Method and system for developing a telecommunication application for performing call-processing functions in a programmable telecommunication switch

• US 6,058,181 A
• Filed: 08/27/1997
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Excel Switching Corp. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Excel Switching Corp. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Hebert, Mark P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/924,498
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/211, 379/230, 379/242, 379/243, 379/165, 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/265
• US Class Current: 379/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/03 Protocol definition or specification protocol conformance testing H04L1/244
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13056 Routines, finite state machines
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1308 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1309 Apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13104 Central control, computer control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 : Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1325 : Priority service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 : Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13378 : Speech recognition, speech analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13396 : Signaling in general, in-band signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54583 : Software development, e.g. procedural, object oriented, software generation, software testing

Abstract

A telecommunications protocol development environment which enables a user to define a separate finite state machine for each port or channel provided by a programmable telecommunications switch. Protocols for various telecommunications applications and software layers may be developed.

Claims

1. A method for developing a telecommunication application for performing call-processing functions, in a programmable telecommunications switch controlled by software having a layer model architecture and said switch also having an associated storage device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a plurality of logical states, each one of said logical states representing a valid state of an associated telecommunication channel;

(b) defining at least one event for each of said logical states, each said event representing a valid condition for causing a transition from one of said logical states to a different one of said logical states;

(c) selecting one or more functions from a layer-dependent library of predetermined functions; and

(d) associating said selected one or more functions with one or more of said logical states, whereby upon a transition into the associated state, said selected one or more functions are performed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said telecommunication application is one of a plurality of applications with one of said applications being assigned to execute and process events in respect of a channel of said switch, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(e) upon detection of an event at a channel of the switch, determining whether the application presently assigned to process said occurring event is capable of processing said occuring event; and

(f) when said presently assigned application is incapable of processing said occurring event, dynamically selecting another one of said plurality of applications which is capable of processing said occurring event.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch further includes a state machine engine and further wherein said application comprises a finite state machine, said finite state machine being interpreted and implemented by said state machine engine whereby said developed telecommunication application is executed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is created by a customer and downloaded to the programmable telecommunications switch for storage and processing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is a telecommunication service application.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes toll-free service functions.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes voice mail service functions.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes automatic call distribution service functions.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes interactive voice-response functions.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes personal communications services functions.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes tone generation functions.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes call conferencing functions.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes call management functions.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes call progress tone control functions.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes inbound call routing and queuing functions.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes recorded announcement control functions for interactive voice response application support.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes interactive digital collection functions.

2. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

(e) storing said telecommunication application within said associated storage device; and

(f) executing said telecommunication application.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

(e) storing said telecommunication application within a host device, which includes said storage device, coupled to said programmable telecommunication switch;

(f) transferring said telecommunication application to said telecommunication switch; and

(g) executing said telecommunication application within said telecommunication switch.

20. A system for developing a telecommunication application for performing call-processing functions related to an assigned one of a plurality of channels in a programmable telecommunications switch controlled by software having a layer model architecture and having a host device coupled to the switch, said switch also having an associated storage device, the system comprising:

first defining means for defining a plurality of logical states, each one of said logical states representing a valid state of an associated telecommunication channel;

second defining means for defining at least one event for each one of said logical states, each said event representing a valid condition for causing a transition to a different one of said logical states;

selecting means for selecting one or more functions from a layer-dependent library of predetermined functions, and associating means for associating said selected one or more functions with one or more of said logical states, whereby upon a transition into the associated state, said selected one or more functions are performed;

wherein the application performs said selected one or more functions upon the occurrence of said at least one event for which a logical state transition has been defined.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

storing means for storing the application within the programmable telecommunication switch; and

executing means for executing the application within said programmable telecommunication switch.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

storing means for storing the application within said host device;

transmitting means for transferring the application to the telecommunication switch;

and

executing means for executing the application within the telecommunication switch.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the application is one of a plurality of applications, and wherein the system further comprises:

determination means for determining whether the application presently assigned to process said occurring event is capable of processing said occurring event upon detection of an event at a channel of the switch; and

selection means for dynamically selecting another one of said plurality of applications which is capable of processing said occurring event when said presently assigned application is incapable of processing said occurring event.

24. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a state machine engine, and wherein said application is comprised of a finite state machine, said finite state machine being interpreted and implemented by said state machine engine.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein said application is created by a customer and downloaded to the programmable telecommunications switch for storage and processing.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the application is a telecommunication service application.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes toll-free service functions.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes voice mail service functions.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes automatic call distribution service functions.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes interactive voice-response functions.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes personal communication services functions.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes tone generation functions.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes call conferencing functions.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes call management functions.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes call progress tone control functions.

36. The system of claim 26 wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes inbound call routing and queuing functions.

37. The system of claim 26 wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes recorded announcement control functions for interactive voice response application support.

38. The system of claim 26, wherein one of said call-processing functions performed by said telecommunication service application includes interactive digital collection functions.