Method and apparatus for providing real-time execution of specific communications services in an intelligent network

• US 20040005046A1
• Filed: 07/03/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Henry, Deo, Ajay P., Porter, Kelvin R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,954,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/54 Object oriented software
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/052 software update
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0037 involving call modelling techniques, e.g. modifications to the basic call state model [BCSM]

Abstract

System and methodology for providing real-time call processing services received at a switch in an intelligent network having one or more service nodes having originating switches for receiving a call event. The system includes a platform-independent communication system for enabling communication between object instances executing at service nodes in the intelligent network. An operating system agent object instance executing in an execution environment associated with an originating switch communicates call origination information corresponding to a call event received at the switch to one or more object instances executing in an execution environment provided at a service node in the network; the object instances including a line object instance for maintaining the state of a communications line associated with a call origination, and, a service object implementing methods for performing a service according to a customer request. A first database storage device accessible by the service object provides call routing information according to a customer'"'"'s subscription. A second database storage device is accessible by the service object to provide a corresponding terminating switch location address at a node in the network for the call based on the retrieved call routing information. The platform-independent communication system communicates call routing commands between the service object and at least the line object instance, for enabling call connection between originating and terminating switches independent of their location in the network.

Claims

1. A method for performing a call routing service in an intelligent network having one or more service nodes and a switch platform, the method comprising:

a) receiving call origination information at a first object instance executing in an execution environment, the execution environment being provided at a service node in response to a service request;

b) the object instance determining a line object instance for maintaining the state of a communications line associated with a call origination;

c) a service object implementing methods for performing a service for a customer, and initiating instantiation of the service logic and line object in the execution environment;

d) querying a database associated with the execution environment for retrieving call routing information in support of the service and for determining a terminating location,

e) initiating instantiation of a line object instance for maintaining the state of a communications line associated with a call termination;

f) communicating call routing commands from the executing service object to the line object; and

g) providing a platform-independent communication system for routing the call information between a calling party and a destination party via the originating and terminating line object instances independent of their location in the network.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step c) of initiating instantiation includes the step of instantiating a call object for maintaining a current state of a call.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the call origination information includes a unique identifier for identifying a received call, the call object maintaining a state of each call based on the unique identifier.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further including the step of maintaining and'"'"'storing call context data associated with services performed for each call processed, the call context data identified by the unique identifier.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step a) of receiving call origination information includes determining a name of the service first object instance and finding an executing version of the object based on the logical name.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first object instance performs feature discrimination function for determining a type of call object to be executed, the feature discrimination function including performing a database storage lookup to find logical name of each the call, line and service objects.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

communicating events received at the switch platform to the platform-independent communication system.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein step g) further comprises:

converting a logical name of an object to an address location for executing an instance of the object.

9. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the step of maintaining and storing call context data further comprises:

instantiating an event object for receiving the call context data related to service processing from one or more of the line object instance, call object instance, service object instance, and the switch platform.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line object checks for features associated with a physical line, and including first line object instance for maintaining state of an originating line and a second object instance for maintaining state of a terminating line, the method further including registering the line object instance with the switching platform.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the call object for maintaining state of current call provides interface connection point to the service object, the line object and the event object.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a single line object instance is associated with multiple calls, each call identified by the unique identifier.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a service comprises:

querying a customer profile database to determine a customer profile based on the call origination information and a called number.

14. A system for routing service calls in an intelligent network having one or more service nodes and a switch platform including an originating switch for receiving a service request in the form of a call event, the system comprising:

a) communication system for enabling communication between object instances executing at service nodes in the intelligent network;

b) an object instance executing in an execution environment associated with the originating switch for communicating call origination information corresponding to call events received at the switch platform to one or more object instances executing in an execution environment provided at a service node associated with the switch via the platform independent communication system, and

c) a database storage device for retrieving call routing information in support of the requested service, and including a terminating switch location address for the call based on the retrieved call routing information, and initiating instantiation of a second line object instance for maintaining the state of a communications line associated with a call termination,

wherein the communication system communicates call routing commands between the service object and the first and second line object instances, the first and second line object instances enabling connection between the originating and terminating switches independent of their location in the network to establish a call connection between the called and calling parties.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, further including a call object instance for maintaining a current state of a call, and further enabling communication among the service object and the first and second line object instances via the platform-independent communication system.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the origination information includes a unique identifier for identifying a received call, the call object instance tracking execution of services performed for a call event based on the unique identifier.

17. A system for routing service calls in an intelligent network, the system comprising:

a) communication system for enabling communication between object instances executing at service nodes in the intelligent network, the intelligent network further comprising a switch platform including an originating switch for receiving a service request in the form of a call event;

b) an object instance executing in an execution environment associated with the originating switch for communicating call origination information corresponding to call events received at the switch platform to one or more object instances executing in an execution environment provided at the service node, and

c) a database storage device for-retrieving call routing information and terminating switch location addresses for the call based on the retrieved call routing information and for initiating instantiation of a second line object instance for maintaining the state of a communications line associated with a call termination,

wherein the first and second line object instances enable connection between the originating and terminating switches independent of their location in the network to establish a call connection.

18. A method for performing a call routing service in an intelligent network having one or more service nodes and a switch platform, the method comprising:

a) receiving call origination information at a first object instance executing in an execution environment;

b) the object instance determining a line object instance for maintaining the state of a communications line associated with a call origination;

c) a service object implementing methods for performing a service for a customer, and initiating instantiation of the service logic and line object in the execution environment;

d) retrieving call routing information in support of the service and determining a terminating location,

e) initiating instantiation of a line object instance for maintaining the state of a communications line associated with a call termination;

f) communicating call routing commands from-the executing service object to the line object; and

g) routing the call information between a calling party and a destination party via the originating and terminating line object instances independent of their location in the network.