inter-dependent, state-machine-based hardware and software simulators for emulating hardware and software functionality associated with a piece of equipment on which the users are to receive interactive training. The state transition method effectuated in a computer-readable memory system includes the steps of: identifying a current state of the state machine wherein a transition is to be effectuated; determining if there is a state immediately prior to the current state, and if so, determining whether there is a dependency of the current state on the immediately prior state, the dependency being characterized as a first order dependency; inferring a reference value associated with the current state based on the first order dependency; and determining a future state of the state machine based on the inferred reference value.

Abstract: A service execution environment for an advanced interactive voice response (IVR) service node. The service execution environment functions within a next generation service node (NGSN) IVR platform in a telecommunications network. The environment uses individual service-independent building blocks (SIBBs) that allow the creation of customer applications with simple references to the individual primitive SIBBs or composite SIBBs, with branching available. Functional calls to a sequence of SIBBs along with customer specific data stored in a database comprise a complete customer application. When a call is received by an IVR service node, the application is executed by calling the SIBBs to apply certain treatments to the call. The use of the SIBBs allows increased efficiency in the network because calls can be routed to any NGSN node. Each NGSN needs no customization to perform a particular customer application.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing placement of network equipment and information load in a network over a period of time. A demand input structure having a plurality of demands organized by their time points is provided as an input to a model generator and an optimization processor associated therewith. Starting with the earliest demand set to be serviced by the network, a directed graph network model is obtained by using appropriate transformation techniques. A cost function associated with the network model is constructed using a flow cost term and an equipment cost term. Appropriate constraints are imposed on the cost function for optimization. A solution set comprising network placement information and demand routing information is obtained for a current time point. When the next demand set is taken up for optimization, the network model and associated cost function are recursively updated by using the solution set obtained for the demand set at a prior time point.

Abstract: This is a system and method for optimally allocating multi-service traffic concentrators in telecommunications network. A problem model representing the telecommunications network topology is formulated and input to a linear programming algorithm for an optimal solution. In the model, data set indices are defined as those components and/or factors in the telecommunications network which affect various operations of the network, and include origination, concentration, and destination sites as well as different multiplexer levels at each of the sites. Decision variables representing measure of efficiency in the network and whose optimal values are to be computed by the linear program are defined to include concentrator node selection, concentrator to destination site connection status, and the number of optical carrier trunks for each concentrator. The values for each of the three variables provide the equipment quantity for optimally allocating multi-service traffic concentrators.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discovery of inmate-employee fraternization includes correlating inmate identification records and employee information data from a plurality of correctional facilities in a central database with call detail records from inmate telephone activities.

Abstract: An approach for providing notification services using rules-based technology is disclosed. A Business Rules Manager module maps the business rules to business triggers, in which any pre-defined action can be performed based on the rule execution. Business rule triggers map a set of object life cycle states or business processes to set(s) of business rules; these business rules are mapped to trigger conditions. Notifications are then mapped to the business triggers (i.e., notification trigger points) such that the appropriate information can be sent to the recipients according to the business conditions or business rule actions. The users subscribe to the notification trigger points based upon the users' role, as specified in the user profiles. A user supplied subscription filter criteria permits filtering of the notifications. However, a global user override attribute associated with a notification trigger point can bypass the subscription filter criteria.

Abstract: A Network Alarm Monitoring System for monitoring messages generated by network elements that provides for a great degree of configuration and reliability. Via a display interface, e.g., Web-based or otherwise, clients may create and configure text-based rules for monitoring alarms. These rules are applied to specify which actions are to be taken on which messages, based on designated field values of alarm messages. Actions include writing messages to an alarm database, sending messages to downstream network management systems, triggering an e-mail or page. Furthermore, remote access to the network element being monitored is provided.

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, for example, a rules-based thresholding engine and a profiling engine. The detection layer can include an AI-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.