Graphical intelligent network (IN) subscription manager

• US 5,881,144 A
• Filed: 01/21/1997
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Havens, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ovedovitz, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/785,853
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/202, 379/203, 379/204, 379/265, 379/309
• US Class Current: 379/201.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13517 SLEE - service logic execution
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13525 GUI - graphical user interface, inc. for service creation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13527 protocols - X.25, TCAP etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0079 involving restoration of networks, e.g. disaster recovery, self-healing networks

Abstract

An application module associated with a Graphical User Interface retrieves data representing a particular Intelligent Network (IN) subscription from a Service Management Application System (SMAS). The application module thereafter interprets the retrieved subscription data by simulating the Service Script Logics (SSLs) residing within the serving Service Control Point (SCP). Relevant SSLs associated with the retrieved subscription data are identified and their relationship and hierarchy determined. The application module then displays the identified SSLs and their relationship using a graphical representation. A service provider or user is able to modify the graphical representation to make changes to the corresponding is subscription data to provide a different IN subscriber service.

Claims

1. A method for illustrating and manipulating subscription data associated with a subscriber service within an Intelligent Network (IN) telecommunications network, wherein said subscriber service is associated with a plurality of Service Script Logics (SSLs), said plurality of SSLs utilizing said subscription data to effectuate said subscriber service to a particular subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:

a) retrieving subscription data associated with a particular subscriber;

b) interpreting first of said retrieved subscription data, wherein said step of interpreting includes the step of identifying a SSL associated with said first of said subscription data and simulating the actions performed by said SSL to determine the identity of the next SSL to be invoked;

c) repeatedly performing step b) until all of said retrieved subscription data have been interpreted and their associated SSLs identified; and

d) displaying a graphical representation illustrating the relationship and hierarchy of said identified SSLs for effectuating said subscriber service.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said subscription data are retrieved from a Service Management Application System (SMAS) associated with a Service Control Point (SCP) effectuating said subscriber service.

3. The method claim 1 further including the steps of:

receiving an indication from a user to modify said relationship or hierarchy of said displayed SSLs to provide a different subscriber service;

interpreting said indication to change said retrieved subscription data to reflect the modifications made to said relationship or hierarchy of said displayed SSLs; and

communicating said changed subscription data to said associated SSLs to effectuate said different subscriber service to said subscriber.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of communicating said changed subscription data further comprises the step of storing said changed subscription data to a Service Management Application System (SMAS) associated with a Service Control Point (SCP) effectuating said subscriber service.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of down-loading said stored subscription data from said SMAS to said SCP over a communication link to effectuate the provision of said different subscriber service by said SCP.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of receiving said indication further comprises the steps of:

receiving an instruction from said user to select a particular one of said SSLs displayed within said graphical representation;

displaying subscription data associated with said selected SSL;

receiving new subscription data replacing said displayed subscription data associated with said selected SSL; and

re-displaying said graphical representation to illustrate the changes in said relationship and hierarchy of said identified SSLs in accordance with said received new subscription data.

7. A system for illustrating and manipulating subscription data associated with a particular subscriber for a particular Intelligent Network (IN) service within an IN telecommunications network, comprising:

a Service Control Point (SCP) comprising a plurality of Service Script Logics (SSLs) for effectuating said IN service towards said subscriber using said associated subscription data;

a management application module associated with said SCP for storing said subscription data and for providing said subscription data to said plurality of SSLs within said SCP for effectuating said IN service; and

an user interface module associated with said management application module, said user interface module further comprising;

means for retrieving said subscription data from said management application module;

means for analyzing said subscription data to determine the relationship and hierarchy of said plurality of SSLs associated with said subscription data; and

means for displaying said determined relationship and hierarchy of said determined SSLs using a graphical representation to a user.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprises a database wherein said management application module comprises a Service Management Application System (SMAS) connected to said SCP, said SMAS further connected to said database for storing said subscription data.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said user interface module comprises a Graphical User Interface (GUI) system.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said user interface module further comprises means for accepting an indication from said user to alter said displayed relationship or hierarchy of said SSLs associated with said subscription data.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising means for analyzing said altered relationship or hierarchy of said SSLs and for changing said associated subscription data to reflect said alteration.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said user interface module communicates said changed subscription data to said management application module.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said management application module further comprises means for communicating said changed subscription data to said plurality of SSLs by down-loading said changed subscription data to said SCP.

14. A method for illustrating and manipulating an Intelligent Network (IN) service being provided within an IN telecommunications network, said IN service associated with a plurality of Service Script Logics (SSLs), each of said plurality of SSLs associated with '"'"'subscription data for executing said SSL'"'"'s internal instructions and for determining the next SSL associated with said SSL to effectuate said IN service, said method comprising the steps of:

retrieving subscription data associated with a particular subscriber for effectuating a particular IN service;

analyzing said subscription data to determine the identities of said plurality of SSLs associated with said subscription data to effectuate said particular IN service;

determining the execution sequence associated with said determined plurality of SSLs;

displaying the relationship and hierarchy of said determined execution sequence of SSLs using a graphical representation to a user, said graphical representation enabling said user to overview the overall execution sequence of said plurality of SSLs needed for effectuating said IN service to said subscriber.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication from said user to change said displayed relationship or hierarchy of said plurality of associated SSLs to provide a different IN service;

making changes to said retrieved subscription data to effectuate such changes to said displayed relationship or hierarchy of SSLs; and

communicating said changed subscription data to said plurality of SSLs for effectuating the provision of said different IN service.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said subscription data are retrieved from a Service Management Application System (SMAS) associated with a Service Control Point (SOP) effectuating said subscriber service.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of communicating said changed subscription data to said plurality of SSLs further comprises the step of communicating said changed subscription data to said SMAS.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of communicating said changed subscription data to said plurality of SSLs further comprises the step of down-loading said communicated subscription data from said SMAS to said SCP.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said step of determining said execution sequence further comprises the step of interpreting first of said retrieved subscription data wherein said step of interpreting includes the step of identifying a first SSL associated with said first of said retrieved subscription data and simulating the actions performed by an SSL associated with said first subscription data to determine the identity of the next SSL to be invoked.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of interpreting is recursively performed for all of said retrieved subscription data to determine the identities of said plurality of SSLs associated with said IN service.