Abstract: Monitoring criteria is received that corresponds to a usage quantity for a plurality of services. Each of the plurality of services is provided over ones of a plurality of different communication systems. Actual service usage information is received for the plurality of services. The actual service usage information and the monitoring criteria are compared. An electronic notification message is sent when the monitoring criteria for one or more of the plurality of services is satisfied.

Abstract: A method and system for forecasting telephony traffic trends on a network of a given service provider includes storing number portability records in a database. Each record contains information regarding a corresponding telephone number having been ported between service providers. First and second images of the database are obtained at first and second times. The first and second images are indicative of the records stored in the database at the first and second times. The images are compared to determine migration of the ported telephone numbers between the service providers. Movement of telephone traffic on the network of the given service provider is forecasted as a function of the determined migration of the ported telephone numbers between the service providers.

Abstract: A novel RF switch circuit and method for switching RF signals is described. The RF switch circuit is fabricated in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology. The RF switch includes pairs of switching and shunting transistor groupings used to alternatively couple RF input signals to a common RF node. A fully integrated RF switch is described including digital control logic and a negative voltage generator integrated together with the RF switch elements. In one embodiment, the fully integrated RF switch includes a built-in oscillator, a charge pump circuit, CMOS logic circuitry, level-shifting and voltage divider circuits, and an RF buffer circuit. Several embodiments of the charge pump, level shifting, voltage divider, and RF buffer circuits are described. The RF switch provides improvements in insertion loss, switch isolation, and switch compression. An improved voltage reducing circuit is described. The improved voltage reducing circuit limits voltages applied to selected nodes within the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable the synchronization of user profile information for M users who are sharing K telecommunications terminals, wherein M and K are not necessarily equal to each other. The disclosed technique addresses the problem that occurs when multiple users share multiple terminals, in which a user that selects a particular terminal to use has to contend with the contact lists, user preferences, and call log entries that are left over from the previous user or users of the selected terminal. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the user profile information is associated with and stored for each user in a group of users, in contrast to being associated with and stored for the telecommunications terminal. The user profile information comprises (i) contact information, (ii) call or message activity, and (iii) user terminal preferences.

Abstract: An account management system (100) is coupled to a service center (101) serving a number of customers (108). The account management system has a communications interface (110), a memory (104), and a controller (102). The controller is programmed to monitor (202) service outages of the service center, detect (204) a service outage, identify (206) one or more customers affected by the service outage, and assign (208) a credit to each of the affected one or more customers.

Abstract: A system and method for processing gathered call data from a network monitoring system to prepare the call data for analyzing call routing across a network, not limited to call data associated with the transit portion of a call path. The system and method include correlating call data to form a correlated set, ordering the call data in the correlated set to form a compound CDR, and enriching the compound CDR by comparing CDRs within the compound CDR to each other.

Abstract: A method for implementing charging communication services is provided, wherein, the charging system includes a charging module and an expression analyzer; the charging module first determines a plurality of basic expression factors, and a user configures expressions based on the expression factors; the charging module reads a communication record, obtains the values of the expression factors by analyzing the communication record, and transmits the values of the expression factors to the expression analyzer; the expression analyzer performs the expression operation assigned with the expression factor values and finally returns the operation result to a charging module; and the charging module searches the corresponding charging rate according to the operation result and calculate the fee.

Abstract: Improved DSL and/or other communication system services can be provided by motivating users, service providers and operators to implement and comply with one or more operational conditions, such as parameter value limits and/or ranges, that enhance operation of the communication system. Enhanced operation can include providing a reward such as an operational benefit to one or more users and/or mitigating problems experienced by other users in the communication system, which can be one or more communication lines. A DSL line implementing and complying with one or more operational conditions is provided with a reward (such as an operational benefit like a higher maximum data rate), which is otherwise withheld if the line fails to comply with the condition(s). Each operational condition may be set and monitored by a controller, such as a DSL optimizer that collects and analyzes operational data to determine compliance.

Abstract: One or more methods and systems of effectively transmitting voice and voice band data from one node to another are presented. In one embodiment, the system comprises an NTP time server generating absolute times to computing devices such as residential voice over internet protocol (VoIP) gateways. The NTP time server generates absolute times in response to NTP time requests made by one or more computing devices such as residential VoIP gateways. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining an adequate rate for requesting absolute times from an NTP server, making periodic requests to the NTP server, obtaining the absolute times from the NTP server, and generating an adjustment parameter for use by a computing device such as a residential VoIP gateway.

Abstract: Embodiments for monitoring a network are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes collecting data containing information on usage of a network by subscribers. The method further aggregates the data for a first type of usage-based function. Further, the method, simultaneously with the aggregating of the data, samples the data for a second, different type of usage-based function. In other embodiments, systems and machine readable media for monitoring usage of a network are also provided that provide simultaneous generation of data sets for first and second usage-based functions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying charges on a bill are provided. Each charge category is assigned an associated symbol. The associated symbol appears in proximity to the corresponding charge category on the bill. If a charge category includes charge subcategories, the symbol can also appear on the bill in proximity to the charge subcategory.

Abstract: Multiple access internet portal billing systems are provided. A representative system, among others, includes a communication facility, a wireless internet server, and a transaction billing system. The communication facility includes a billing platform, and is operable to connect to a plurality of wireless device platforms through a mobile network, and to connect to the wireless internet server. The wireless internet server provides internet access to the wireless devices and communicate at least one billing information record including a usage time to a transaction billing system. The transaction billing system receives the billing information record from the wireless internet server, formats the billing information record, and communicates the formatted record to the communication facility billing platform. Methods and other systems for multiple access internet portals are also provided.

Abstract: A method for training line drivers in a communication system; each driver coupled with at least one communication line configured for communicating with subscriber equipment using at least one tone-set; includes the steps of: (a) selecting a test driver; (b) selecting a test line coupled with the test driver; (c) establishing synchrony with subscriber equipment on the test line; (d) applying a test signal to the test line using a selected tone-set; (e) determining noise on the test line; (f) evaluating whether noise on the test line plus a noise margin is within a predetermined range; (g) when noise is acceptable, designating the selected tone-set for operational employment; (h) repeating steps (b)-(g) until sufficient lines are evaluated for the test driver; and (i) repeating steps (a)-(h) until sufficient drivers are evaluated.

Abstract: A method (10) of payment of communication services includes determining (14) if a request (12) for services is an essential service or non-essential service, determining (19) if a device and/or user is authorized for non-essential service, and determining (20) if there are sufficient pre-pay funds for the non-essential service. The method can further include rejecting (26) the request for non-essential service if the device and/or user is unauthorized or if insufficient pre-pay funds exist. The method grants (16) the request if the request is for essential service (such as voice services). The essential service or subscription or post-pay service can be added (18) to a recurring bill. If the device and/or user is authorized and sufficient prepay funds exist, then the method grants (22) the request for the non-essential service. In response or in conjunction with granting, the method can deduct (24) funds from prepay funds upon granting the request.

Abstract: Security systems typically communicate with alarm monitoring centers using a telephone connection. Security systems will check in with the alarm monitoring center with a diagnostic signal at a predetermined interval—typically once per day. When a security system is connected to a Voice-over-IP service (using Broadband Internet), rather than a standard telephone line, the opportunity exists to poll in real-time the status of the connection, and alert the owner (or alert the alarm monitoring center) that the customer's connection has been broken. The present invention offers a system and technique for monitoring a security system connected using a Voice-over-IP connection, in real time, and alerting the owner of the security system, or the alarm-monitoring center, when the connection is broken. This alert can be used, for example, to issue a telephone call to the police, informing them of the breach of line integrity and possible compromise of the premise.

Abstract: A general charging method includes establishing a charging strategy and performing the charging according to the charging strategy. The charging strategy includes at least one priority each of which includes at least one time period and each of the time periods is provided at least one rate segment in each of which there is at least one rate. Performing the charging includes: matching with a corresponding charging strategy upon the time a subscriber uses a service and/or the subscriber's current resource, and determining a charging mode; searching for a corresponding priority; performing the charging according to the charging mode. With such a structure of general charging strategy, the method can satisfy various charging demands and provide generality and adequate expansibility. Also, the method enables subscribers to configure different charging methods as necessary.

Abstract: Techniques for measuring a one way delay between two handsets over an Internet protocol (IP) network utilize a delay measurement subsystem connected to both handsets and a procedure to couple a test signal to both handsets and measure the response to the test signal. The delay measurement subsystem is connected to a call originating handset to play an acoustic test signal to the transmitter of the originating handset. The delay measurement subsystem is connected to a call terminating handset to play the acoustic test signal to the transmitter of the call terminating handset and to record acoustic signals received on the call terminating handset. Signals recorded at the call terminating handset include a sidetone signal and a signal received from the call originating handset. The difference between the sidetone signal and the signal received from the call originating handset represents the delay through the handsets and the IP network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing communications of a contact center are provided. A representative system incorporates a graphical user interface operative to display information corresponding to a communication of the contact center, the graphical user interface being configured to display the information such that different portions of the communication are visually distinguished from each other.

Abstract: A device for testing a data carrying service operating over a telecommunications line includes a plurality of test circuits. Each test circuit is arranged to determine and test one or more characteristics of a data carrying service and a termination of the telecommunications line is emulated. The operation of each of the plurality of test circuits is controlled, and the telecommunications lines is connected to one or more of the plurality of test circuits. The data carrying service remains connected via a connection during all of the testing operations provided by one or more of the test circuits which enables the device to automatically determine the identity of the data carrying service. The test circuits may be arranged to enable emulation of a termination to be interconnected so as to enable the device to provide a passive link in the data carrying service and/or provide throughput testing of the telecommunications line.

Abstract: The present invention enables a method for following the state of a call and generating defects as function of call completion success as opposed to discrete events that happen at individual network elements during the call. In one embodiment, the invention uses Call Detail Records (CDR) to analyze the end-to-end completion status to measure per call basis defects instead of using defect codes generated by network elements on a per equipment basis. CDR is data associated with a telephone call, including the calling and the called numbers, the date and timestamp, the duration, the call setup delay, and the final handling code of the telephone call.