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

Overview and Objectives By R. E. STAEHLER and J. I. COCHRANE (Manuscript received June 30, 1982) This paper presents an overview and introduction to the detailed technical papers that describe the Traffic Service Position System No. IB. The objectives and design philosophy are discussed and the overall organization of the system is described. I. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background In January 1969 the Bell System's first stored program controlled operator services system was introduced into the field. This system, named the Traffic Service Position System (TSPS) No. 1, employed a hardware/software architecture designed to permit the addition of new features to further automate operator functions as those features became technologically and economically viable. 1.1.1 Initial capabilities The initial design1 of TSPS No. 1 was developed to be used in conjunction with most local and toll switching systems in the Bell System. The system enabled customers to dial a number of calls heretofore only possible with operator assistance and thereby relieved the operators of many tedious operations demanded by cord switchboards. It automated routine operator functions for coin and noncoin calls, such as call timing and recording, recording of originating directory number, and recording and transmission of customer-dialed numbers. Customers benefited from the advantages of the higher speed and increased accuracy of a stored program controlled system. The auto755 mation of operator functions was a great improvement over manual methods of number recording, timing, charge calculations, and billing.