Method and apparatus for delivering calling services

• US 5,469,500 A
• Filed: 11/12/1993
• Issued: 11/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intervoice Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Voiceplex Corporation
• Inventors: Satter, Sohail, Polsky, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/151,543
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/201, 379/211, 379/207, 379/265, 379/266, 379/212, 379/221
• US Class Current: 379/201.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/135 Service creation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13503 object-oriented systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13517 SLEE - service logic execution
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13527 protocols - X.25, TCAP etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13546 Intelligent Peripheral
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A call processor (49) contains a service node/intelligent peripheral service creation environment (58) to create a service logic table (56) to store call processing instructions. A service logic executive (54) accesses the service logic table (56) and executes the call processing instructions in response to a received data package. Call processor (49) can operate in slave mode to provide call processing resources to a service control point or in autonomous mode to deliver a specific calling service, such as voice mail.

Claims

1. A call processor operable to deliver calling services to callers, comprising:

a service creation environment for generating call processing instructions;

a memory accessible by the service creation environment, the memory including a service logic table in which the call processing instructions are stored;

a central processor including a service logic executive with access to the service logic table operable to execute the call processing instructions; and

a communications link allowing transmission of a data package to the call processor, whereby the service logic executive accesses the service logic table and executes the call processing instructions responsive to the data package to deliver the calling services.

2. The call processor of claim 1, and further comprising a service control point, and wherein the call processor maintains a first call processing instruction set operable to provide call processing resources to the service control point and a second call processing instruction set operable to deliver a calling service independent of the service control point.

3. The call processor of claim 1, wherein the service creation environment allows manipulation of vectors, objects, and events to construct the call processing instructions.

4. The call processor of claim 1, wherein the service creation environment comprises a graphical interface that allows manipulation of vectors, objects, and events to construct a visual representation of the call processing instructions.

5. The call processor of claim 1, wherein the service creation environment allows modification of the service logic table without interruption of service by the call processor and without modification of the service logic executive.

6. The call processor of claim 1, wherein the service logic executive accesses call processing instructions based on caller profile information.

7. The call processor of claim 1, further comprising at least one external server accessible by the service logic executive to provide information necessary to execute the call processing instructions.

8. The call processor of claim 7, wherein the external server allows the service logic executive to access a database of caller profile information indexed by an identification number and containing a list of subscribed services.

9. The call processor of claim 1, wherein a telecommunications switch sends the data package directly to the call processor over the communications link.

10. The call processor of claim 1, wherein a service control point sends the data package directly to the call processor over the communications link.

11. The call processor of claim 1, wherein the service logic table stores call processing instructions operable to provide call processing resources to a service control point.

12. A call processing system operable to deliver calling services to callers, comprising:

a communications link allowing transmission of a data package;

a call processor connected to the communications link, the call processor including a service creation environment for generating call processing instructions, the call processor operable to receive the data package and to execute at least some of the call processing instructions to autonomously deliver calling services; and

a service control point in communication with the call processor, the call processor providing call processing resources to the service control point.

13. The call processing system of claim 12, wherein the service creation environment comprises a graphical interface that allows manipulation of vectors, objects, and events to construct a visual representation of the call processing instructions.

14. The call processing system of claim 13, wherein the service creation environment allows modification of the call processing instructions without interruption of service by the call processor.

15. The call processing system of claim 12, further comprising at least one external server accessible by the call processor to supply data for use in delivering the calling services.

16. The call processing system of claim 15, wherein the external server allows the call processor to access a database containing caller information.

17. The call processing system of claim 12, wherein the call processor maintains a first call processing instruction set operable to provide the call processing resources to the service control point and a second call processing instruction set for autonomously delivering calling services independent of the service control point.

18. A method for delivering calling services to a caller, comprising:

storing a first set of call processing instructions operable to provide call processing resources to a service control point;

storing a second set of call processing instructions operable to deliver a calling service independent of the service control point;

receiving a data package;

executing the first set of call processing instructions in response to the data package requesting resources be provided to a service control point; and

executing the second set of call processing instructions in response to the date package requesting delivery of a calling service independent of the service control point.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein executing the first and second set of call processing instructions each comprises:

accessing a service logic table generated by a service creation environment; and

executing the service logic table.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein storing the first and second sets of call processing instructions comprises arranging vectors, objects, and events.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein arranging vectors, objects and events is performed using a graphical interface.

22. A call processing architecture operable to deliver calling services to callers, comprising:

a call processor executing a service logic table generated by a service creation environment;

a plurality of external information sources; and

a plurality of servers connecting the call processor to the plurality of external information sources and providing information to the call processor for delivering a calling service, the servers operating independently from the call processor and reconfigurable without affecting the functionality of the call processor.

23. The call processing architecture of claim 22 wherein at least one server is a database server that accesses caller profile information indexed by an identification number and containing a list of subscribed services.

24. The call processing system of claim 22, wherein the service creation environment comprises:

a graphical interface that allows manipulation of vectors, objects, and events to construct a visual representation of the calling services.