Intelligent peripheral and network control

A communication network, comprising:

• local communication lines;
• a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the local communication lines;
• a services control point, separate from the central office switching systems, comprising a database storing call processing data associated with a plurality of the local communication lines for control of call processing through one or more of the central office switching systems;
• a first signaling communication system for two-way communications of data messages, said first signaling communication system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the services control point;
• a peripheral platform connected to at least one of the central office switching systems via a call connection channel, said peripheral platform comprising means for providing at least one auxiliary call processing capability via the call connection channel;
• a second signaling communication system, separate from the first signaling communication system and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages between the peripheral platform and the services control point to control provision of at least one call processing capability by the peripheral platform;
• a third signaling communication system, separate from the first and second signaling communication systems and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages between the peripheral platform and the central office switching systems;
• and
• a fourth signaling communication system, separate from the first and second signaling communication systems and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages directly between the central office switching systems.

In a communication system comprising:

• at least two switching offices, interconnected by trunk circuits, for selectively providing switched communication services over a plurality of communication lines connected thereto;
• a central control separate from the switching offices, said central control comprising a database storing call processing data associated with a plurality of said communication lines for control of call processing through one or more of said switching offices;
• and
• a first signaling communication system for two-way communication of messages, said first signaling communication system interconnecting the switching offices and connecting the switching offices to said central control;
• a call processing method comprising the steps of:
• receiving a request for service via a first one of the communication lines and a first of said switching offices;
• sending an inquiry signal from said first switching office to said central control via said first signaling communication system;
• substantially simultaneously sending from said central control (a) instructions to said first switching office for connection, and (b) instructions to a peripheral platform to identify an auxiliary call processing function to be executed by said peripheral platform responsive to said request for service;
• providing a data and a call connection from said one of the communication lines to said peripheral platform in response to said (a) instructions;
• executing the identified auxiliary call processing function via said call connection;
• and
• transferring the call connection from the peripheral platform to a destination communication line identified by information provided by the peripheral platform.

A communication network, comprising:

• central office switching systems interconnected by trunks for selectively providing switched call connections;
• a services control point, separate from the central office switching systems for control of call processing through one or more of the central office switching systems;
• a first data signaling system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the services control point;
• a peripheral platform connected to at least one of the central office switching systems via a call connection channel for providing at least one auxiliary call processing capability via the call connection channel;
• a second data signaling system, separate from the first data signaling system and the central office switching systems connecting the peripheral platform and the services control point to control provision of the at least one call processing capability by the peripheral platform;
• and
• a third data signaling system, separate from the first and second data signaling systems and the central office switching systems, connecting the peripheral platform and the central office switching system connected to the peripheral platform via a call connection channel to control the provision of the at least one call processing capability by the peripheral platform.