Method and apparatus for providing real-time call processing services in an intelligent network

• US 6,393,481 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1999
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Wong, Wendy T., Wang, Henry, Syed, Sami, Deo, Ajay P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Farahi, Farzaneh
• Application Number:
  US09/421,827
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 370/201, 370/219, 370/220, 370/585, 370/522, 379/201, 379/219, 379/220, 379/266, 379/207, 379/230, 709/224, 709/218, 709/226, 709/223, 709/249
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/54 Object oriented software
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/052 software update
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0037 involving call modelling techniques, e.g. modifications to the basic call state model [BCSM]

Abstract

System and methodology for providing real-time call processing services received at a switch in an intelligent network having one or more service nodes having originating switches for receiving a call event. The system includes a platform-independent communication system for enabling communication between object instances executing at service nodes in the intelligent network. An operating system agent object instance executing in an execution environment associated with an originating switch communicates call origination information corresponding to a call event received at the switch to one or more object instances executing in an execution environment provided at a service node in the network; the object instances including a line object instance for maintaining the state of a communications line associated with a call origination, and, a service object implementing methods for performing a service according to a customer request. A first database storage device accessible by the service object provides call routing information according to a customer'"'"'s subscription. A second database storage device is accessible by the service object to provide a corresponding terminating switch location address at a node in the network for the call based on the retrieved call routing information. The platform-independent communication system communicates call routing commands between the service object and at least the line object instance, for enabling call connection between originating and terminating switches independent of their location in the network.

Claims

1. A service control system for a communications network having a plurality of service nodes, each node having a memory storage device, and an execution environment for performing services in response to receipt of an event at a network switch element associated with a service node, said system comprising:

a service administrator device for generating a service profile at each node, a service profile including type and amount of service object resources relating to service processing at each node, and downloading said type and amount of service object resources to said node in accordance with said profile;

instantiation mechanism for instantiating service objects for execution in said one or more execution environments; and

,

resource management device for tracking execution environment resources at a service node, and maintaining list of service types available at each service node in said network with each service type having an associated capability status indicating whether a requested service is available for instantiation at a service node, wherein when said capability status indicates a requested service is unavailable for instantiation in said network, said resource management device communicating need for instantiating new service objects to said central administrator device for downloading and activation a new service at a service node.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said instantiation mechanism includes:

a first object for loading one or more service objects from said memory storage system and instantiating said one or more objects for execution within said execution environment; and

a second object corresponding to a particular service for allocating one or more service threads for each service instance corresponding co each received request for that service, each service thread instance having a unique identifier associated therewith.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a network operating system for providing real-time communication of messages and events between executing object instances, said second object corresponding to a particular service for channeling events and messages between said service instances, said events and messages including said unique identifier for coordinating received messages and events to the proper service instances.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, further including an event queue mechanism allocated for each service thread instance for queuing events associated with said service instance that are received in the course of service execution, wherein events have an associated priority indicating order in which said event should be performed, said event queue device enabling processing of received events according to its associated priority.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a class loader process for initially loading one or more service objects from said memory storage system according to a configuration file implementing an initial service capability for said service node, said class loader responsible for instantiating said first object and any service objects to be available according to a predefined service capability strategy.

6. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second object corresponding to a particular service includes thread manager instance for comparing amount of thread instances associated with a service with a predetermined threshold determined in said service profile, and generating warning signal to said resource management device when said execution environment no longer supports instantiation of new service thread instances.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said service object instantiation mechanism includes said network operating system, said resource management device further tracking processing capability of an execution environment at each service node and providing an indication to said network operating system whether an execution environment at a service node may execute a service based on its processing capability.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said resource management device further communicates an overload status indication to said network operating system when a number of service threads currently executing at an execution environment exceeds said predetermined threshold and preventing further service object instantiations at said execution environment.

9. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said instantiation mechanism comprises:

a registry of active service object threads corresponding to instances of services executing at an execution environment at each said execution environment; and

,

mapping device for mapping a service logical name with an object reference, said network operating system utilizing said object reference for enabling instantiation of a requested service object thread instance in a local execution environment.

10. A method for providing services at service nodes in a communications network, each service node having a memory storage device, and an execution environment for performing services in response to receipt of an event at a network switch element associated with a service node, said method comprising:

generating a service profile for each service node including type and amount of service object resources relating to service processing at each node, and downloading said type and amount of service object resources to said node in accordance with said profile;

instantiating service objects for execution in said one or more execution environments; and

,

tracking execution environment resources at a service node by maintaining list of service types available at each service node with each service type having an associated capability status indicating whether a requested service is available for instantiation at a service node;

wherein when said capability status indicates a requested service is unavailable for instantiation in said network, communicating need for instantiating new service objects to a central administrator device for downloading and activating a new service object at a service node.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said instantiating step includes:

providing a first object for loading one or more service objects from said memory storage system and instantiating said one or more objects for execution within said execution environment according to received service requests; and

providing a second object corresponding to a particular service for allocating one or more service threads for each service instance corresponding to each received request for that service, each service thread instance having a unique identifier associated therewith.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the step of communicating messages and events generated during service object execution between one or more executing service object in support of service processing, said events and messages being identified by said unique identifier to correct executing service instances via said second object.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further including the step of queuing events associated with an executing service instance that are received in the course of service execution, said events having an associated priority indicating order in which said event should be performed, wherein said received events are processed in accordance with its corresponding priority.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10, further including:

initially loading one or more service objects from said memory storage system according to a configuration file providing an initial service capability for said service node, said class loader responsible for instantiating said first object and any service objects to be available according to a predefined service capability strategy.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step of tracking execution environment resources at a service node includes:

comparing amount of thread instances associated with a service with a predetermined threshold determined in said service profile; and

generating a warning signal to a resource management device when an execution environment no longer supports instantiation of new service thread instances.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said instantiation mechanism comprises:

maintaining registry of active service object threads corresponding to instances of services executing at an execution environment at each said service node; and

,

mapping a service logical name with an object reference; and

,

utilizing said object reference for enabling instantiation of a requested service object thread instance in a local execution environment.