Aucbvax.2930
fa.telecom
utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!telecom
Thu Sep 3 23:03:12 1981
TELECOM Digest V1 #9
>From JSol@RUTGERS Thu Sep 3 22:55:09 1981
TELECOM AM Digest Friday, 4 Sep 1981 Volume 1 : Issue 9
Today's Topics: TSPS & TOPS & the Speaking Clock
Learning About Telephones
Touch Tone Pay Phones
Paying Bills by Phone & VOTRAX
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Date: 3 Sep 1981 1416-EDT
From: John R. Covert <RSX-DEV AT DEC-MARLBORO>
Subject: TSPS and TOPS
TSPS (the Bell system's advanced operator system, Traffic Services
Position System) does handle most long-distance traffic for Step-by-
Step Central Offices as well as most operator traffic for all types of
Bell System (and often nearby independent) COs.
However, it very rarely handles non-operator intertoll, except in
the case of XBar international. Lauren, can you give me the NPA-NXX
of any XBar in the US with IDDD via TSPS. I'd like to take a look
at it. I'd also like to take a look at any XBar doing normal inter-
toll via TSPS, if you can give me an NPA-NXX.
------------------------------
Date: 3 Sep 1981 1424-EDT
From: John R. Covert <RSX-DEV AT DEC-MARLBORO>
Subject: Speaking Clock
A good job is usually done of blocking things like the speaking clock
or Dial-a-disc from incoming toll calls. It can be done in a number
of ways.
For example, the number Lauren gave for the dial-a-disc recording is
too short to be dialed from the North American Network. Numbers in
the UK must be at least 9 digits long (counting the country code).
Thus 011-44-222-06 is two digits too short to be dialed.
It is also possible to class mark certain things so they can't be
dialed. In Step, you do this by not building out the switch-train.
In more modern offices it is done with hardwired or software "attri-
butes".
Certainly we can find some numbers that do work. However, if they
don't go off-hook, and don't charge, then the Federal Authorities
may consider it Toll Fraud, especially if Bell Security tells them
to.
If they do go off-hook, it's an awfully expensive way to get the time.
------------------------------
Date: 3 Sep 1981 1435-EDT
From: John R. Covert <RSX-DEV AT DEC-MARLBORO>
Subject: Learning about telephony
I recommend doing what I did years ago. Go to a good tech library
and read every copy of the Bell Labs Record you can get your hands
on. Then go to the Bell Sys Tech Journal for more detail.
I also subscribed to the Record for a few years.
------------------------------
Date: 3 Sep 1981 1803-EDT
From: Gene Hastings <HASTINGS AT CMU-20C>
Subject: SMB's question in V1,#8(Wed. 2 Sept)
It's always been my impression that pushbutton phones are
preferred for pay stations because of their greater resistance to
vandalism (such as no finger wheel to be pried off). I suspect
that they may also be more reliable in general.
Has anyone heard of any operating company installing ersatz
PB phones (i.e. ones that have a pushbutton face but put out pulses)
for whatever reason? For that matter, what do such dials do when you
press "#" or "*" ?
Gene
------------------------------
Date: 3 Sep 1981 1617-PDT
Subject: TSPS
From: GILLIGAN at USC-ISID
Folks interested in learning about TSPS should have a look at
the July-August 1979 issue of The Bell System Technical Journal (part
1). This is a special issue dedicated entirely to TSPS and includes
photos and and diagrams of the operator's console in enough detail to
make out the legends on the keys. Also in this issue are a few
articles describing the Automated Coin Toll Service.
------------------------------
Date: 1 Sep 1981 1127-PDT
From: Ian H. Merritt <MERRITT USC-ISIB AT>
Subject: Re: [Bob Knight] Bill paying by telephone - a demo.
I called that thing last night (I wonder if they are noticing a huge
influx of users (from this list, little do they know...) suddenly
calling that thing at all hours of the night) and found it
interesting, however not unfamiliar. I have seen uses of votrax and
other tape-patched speech systems (which I believe this is), used
interactively with touch-tone input from users. How many readers of
this list are familiar with the so-called 'District Data Processing
System' in Michigan. This system was used by phone freaks for many
years, since its access codes were almost anything 3 digits long.
123, 111, 222, 333, 321, etc were valid user idents. This system was
done with tape-patching, and I think it still exists, however the old
phone numbers (800-521-8530, Admin at 313-322-3405) have long been
defunct.
There is an order-entry system, using Votrax speech on 800-638-8927,
which requires a *LONG* identification string, which provides for
selection of one of several special services. At 800-631-1146, there
is another Votrax system, however I have no idea what it is used for.
A little over a year ago, someone showed me a system at Ralston Purina
to which the numbers have been changed, using interactive speech or
tones. If you talk to it, it talks back; if you tone to it, it
signals you with tones. This system is the first commercial
application I have seen of speech input in which there was a
reasonable hit ratio. The dialog was something like the following:
[User calls system]
[Long pause, during which time, if a touch-tone is received,
tone mode is then selected for the duration of the
call]
System: [In a sexy female sounding, but synthesized voice]
Authorization number, please...
User: [Speaks as clearly as possible, annunciating each syllable]
Five
System: Five
User: Seven
System: Seven
User: Five
System: Nine
User: NO!
System: Sorry.
User: Five
System: Five
User: Three
System: Three
User: END!
System: Thank you. Destination number, please...
[Dialog continues until the numbers are all in, then the
system when operating under normal conditions,
will proceed to place the call the user entered
with the 'Destination number']
If the system receives 3 errors, while trying to read the same digit,
it responds with 'Sorry: Were having difficulties' and goes to reorder
tone. Know of any others like this?
IHM
------------------------------
End of TELECOM Digest
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