Queuing trigger in call processing

• US 5,212,727 A
• Filed: 09/26/1990
• Issued: 05/18/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Ramkumar, Vasant C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US07/589,724
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 379/265, 379/266, 379/92, 379/309, 379/113, 379/219, 379/221, 379/201, 379/207, 379/210
• US Class Current: 379/221.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13512 800 - freefone
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13526 resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A telecommunications switching system is disclosed which integrates intelligent network (IN) services with regular telephone services. A service control processor, which implements the IN services is also periodically made aware of regular network functions. The SCP then allocates resources for IN calls based upon not only the amount of IN calls, but rather, based upon the total network conditions; i.e. IN calls, regular telephone calls, faulty transmission lines, telephones taken off hook, etc.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications system including a plurality of switches for routing incoming calls, at least one Service Control Processor (SCP) for communicating with the switches, and a plurality of telecommunications equipment coupled to the switches, the SCP including stored availability information relating to the telecommunications equipment, a method of operating the telecommunications system comprising the steps of:

sending a query to the SCP when any of the switches receives an incoming call which is a result of predetermined numbers being dialed; and

routing the call to said telecommunications equipment or queuing said call for later routing, as a function of said stored availability information;

wherein said SCP is implemented in a standalone hardware arrangement different from the switches; and

wherein said SCP includes means for sequentially polling said switches and for receiving messages and queries therefrom.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the stored availability information includes a number N indicative of the amount of available telecommunications equipment.

2. In a telecommunications system including a plurality of switches for routing incoming calls, at least one Service Control Processor (SCP) for communicating with the switches, and a plurality of telecommunications equipment coupled to the switches, the SCP including stored availability information relating to the telecommunications equipment, a method of operating the telecommunications system comprising the steps of:

sending a query to the SCP when any of the switches receives an incoming call which is a result of predetermined numbers being dialed;

routing the call to said telecommunications equipment or queuing said call for later routing, as a function of said stored availability information;

implementing the SCP in the same hardware arrangement as at least one of the switches; and

sequentially polling said switches and receiving messages and queries therefrom.