Apparatus and method for controlling processing of a service call

A method for controlling processing of a service call received by a switch matrix in a telecommunications system, comprising the steps of:

• generating a first message in response to a trigger detection caused by the service call received on a first port of the switch matrix, the first message including call information associated with the service call comprising first port address data defining the first port of the switch matrix that received the service call and initial address data defining a predetermined location external to the switch matrix;
• outputting the first message to a first communications link;
• receiving from the first communications link a second message, the second message including data for controlling processing of the service call in the switch matrix;
• and
• sending one or more instructions to the switch matrix for performing one or more actions associated with the service call.

A method for controlling processing of a service call received by a switch matrix in a telecommunications system comprising the steps of:

• generating a first message in response to a trigger detection caused by the service call received on a first port of the switch matrix, the first message including call information associated with the service call, the call information comprising:
• first port address data defining the first port of the switch matrix that received the service call, and
• initial address data defining a first predetermined location external to the switch matrix;
• outputting the first message to a first communications link;
• receiving from the first communications link a second message, the second message comprising data for controlling processing of the service call in the switch matrix, the data including return address data defining a second predetermined location external to the switch;
• receiving from the first communications link a primitive, the primitive comprising instruction data;
• instructing the switch matrix to perform at least one action associated with the service call in response to the instruction data;
• generating a third message in response to completion of the at least one action performed by the switch matrix in response to the instruction data from the received primitive, the third message comprising the return address data defining the second predetermined location external to the switch matrix;
• and
• outputting the third message to the first communications link.