Abstract:
An information processing apparatus includes a memory storing a log of an operation of a user and a processor configured to cause the memory to store the log of the operation of the user, and if the log of the operation of the user stored on the memory satisfies a specific condition after an operation related to an inquiry of the user is detected, transmit, to an external entity related to a destination of the inquiry, information indicating that a question in the inquiry of the user is not solved.
Abstract:
A system and method for incoming and outgoing electronic messages with inmates includes a database including user records having user profiles and inmate profiles, and action event records. The system and method are programmed to associate at least one inmate account number with a specific SIM card or phone number, detect the triggering event, trigger the action event to be performed based on the triggering event, perform the action event data based on the action event. The action event data includes determining whether the user profile is a current user or a new user, receiving at least one inmate account number associated with the message, processing the message according to predetermined criteria, upon determining that the user profile is a current user pairing the message with the at least one inmate account number, and sending the message to the at least one inmate account number.
Abstract:
A user device (10) provides a subscriber with access to a network service. The user device (10) determines service-specific key material and charging-specific key material. The user device (10) determines a charging record indicating usage of the network service by the subscriber and associates the charging record with first authentication information based on the charging-specific key material. The user device (10) generates at least one message including the charging record and the associated first authentication information. The user device (10) associates the at least one message with second authentication information based on the service-specific key material. The user device (10) sends the at least one message to a first network node (150) which is incapable of relating the charging-specific key material or the service-specific key material to a subscriber identity of the subscriber. The first network node (150) receives the at least one message and the associated second authentication information from the user device (10) and authenticates the at least one message based on the service-specific key material and the second authentication information. In response to authenticating the at least one message, the first network node forwards the charging record and the associated first authentication information to a second network node (120). The second network node (120) is capable of relating the charging-specific key material to the subscriber identity of the subscriber. The second network node (120) receives the charging record and the associated first authentication information from the first network node (150) and authenticates the charging record based on the charging-specific key material and the first authentication information. In response to authenticating the charging record, the second network node (120) controls charging of the network service.
Abstract:
Telecommunications customers must frequently utilize the facilities of many different telecommunications service providers in order to transmit data from one location to another. When a telecommunications customer encounters a network problem, that customer usually must navigate a complicated web of service providers and equipment owners in order to receive meaningful technical assistance from a human technician. The present invention is designed and intended to facilitate human interactions for technical support and administrative tasks by associating customer, contract, circuit, equipment, key personnel, billing, and telco information in a database for efficient data presentation and information retrieval. Resolution of the logistical problem of tracking circuit information is achieved by organizing the information and displaying important data concurrently. Toward that end, the system modules comprising the invention share all of the circuit inventory data available, and graphical user interfaces for each module display relevant information together. Examples of features in the present invention include: simultaneous display of circuit and contact information for key personnel, a reminder function for tracking changes in important service characteristics, and customer-specific formatting for billing
Abstract:
An OLAP-based method and system for profiling customer behavior that can be utilized to detect telecommunication fraud. First, call records are received. Next, a calling profile cube (e.g., a multi-customer profile cube) is generated based on the call records. A volume-based calling pattern cube (e.g., a calling pattern cube for each individual customer) is then generated based on the multi-customer profile cube. The volume-based calling pattern cube is then compared with known fraudulent volume-based calling patterns. If the similarities generated by the comparison reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold, then the particular caller with the calling pattern being analyzed is considered suspicious. In this manner, suspicious calling activity can be detected, and appropriate remedial actions, such as further investigation or the cancellation of telephone services, can be taken.
Abstract:
The invention features an apparatus and method for detecting recording errors in a telephone network that provides services to a plurality of customers, the method comprising: recording information output by the telephone network relating to the provision of a service to the customers, the information having a periodic pattern; identifying disturbances in the periodic pattern that persist for longer than a predetermined time period; and generating an alarm when the identified disturbances exceed a threshold. Th invention also features using a model to generate a forecast of information that will be output by the network in a time period that has not yet occurred utilizing information recorded during a previous time period, the model including a plurality of states representing disturbances in the periodic pattern, each state representing a disturbance having a different persistence. The system obtains information output by the telephone network relating to the provision of the service to the customers during a time period; compares the forecast with the information obtained during the time period to generate a deviation; uses the deviation to update each of the states; and generates an alarm when a selected one of the states exceeds a threshold.
Abstract:
A receipt generator which produces written receipts at locations remote to the location of use for a conventional charge-card activated system is disclosed. The charge-card activated system provides a telecommunications service and maintains billing records which are supplied at predetermined intervals, such as daily, to a receipt transmission computer. The receipt transmission computer communicates with a personal profile database that associates charge-card numbers with phone numbers assigned to the remote locations. Printing devices, such as facsimile machines, couple to phone lines at these remote locations. The receipt transmission computer identifies, through an examination of charge-card identifiers, particular ones of the billing records for which personal profile database entries exist. The receipt transmission computer then formats a text file for such records. For each of such records, this text file includes transaction parameters describing use of the service within the previous predetermined interval. Attempts are then made to send the text file to the phone number recorded in the personal profile database. When a successful attempt occurs, the written receipt is printed at the printing device in the remote location.
Abstract:
A telecommunications system 10 is provided which comprises a PBX system 12 coupled to a call processing system 16 through plurality of trunks 14. SMDR data records are received from the PBX system 12 by the call processing system 16 through an SMDR data line 18. The call processing system 16 includes an SMDR translation system which retrieves call records associated with each call placed through the call processing system 16 and matches these call records to SMDR data records received from the PBX system 12. The matched records are used to generate a combined SMDR output record for a particular call which is then output through an output line 30 to a call accounting system 32. In this manner, the call processing system 16 can utilize the information received from the PBX system 12 with the accurate call duration information generated in its own systems to provide for accurate call records associated with each call placed through the call processing system 16.
Abstract:
There is provided a telephone call monitoring, metering and selection device, the purpose of which is to select the lowest-cost way to make a call from one point to another point. The user will program the possible carriers and rates from a standard telephone and the user will enter the time, date, taxes and other information after plugging in the unit. After selecting the destination phone number, the device will show the rates of all possible carriers and then allow the user to choose or select a desired carrier. Because carriers do not have the same quality, the low-cost carrier may not always be the carrier the user wants to select. The unit will display all carrier rates on a one minute call, five minute call, ten minute call and the like. The device will show the user on a real time basis what the calls may cost. The costing feature will apply to local and long distance calls. Also, the device can be programmed to keep a total of what the calls have been from a beginning of a billing cycle and previous billing cycles.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus are disclosed for recording information on the accumulated usage of a group of trunks interconnecting two networks. The apparatus includes two usage records that are alternately designated primary and secondary usage records during successive ones of consecutive time periods. In response to a call on a trunk, the primary usage record is decremented by an amount representing the time interval between the start of a given period and the commencement of trunk use. During the period, each trunk connected to a network office is examined for use once during the period. When a selected trunk is found in use, the secondary usage record is incremented by an amount representing the interval of time in the previously occurring time period. When the secondary usage record has not been updated for the selected trunk, the secondary usage record is decremented by an amount representing the previous interval of time to adjust the secondary usage record for calls occurring prior to the trunk being checked for use. When a call is terminated on a trunk, the primary usage record is incremented by an amount representing the interval time between the start of the period and the termination of the call. In addition, the secondary usage record is incremented by an amount representing the interval of time in the previous time period when the trunk has not been checked for use. At the end of each period, the primary and secondary designations of the two records are exchanged for use during the next time period.