Method and apparatus for deploying service modules among service nodes distributed in an intelligent network

A method for administering service components to one or more service nodes comprising an intelligent network, each service node providing one or more services relating to an event received at a network resource associated with a service node, said method comprising:

• receiving re-usable service components for providing services at a service node of said intelligent network, each said service component having an associated service profile defining service node resources required for storing, maintaining and executing said service;
• receiving configuration criteria including physical resource capacity of each service node of said network;
• maintaining a database including master copies of said received service components, said service node configuration criteria, and service profile associated with said service components;
• distributing copies of said service components to one or more service nodes according to said service profile information associated with a service and a configuration criteria of said service nodes;
• and
• forwarding a trigger to said service node for automatically activating and deactivating a service component distributed to said service node, whereby a service component distributed to said service node is activated during periods of high demand for an associated service and deactivated at service nodes during periods of low demand for said service.

A method for controlling the deployment and activation of services in a communications network having a plurality of service nodes, each service node comprising at least one logic execution environment that hosts managed objects, said method comprising:

• maintaining at each of said service nodes a local data store of managed objects and data needed for service processing within the service node;
• monitoring operational status of the local data store of the service nodes;
• and
• selectively distributing, from a global repository, managed objects and data to one or more of said local stores associated with said service nodes in said communications network, so as to control where and when services are deployed and activated in said communications network.