Mediated access to an intelligent network

A method of providing service providers with mediated access to an intelligent network comprising:

• providing at least one service provider with a service control point, at least one service switching point in an intelligent network, and a mediation point interconnecting the service control point with the at least one service switching point;
• selecting a service provider at the service switching point;
• performing signal connection and control point procedures at the service switching point;
• setting a timer at the service switching point;
• routing a query to the mediation point at the service switching point;
• performing parameter screening at the mediation point;
• initiating trigger query billing at the mediation point;
• performing signal connection and control point procedures at the mediation point;
• routing the query to the service control point;
• processing the query at the service control point;
• generating a return message to the service switching point at the service control point;
• screening the return message at the mediation point;
• performing signal connection and control point procedures at the mediation point;
• routing the return message to the service switching point;
• and
• processing the return message at the service switching point.

A method of providing mediated access to an intelligent network for transmission of an unsolicited message from a service provider to the intelligent network comprising:

• providing at least one service provider with a service control point, at least one service switching point in an intelligent network, and a mediation point interconnecting the service control point with the at least one service switching point;
• transmitting the unsolicited message to the mediation point from the service control point;
• screening the unsolicited message at the mediation point;
• performing signal connection and control point procedures at the mediation point;
• routing the unsolicited message to the service switching point;
• and
• processing the unsolicited message at the service switching point.

A system for transmitting messages between a plurality of service providers and an intelligent network comprising:

• a plurality of service control points located outside said intelligent network, each of said plurality of service control points associated with a particular one of said plurality of service providers;
• a service switching point located within said intelligent network;
• and
• a mediation point at the boundary of said intelligent network programmed to screen and route queries transmitted from said service switching point to a selected one of said plurality of service control points and programmed to screen and route messages transmitted from said plurality of service control points to said service switching point, said service switching point addressing both said selected one of said plurality of service control points and said mediation point when transmitting a query to said selected one of said plurality of service control points, said service control points each addressing both said mediation point and said service switching point when transmitting a message to said service switching point.