Abstract: System and method for facilitating intelligent network call processing using a centralized call context database. The system and method include and involve a call context database and an intelligent telecommunications network that is coupled to the call context database. The network includes and involves an access network element capable of receiving a call, generating first call context data and a network call identifier related to the call, storing the call context data and the network call identifier in the call context database, transmitting the network call identifier, and processing the call. The network further includes and involves a plurality of network elements that are coupled to the call context database and to the access network element. Each network element is capable of receiving the call and/or data related to the call (e.g.

Abstract: A system and method for Enhanced Overflow Call Processing redirects calls which cannot be completed to alternate terminations. An originating switch queries a network database for an alternate termination for the call each time the originating switch detects that the call cannot be completed to the current termination. The network database determines the alternate termination for each query using a hierarchical set of multi-branch overflow statements which are configured by the user. A set of overflow statements is selected by the network database based on the original termination of the call. The set of overflow statements is searched hierarchically until an active overflow statement is found. This overflow statement then controls all queries relating to that call. The reason the call was not completed is used to select either an alternate termination to which the call is to be routed or a particular treatment, such as a busy signal or network message, which is to be applied to the call.

Abstract: System and method for distributing calls to customer service operators, particularly home operators. The present invention provides a telecommunications service provider's network with intelligence to monitor the current status and availability of home operators, and to determine the appropriate routing of a customer service call. By enabling the network to monitor operator availability status, only a single telephone line to a home operator is required, and notification of availability to answer calls is not required to be performed by the home operator.

Abstract: A telecommunications system for international routing processes international calls directed to a multi-carrier country. A network control system provides the intelligence needed to weigh all of the applicable information and, based on International Traffic Bid Allocation, returns the routing information to the long distance carrier domestic switch in accordance with an agreement on call allocation between the long distance carrier and the international carrier in the multi-carrier country. Based on the routing information provided by the network control system, the domestic switch subsequently routes the international call to the proper terminating gateway switch and the destination multi-carrier country.

Abstract: A method of and system for routing switched termination telephone calls in accordance with international routing requirements and with consideration of available network capacity. A call is received at a switch of an international carrier. The switch sends a query identifying the first country as the country of origin for the call and the second country as the country of termination for the call to a service control point of the international carrier. The service control point determines from the query that the call is an international call and sends a request for a routing translation to a regulatory routing platform of the international carrier. The regulatory routing platform determines an optimal route for the call in accordance with international regulatory routing requirements.

Abstract: A line feed concentrator serves as a network information concentrator having its inputs connected to the outputs of plural adjunct processors. Switches and other network elements are connected to the inputs of a respective adjunct processor. The concentrator compresses data and filters it, thus providing only the type of data required by a specific downstream application. The concentrator incorporates a match/merge subsystem which provides the ability to match/merge network call record files originating at different network elements, but relating to the same call. In essence, the concentrator provides a single point for the call record data from the various network elements thereby facilitating the match/merge function.

Abstract: A conference billing system with ID tagging allocates charges for a conference based on a prior reservation. The billing system also supports different tariffs and pricing structures for individual call legs in the conference, such as audio, video, digital data, or mixed. In addition, the billing system prepares a consolidated bill for dial-in and dial-out calls based on a unique ID assigned to each conference. The bill contains the description of the conference with its individual call legs grouped together for easy identification and verification by the customer, even though the individual call legs of the conference may be serviced by different long distance switching offices.

Abstract: A system broadcasts a call record via an interface in a telecommunications network having a plurality of network components and client platforms. A network component generates a call record following a particular call transaction over communications lines. A message including the call record is then broadcast by the network component via a high speed interface, such as a local area network. The message also includes a call record type indicator for identification of the type of the call record. After the message is received by a client platform connected to a processor, the call record type indicator is analyzed. Based on this analysis, the client platform either stores and subsequently processes the call record if required, or otherwise discards the call record.

Abstract: A system and method for the switches of a telecommunications network to create and transport a network call identifier (NCID) which uniquely identifies a telephone call as it traverses through a telecommunications network. Upon receipt of a telephone call in a switch, the switch first determines whether it has received an NCID with the telephone call. If the switch received an NCID, the switch determines whether it is a valid NCID and should be transported with the telephone call. If the received NCID should not be transported, the switch discards the received NCID and creates a new NCID for the telephone call. Alternatively, upon the receipt of a telephone call, if the switch determines that a NCID was not received, the switch determines if an NCID should be created. The switch creates an NCID if it determines that an NCID should be created for the telephone call. If the NCID is created or kept, the switch stores the NCID in an appropriate call record that contains information about the telephone call.

Abstract: Call records are generated from various network elements processing a call. A consolidation feed acts as a concentrator for the various records. However, since the concentrator receives the call records at different times, the invention provides a concentrator with a count of the various types of network elements which have processed the call. This allows the concentrator to match and merge the records once all the records, indicated by the final count, have been received. In order to update the count as a call progresses from network element to network element, the originating network element creates a buffer which is carried through the network, from element to element. As each element is affected, it adds a count to the buffer.

Abstract: A conference system provides dial-out conference calls to participants who use various virtual private network dialing plans as well as place non-plan calls, such as Direct Distance Dialing and International Direct Distance Dialing. The conference system recognizes non-identical VPN dialing plans, as well as PSTN numbers, which all originate on a single Dedicated Access Line (DAL). When a dial-out conference call is originated on a DAL, a switch performs a database query to determine a VPN dialing plan. Based on a code provided along with the dialed telephone number, the database identifies the number as belonging to a particular VPN dialing plan and translates it into a physical termination. Alternatively, if the code indicates that the number does not belong to a VPN dialing plan, i.e, a DDD or IDDD number, it is unmodified by the database. Either translated or untranslated number is then returned to the switch for subsequent network routing to a physical termination.

Abstract: A telecommunications system provides a call transfer function while user-A is involved in two independent calls: one with user-B and one with user-C. The call transfer by user-A is initiated by sending a message to the long distance carrier switching office. In the switching office, both independent calls are identified as part of the transfer request. The switching office then requests the call transfer function by sending a message to the network control system for the validation of the transfer. After the network control system determines allowability of the transfer, the call between user-B and user-C is connected, while user-A and user-A's customer premise equipment is disconnected from user-B and user-C.

Abstract: A telecommunications system comprises two groups of intelligent platforms in a common carrier's network. Each intelligent platform includes an application or a service for processing a call related transaction. The intelligent platforms in each group are arranged in the Local Area Network configuration, such as a Fiber Distributed Data Interface, to transfer the call related transaction to each other for further processing. Each group of the intelligent platforms comprises a node on the Wide Area Network, such as an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), which provides the high speed support for transferring the call related transaction among the intelligent platforms of each group. The combination of these two transport mechanisms will provide a high speed interface and sufficient bandwidth for the projected increase in traffic volume.

Abstract: In a telecommunication network, a DATA ACCESS POINT (DAP) database is used to route traffic between originating calling stations and terminating called stations for special service processing calls. The traffic or routing data are collected and converted by a traffic statistics processor into statistics data. The statistics data are provided to the management of the network. Some of the statistics data are converted by an INTEGRATED NETWORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (INMS) compiler processor into reports which may be provided to subscribers of the special call processing service in real time or on a delay basis. If a subscriber has subscribed to the special call processing service on a real time basis, he can update certain parameters of the database to reallocate the percentage of calls to be directed to the different called station staffed by his operators.