Abstract: One embodiment of a method of producing a transit graph of a priori information relating to movements of a plurality of targets from a first of a plurality of targets locations to a second of the plurality of locations can be broadly summarized by the following steps: processing a plurality of target observations from a plurality of image capture devices to produce at least one primary track for at least one target, wherein each primary track includes ordered sequences of observation events having similarities in their visual signatures; and processing the at least one primary track to determine a priori information relating to movement of a target from a first of a plurality of locations to a second of the plurality of locations. Other methods and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Service resource items (49) for use in call setup in a telephone system are held on servers (58) that are connected to a computer network which is logically distinct from the telephone system infrastructure; this computer network may, for example, make use of the Internet. Each service resource item (49) is locatable on the network at a corresponding URI and is associated with a particular telephone number. A mapping is provided between telephone numbers and the URIs of associated service resource items. When it is desired to access a service resource item (49) associated with a particular telephone number, this mapping is used to retrieve the corresponding URI (step 55) which is then used to access the desired service resource item (56, 57, 59).

Abstract: Service resource items (49) for use in call setup in a telephone system are held on servers (58) that are connected to a computer network which is logically distinct from the telephone system infrastructure; this computer network may, for example, make use of the Internet. Each service item (49) is locatable on the network at a corresponding URI and is associated with a particular telephone number. A mapping is provided between telephone numbers and the URIs of associated service resource items. When it is desired to access a service resource item (49) associated with a particular telephone number, this mapping is used to retrieve the corresponding URI (step 55) which is then used to access the desired service resource item (56, 57, 59).

Abstract: A third-party call setup gateway (90) is provided for setting up bearer channels (60) through a switched telecommunications system, such as a PSTN, by controlling an associated switch (41). The call setup gateway (90) has an interface onto a computer network, such as the Internet, that is accessible to users of the telecommunications system. In a preferred arrangement, a user A wishing to place a call to user B gets the details of B's current telephone number from a “phone page” (41) on B's website and then sends this telephone number together with A's own telephone number, to the gateway (90). The gateway (90) then commands the switch (41) to establish a call between A's telephone and B's telephone.

Abstract: Service resource items (49) for use in call setup in a telephone system are held on servers (58) that are connected to a computer network which is logically distinct from the telephone system infrastuture; this computer network may, for example, make use of the Internet. Each service resource item (49) is locatable on the network at a corresponding URI and is associated with a particular telephone number. A mapping is provided between telephone numbers and the URIs of associated service resource items. When it is desired to access a service resoce item (49) associated with a particular telephone number, this mapping is used to retrieve the corresponding URI (step 55) which is then used to access the desired service resource item (56, 57, 59).

Abstract: A method of accessing service resource items for use in setting up bearer channels through a switched telecommunications system including the step of provisioning one or more servers connected to a computer network with a plurality of service resource items that are located with corresponding known URIs. The computer network is logically distinct from a telecommunications system and the service resource items relate to setup control for bearer channels through the telecommunications system. Each of the service resource items is associated with a respective predetermined code. The predetermined codes are distinct from the URIs and identify end-point entities for the bearer channels. The method also includes providing a mapping between the predetermined codes and the known URI of the service resource item associated with its predetermined code.

Abstract: Service resource items (49) for use in call setup in a telephone system are held on servers (58) that are connected to a computer network which is logically distinct from the telephone system infrastructure; this computer network may, for example, make use of the Internet. Each service resource item (49) is locatable on the network at a corresponding URI and is associated with a particular telephone number. A mapping is provided between telephone numbers and the URIs of associated service resource items. When it is desired to access a service resource item (49) associated with a particular telephone number, this mapping is used to retrieve the corresponding URI (step 55) which is then used to access the desired service resource item (56, 57, 59).

Abstract: Traditional IN (Intelligent Network) services in a PSTN use service logic and data that is accessible for use only by the PSTN, though provision may be made for users to change certain controlled parameters of the services. The present system has the service logic and data (“service resource items”) placed on servers (51) accessible over the Internet (50). This permits service resource items to be accessed from the service control subsystem (42) of a PSTN on a worldwide basis using the highly-resilient infrastructure of the Internet (50). Furthermore, the updating of the service resource items can be made the responsibility of the party to whom the service resource item relates, such updating being readily effected by access direct to the server (51) holding the resource items.

Abstract: Traditional Intelligent network services in a PSTN use service logic and data that is accessible for use only by the PSTN, though provision may be made for users to change certain controlled parameters of the services. The present system has the service logic and data placed on a server accessible over the Internet. This permits anyone to access useful telephone data such as time-of-day routing or diversion number information of a user. Thus a calling party can determine before placing a call over the PSTN the best number to call by accessing the phone page of the intended called party. This phone page would remain accessible to the PSTN for service provision. In a preferred embodiment, the service logic and data is maintained by the user independently of the PSTN on a server of the user's choice; in this case, the PSTN would also access the user's server logic and data over the Internet.

Abstract: Content items (49) are held on Internet servers (51) with each item being locatable at a corresponding URI and having an associated identifying number (“1234567”) that can be input using a telephone keypad. A PSTN is provided with an intelligent peripheal (70) that has connectivity with the Internet (50). To access a particular content item (49), a telephone user (A) inputs a service designator code (“333”) followed by the identifying number (“1234567”) of the required content item (49). The intelligent peripheral (70) translates the input identifying number to the URI of the required item. This URI is then used by the intelligent peripheral (70) to retrieve the required content item and deliver it to the telephone user (A), typically as a speech rendition of the item.

Abstract: A method of accessing a target entity over a communication network employs a distributed database system similar top the DNS of the Internet; indeed the DNS may be used as the required distributed database. The distributed database stores records, each associated with a corresponding domain name and holding communication data for use in accessing a target entity. Each of these domain names are related to a respective number string from which it can be derived by a process including parsing at least a substantial portion of the number string into at least a part of said domain name. Upon the input of a number indicative of a target entity, the related domain name is formed by parsing the number and the domain name is then used to retrieve the corresponding communication data from the DNS-type distributed database system. This data is then used in accessing the target entity.

Abstract: A telecommunications network architecture is known comprising a switching system for effecting basic call processing to set up, maintain and clear calls, and service-providing means (SPA) communicating with said switching system for providing services additional to said basic call processing. Due to the high availability requirements typically placed on telecommunications networks, the service providing means will generally need to be of a fault-tolerant design. A fault tolerant architecture is provided that relies on the checkpointing to a reliable store of state data for services currently being provided from first service logic of the service-providing means; should the first service logic fail, a second service logic is brought into operation and provided with required state data on current services from the backup store.

Abstract: A network analysis method for use in relation to a network having a plurality of entities, each with associated traffic, involves an analysis task comprising the steps of monitoring the network to collect data on entity traffic for a period of network operation, analyzing this data in respect of an entity operational characteristic by which the entities may be ordered into a ranking, forming an end set of at least one entity at one end of said ranking, and storing the identity of the or each entity making up that end set.