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

Traffic Service Position System No. Recent Developments: 1 An Overview By R. E. STAEHLER and W. S. HAYWARD, Jr. (Manuscript received December 11, 1978) 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. I. INTRODUCTION Almost all of the telephones in the United States can be used to dial toll calls directly over the Direct Distance Dialing network. Nevertheless, approximately 15 percent of the total number of toll messages are placed with the assistance of toll operators. These toll calls include person-to-person, collect, credit card, hotel-originated calls, calls from coin stations, operator-dialed calls, and certain international calls. On an average business day, more than 13.1 million calls are placed through operators, and, in addition, there are over 5.2 million operator contacts for assistance and originating number identification. At yearend 1978, about 60,000 operators were employed to give this service. 1.1 Capabilities of initial design 1 The Traffic Service Position System No. 1 (TSPS NO. 1) was introduced into the field in January, 1969 (in Morristown, New Jersey) as an operator service system that could be used in conjunction with almost all Bell System local and toll switching systems to allow customers to dial their own operator-assisted calls and to relieve the operator of many tedious tasks required by cord switchboards.