US 6,587,890 B1 · Switch controller application programmer interface

Abstract

Switch controller application programmer interfaces (SCAPIs) are described herein. The SCAPIs allow for communication with routines of an application program that resides in memory of a switch controller. The switch controller is a component within a telecommunications network that provides an interface between a public switched telephone network via programmable switches and intelligent service network components. Intelligent service network components may provide an interface to other networks and/or perform enhanced service call processing. Functions performed using SCAPI procedures include interface with the programmable switches, health monitoring, requesting processes to perform tasks, interface with intelligent service network components, and enhanced service call processing. SCAPIs are procedures that reside in memory of the switch controller and, when performed by processing computer program commands, cause SCAPI messages to be sent that provide communication with routines within the switch controller application program.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A computer, comprising:

a processor;
and
a communication means for enabling said processor to communicate one or more switch controller application programmer interface messages between a plurality of switch controller application program software routines, wherein each of said switch controller application programmer interface message is being used to contribute to providing an interface between a programmable switch and an intelligent service network component, said programmable switch interfacing with a public switched telephone network, wherein said switch controller application programmer interface messages include:
a switch message to perform a function associated with communication with said programmable switch;
a registration message to monitor the health of one or more of said switch controller application program software routines;
a control message for one of said plurality of switch controller application program software routines to request a second of said plurality of switch controller application program software routines to perform a task;
and
a service message to request that a call processing function be performed.

5 more elements

An intelligent service network, comprising:

one or more programmable switches;
and
one or more computers, each computer being coupled to at least one of said one or more programmable switches, wherein each of said one or more computers comprises:
a processor;
and
a communication means for enabling said processor to communicate one or more switch controller application programmer interface messages between a plurality of switch controller application program software routines, wherein each of said switch controller application programmer interface messages is being used to contribute to providing an interface between a programmable switch and an intelligent service network component, said programmable switch interfacing with a public switched telephone network, wherein said switch controller application programmer interface messages include:
a switch message to perform a function associated with communication with said programmable switch;
a registration message to monitor the health of one or more of said switch controller application program software routines;
a control message for one of said plurality of switch controller application program software routines to request a second of said plurality of switch controller application program software routines to perform a task;
and
a service message to request that a call processing function be performed.

8 more elements

A method for communication between software routines within one or more computer application programs to perform processing that contributes to providing an interface between a programmable switch coupled to a public switched telephone network and an intelligent service network component, comprising:

(a) retrieving by a first software routine a switch controller application programmer interface message format and data needed for a switch controller application programmer interface message from memory;
(b) creating said switch controller application programmer interface message;
and
(c) sending said switch controller application programmer interface message to a second software routine queue of a second software routine;
wherein said switch controller application programmer interface message is one of a plurality of switch controller application programmer interface messages including:
a switch message to perform a function associated with communication with said programmable switch;
a registration message to monitor the health of one or more of said switch controller application program software routines;
a control message for one of said plurality of switch controller application program software routines to request a second of said plurality of switch controller application program software routines to perform a task;
and
a service message to request that a call processing function be performed.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Switch controller application programmer interface

Life of this patent

Switch controller application programmer interface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30