Providing features to a subscriber in a telecommunications network

#This invention relates in general to telecommunications networks, and more particularly to providing features to a subscriber in a telecommunications network.

#Telecommunications networks are used to provide voice and data communication to an increasing number of subscribers. Conventional telecommunications architectures rely on switched circuit pathways. Newer architectures rely on routing of voice and data packets. The newer architectures, however, may need to satisfy a number of needs. For example, the voice and data communication may be based on a number of different communication protocols, which a telecommunications network may need to accommodate. Additionally, telecommunications networks may be required to provide a variety of features to subscribers. Consequently, newer telecommunications architectures creates challenges and opportunities for telecommunications networks.

#In accordance with the present invention, the disadvantages and problems associated with telecommunications networks have been substantially reduced or eliminated.

#For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a system for processing calls in a telecommunications network;

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a network component of FIG. 1 that includes a platform;

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a system 10 for processing calls in a telecommunications network. System 10 may comprise, for example, a portion of a telecommunications network that includes, for example, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), an Internet Protocol (IP) network, and/or an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network. System 10 may provide Class 4 and Class 5 features to calls handling voice traffic over packet networks, which may allow a service provider to provide these features without a conventional Class 4 or Class 5 public switch.

#Referring to FIG. 1, system 10 includes telecommunications devices 18 coupled to media gateways 20, which are coupled to call agent 22a and 22b through a communication network 21. Call agents 22a and 22b are coupled to an element management system 24 and any number of feature servers 26. Media gateways 20, call agents 22a and 22b, element management system 24, and feature servers 26 may communicate with each other using signaling messages based on any suitable communication protocol, for example, an Internet Protocol such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

#Telecommunications devices 18 may include, for example, any type of phone or any other device suitable for communicating with media gateway 20 such as a computer, personal digital assistant, or facsimile machine. Telecommunications device 18 may have a terminal identifier that serves to identify telecommunications device 18. A subscriber may use telecommunications device 18 to access services provided by system 10. A subscriber may be identified by and associated with a subscriber identifier, for example, a telephone number or terminal identifier of telecommunications device 18, or other suitable identifier.