US 5,526,413 A · Advanced intelligent network access by customer premise equipment

Abstract

Telecommunications calls exchanged between customer premise equipment (CPE) and a switched telephone network receive advanced intelligent network (AIN) treatment within the CPE and within the network. The overall processing operations are coordinated and integrated so that the CPE can draw upon the network for information and resources and the network can draw upon the CPE. An AIN architecture is employed in the CPE and in the network, and the signaling systems are interfaced to permit an exchange of signaling messages. Detection of a trigger event in the CPE, or by an AIN switch in the network, causes the call control unit detecting the trigger to formulate a request message soliciting information or a support action for the call processing to be continued. Because the signaling systems are interfaced, the request message, originating either within the CPE or within the network, can be directed to a service logic provider either within the CPE or within the network (e.g., an AIN integrated service control point, or ISCP). The request message may call for routing or other information, or it may express a need for support resources (e.g., a request that a voice announcement unit be made available). The required resource may be sought in the CPE or in the network. The service logic provider carries out a service logic program to produce the information required to continue processing, and that is forwarded to the requesting call control unit by way of the interconnected signaling systems, to continue the call processing.

Claims81

Dependent claims

For use in connection with customer premise equipment (CPE) deployed to handle telecommunications calls exchanged with a switched telecommunications network of the type having a signaling system and a network service logic provider operative to perform network service logic programs to facilitate the provision of telecommunications services, a system for integrating and coordinating operations in support of the calls, comprising:

(a) a CPE service logic provider operative to perform CPE service logic programs and to provide results from the performance of any one of said CPE service logic programs in a CPE response signal;
(b) a CPE call control means for processing the telecommunications calls within the CPE and operative in processing each call to (i) detect at least one CPE processing condition that requires performance of one of said service logic programs in order to continue processing for the call, and to (ii) generate a CPE request signal calling for performance of said service logic program;
(c) a CPE signaling system by which signals are conveyed within the CPE;
and
(d) a signaling interface for compatibly interconnecting the CPE signaling system with the signaling system of the switched telecommunications network;
whereby (i) if the required service logic program for the call being processed is to be performed in the CPE service logic provider, then the CPE request signal is directed to the CPE service logic provider, and (ii) if the required service logic program for the call being processed is to be performed in the network service logic provider, then the CPE request signal is directed to the network service logic provider.

3 more elements

A method for integrating and coordinating call processing operations conducted in support of a telecommunications call between customer premise equipment (CPE) and a telecommunications network of the type having a signaling system by which signaling messages are exchanged with various network service providers, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a CPE processing condition calling for performance of a supporting action productive of results required for conducting at least a portion of said call processing operations;
(b) formulating a CPE request signaling message for requesting performance of the supporting action;
(c) if the supporting action is to be performed within the CPE, then forwarding the CPE request signaling message to a CPE service provider having a capability for causing said supporting action to be performed, said CPE service provider being accessible by a CPE signaling system;
(d) if the supporting action is to be performed without the CPE, then forwarding the CPE request signaling message to a selected one of the network service providers having a capability for causing said supporting action to be performed, said network service provider being accessible by the CPE signaling system and the network signaling system;
(e) causing the supporting action to be performed by the service provider that receives the CPE request signaling message for production of said results;
(f) formulating a response message indicating said results and forwarding said response message to the CPE;
and
(g) using said results for conducting said portion of said call processing operations.

5 more elements

For use in an arrangement wherein telecommunications are exchanged between a switched telecommunications network and customer premise equipment (CPE) and wherein ancillary signaling messages are exchangeable between a signaling system of the CPE and a signaling system of the switched telecommunications network, a system for integrating and coordinating certain operations conducted in support of said exchanged telecommunications, comprising:

(a) a CPE signal transfer point disposed for receiving query messages from the CPE by way of the CPE signaling system and for receiving query messages from the network by way of the network signaling system and for redirecting said received query messages, at least some of said query messages eliciting information needed for furtherance of said operations;
(b) a CPE service logic provider disposed for receiving query messages directed to it from the CPE signal transfer point, said service logic provider being operative in response to a received query message to obtain the information elicited by that message, to formulate a corresponding CPE response message containing said information, and to send said CPE response message to the CPE signal transfer point, said CPE service logic provider being connected to the signal transfer point by the CPE signaling system;
(c) a network signal transfer point disposed for receiving query messages from the network by way of the network signaling system and for receiving query messages from the CPE by way of the CPE signaling system and for redirecting said received query messages, at least some of said query message eliciting information needed for furtherance of said operations;
(d) a network service logic provider disposed for receiving query messages directed to it from the network signal transfer point, said service logic provider being operative in response to a received query message to obtain the information elicited by that message, to formulate a corresponding network response message containing said information, and to send said network response message to the network signal transfer point, said network service logic provider being connected to the network signal transfer point by the network signaling system;
(e) wherein the CPE signal transfer point is further disposed for receiving said CPE response messages from the CPE service logic provider and for directing each CPE response message containing information needed for operations to be performed in the CPE to the CPE and for directing each response message containing information needed for operations to be performed in the network to the network;
and
(f) wherein the network signal transfer point is further disposed for receiving said network response messages from the network service logic provider and for directing each network response message containing information needed for operations to be performed in the network to the network and for directing each network response message containing information needed for operations to be performed in the CPE to the CPE.

4 more elements

For use in processing a telecommunications call between customer premise equipment (CPE) and a switched telecommunications network of the type having a network signaling system and a network service provider productive of information which may be required for use in the processing of the call, a system for integrating and coordinating operations between the CPE and the network in support of the call, comprising:

(a) a CPE service provider for production of other information which may be required for use in the processing of the call;
(b) a CPE call control means for conducting at least a part of the processing of the call within the CPE, said call control means being operative (i) to detect a CPE processing condition requiring supplemental information in order to continue its processing of the call, and (ii) to generate a CPE request signaling message calling for the supplemental information;
(c) a CPE signaling system for conveying signaling messages within the CPE, said CPE signaling system interconnecting the CPE call control means and the CPE service provider;
and
(d) a signaling interface for interconnecting the CPE signaling system with the network signaling system and whereby the supplemental information may be obtained from the CPE service provider and the network service provider, and whereby (i) if the supplemental information is to be obtained from the CPE service provider, then the CPE request signaling message is passed to the CPE service provider, and (ii) if the supplemental information is to be obtained from the network service provider, then the CPE request signaling message is passed to the network service provider.

2 more elements

For use in an arrangement wherein telecommunications are exchanged between a switched telecommunications network and customer premise equipment (CPE) and wherein ancillary signaling messages are exchangeable between a signaling system of the customer premise equipment and a signaling system of the switched telecommunications network through at least one signal transfer point, a method for integrating and coordinating certain operations conducted in support of said exchanged telecommunications, comprising the steps of:

(a) at said at least one signal transfer point, receiving at least one query message eliciting a response message having information content required for furtherance of said operations, said information content to be determined from performance of a service logic program;
(b) if the service logic program is to be performed in the CPE, then passing the query message to a service logic provider within the CPE for performing the service logic program;
(c) if the service logic program is to be performed outside the CPE, then passing the query message to a service logic provider outside the CPE for performing the service logic program;
(d) generating the response message by the service logic provider to which the query message is passed, said response message providing said information content for use in performance of at least a part of said operations;
(e) if that part of the operations are to be performed in the CPE, then sending the response message to an element of the CPE;
and
(f) if that part of the operations are to be performed outside of the CPE, then sending the response message to an element outside of the CPE.

4 more elements

A method for integrating and coordinating call processing operations conducted in support of a telecommunications call placed between customer premise equipment (CPE) and a telecommunications network of the type having a signaling system by which signaling messages are exchanged with various network service providers, comprising the steps of:

(a) if a CPE processing condition occurs that requires performance of a supporting action productive of results required for conducting at least a portion of the call processing operations to be carried out within the CPE, then performing substeps including the following:
(i) formulating a CPE request signaling message for requesting performance of the supporting action;
(ii) if the supporting action is to be performed within the CPE, then forwarding the CPE request signaling message to a CPE service provider having a capability for causing said supporting action to be performed;
(iii) if the supporting action is to be performed without the CPE, then forwarding the CPE request signaling message to a selected one of the network service providers having a capability for causing said supporting action to be performed;
(iv) causing the supporting action to be performed by the service provider that receives the CPE request signaling message and determining the results of said supporting action;
(v) formulating a response message indicating said results and forwarding said response message to the CPE;
and
(vi) using said results in furtherance of said call processing operations to be carried out within the CPE;
and
(b) if a network processing condition occurs that requires performance of another supporting action productive of results required for conducting at least a portion of the call processing operations to be carried out within the network, then performing substeps including the following:
(i) formulating a network request signaling message for requesting performance of said other supporting action;
(ii) if the other supporting action is to be performed within the CPE, then forwarding the network request signaling message to a CPE service provider having a capability for causing said other supporting action to be performed;
(iii) if the other supporting action is to be performed without the CPE, then forwarding the network request signaling message to a selected one of the network service providers having a capability for causing said other supporting action to be performed;
(iv) causing the other supporting action to be performed by the service provider that receives the network request signaling message and determining the results of said other supporting action;
(v) formulating a response message indicating said results and forwarding said response message to the network;
and
(vi) using said results in furtherance of said call processing operations to be carried out within the network.

14 more elements

For use in an arrangement wherein telecommunications are exchanged between a switched telecommunications network and customer premise equipment (CPE) and wherein ancillary signaling messages are exchangeable between a CPE signaling system and a network signaling system through at least one signaling transfer point, a method for integrating and coordinating certain operations conducted in support of said exchanged telecommunications, comprising the steps of:

(a) at said at least one signal transfer point, receiving a query message to which a response message is required for furtherance of said operations;
(b) if the response message is to be determined by service logic performed in the CPE, then passing the query message to a service logic provider of the CPE;
(c) if the response message is to be determined by service logic performed outside the CPE, then passing the query message to a service logic provider outside of the CPE;
(d) generating the response message by the service logic provider to which the query message is passed, said response message including information for use in performance of at least a part of said operations;
(e) if that part of the operations are to be performed in the CPE, then sending the response message to an operative element of the CPE;
and
(f) if that part of the operations are to be performed outside of the CPE, then sending the response message to an operative element outside of the CPE.

4 more elements

In connection with customer premise equipment (CPE) deployed to handle telecommunications calls exchanged with a telecommunications network having advanced intelligent networking (AIN) capabilities, including therefor a common channel signaling (CCS) system and an integrated service control point (ISCP) operative to perform certain service programs the results of which are used to facilitate the provision of telecommunications services, a system for integrating and coordinating operations in support of the calls, comprising:

(a) a CPE service control point (CPE SCP) operative within the CPE to perform SCP service programs and to provide results from the performance of any one of said SCP service logic programs in a CPE response signaling message;
(b) a CPE service switching point (CPE SSP) for processing the telecommunications calls within the CPE and operative in processing each call to (i) detect at least one CPE processing condition that requires performance of one of said service programs in order to continue the processing for the call, and to (ii) generate a CPE request signaling message calling for performance of said service program;
(c) a CPE signaling system by which signaling messages are conveyed within the CPE;
and
(d) a CPE signal transfer point (CPE STP) for compatibly interconnecting the CPE signaling system with the CCS system of the network whereby (i) if the required service program for the call being processed is to be performed in the CPE SCP then the CPE request signaling message is directed to the CPE SCP, and (ii) if the required service program for the call being processed is to be performed in the ISCP, then the CPE request signaling message is directed to the ISCP.

2 more elements

For use in an arrangement wherein telecommunications are exchanged between a switched telecommunications network and customer premise equipment (CPE) and wherein ancillary signaling messages are exchangeable between a CPE signaling system and a network signaling system, a method for integrating and coordinating certain operations conducted in support of said exchanged telecommunications, comprising the steps of:

(a) at a signal transfer point of the CPE signaling system, receiving a query message to which a response message is required for furtherance of said operations;
(b) if the response message is to be determined by service logic performed in the CPE, then passing the query message to a service logic provider of the CPE;
(c) if the response message is to be determined by service logic performed outside the CPE, then passing the query message to a service logic provider outside of the CPE;
(d) generating the response message by the service logic provider to which the query message is passed, said response message including information for use in performance of at least a part of said operations;
(e) if that part of the operations are to be performed in the CPE, then sending the response message to an operative element of the CPE;
and
(f) if that part of the operations are to be performed outside of the CPE, then sending the response message to an operative element outside of the CPE.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Advanced intelligent network access by customer premise equipment

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Advanced intelligent network access by customer premise equipment

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Abstract

Claims81