METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR APPLYING MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES TO A CALL

• US 20080181382A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec Global, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tekelec Global, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Wadhwa, Amrit P.S., Lean, Yoogin, Kalyanpur, Gaurang
• Granted Patent: US 8,059,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4217 Managing service interactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing an enriched messaging service in a communications system is described. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a signaling message associated with a call at one of a plurality of service dispatch and control (SDC) functions, wherein the call signaling message includes a subscriber identifier. A plurality of call services associated with the subscriber identifier that is to be applied to the call is determined. The method also includes communicating the signaling message from the SDC function to a service platform and receiving back at the SDC function for each of the plurality of call services and thereby sequentially applying the call services to the call.

Claims

1. A method for applying at least one service to a call in a communications system, the method comprising:

receiving a signaling message associated with a call at one of a plurality of service dispatch and control (SDC) functions, wherein the call signaling message includes a subscriber identifier;

determining a plurality of call services associated with the subscriber identifier that is to be applied to the call; and

communicating at least a portion of the signaling message from the SDC function to a service platform and receiving a response back at the SDC function for each of the plurality of call services and thereby sequentially applying the call services to the call.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating call context data that is associated with the call, wherein the call context data includes an order in which the plurality of call services are to be applied to the call; and

provisioning the call context data to the remaining plurality of SDC functions.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein provisioning the call context data includes providing a copy of the call context data to each of the plurality of SDC functions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of call services includes at least one of a call screening service, a number translation service, and a prepaid application service.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the SDC function communicates to a local service platform using an inter process communications (IPC) mechanism.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the subscriber identifier includes at least one of a called party identifier and a calling party identifier.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the call context data includes at least one of an origination point code (OPC), a destination point code (DPC), and a circuit identification code (CIC).

8. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating a message includes:

sending an encapsulated signaling message to a first service platform for applying a first call service to the call;

receiving the encapsulated signaling message from the first service platform indicating that the first call service is applied to the call; and

sending the encapsulated signaling message to a second service platform for applying a second call service to the call.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the order of the first service platform and second service platform is designated in call context data.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein the call context data is provisioned if the signaling message is sent to a context sensitive application.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the encapsulated signaling message includes an IAM message encapsulated in an SCCP message.

12. A system for applying a call service to a call comprising:

a service dispatch and control (SDC) function for receiving a signaling message associated with a call at one of a plurality of service dispatch and control (SDC) functions, wherein the call signaling message includes a subscriber identifier, for determining a plurality of call services associated with the subscriber identifier that is to be applied to the call, and for communicating at least a portion of the signaling message from the SDC function to a service platform and receiving a response back at the SDC function for each of the plurality of call services and thereby sequentially applying the call services to the call.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the SDC function is further adapted to generate call context data that is associated with the call, wherein the call context data includes an order in which the plurality of call services are to be applied to the call, and provision the call context data to the remaining plurality of SDC functions.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the SDC function is further adapted to provide a copy of the call context data to each of the plurality of SDC functions.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of call services includes at least one of a call screening service, a number translation service, and a prepaid application service.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the SDC function communicates to a local service platform using an inter process communications (IPC) mechanism.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the subscriber identifier includes at least one of a called party identifier and a calling party identifier.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the call context data includes at least one of an origination point code (OPC), a destination point code (DPC), and a circuit identification code (CIC).

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the SDC function is further adapted to send an encapsulated signaling message to a first service platform for applying a first call service to the call, receive the encapsulated signaling message from the first service platform indicating that the first call service is applied to the call, and send the encapsulated signaling message to a second service platform for applying a second call service to the call.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the order of the first service platform and second service platform is designated in call context data.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein the call context data is provisioned if the signaling message is sent to a context sensitive application.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the encapsulated signaling message includes an IAM message encapsulated in an SCCP message.

23. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:

receiving a signaling message associated with a call at one of a plurality of service dispatch and control (SDC) functions, wherein the call signaling message includes a subscriber identifier;

determining a plurality of call services associated with the subscriber identifier that is to be applied to the call; and

communicating at least a portion of the signaling message from the SDC function to a service platform and receiving a response back at the SDC function for each of the plurality of call services and thereby sequentially applying the call services to the call.