Telephonic communications – Special services
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-03
2003-11-25
Matar, Ahmad F. (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
Special services
C379S201020, C379S201030, C379S201050, C379S207020, C379S207110, C379S230000, C379S221080
Reexamination Certificate
active
06654453
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to telecommunications services and, more particularly, to a method for minimizing the database structure overhead associated with providing advanced intelligent network services.
2. Background
The Intelligent Network (“IN”) is a digital telecommunications network where all of the elements are arranged into a unified, programmable system. A network of computers are run alongside the core telecommunications elements—the switching and transmission equipment—to control all the activities that take place. The system is not required to know about the intricacies of the network elements but instead instructs them through a standard language.
The development of the Signaling System #7 (“SS7”) network and the 800 free dialing service led to the IN. The SS7 network is a hierarchy consisting of five elements: (1) Service Control Points (“SCPs”); (2) Service Circuit Nodes (“SCNs”); (3) Service Switching Points (“SSPs”); (4) Signal Transfer Points (“STPs”); and (5) Service Management Systems (“SMSs”).
SS7 messages originate in an SSP. The SSP function is found most often in the end-office telephone switch. Commonly found as an adjunct processor, the SSP originates SS7 messages after determining which interoffice trunk will be used to connect a call. The SS7 message is sent to the end office on the remote end of the circuit and contains a request for connection. The SSP also originates an SS7 message when it cannot determine which interoffice circuit to use to connect a call. For example, in the case of an 800 number, the end office cannot determine which circuit to use because it cannot determine how to route the call based on the digits dialed. The 800 number must be converted to a routing number before the switch knows which trunks to use.
The SSP originates a query to an SS7 node which will provide a connection to a database. One of the unique aspects about SS7 networks and databases is that the SSP does not have to know the address of the database. The message originated must only provide the digits dialed. The STP, which is responsible, for routing SS7 messages through the network can use this information to determine which database the query should be sent to.
The STP is responsible for routing traffic through the network. It is not the originator of any traffic and is never the final recipient of any traffic. It is an intermediate point which provides some processing and routing of SS7 messages. When a query is made to a database, the SSP does not typically know the address of the specific database it needs to query. This is desirable because of network management considerations. If the database were to be addressed directly, and the database were unavailable, for any reason, there would be unnecessary delay in trying to determine how to best handle the query. The STP provides Global Title Translation (“GTT”) to determine where a query should be routed. The STP examines the Signaling Connection Control Part (“SCCP”) to determine what digits were dialed and makes its routing decision based on these global title digits.
The SCP is a front end to subsystems. The SCP is not a database itself, although it may be collocated with one or more database. The SCP function manages access to the various databases and can manage more than one subsystem. The database itself does not have an SS7 address. Queries must be sent to the address of the SCP. The SCP then routes queries to the appropriate subsystem based on the subsystem number.
The SCN is a smart termination connected to ISDN lines that users dial up for special services. The SMS is an AIN operations system designed to manage software updates, service data updates, subscriber data updates, and subscriber service reports.
AIN adds features to IN elements. For instance, AIN SSPs have an arrangement of “triggers” by which queries are initiated. AIN triggers are intended to provide a service-independent way of launching queries to an SCP. With AIN, the central office is not required to know about SCP-based services. It merely responds to a trigger by launching a query onto the SS7 network.
AIN also allows service packages to be installed on SCPs. Service packages are telecommunication services that subscribers may order on demand by, for example, dialing an SCN. Examples of service packages include Caller ID Deluxe where subscribers may see the name and number of the person calling the subscriber, Personal Number Calling Service where callers with priority may be given a “hot code” to access the subscriber, and Personal Number Administration where a subscriber may have calls routed to various locations throughout the day. Service packages rely heavily upon the use of the SCP and its associated databases in routing calls.
To provide the proper level of complexity for a subscriber, most AIN services require one or more relational database entries for that subscriber. For instance, subscribing to the Personal Number Administration service causes the SMS or other network administration element to create a new entry in an SCP database containing the preferred routing pattern for the subscriber. Similarly, the network must store the “hot code” for each Personal Number Calling Service subscriber in an SCP database.
Each database entry has an associated cost to the service provider due to the limit imposed by the database software system. Certain database systems, for example, limit the number of total entries to 200,000. Other systems impose stricter limitations upon the number of entries. In addition, the service provider is hampered by memory and processor limitations. Thus, as the volume of subscribers increases, the service provider must purchase additional database software and equipment.
Many service subscribers, however, never use the selected service. Nevertheless, an entry in a relational database must be created for each subscriber. Moreover, relational databases often include “related” fields, so several fields must be opened for each entry. Since an entry must be created for that subscriber regardless of her use of the service, this can lead to great inefficiencies in database use. For example, a service used by only 20% of its subscribers will waste 80% of that service's database space. While the service provider may incorporate the cost of database storage in the rental price for that service, the database inefficiencies remain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention minimizes the database inefficiency associated with the provision of large volume AIN services by creating a cascaded database structure that uses limited database space until the subscriber commits to using the service. When the subscriber signs up for a service, an entry is created in a seed database coupled to the SCP. The seed database entry remains the only service-related record for the subscriber. When the subscriber desires to use the service, the application creates a larger entry in a real-time database. When the subscriber suspends the service, the entry in the real-time database is removed.
Advantageously, by this invention, the service provider is not required to store large entries in a single database for each subscriber. Instead, the service provider need only create small entries for subscribers within the seed database. If only a few subscribers use the service, only those subscribers will later have larger entries in the real-time database. The remaining subscribers will remain as “seeds” in the seed database. Thus, the service provider can minimize the database inefficiency associated with large volume telecommunications services. Also, the real-time database may be written to and read from on a real-time basis. Thus, the subscriber may use the service immediately after requesting such use.
More particularly, when a subscriber signs up for a telecommunications service, the service provider's management system creates a record for the subscriber in a seed database. Preferably, the seed database is coupled to a service control point within the service provider&
BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
Bui Bing
Matar Ahmad F.
Tocups Nora M.
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