Method and system for translating call processing requests

• US 6,295,345 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel USA Sourcing L.P. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel USA Sourcing Incorporated (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Monteiro, Mario, Carson, Steven R., Spencer, Daniel M., Walker, Joseph E., Singh, Navdeep G., Pullen, Steve M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Application Number:
  US08/941,685
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112, 379/114, 379/115, 379/91.01, 379/229, 379/230, 379/235, 379/145, 379/194, 379/196, 379/201, 379/221, 379/222, 379/243, 379/244, 379/245, 379/268, 379/283, 379/282, 379/339, 379/360, 379/361, 379/418, 379/251
• US Class Current: 379/114.28
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13057 Object-oriented software
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54525 Features introduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54583 Software development, e.g. procedural, object oriented, software generation, software testing

Abstract

A generic translator (10) is provided for processing service requests sent by a digit collection client (16). Requests include billing validation (11), call routing (19), call screening (17), account code validation (15) or other services. These requests are processed by the generic translator (10) and successful results are sent back to the digit collection client (16) or a trunk selection process (20). The generic translator (10) can access an external entity (18) to assist in digit translation (13).

Claims

1. A telecommunications system for performing call processing requests, comprising:

a digit collector operable to receive input digits and formulate a raw input message therefrom, the raw input message including information pertaining to a plurality of call processing requests;

a request builder operable to generate a service request object in response to the raw input message, the service request object includes information according to the plurality of call processing requests in a generic form;

a generic translator operable to receive the the service request object, the generic translator being platform independent, the generic translator operable to invoke a plurality of functions according to the service request object, the plurality of functions including billing validation, screening, routing, and response functions, the generic translator operable to generate;

a billing validation response in response to the service request object including a billing validation request, the billing validation response being returned to the digit collector;

a translated digits response in response to the service request object including a digit translation request which is successfully translated, the translated digits response being sent to a trunk selector; and

a translation failure response in response to the service request object including a digit translation request which is not successfully translated, the translated failure response being sent to a call sequencer.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database accessible by the generic translator for obtaining data required to process the service request object.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the database is located in a service control point.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the generic translator comprises a generic translator framework and a generic translator application component.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the generic translator framework comprises a plurality of cluster of object classes operable to provide basic and extensible digit translation functionality.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of generic translator application components comprises object classes operable to extend the generic translator framework to provide custom digit translation applications.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the service request broker includes a digit translation request, wherein the digit translation request is call routing request.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the service request broker includes a digit translation request, wherein the digit translation request is an account validation request.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the service request broker includes a digit translation request, wherein the digit translation request is a call screening request.

10. A method for translating call processing requests comprising the steps of:

receiving a raw input message from a digit collection client, the raw input message including information pertaining to a plurality of call processing requests;

generating a service request object in response to the raw input message, the service request object including information according to the plurality of call processing requests in a generic form;

selecting a service configuration according to the service request object;

invoking a plurality of functions according to the service request object and the service configuration in a platform independent generic translator, the plurality of functions including billing validation, screening, routing, and response functions; and

sending an output message to a process client.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the specific request object includes a billing validation and the output message is a billing validation response.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the specific request object includes call routing.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of invoking a plurality of functions further comprises the step of accessing an external entity to assist the generic translator.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the external entity is a service control point.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the external entity is a data base.

16. A method for billing validation in a generic translator comprising the steps of:

receiving a raw input message from a digit collection client, the raw input message including information pertaining to a plurality of call processing requests;

generating a service request object in response to the raw input message, the service request object including information according to the plurality of call processing requests in a generic form;

determining whether the service request object includes a billing validation request;

selecting one of a plurality of service configurations according to the service request object;

forming a billing message according to the selected service configuration and the service request object in response to the service request object including a billing validation request;

determining if all billing request parameters are present;

verifying the validity of the billing request parameters;

locating a billing record;

matching the billing request parameters to the billing record; and

sending a return result;

invoking another function according to the selected service configuration and the service request object to process another one of the plurality of call processing requests in the service request object.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of verifying the validity of the billing request parameters further comprises accessing a local database.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of verifying the validity of the billing request parameters further comprises accessing an external database.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of sending the return result includes returning a failure result when the billing request parameters do not match the billing record.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of sending the return result includes returning a success result when the billing request parameters match the billing record.

21. A method for account code validation in a generic translator comprising the steps of:

receiving a raw input message from a digit collection client, the raw input message including information pertaining to a plurality of call processing requests;

generating a service request object in response to the raw input message, the service request object including information according to the plurality of call processing requests in a generic form;

determining whether the service request object includes a digit translation request;

selecting one of a plurality of service configurations according to the service request object;

identifying an account code validation request according to the selected service configuration and the service request object in response to the service request object including a digit translation request;

receiving the account code validation request with an account code from the digit collection client;

matching the account code with entries in an account code table; and

,

sending a return result;

invoking another function according to the selected service configuration and the service request object to process another call processing request in the service request object.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of sending a return result further includes returning a failure result if the account code does not match any entries in the account code table.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of sending a return result further includes returning a success result if the account code matches an entry in the account code table.