ATT DEFINITY Communications System Generic 3 Instructions Manual

							Automatic Circuit Assurance (ACA)
Issue  3   March 1996
3-197
When ACA is enabled by the System Manager, the ACA measurements are 
made and the audit trail is u pdated each time a  preset counter threshold is 
reached.  However, in order for a referral call to be sent, ACA referral must be 
activated.  ACA referral is activated whenever an attendant or user presses an 
ACA b utton.  When this is done, the system can send referral calls to the 
destination specified by the System Manager.
The referral call destination can be the attendant console group, a specific 
attendant console, a display-equipped voice terminal, or, if Voice Message 
Retrieval is p rovid e d, a non-display voice terminal.  The information a ppearing on 
the display identifies the call as an ACA call, identifies the trunk group access 
code and the trunk group member number, and shows the reason for referral 
(short or long holding time).  When the call is answered, this information is 
displayed and remains displayed until the call is released.
Each time a counter threshold is reached, a record of the information is stored in 
the audit trail.  The audit trail records are available to the System Manager.  Each 
record contains the following information:
nTime and Date of occurrence
nTrunk group number, trunk access code, and trunk group member
nType of referral (short or long holding time)
If the referral call destination d oes not answer the call within three minutes, the 
call times out and this information is entered in the audit trail.  The audit trail is 
examined once each hour.  If any entries indicate a referral call was not 
completed, the call is tried again.
ACA can be enabled or disabled for the entire system by the System Manager.  
The System Manager can also enable or disable ACA for each individual trunk 
group.  When ACA is disabled, ACA measurements are not made.
Two extensions must be assigned for the purpose of letting the referral call 
destination i dentify the type of ACA call (short or long holding time).  The two 
extensions are assigned as a short holding time origination extension and a long 
holding time origination extension. These extension numbers do not require 
hardware circ uit packs.
As an illustration of how ACA functions, assume the following:
nThe ACA is enabled for the entire system.
nThe ACA referral destination is extension 389.
nThe ACA long  holding time origination extension is 423.
nThe long holding time limit for trunk group 3 (trunk access code is 9) is 
one hour.
nThe ACA referral is activated. 
						

							Feature Descriptions
3-198Issue  3   March 1996 
With the above information, assume a call is ma de on a trunk in trunk group 3 
and the call lasts more than one hour.  Then, the threshold for the long holding 
time counter is reached, a referral call is made to extension 389, the display 
reflects a long holding time call, and the information is entered in the audit trail.
The referral destination can then have the operation of the trunk checked and 
taken out of service if defective.
Considerations
The  Auto matic Circuit Assurance (ACA) feature provides better service through 
early detection of faulty trunks and consequently reduces out-of-service time.  
Some types of trunk failures cause p eople to shorten their c alls.  For example, an 
excessive number of short calls may indicate a noisy trunk.  Similarly, a trunk that 
remains busy for an abnormally long time may be p ermanently b usy due to a 
trunk fault.  This feature takes advantage of these characteristics to identify 
possibly defective trunks. Once the trunk has been identified as possibly being 
defective, the Busy Verification of Terminals and Trunks feature can be used to 
check the trunk.
The audit trail contains a maximum of 64 records at any one time.  The oldest 
information is overwritten by the newest information.
Measurements are not made on personal central office lines, out-of-service 
trunks, or trunks undergoing maintenance testing.
If ACA referral calls are sent off the PBX g enerating the referral, the disp lay 
information indicating the failed trunk will b e lost even if the referral call is made 
over a DCS network.
Interactions
The following features interact with the Automatic Circuit Assuranc e (ACA) 
feature.
nCAS 
When CAS is activate d, the referral call d estination must be on the local 
switch.  A referral destination of 
0 is interpreted as the local attendant, if 
one exists.
The CAS attendant cannot activate or deactivate ACA referral calls at a 
branch location.
nInternal Automatic Answer (IAA)
Calls generated by the Automatic Circuit Assurance (ACA) feature are 
not eligible for IAA.
nNight Service — Night Station Service 
						

							Automatic Circuit Assurance (ACA)
Issue  3   March 1996
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Referral calls will not be placed if the system is in the Night Service mo de.
nVisually Impaired Attendant Service
Automatic Circuit Assurance applies for both Station and Attendant users. 
However:
— If the attendant presses the D
I SPL A Y STATUS button and an incoming 
ACA call has not been answered, then Automatic Circuit 
Assurance is voiced to the visually-impaired attendant.
— If the attendant  presses the D
ISPLAY STA TU S button and the 
incoming ACA call has been answered, then Automatic 
Circuit Assurance an d the extension number assigned to the 
phantom ACA call are simultaneously voiced to the 
visually-imp aired attendant.
— If the switch is equipped with a voice  synthesis board, ACA referral 
calls are accompanied by an audible message identifying the type 
of ACA infraction encountered. The  message  is  “Automatic  circ uit 
assurance < lon g > or  holding time threshold has been 
exceeded for trunk group < # > member numb er . The member 
numb er here is actually the Trunk A ccess Code (TAC).
Administration
ACA is administered by the System Manager.  The following items require 
administration:
nWhether ACA is enabled or disabled (per system)
nShort holding time origination extension (per system). Assigned name 
must reflect short holding time nomenclature.
nLong holding time origination extension (per system). Assigned name 
must reflect long holding time nomenclature.
nReferral destination (per system)
nWhether ACA is assigned (per trunk group)
nShort holding time limit (per trunk group)
nLong holding time limit (per trunk group)
nThreshold for short holding time counter (per trunk group)
nACA activate/deactivate button on attendant console or voice terminal 
(one per system)
Administer these items on the ‘‘Feature Related  Parameter’’, ‘‘Attendant 
Console’’, ‘‘Trunk Group’’, and ‘‘Station’’ forms. 
						

							Feature Descriptions
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Hardware and Software Requirements
A TN725 Speech Synthesizer circ uit pack is required if the referral destination is 
not a disp lay-equipped voice terminal. A TN457 Speech Synthesizer circuit pack 
is required to hear ACA messages is English, and a TN433 Speech Synthesizer 
circuit pack is required to hear ACA messages in Italian.
No a d ditional software is required. 
						

							Automatic Incoming Call Disp lay
Issue  3   March 1996
3-201
Automatic Incoming Call Display
Feature Availability
Display of Incoming Calls is available with all Generic 3 releases.
Description
Provides display-equipped voice terminal users who are already active on a call 
with the i dentity of a second or subsequent caller. The identity is automatically 
displayed on the terminal’s alphanumeric terminal for 30 seconds. The d isplays 
(which are administrable) can be in English, French, Italian, or Spanish. This 
feature a p plies when an incoming call terminates at a user’s voice terminal while 
the user is active on another call appearance.  The information displayed on the 
current call is replaced by the identity of the incoming call.  The identity of the 
incoming call normally remains displayed for 30 seconds unless there is another 
incoming call, the user hangs up, or the calling party hangs up. After 30 
seconds, the display returns to the current call information. With the 
CALLMASTER terminal, the display goes blank after 30 seconds.
A third or subsequent incoming call overwrites the information displayed on the 
previous call and restarts the 30-second interval.  In any case, the most recent 
call to terminate at the user’s voice terminal is the call identified  by the display.
If the p arty whose identity is currently being displayed hangs up, the display 
returns to the current call information. If the user hangs up on the current call 
before the 30-second interval expires on the incoming call, the disp lay is cleared.
The information displayed on the current call is not replaced by the identity of the 
incoming call if the called user is in the p rocess of dialing the current call or if the 
Outgoing Display Option is not a dministered to the trunk group being used.
Considerations
The Automatic Incoming Call Display feature lets certain users, while active on 
one call, know the identity of another incoming caller.  This is done without the 
use of an Inspect button.  By knowing who is calling, the user can handle the 
calls accordingly.
The incoming call must terminate at the user’s voice terminal in order to be 
displayed.  Calls forwarded to another extension are not displayed. 
						

							Feature Descriptions
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The display must be in the normal mode to display the identity of the incoming 
call. The Automatic Incoming Call Disp lay does not apply under the following 
conditions:
nThe called station user is not off-hook on a call.
nThe called user’s display is turned OFF.
nThe called user’s display is in any other mode other than normal mode.
nThe called station is being dialed.
Interactions
This feature enhances the Voice Terminal Display feature by providing 
automatic identification of incoming calls. The same incoming call information 
can be provided by putting the display in the inspect mode; however, this is not 
automatic and must be done manually for each call.
When a station is optioned for PC/PBX, then, d e pending on the set type, the call 
appearance designation (a=, b =, c =, d =) may be omitted from the displayed 
information in order for the
 find feature of the Call Log in the PC/PBX Connection 
software to work properly.
Administration
Unless you want to administer a language other than English for the displays, no 
administration is required. See the Administrable Language Displays feature for 
a description of multi-language displays.
Hardware and Software Requirements
Requires a 515 BCT, a display-equip ped voice terminal, or a voice terminal 
capable of displaying information through an attached data terminal. No 
a d ditional software is required. 
						

							Automatic Route Selection (ARS)
Issue  3   March 1996
3-203
Automatic Route Selection (ARS)
Feature Availability
This feature is optional with all Generic 3 releases.
Description
Routes calls over the public network based on the preferred (normally the least 
expensive) route available at the time the call is placed.
ARS provides a choice of routes for any given public network call. The following 
types of trunk groups can be accessed by ARS:
nLocal central office — Used for local calls and to provide access to a 
long-distance carrier.  Access to the long-distance carrier can be 
provided either automatically by the central office or by a carrier access 
code (where supported).
nForeign exchange — Used to emulate local c alling in an area not served 
by the local central office.  Like the local central office, the foreign 
exchange office provides a choice of long-distance carriers.
nWATS  — Used to provide calling to predefined geographic areas at a 
rate b ased on expected usage.
nTie trunks — Used to p rovide access to an ETN, or to an EPSCS or CCSA 
office.  (In some cases, it is preferable to allow a private network to handle 
the routing of calls destined for the public network.)
nISDN-PRI  — Used for calls over an ISDN and provides users access to a 
variety of switched nodal services such as MEGACOM 
telecommunications service, INWATS, and ACCUNET digital service and 
allows access to other inter-exchange carriers or private networks.
A variety of numbers can be called using ARS, including 7-digit numbers, 
10-digit numbers, International Direct Distance Dialing (IDDD) numbers, service 
codes, Customer-Dialed O perator-Serviced (CDOS) numbers (for example, in 
the United States, 0+ or 01+), and Inter-Exchange Carrier (IXC) numbers.
ARS is particularly useful when one or more long-distance carriers and WATS are 
provided.  The system selects the most preferred (normally least expensive) 
route for the call. Long-distance carrier code dialing is not required on routes 
selected by the system.  Long-distance carrier c o des are assigned in 
translations to best benefit the customer on any given call. These codes are 
inserted as needed to guarantee automatic carrier selection.
The system may serve as an ETN tandem switch. In this case, the system can 
access or be accessed by Intertandem Tie Trunks to/from other tandem switches 
and/or Access Tie Trunks to/from ETN main switches. The system can also  
						

							Feature Descriptions
3-204Issue  3   March 1996 
access Bypass Tie Trunks to an ETN main switch. This d istinction as a tandem 
switch is important with respect to the routing of certain calls.
ARS Dialing
ARS begins when a user dials the ARS access code (normally the digit 9), 
followed by the number to be called.
As soon as the user dials the ARS access code, the system checks to see if the 
user’s voice terminal extension has been Origination Restricted or Outward 
Restricted b y its assigned COR. The system also checks to see if the user has a 
Controlled Restriction of either Outward or Total. If any of these restrictions a pp ly, 
intercept treatment is a p plied to the call. Otherwise, the ARS call continues and 
the user can enter the number to be called.
A second dial tone may or may not b e heard after the ARS access code is dialed, 
depending on the system administration.
Inter-Digit Timeout
The system uses a short inter-digit timer and a long inter-digit timer during the 
dialing process. Normally, a 10-second inter-d igit timer is used between each 
d i git for the user to continue dialing. If the digits dialed so far point to a valid 
destination, but there is a similar string of digits which is of different length, the 
short three-second inter-digit timer will b e started. If dialing does not continue 
before the timer expires, it is assumed that no more digits will follow, and # is 
a p pended by the system to indicate end of dialing.  To override the timer for 
faster call processing, the originator may dial # to indicate end of dialing.
A 10-se cond long inter-digit timer is used to wait for another digit when the digits 
dialed so far are not a valid destination. Timeout of this timer results in Intercept 
tone to the caller.
When no length ambiguity exists and all d igits are collected, the call is routed, 
and no timer or # is required.
Special Dialing Patterns
The system recognizes certain dialing patterns on outgoing calls and routes 
these calls accordingly. The  descriptions of these dialing patterns reflect the 
system defaults as used in the United States.  Other countries may require 
different a dministration of these values. The following dialing patterns are 
recognized:
nDDD Calls With Prefix Digit 1 Required 
The user may or may not be required to dial a 1 before dialing a seven- or 
10-digit number, depending on the system’s dial p lan ad ministration. 
There are two cases where the digit 1 must be dialed: 
						

							Automatic Route Selection (ARS)
Issue  3   March 1996
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— Some metropolitan areas are so densely populated that there 
simply are not enough traditional central office codes.  Therefore, it 
is possible that some NPA c o des, also called 
area c o des may also 
serve as CO codes.  In this case, the digit 1 must be dialed if a 
10-digit call is intended.  The first digit tells the system whether to 
route the call as a seven-digit call within the home NPA (1 not 
dialed) or as a 10-digit call to another NPA (1 dialed). In this case, 
the dial p lan should be administered so that the user is required to 
dial 1 for 10-d i git calls.  (This is unnecessary in G3r.)
— Digit 1 dialing may also be required in areas near an NPA 
boundary. In these areas, certain calls to the adjacent NPA may b e 
local calls rather than toll calls. However, central office codes may 
be duplicated in the home and adjacent NPAs. Also a CO code in 
the home NPA may b e a toll call. Therefore, if the d igit 1 is not 
required on certain adjacent NPA local calls, then it must be dialed 
on the home NPA seven-digit toll calls so the system can 
differentiate between the intended destinations.
nDDD Calls with Prefix Digit 1 Not Required 
The first di git following the ARS access code may or may not be a 1. In 
systems where the 1 prefix is dialed, but not required (as administered on 
the ‘Dial Plan’ form), d ialing the 1 prefix before a 10-digit call is optional 
and the prefix will be ignored.
nIDDD Calls 
IDDD numb ers consist of a Country Code and a National Number.  The 
National Numb er is simply the numb er used when calling within the 
country.  The Country Code can  be from one to three digits in length.  In 
the NANP the National Number is 10 digits in length.  The Country Code 
and National Number to gether cannot exceed 12 digits.  In the NANP, 
international numb ers are recognized by special prefix codes:
—011 
— Indicates that the caller is making a station paid direct 
international call. The Country Code and National Number follow 
the 011 prefix.
—01 
— Indicates the caller desires operator assistance on an 
international call, such as person-to-person, credit card, collect 
call, and so on. The Country Code and National Number follow the 
01 prefix.
nOperator Assistance Calls 
The first digit following the ARS access code is a 0.  If a 0 is dialed by itself 
to a c cess an operator, a special inter-digit time-out occurs, the route for 
dial 0 calls is selected and a 0# is outpulsed. If the user dials another 0, 
the route for 00 is selected and a 00# is outpulsed.  The call is routed to 
the toll o perator (if one exists) instead of the local operator in this case. 
						

							Feature Descriptions
3-206Issue  3   March 1996 
nOperator Assisted and International Calls 
The first di gits following the ARS access code are 0 (operator) or 00 (toll 
operator) optionally followed by a 10-digit DDD number, or 01 or 010 
(international o perator) for international dialing followed by international 
destination a ddress digits.  Because of the variable numb er of digits 
required on these calls, an inter-digit time-out is used to recognize end of 
dialing.
nSpecial Service Codes 
The first three digits following the ARS access code are of the form X11 
(where X =  0 through 9) with or without dialing the 1 prefix digit. This is 
called a service code. These are recognized as complete addresses if no 
further d i gits are dialed, and are routed to the appropriate facility.  If it is 
administered with a length of three to seven digits, the inter-digit time-out 
determines whether the call is a 3- or 7-d i git call.  For example, if the user 
dials 
911, the call will route to the police/emergency operator; if the user 
dials 
811-XXXX, the call will b e translated as a seven-digit call for the 
repair bureau corresponding to the last four d i gits (
811 is a service code 
for repair).  In any case, the call is route d based on the first three digits 
(
X11) for these special services. If the first three digits after the prefix digit 
(if any) are not in the form X11, further processing is required to route the 
call.
nCalls Dialed with Inter-Exchange Carrier (IXC) Access 
The first di gits following the ARS access code are an IXC Ac c ess Code. 
The access code may be followed by a DDD or an IDDD number.  This 
gives the user control over which carrier or facilities should be used for 
routing the call.  The call is routed based on the administration of the IXC 
prefixes in the ARS Digit Analysis Table (and Page 2 of the “ IXC” form) 
discussed later in this chapter. For G3r, the system may ignore the IXC 
code when routing if it cannot find a route using the IXC c o de.
The system supports access to three general IXC arrangements which are 
commonly referred to as Feature Groups A, B, and D:
nFeature Group A access dialing is of the form NXX-XXXX (where N is any 
digit 2 through 9, and X is any d i git from 0 through 9) and may be followed 
by a Personal Identification Number (PIN) (for examp le, 800-XXXX).
nFeature Group B access dialing is of the form 950-0XXX or 950-1XXX 
(where X is any digit from 0 through 9) and may be followed by a PIN.
nFeature Group D access dialing is of the form 10XXX (where X is any digit 
from 0 through 9). As of 1993, equal access codes of the form 101XX XX  
will be permitted.
From a caller’s perspective, the major differences between use of the various 
groups are:
nAccess to Feature Groups A and B requires the dialing of seven digits, 
whereas access to Feature Group D requires just five digits.