Telephonic communications – Plural exchange network or interconnection
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-11
2001-06-05
Tsang, Fan (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
Plural exchange network or interconnection
C379S207030, C379S220010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243455
ABSTRACT:
This application is a continuation of international application serial No. PCT/FI98/00578, filed Jul. 8 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to reducing message traffic in an intelligent network, particularly between a service switching point and a service control point.
An intelligent network (IN) is able to provide a subscriber of a telecommunications network, such as a wired network or a mobile telephone network, with a plurality of various services. Such services include a virtual private network (VPN) which allows the use of short numbers between subscribers belonging to a local network, and a personal number in which the intelligent network reroutes the calls directed to a personal number in a manner controlled by the subscriber. An example of such an intelligent network is described in recommendations of the ITU-T Q-1200 series, of which Q-1210 to Q-1219 define a set of features known as CS-
1
(Capability Set
1
), and correspondingly, Q-1220 to Q-1229 define a set of features CS-
2
. The invention and its background will be described by the terminology of recommendation ETS 300 374-1 CorelNAP, but the invention can also be employed in intelligent networks implemented according to other intelligent network standards.
A basic call state model (BCSM), defined in connection with the intelligent network, describes different stages of call control and defines the points in which call control can be interrupted in order to start an intelligent network service. It identifies the detection points in the call and connection process in which service logic entities of the intelligent network can have an interactive relationship with basic call and connection management features.
In conventional call set-up which takes place without the help of an intelligent network, telephone exchanges make independently all the deductions about call routing. One or more service control functions (SCF) are associated with intelligent network architecture. The equipment or network element carrying out the tasks determined for the SCF is called a service control point (SCP). In the present invention, SCF and SCP are equal, and will hereinafter be called SCP. The SCP gives call set-up instructions to the exchange, or the exchange may inquire call set-up instructions from the SCP. If the interface of subscriber B is found to be busy at some stage of call set-up, for example, the call can be directed to an alternative number.
FIG. 1
also shows other elements of an intelligent network which are relevant to the understanding of the invention, such as a call control function (CCF) comprising high-level call handling functions of the exchange, such as establishing and releasing transfer connections. Service data function SDF and service data point SDP form a database comprising subscriber-specific and/or service-specific information. Specialized resource function SRF is an interface for network mechanisms associated with interaction with a subscriber. It can be associated with what are known as intelligent peripherals (IP) and comprise e.g. more advanced speech handling functions than do exchanges in general.
Service switching function (SSF) is an interface between the call control function CCF and the service control function SCF. The network element performing the SSF is called a service switching point (SSP). An intelligent network service is produced by the service switching point SSP inquiring instructions from the service control point SCP by means of messages to be transmitted across the SSP/SCP interface upon the encounter of detection points associated with the services. In intelligent network terminology these messages are called operations. In association with an intelligent network service, a service program is started at the service control point SCP, the operation of the program determining the operations transmitted by the SCP to the SSP at each stage of a call.
FIG. 2
shows the operation of a prior art intelligent network at detection points. In step
2
-
1
the SSP transmits to the SCP an InitialDP operation containing the necessary data for setting up a call. Next the detection points are armed in the SSP. In step
2
-
2
the SCP transmits to the SSP a message RequestReportBCSMEvent, informing the SSP which encounters of the detection points it is to report to the SCP. Next, in step
2
-
3
, the SCP typically transmits charging and/or interaction operations, such as FurnishChargingInformation (record charging information associated with the intelligent network service) or PlayAnnouncement (supply subscriber with an announcement associated with the intelligent network). In step
2
-
4
the SCP transmits to the SSP a routing instruction, such as CollectInformation (collecting dialing information from the subscriber), Connect (route call to a new number), Continue (continue call set-up with the same data) or ReleaseCall (release the connection). In intelligent network recommendations, call set-up is divided into given rough phases called Point-In-Call (PIC). It is possible that the SSP has been configured to continue call set-up from phase PIC
2
in response to a CollectInformation operation and to continue call set-up from PIC
3
in response to a Connect operation, etc.
There are two kinds of detection points. The above events in
FIG. 2
relate to a detection point called a Trigger Detection Point (TDP). The SSP may make an initial inquiry to the SCP in connection with such a TDP detection point, and receives instructions for call set-up. Another type of detection point is what is known as an event detection point (EDP).
2
-
5
in
FIG. 2
shows the instant when such an EDP detection point is encountered during call set-up. The SSP reports the encounter of the detection point to the SCP which transmits more call set-up instructions to the SSP in step
2
-
7
.
The problem in this arrangement is first of all a significant message traffic across the SSP/SCP interface. This message traffic and the large number of service programs comprised by the service control point SCP also slow down the operation of the service programs because of loading delays.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a method and an apparatus for producing services so that the message traffic of an intelligent network can be reduced allowing more and/or faster intelligent network services to be produced. The objects of the invention are achieved by a method and an apparatus which are characterized by what is disclosed in the characterizing parts of the independent claims. The preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
The basic idea of the invention is to implement the creation and management of intelligent network services centrally in a service control point SCP, in accordance with conventional intelligent network concepts. In accordance with the invention, the functionality of an intelligent network is complemented as follows. Instead of a service program being executed centrally in a service control point SCP, at least part of the functionality of the service program is transferred to and stored at the other side of the SSP/SCP interface, i.e. the service switching point SSP. In the present invention, such a service program or a part thereof, transferred to the SSP, is called “SSP service logic” or, in short, “service logic”. The term “service program” is reserved for the programs stored and executed at the service control point SCP. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a service logic is transferred to the SSP via the normal SCP/SSP interface, but it is also possible to implement this by the service logic being transferred at least partly by any other means, a diskette for example, only the execution of the service logic being controlled via the SCP/SSP interface.
When the telephone exchange sets up a call with which an intelligent network service implemented in accordance with the invention is associated, the SSP detects that service logic is located locally in the SSP, and hence routing to the ser
Altera Law Group LLC
Nokia Networks Oy
Tieu Benny Q.
Tsang Fan
LandOfFree
Reducing message traffic in intelligent network does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Reducing message traffic in intelligent network, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Reducing message traffic in intelligent network will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2544214