Abstract: A system for optimizing the traffic carrying capacity of a telecommunications network having a plurality of elements and a plurality of routes connecting those elements to one another. The controlled congestion in the network is controlled by identifying and limiting defective devices and routes with exaggerated levels of congestion. Disturbance alarm levels are also adjusted to allow increased traffic through the network and the traffic within the network is reconfigured in real time in response to the occurrence of network events to optimize traffic capacity.

Abstract: A method for predicting a number of agents required to provide a given service level in a force management system is described. The force management system has the capability to generate call handling performance data including average call arrival rate and average handling time per call. From this data, the method calculates an offered load "a" equal to the average arrival rate of calls for the system times the average handling time per call. Using the calculated offered load, the method calculates two predictor values and then uses these values in successive Erlang C calculations to locate the desired number of agents required to provide a given service level.

Abstract: Casting of votes takes place by the dialing of a subscriber number of a stated destination switching center. By omitting establishing a connection to the destination switching center in the source switching center only the appropriate connection requests are summed and, after a predetermined sum value has been reached or after a given length of time has passed since the beginning of the vote taking, the particular sum value is signaled to the destination switching center via the common signal channel.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically obtaining data useful to determine accuracy of telephone toll message accounting equipment and procedures is disclosed. The apparatus is connected to plural telephone network lines of the telephone system at a central office location and simultaneously dials a plurality of predetermined long distance telephone numbers, each of which returns detectable information when successfully dialed up. The presence of the detectable information, such as test tone, is noted and the time is logged. This information is then automatically compared by a central control computer with the billing information collected by the billing computer to ascertain operational accuracy of the latter. The apparatus is automatically remotely operated by the central control computer under a predetermined protocol.