Traffic Service Position System Research Articles

Ergonomics Analyses of the AT&T Operator Services Position System

The Operator Services position System (OSPS) is an advanced Ergonomically sound workstation designed to furnish AT&T operators with enhanced call processing facilities. The predecessor for the OSPS system originated as the Traffic Service Position System (TSPS) about 40 years ago and replaced the manual corded operator positions. At that time, the TSPS represented a significant improvement for the operator working environment. Ergonomics advancements in the past 40 years since the TSPS design, have been applied to the replacement OSPS. Additional features were provided to the TSPS system in 1986. The Computerized Position Information System (COMPIS) is an auxiliary system designed to enhance operator work efficiency and productivity. The COMPIS system is the old TSPS system augmented by a Video Display Terminal (VDT) and a movable keyboard with a long cord. This COMPIS “add-on” was acceptable when COMPIS use required only 10% of the operators' 8-hour working day. The COMPIS was so successful that usage quickly climbed to 50%. COMPIS equipment was an interim system intended to enhance operator capabilities until the new Operator Services Position System (OSPS) is installed in late 1990. The primary objective of this paper is to discuss the significant Ergonomics considerations of this system and describe their applications within the communications industry. The Ergonomic goals of AT&T are: development of procedures to be utilized for system feedback and keying of calls: and, provision of a console and screen display layout that can support the maximum use of Human Factors principles as they apply to the operators' duties.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1B: Long-Range Planning Tools

This article describes the issues involved in operator services planning and the structure of the computer tools developed to address these issues. The approach to long-range planning of operator services networks is very flexible, and the availability of the Traffic Service Position System No. 1B further enhances this flexibility. This planning effort is a complex process that has been automated by computer tools that are both accurate and user-friendly.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1B: Capacity and Reliability Evaluation

This paper describes the prediction and evaluation of the call-processing capacity and reliability resulting from use of the 3B20 Duplex (3B20D) Processor in the Traffic Service Position System No. 1B (TSPS No. 1B). The call-processing capacity was predicted using a processor real-time model whose parameter values were determined by laboratory and test-site measurements. The system reliability was predicted using Markov modeling techniques. Performing an evaluation during TSPS No. 1B development provided a means for monitoring progress toward meeting the capacity and reliability objectives.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1B: Integration and System Testing

The integration testing and system testing strategies used in the development of the Traffic Service Position System No. 1B (TSPS No. 1B) are described in this article. It discusses novel methods developed for the integration and testing of the first embedded application of the 3B20D Processor and DMERT operating system. The new testing techniques and project management aides, which were vital to the achievement of system quality for the Bell System service, are described. The first TSPS No. 1B went into service on November 20, 1981, in Fresno, California.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1B: Switching Control Center System Interface

Over the years, the centralization of the maintenance and operation of Stored Program Control Systems (SPCS) has proved to be an economically attractive and effective methodology. At the core of the centralized maintenance plan is the Switching Control Center (SCC), which has responsibility for the surveillance and control of a number of SPCS. This center is supported by the Switching Control Center System (SCCS), which is a minicomputer-based system that provides automation of, or mechanized support for, the functions of the SCC. Since SCCS support for the Traffic Service Position System No. 1 (TSPS No. 1) was already available, these capabilities needed to be carried forward to support the operation and maintenance of TSPS No. 1B. In addition, the use of the new 3B20D Processor with a new craftperson interface allowed for a number of improvements and extensions. The SCCS interface to TSPS No. 1B has made use of new technology and techniques by incorporating microprocessors, video terminal interfaces, and BX.25 protocol in the design. The result is a flexible interface with software-driven craft displays.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1B: System Description

The Traffic Service Position System No. 1B (TSPS No. 1B) is the first field application of the Bell System's new 3B20 Duplex Processor (3B20D) in the emulation mode. The 3B20D Processor replaces the existing Stored Program Control No. 1A (SPC 1A), while retaining the existing TSPS periphery and software. A key factor is the ability to switch between the emulated software and the 3B20D native software within a single process with a single instruction. This allows the flexibility of adding software in either environment as appropriate.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1B: Hardware Configuration

The Traffic Service Position System No. 1B (TSPS No. 1B) was developed by replacing the Stored Program Control No. 1A (SPC 1A) with the SPC 1B, consisting of a 3B20 Duplex Processor (3B20D) and a Peripheral System Interface (PSI). The PSI was designed to interface the 3B20D Processor technology with the existing TSPS peripheral system. This article describes the differences in technologies between the SPC 1A and SPC 1B, the hardware design required to overcome these differences, and the fault recovery and diagnostic software development required to integrate the new hardware into the maintenance structure of the TSPS No. 1B.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1B: Software Development System

This article describes the Software Development System for the Traffic Service Position System No. 1B (TSPS No. 1B). It discusses the modern, multicomputer software generation and test facilities that were provided to concurrently support both C-language and emulated, assembly-level software development. The computing environment, software generation and test tools, and standard development process that were developed for the TSPS No. 1B provide a rich, robust programming environment for future network operator services.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1B: Retrofitting the Processor

At the end of 1981, over 150 Traffic Service Position System No. 1 (TSPS No. 1) offices were in service, equipped with Stored Program Control No. 1A (SPC 1A) processors. Some of these sites had reached the system capacity with respect to real time or memory. The new SPC 1B, which contains a 3B20 Duplex (3B20D) Processor and a Peripheral System Interface (PSI), provides the TSPS No. 1B with additional processor capabilities for additional capacity and future features. This article discusses the techniques used for achieving a smooth retrofit from the TSPS No. 1 to TSPS No. 1B with virtually no interruption of call processing. Special procedures and tools were developed to introduce the SPC 1B onto existing buses and to verify the interfaces with existing peripherals by means of a cycle-stealing mechanism, while the SPC 1A continues to handle call processing. These procedures were used successfully at the first such retrofit in Redwood City, California, on March 13, 1982. During 1982, 34 additional sites will be retrofitted by Western Electric to accomplish the initial phase of the planned retrofits to TSPS No. 1B.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1B: Real-Time Architecture Utilizing the DMERT Operating System

The Traffic Service Position System No. 1B (TSPS No. 1B) architecture was conceived to increase performance significantly for future features and traffic growth. The design preserves the TSPS No. 1 software with minimal changes. At the same time, the 3B20 Duplex Processor (3B20D) used in TSPS No. 1B provides additional processor peripherals and a modern programming environment with a real-time operating system. This paper describes how the TSPS No. 1 software, initially designed to run on the Stored Program Control No. 1A (SPC 1A), executes on the SPC 1B of the TSPS No. 1B. The SPC 1B is a 3B20D tailored for the TSPS application and provides an SPC 1A environment by directly emulating its instruction set. The paper also presents major TSPS application processes and their interaction with the emulated TSPS process and the Duplex Multi-Environment Real-Time (DMERT) operating system of the SPC 1B. In addition, the paper describes the integration of TSPS maintenance software into the DMERT maintenance structure.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1B: Overview and Objectives

This paper presents an overview and introduction to the detailed technical papers that describe the Traffic Service Position System No. 1B. The objectives and design philosophy are discussed and the overall organization of the system is described.

Stored Program Controlled Network: Calling Card Service-TSPS Hardware, Software, and Signaling Implementation

New hardware and software were developed for the Traffic Service Position System (TSPS) NO. 1 to provide Calling Card Service and related capabilities. These developments allow TSPS to provide prompting announcements to calling card customers, to receive customer-dialed billing information, to verify the received billing information utilizing the data base capabilities of the Stored Program Controlled Network, and to provide operator assistance for calling card customers when required. The implementation includes new TSPS operational and maintenance software, dual-tone multifrequency∗ (DTMF) and multifrequency digit detection and announcement circuits, access to the Stored Program Controlled Network, and new local office interfaces.

Stored Program Controlled Network: Calling Card Service-Overall Description and Operational Characteristics

Conventionally, operator assistance is required for most nonsent paid telephone calls (calls that are billed to a number other than the calling number). Examples of these calls include collect, credit card, and bill-to-third-number. These three types of calls currently represent about two-thirds of all operator-handled toll calls. To reduce the need for operator assistance, a new service, Calling Card Service, enables customers to make credit card calls by dialing in the billing information without the assistance of an operator; it also provides an alternative to operator-assisted collect and bill-to-third-number calls. This new capability is made possible through changes in the Traffic Service Position System (TSPS) No. 1, and uses the Stored Program Controlled (SPC) Network. By providing customers with an alternative to operator assistance, Calling Card Service is helping the Bell Operating Companies (BOCS) and independent telephone companies stabilize operator work force requirements. This paper gives a basic description of Calling Card Service and the customer interface. It also describes the implementation in TSPS, and other areas of the SPC network, and discusses some of the effects on telephone company operations.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1: Busy Line Verification Feature

The Busy Line Verification feature is a recent development in the Traffic Service Position System (TSPS) No. 1. This feature allows a TSPS operator to verify the busy or idle state of a customer line. Based on a calling customer's request, the TSPS operator initiates a connection of his or her position through a dedicated switched network to a special trunk in the end office of the line to be verified. The operator can determine from a console lamp if the phone is off-hook and can listen for conversation on the line. To protect customer privacy, a special circuit scrambles the conversation to make it unintelligible — but stilt recognizable as speech. By depressing a key on the console, which deactivates the scrambler and generates an alerting tone, the operator is also able to interrupt conversation and deliver an emergency notification. The new verification feature also provides for automatic message accounting records and for coin and hotel charge quotations when tariffs include charges for verification. By serving busy line verification requests that previously had to be handled through manual switchboards, the new TSPS feature saves operator time and costs for the operating company.

Development of prototype equipment for innovative employment of blind and partially sighted persons.

Sensory Aids Foundation of Palo Alto, California, has funded development of a number of microprocessor-based or computer-related sensory aids to enable blind and partially sighted persons to enter innovative areas of employment previously inaccessible to them. Three of these devices are discussed in this paper: the prototype TSPS (Traffic Service Position System) console for blind telephone operators; an Optacon Tracking Guide for CRT displays; and a Digital Indexing System for cassette audio recorders. In addition, three other microprocessor-based products recently acquired by Sensory Aids Foundation for placement with blind or partially sighted clients are briefly described: the Speech Annunciator for digital laboratory instruments; the Large Print Video Terminal; and the TIM-II (Talking Information Management System). A new grant received from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, the Projects With Industry Section, has allowed expansion of services to develop computer-related jobs for blind, deaf, and orthopedically disabled persons.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1: Remote Trunk Arrangement and Position Subsystem No. 2: Transmission and Signaling Considerations

Transmission and signaling implications are important for the successful introduction of the Remote Trunk Arrangement (rta) and the Position Subsystem (pss) No. 2 features into the Traffic Service Position System (tsps), since both features involve the possibility of substantial distances between the tsps operators and the customers. Consequently, a new transmission plan including objectives for inserted connection loss (icl), received noise, balance, and operator sidetone was established and some new transmission equipment was provided. The overall objectives, general and specific considerations, maintenance facilities, signaling implications, and new transmission equipment are described. Emphasis is placed on those aspects that are novel or newly introduced as the result of rta and pss No. 2.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1: Automated Coin Toll Service: Overall Description and Operational Characteristics

Automated Coin Toll Service (acts) has recently been developed for use on Traffic Service Position System No. 1. acts automates the handling of most calls paid for at coin stations, gives time and charge quotations, and provides customer notifications. To accomplish this, a new microprocessor-controlled subsystem is added to tsps. This subsystem generates announcements and monitors coin deposits. Since acts reduces the operator involvement on coin toll calls, it achieves significant savings for the operating companies, acts was developed together with several other associated features. This entire package was first put into service in November 1977, in Phoenix, Arizona, This paper gives a functional description of the new subsystem and details the customer interface with acts and the other features.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1: Automated Coin Toll Service: Software

The Traffic Service Position System (tsps) No. 1 operational software for Automated Coin Toll Service provides the logic which controls the handling of coin-originated calls served by the system. The partitioning of responsibilities between the Station Signaling and the Announcement Subsystem (ssas) are illustrated. The maintenance philosophy, fault detection, diagnostics, and fault recovery aspects of the ssas are described. The maintenance strategy is centered on a multilevel fault detection scheme in which faults are analyzed and classified according to their degree of seriousness in affecting the ssas operation.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1: Software Development Tools

This paper is concerned with the development tools, strategies, and methodologies employed by Traffic Service Position System (tsps) application programmers for the creation and testing of tsps software. Two environments are described: (I) The support environment provided by an IBM 370/168 and related tsps support software packages for the production of testable tsps software, (ii) The support environment provided by the tsps system laboratory, utility system, and specialized hardware for testing the tsps software.

Traffic Service Position System No. 1 Recent Developments: An Overview

This paper presents an overview of the Traffic Service Position System No. 1 in terms of the objectives and design philosophy of the new features that have been continuously added to the system since its initial introduction into service in the Bell System. It also serves as an introduction to the detailed technical papers that follow.