Abstract: A method and system of receiving, storing, and delivering customer comments, including qualitative and quantitative feedback, over a communications network, such as the Internet. Also, the present invention relates to a method and system of rating and ranking companies, including individual merchants and both buyers and sellers, and their products and services based upon comments received and then awarding the companies points based upon their rating.

Abstract: A method of detecting circular routing in a No. 7 signaling network is provided which detects circular routing that occurs when operating the signaling network, thereby preventing congestion of links by circular routing and finding out any reasons for the link congestion. The method detects a circular routing that occurs in three or more signaling transfer points, by transmitting a message transfer part routing verification test (MRVT) message through the signal route of the highest priority among the signal routes in an available state which go to a specific destination point code (DPC), only when a link is in an unavailable state, thereby preventing congestion of links by circular routing and finding out any reasons for the link congestion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the management of multiple-node networks to provide for efficient and rapid determination of an alternative connection path through the network to avoid a fault in the connection path. The present invention seeks to minimize the number of nodes affected by the alternative connection path by systematically seeking alternative, non-retracing connection paths from nodes neighboring the connection fault. Until an alternative connection is found, searches are conducted from nodes further from the connection fault. Optionally, the present invention may use a retracing path to establish a connection.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for flexible global title translation load sharing are disclosed. GTT load sharing groups are defined. Each GTT load sharing group may include one or more point codes. At least one of the point codes may appear in more than one of the GTT load sharing groups. When signaling messages requiring GTT are received, the signaling messages are load shared using the GTT load sharing groups.

Abstract: A method and system is provided wherein routing information is obtained from previously cached information or from a gatekeeper. An originating gateway in a network receives a request for a connection and determines whether pertinent routing information is cached. If available, the cached routing is used to attempt to establish a connection. If no previously established routing is available, the originating gateway requests preferred routing from a gatekeeper, including prioritized selections of terminating gateways through which to make a connection to a designated call recipient. In a further embodiment of the invention, a process is provided to respond to a complaint regarding the quality of service. The system determines whether the reported problem is general or isolated; if it is general, alternate call routing is devised.

Abstract: An approach for processing a call over a telecommunications system is disclosed. A call processor (e.g., a Service Control Point (SCP)) communicates with a switch to provide an alternative route for a call, received by the switch, that is determined to be a local portability number (LNP). A database coupled to the call processor stores the alternative routes associated with the LNP call; at least one of the alternative routes specifies a route that bypasses a local exchange network capable of terminating the call, whereby local access charges are avoided.

Abstract: A system and method of routing telephone calls to specific communications devices allows multiple communications devices to use a common telephone number. One telephone number may therefore be used to place calls to different communications devices in potentially different locations. Using such a system and method, the proliferation of telephone numbers and area codes can be sufficiently controlled, as the addition of cellular telephones, facsimile machines and pagers has created the need for increases in area codes and digits that must be dialed. The present system and method allows a caller to reach a desired communication device by first dialing a set of prefix characteristics representing a specific communications device followed by a telephone number to which that specific communications device is assigned.

Abstract: The invention relates to an operations and maintenance center for a telecommunications system comprising: server means 5 for storing of first information being indicative of network elements of the telecommunications system and of second information being indicative of assignments of network elements and resource managers 2, information retrieval means 12 for generating third information being indicative of network elements being assigned to one of the resource managers.

Abstract: A method and system is provided wherein routing information is obtained from previously cached information or from a gatekeeper. An originating gateway in a network receives a request for a connection and determines whether pertinent routing information is cached. If available, the cached routing is used to attempt to establish a connection. If no previously established routing is available, the originating gateway requests preferred routing from a gatekeeper, including prioritized selections of terminating gateways through which to make a connection to a designated call recipient.

Abstract: A method for providing softswitch failure protection in a communication network is provided that includes assigning an alias point code to a first softswitch. The alias point code is also assigned to a second softswitch. A message is generated that comprises a destination point code that is operable to identify a destination for the message. The destination point code comprises the alias point code.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for simultaneously providing multiple telephone-type services to any/all POTS-type devices on a single wire pair at a user premises. The present invention provides for the ability to add separately addressable POTS devices on a single service loop. This can be accomplished in at least two ways: first by the use of a multipoint protocol or second by Frequency Division Multiplexing.

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: A system and method of directing calls is disclosed for a telephone network having remote locations. The remote locations receive incoming calls and attempt to route the calls using a basic call director. If the remote location cannot route the call, then data, such as a recorded spoken utterance, is provided to a central system. The central system then attempts to automatically determine how to route the call using the data from the remote location. If the central system is unable to automatically determine the routing information, then the data is provided to an operator who attempts to determine how to route the call. Finally, a caller can be connected directly to the operator, if the operator is not able to determine routing information from the provided data alone.

Abstract: A failsafe configuration for alternative network telephony is disclosed. An indication as to whether an alternative network telephony call processing system is available to process calls from an associated piece of telephone equipment is received automatically and transparently to a user of the telephone equipment. Calls placed from the telephone equipment at a time when the alternative network telephony call processing system is available to process calls are processed via alternative network telephony. Calls placed from the telephone equipment at a time when the alternative network telephony call processing system is not available to process calls are processed via the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Abstract: A network node is configured to negotiate for connections for high priority calls (e.g., voice calls) received at the node in the face of otherwise congested outbound communication links. The negotiation is conducted in a fashion that will preserve connections for existing calls associated with the node. For example, the negotiation may be conducted so as to cause one or more of the existing calls to consume less bandwidth over the outbound communication links than was consumed at a time prior to reception of the high priority calls. Such negotiations may be initiated depending on the availability of codec resources and/or compression schemes at the node and may be conducted using OAM cells.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for selective processing of calls using alternative network telephony. Called party data is received indicating a destination to which a calling party using a local telephone equipment desires to place a call. It is determined transparently to the calling party whether the called party data satisfies a first criteria for completing calls via alternative network telephony. The call is completed using alternative network telephony if it is determined that the called party data satisfies the first criteria. The call is completed via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) if it is determined that the called party data does not satisfy the first criteria.

Abstract: A communication system includes a tenant with multiple physical locations that include a number of packet enabled telecommunications devices managed by one or more call managers. To generate a route plan for use by a call manager in managing calls from these devices, a route plan wizard determines routing options, location information for the tenant, and gateway information for gateways available to the tenant and then automatically generates a route plan for use in routing telephone calls originating from the managed packet enabled telecommunications devices based on this information.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating collection of past due balances. A control entity such as a call server or collections server receives a signaling message such as a SIP INVITE that seeks to set up a call between a calling party and called party. The control entity determines that the calling party has a past due balance, i.e., that the calling party owes the carrier money. In response, the control entity changes the signaling message to designate a collections system as the called party, and the signaling message is then used to set up a call between the calling party and the collections system.

Abstract: A system and method for routing a communication directed to a directory number. According to one embodiment, wherein a redirection service is operative with respect to the communication directed to the directory number to direct the communication away from the directory number to at least one other directory number whenever the directory number to which the communication was directed is inoperative.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for message-based intelligent tandeming of an incoming call to an application node in telecommunication systems. The various embodiments utilize a new parameter, referred to as a tandem parameter, to designate whether incoming calls to a particular subscriber are to be tandemed to an application node or are to be delivered directly to the subscriber. The preferred system embodiment includes an adjunct network entity, a database, and a switching center. The adjunct network entity, such as a service circuit node or service control point, has one or more application nodes or platforms, supporting various telecommunication services such as prepaid services, calling party pays services, and one number services. The database, such as a home location register or visitor location register, stores information such as subscriber profiles, and includes storing the tandem parameter.

Abstract: Data is dynamically routed between first and second locations. An attempt failure ratio is obtained for each of several data paths capable of providing a data link between the first and second locations, where such ratio represents a proportion of failed linkages by the data path to all attempted linkages by the data path between the first and second locations. A revenue value is also obtained for each data path, where such value represents an amount per unit generated by a successful linkage by the data path between the first and second locations. A comparative income value is then computed for each data path, where such value is a product of the attempt failure ratio for the data path and the revenue value for the data path. Routing information is then selected for routing the data between the first and second locations based on the comparative income value for each data path. The routing information may be employed to route the data by way of at least one of the data paths.

Abstract: A system and method for exchanging telecommunication service information between a telecommunication service provider and a telecommunication service customer include electronically receiving a request in a predefined format to establish an interactive session with a telecommunications customer, determining whether the telecommunications customer is authorized for electronically exchanging information and continuing only if the customer is authorized, parsing the request to identify information related to at least one telecommunications service offered by the telecommunications services provider, the telecommunications service having an associated identification code, determining whether the requested telecommunication service is available in a particular location, and automatically generating information associated with the requested telecommunications service and transmitting the information using the predetermined format to the customer.

Abstract: A communication network includes a network selection system and an enterprise system that are connected to a PSTN. The network selection system receives a connection request from the enterprise system through the PSTN network, identifies the enterprise system, retrieves a cost/performance profile of the enterprise system, retrieves ISP cost and performance information for each independent ISP of the plurality of independent ISPs, processes the ISP cost and performance information for each of the plurality of independent ISPs against the cost/performance profile, and selects the one independent ISP from among the plurality of independent ISPs based on the processing of the ISP cost and performance information against the cost/performance profile.

Abstract: An Internet telephone adapter for setting up voice/data links, where a data conversion unit for data conversion between a subscriber terminal interface and a subscriber access adapter interface allows connection both to a packet-switching communications network and to a line-switching communications network.

Abstract: System for establishing a permanent connection between the Internet and a user subscribed to it. There, a switching PoP (4) is used in which in addition to the incoming lines (1) through which switched telephone traffic enters, there are lines (?) which are not connected to the telephone exchange (3) and are permanently connected to a connection at a subscriber. The inputs (7) of the PoP (4) not being connected to the telephone exchange (3) are executed as two-wire connections in such a way that the subscriber is directly connected to the PoP (4), One can also use standard multiplexing equipment (6), to which the subscriber is connected through a two-wire connection, said equipment being connected to said switching PoP (4) and is switched on the basis of an instruction from the PoP manager (8).

Abstract: For communications interface across the line of demarcation between the customer premises media and a link of a public digital broadband communication network, a network interface device is “soft” in that it is adaptable to different service applications and readily programmable from both the network-side and the customer-side. A network-side interface provides a communications connection to a broadband network link at an edge of the digital broadband network. A customer-side interface provides communications connection to one or more media in the customer premises, for example, to telephone and LAN wiring within the premises. The soft network interface device also includes a data processing system, for controlling at least some of the communications through the interfaces. The data processing system is capable of being programmed with network service provisioning data from the public network as well as with user programming received from the customer premises.

Abstract: A telecommunications system is described comprising: a master server associated with each of a plurality of services available to subscribers; a database for holding profile records for each subscriber, the records identifying the master servers associated with services to which the subscriber subscribes; and a set of call agents arranged to manage user sessions. The master server for each service is arranged to respond to a query from a call agent to communicate a set of trigger events and a set of servers for executing the events. Finally, the call agents are arranged to manage user sessions by retrieving the profile records from the database, querying the master servers for the services to which the user subscribes to obtain the set of trigger events to be reported and the set of servers for executing the reported events and dynamically constructing an event table for a user session based on the response from the master servers.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for intelligent tandeming of an incoming call to an application node in telecommunication systems. The various embodiments utilize a new parameter, referred to as a tandem parameter, to designate whether incoming calls to a particular subscriber are to be tandemed to an application node or are to be delivered directly to the subscriber. The preferred system embodiment includes an adjunct network entity, a database, and a switching center. The adjunct network entity, such as a service circuit node or service control point, has one or more application nodes or platforms, supporting various telecommunication services such as prepaid services, calling party pays services, and one number services. The database, such as a home location register or visitor location register, stores information such as subscriber profiles, and includes storing the tandem parameter.

Abstract: A method for transferring a message in a message transfer part with high speed is disclosed. Distinctive features of the invention include the generation of an access key table that stores information regarding the status of a destination point, to which a message is intended to be sent, and the transmission of the message pursuant to the status of the destination point contained in the access key table.

Abstract: The invention provides a way to fallback to a PSTN call at any time during a VoIP call when Quality of Service in a VoIP network falls below some acceptable level. The PSTN fallback calls can be retrieved “midcall” and rerouted back over the VoIP network. This provides optimal utilization of VoIP without sacrificing the quality of the call connection. Calls are cheaper because PSTN fallback calls are only established temporarily for the amount of time that the QoS problem exists on the VoIP network. Call fallback is conducted in a VoIP gateway by first receiving an incoming call. A Voice over IP (VoIP) call is established for the incoming call over the VoIP network. VoIP packets are encoded from the voice signals in the incoming call and sent over the VoIP network. Quality of service of the VoIP network is monitored during the VoIP call and a fallback call is setup over a PSTN network at any time during the VoIP call when the monitored quality of service of the VoIP network degrades.

Abstract: A system and a method for providing a service begins when a customer establishes a communication link, such as a telecommunications link, with a service provider, such as directory assistance. An exchange of information occurs, and a service, such as a telephone number or catalog order, is provided by the service provider at least in part via the communication link. Before the customer terminates the communication link, he or she is requested to provide feedback, which preferably relates to the quality of the service provided. In another embodiment, the exchange of information is monitored, and an action, such as notifying a supervisor, is taken if a predetermined condition is detected, such as usage of unacceptable language by a call handling agent.

Abstract: A card, particularly a digital line card is provided for use with a chassis having a slot for receiving the digital line card. The chassis has an Ethernet bus for receiving packets from the line card and has a power supply and power strip for supplying power to the line card. The line card includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN) digital line input/output interface for sending digital signals over the PSTN and for receiving digital signals from PSTN. A line card control processor is connected to the digital line input/output interface. An Ethernet input/output is provided for sending packets over a local network corresponding to signals received from the telephone line and for receiving packets from the local network and forwarding received signals to the digital line input/output interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for maintaining and updating records of the routing of switches in a telephony network. Information identifying new or changed telephony codes may be received from a regulatory or industry source. Other routing changes may also be received. Code changes may be compared to existing code routing information to determine if an automated routing proposal can be made. Necessary routing changes may be designed and listed for translation. After translation sign-off confirms that the routing changes have been made in the telephony switches, the routing information is updated to incorporate the routing changes.

Abstract: Various components are provided to manage a clustered environment. These components include a System Registry that provides a global data storage; a Configuration manager that stores data locally on nodes of the clustered environment and globally within the System Registry; a Liveness component to provide status of communications paths of the cluster; a Group Services component that provides services to one or more other components of the clustered environment; and a Resource Management component that communicates with one or more resource controllers of the clustered environment. Each of the components of the clustered environment has one or more data and/or functional dependencies on one or more other components of the environment. However, relationships between the components are created such that the data and functional dependencies form an acyclic graph (i.e., a cycle of dependency relationships is avoided).

Abstract: The accent of a party to a call is determined from a speech sample of the party and the call is sent for servicing to a call-center agent who has skill in the determined accent, and preferably to an agent who speaks both the determined language and the language of the accent.

Abstract: A party is identified with a network independent address. That address is linked to a plurality of network specific addresses. In the context of originating a communication toward that party, the network independent address is used as the dialed address. A context for the origination, which identifies the type of communication being originated (for example, voice call, data call, e-mail, and the like) and/or the network over which the originated communication is to occur, is included with the network independent address in the origination. The network independent address is used to identify the plurality of associated network specific addresses, and the context is used to select a certain one of those network specific addresses. The selected network specific address is then used to route the origination to the party. Completion of the origination using the selected network address may be controlled by either the network or terminal.

Abstract: A data driven communication system has three layers consisting of destination, people or network nodes, and devices. Software agents represent the entities of these layers and relationships between agents are defined by policies or chains of policies. These relationships are used to determine communication paths within the system as well as features associated with a particular communication. A database representation of the objects (agents and policies) is used to configure the system and receive updates to the system by an administrator. A graphical user interface can be used to enter data into the database and facilitates an intuitive understanding of the nature of the relationships involved.

Abstract: A processing system receives and processes telecommunication signaling for a user communication to determine a minimum bandwidth and a maximum bandwidth for the user communication. The processing system transfers control information indicating the minimum bandwidth and the maximum bandwidth for the user communication to a routing system. The routing system receives the control information and the user communication, and in response, transfers the user communication over a first communication path and a second communication path. The first communication path supports the minimum bandwidth, and the second communication path supports the maximum bandwidth.

Abstract: A method and system enable optimization of trunk group design in a public switched telephone network (PSTN). A community of interest, including two end offices connected by a direct trunk and at least one tandem switch, is identified using out-of band signaling data collected from the PSTN. An application server interfaced to the PSTN determines whether traffic in the community of interest passes through the tandem switch during a predetermined time period. When traffic passes through the tandem switch, the application server further determines whether the direct trunk between the end offices experienced an overflow condition during the same predetermined time period. When the direct trunk did not experience an overflow condition, an exchange code associated with the traffic passing through the tandem switch is designated as a misrouted code. The misrouted code is flagged so that associated traffic is redirected through the direct trunk.

Abstract: A method of selecting a trail using a Constraint based routing technique in which at least one user-determined routing policy is used to bias input to a Dijkstra/Yen-K shortest path routing engine, so as to limit output by the routine engine to routes conforming with the user-determined routing policy.

Abstract: A telecommunications network system and method is presented incorporating a distributed feature composition (DFC) architecture, offering new technology for feature specification and composition. In the network architecture of the invention, customer calls are processed by dynamically assembled configurations of filter-like components: each component implements an applicable feature, and communicates with its neighbors by featureless internal calls that are connected by the underlying architectural substrate. Features are coherently accumulated, and the problem of feature interaction is rendered much more tractable.

Abstract: A method includes integrating information regarding receiving, transmitting and converting capabilities of each device in a network with regard to signal formats, so that a pertinent transmission path can be determined. Such possible transmission paths can be specified in terms of the order of devices involved in the transmission paths and a signal format between these devices involved. One of the possible transmission paths that match the transmitting device and the transmitted signal format is selected as a pertinent transmission path. The method displays the selected transmission path on a monitor (305), to assist a user to manually establish a pertinent transmission path. According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus includes a means for storing device capability information. Also included is a memory (306) for storing capability information of other devices. An analog input terminal (302) and a digital input/output terminal (300) are included.

Abstract: A method of routing calls in a communication system. A call is received from an originating network in the communication system. The identity of the originating network is determined, and the call is routed in the communication system based on the identity of the originating network.

Abstract: A method for routing of incoming prioritized telecommunication traffic in a telecommunication network by applying an algorithm of finding optimal path to an augmented graph built for said telecommunication network. The telecommunication network is represented as a network graph comprising nodes (A, B, C, D, E) and real links (AB, BC, CD, ED, AE) bridging the nodes, while the augmented graph is a graph built on the basis of the network graph by adding to it virtual links (ABC1, . . . , EDC3). The augmented graph comprises nodes and edges, wherein the edges of the augmented graph are weighed to reflect priority of the telecommunication traffic presently taking place there-through. For placing a new call according to the method, a pathfinder optimization algorithm is applied to the augmented graph to determine an optimal pathfinder solution, having the minimal total weight, for routing the new call in the augmented graph.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for establishing a telephone connection between subscribers of a first telephone net (P) to subscribers of a second telephone net (T1, T2, T3). A calling private branch exchange (N1, N2) of the first telephone net communicates a subscriber's number to a central control unit (C). Said central control unit determines the private branch exchange (N1, N2) from which the second telephone net is accessed. Subsequently, the connection to the subscriber of the second telephone net is established.

Abstract: A method and system for providing and using telephone call routing rules provides customer premises equipment adapted to intelligently and automatically identify a routing path associated with a telephone call and to route the telephone call to the identified routing path.

Abstract: There is provided a remote digital terminal (RDT) which connects digital lines extended from integrated digital terminals(IDTs) with subscriber lines extended from subscribers accommodated in the integrated digital terminals comprising: first means for cross-connecting the digital lines and logic digital lines which are for identifying the digital lines on each of the integrated digital terminals; second means for cross-connecting the subscriber lines and logic subscriber lines which are for identifying the subscriber lines on each of the integrated digital terminals; and third means for cross-connecting the logic digital lines and the logic subscriber lines on each of the integrated digital terminals. Accordingly, the digital lines connected to each of the IDTs can be identified by the first means, and an arbitrary subscriber line can be allocated for an arbitrary logical subscriber by the second means.

Abstract: Methods and devices for obtaining a network service at a network interconnected computing device (18) from one of plurality of network servers (16a, 16b, 16c), are disclosed. The computing device (18) contacts a first network server (16a) having a first network address, using the network address over the network (10). The device (18) provides this server (16a) with an identifier of the computing device. This identifier may, for example, be a persistent state object or “cookie”. The server (16a), in response, queries a database and determines a second network address of a server (16a, 16b or 16c) used to provide a service to the computing device, based on the identifier. This address is provided to the computing device (18). The network addresses of servers (16a, 16b, 16) may be uniform resource locators. The computing device (18), in turn, contacts the server identified by the second network address and obtains the network service.

Abstract: A communication system includes a communication network, and an originating telephony device, a target telephony device, and a call manager coupled to the communication network. The call manager signals the target telephony device to indicate an incoming call from the originating telephony device. The call manager includes an alternate number list that identifies at least one alternate telephony device to be signaled in response to an incoming call directed to the target telephony device. The call manager additionally includes one or more mapping tables associating a network address with each identified alternate telephony device.

Abstract: A traffic control method for intelligent network services is disclosed. When an overload state is detected, a service control point (SCP) requests a call gapping operation by transmitting a call gapping message containing a gapping information to a service switching point (SSP), the SSP executing the call gapping operation for controlling an intelligent network call to arrive only at the SCP that has requested the call gapping message by distinguishing between different physical nodes of each SCP.