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Focus - 2006 TMS Users' Workshops

In early April, TMS users from fourteen different sites gathered in Williamsburg, VA for K&R's 2006 TMS Users' Workshops.  K&R employees and attendees engaged in group discussions and workshops to address the needs of the customers.

Review of Developments - K&R employees discussed recent R&D efforts.  Download the presentation (368 KB).

Workshops

1. Switch Interface

This workshop focused on the new interface option for the Nortel DMS/SL-100 and SL-1 switches.  Highlights included the use of this option in conjunction with the Telephone Service Requests/Trouble Calls module to add, modify or disconnect DNs on the switch.

Download the presentation (134 KB) or workshop materials (3.03 MB).  View more details about the new Switch Interface module.

 

2. Other Common Carrier (OCC) Processing

This workshop highlighted the steps involved with processing MCI Perspective and DISA/DITCO DSN call data, matching the call data against the switch call data, and analyzing/billing the matched and unmatched call data.

Download the workshop materials:

 

3. Parameter Reports

This workshop addressed newly developed parameter report features to help quickly and easily identify many forms of telephone waste and abuse (e.g. unauthorized internet usage and the identification of busiest circuits/organizations).  The analysis requires that Caller ID & Local Calls be included in captured SMDR/CDR data.

Download the workshop materials:

 

4. 911 Locator

This workshop focused on K&R's 911 Locator option.  The option links the Caller ID feature of the telephone system to the Plant Records/Cable Records module and displays relevant information on first responders’ terminals.  It is not designed to interface with other municipal E911 systems.

 

5. Local FTS Calls

This workshop focused on ways to recover costs for misrouted FTS calls.  It included the use of the Call Search Option to identify telephone abuse for customers who are not billed for FTS/DSN/OCONUS DSN calls.

 

6. Other Work Orders

This workshop addressed the special work orders from the Telephone Service Requests/Trouble Calls module.  Highlights included the Line Transfer Work Order (used to move all existing circuits on a given cable/pair to a new cable/pair) and the Routine Maintenance Work Order (used to schedule and track routine maintenance functions).

 

7. Cost Recovery using CT, COS, or LT

This workshop focused on options available for including a wide variety of miscellaneous charges on the telephone bill.  It explored the use of the mandatory Circuit Type (CT) field and the optional Class of Service (COS) or Line Type (LT) fields to equitably recover desired monthly fees or costs for services rendered.

 

8. Fiber/Microwave Tracking

This workshop focused on using the Fiber/Microwave feature of the Plant Records/Cable Records module to track the use/routing of Optic Fiber and Microwave data.  It examined various uses and features.

 

9. Detailed Toll Transactions

This workshop used call data from a variety of customers to demonstrate the use of the Detail Toll Transaction Report and Call Search feature.  The focus was on calls with excessive durations/costs.  Techniques for identifying suspicious numbers/activities were addressed as well.

 

10. Web Applications

This workshop highlighted K&R’s Web Applications.  These include Web ViaNet for telephone service request submission, Web Troubles for trouble call submission, and Web Bills for the dissemination of monthly telephone bills.  View more details about Web Bills.

 

11. Inventory

This workshop focuses on the use of the Inventory feature of the Plant Records/Cable Records module. It demonstrates how to set reorder levels and to how produce reports for inventory items whose levels fall below reorder points.

 

12. System Administration

This workshop focused on the creation of security groups and procedures for limiting TMS access to all modules and options.  It included steps to release terminals that are locked up in TMS, to check files sizes, and to rebuild or compress files.

Download the workshop materials:

 

13. Long Haul Charges & Cellular Charges

This workshop explored a custom option for billing Long Haul DISA spreadsheets.  The need for a similar application for Cell Phone billing is examined, too.

Download the workshop materials:

 

14. Work Flow Control

This workshop highlighted the use of the Work Flow Control Module to distribute Telephone Service Requests.  Modifying the initial distribution of work orders is discussed.  Special options such as automated approval, batch processing, and distributing Other Work Orders/Trouble Tickets are addressed, too.

 

15. Enhanced Report Generator

This workshop focused on producing customized reports which cannot be generated by manipulating the sort order/sort options of the numerous standard reports provided by TMS.

 

16. Automatic Plant Records/Cable Records to ELDIR Update

This workshop examined a new feature of the Plant Records/Cable Records module which allows maintenance of Directory Listings through a daily automatic export of the listings to the Electronic Directory.  New options allow Directory Listings from either Plant Records/Cable Records or ELDIR to be automatically exported to other applications, such as ADAS or T-Metrics.  The workshop included a brief demonstration of each topic.

 

17. Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) & Calling Card Option

This workshop highlighted the use of Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) for making and billing phone calls.  It included the use of the Credit Card option for entering/tracking telephone calling cards and charges from vendors (such as MCI).

 

18.  Advanced User Discussions

These discussions were designed to meet those users' interests which were not covered by other workshops.  Special needs/problems of attendees were the primary focus.

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Last updated: 06/22/2006