Intelligent call switching node in an intelligent distributed network architecture
First Claim
1. In an intelligent communications network for use in a communications system, said network comprising:
- at least one intelligent distributed network node;
at least one intelligent switching node having at least one intelligent call processor;
a network management system for monitoring and controlling said communications network and said at least one intelligent switching node;
a resource complex communicably linked but logically separated from said at least one intelligent call processor;
said at least one intelligent call processor further comprising;
a logical platform having a plurality of functions wherein at least one of the functions is a service processing function, at least one of the functions is a call processing function, at least one of the functions is a facility processing function, said plurality of functions being capable of migration to at least two different computer architectures; and
a processor for executing the plurality of functions, said processor providing a flexible and scalable architecture.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an intelligent call processor, an intelligent switching node and an intelligent communications network for use in a communications system. The intelligent call processor comprises a logical platform having a plurality of functions wherein at least one of the functions is service processing function, at least one of the functions is call processing, and at least one of the functions is facility processing, and a processor for executing the plurality of functions. The intelligent switching node comprises an intelligent call processor and, a resource complex communicably linked to the intelligent call processor and logically separated from the intelligent call processor. The intelligent communications network comprises a plurality of intelligent distributed network nodes, a network management system for monitoring and controlling a wide area network and the plurality of intelligent switching nodes, and the wide area network interconnecting the plurality of intelligent distributed network nodes and the network management system.
-
Citations
47 Claims
-
1. In an intelligent communications network for use in a communications system, said network comprising:
-
at least one intelligent distributed network node;
at least one intelligent switching node having at least one intelligent call processor;
a network management system for monitoring and controlling said communications network and said at least one intelligent switching node;
a resource complex communicably linked but logically separated from said at least one intelligent call processor;
said at least one intelligent call processor further comprising;
a logical platform having a plurality of functions wherein at least one of the functions is a service processing function, at least one of the functions is a call processing function, at least one of the functions is a facility processing function, said plurality of functions being capable of migration to at least two different computer architectures; and
a processor for executing the plurality of functions, said processor providing a flexible and scalable architecture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
at least one general purpose computer;
at least one data storage device; and
a high speed communications link connecting the general purpose computer to the data storage device.
-
-
9. The intelligent call processor as recited in claim 1, further including a first connection for communicably linking the processor to an adjunct processor that provides at least one legacy function consisting from the group of:
- provisioning, billing and service restoration.
-
10. The intelligent call processor as recited in claim 1, further including a second connection for communicably linking the processor to a direct signaling link.
-
11. The intelligent call processor as recited in claim 1, further including a third connection for communicably linking the processor to at least one resource complex.
-
12. The intelligent call processor as recited in claim 1, further including a fourth connection for communicably linking the processor to a wide area network.
-
13. An intelligent switching node in a communications network, the intelligent switching node comprising:
-
an intelligent call processor having a processor for executing a plurality of functions within a logical platform wherein at least one of the functions is service processing, at least one of the functions is call processing, and at least one of the functions is facility processing; and
a resource complex communicably linked to the intelligent call processor and logically separated from the intelligent call processor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
a first connection for communicably linking the resource complex to a bearer portion of a direct link; and
a second connection for communicably linking the processor to a signaling portion of the direct link.
-
-
26. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 13, further comprising means for monitoring and manipulating a plurality of processing sub-elements, the sub-elements being part of the plurality of functions.
-
27. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 13, further including:
-
means for monitoring the usage of the plurality of functions; and
means for eliminating a selected function from the plurality of functions.
-
-
28. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 13, wherein the processor runs a virtual machine process that loads and executes a service layer execution environment.
-
29. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 28, wherein the service layer execution environment hosts a plurality of software instances that implement the service processing architecture and are derived from a managed objects base class.
-
30. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 28, wherein the plurality of software instances can be instantiated as needed by a network management system or during the processing of a service requested by a subscriber.
-
31. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 28, wherein the service layer execution environment controls the execution of a plurality of managed objects.
-
32. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 31, wherein the plurality of managed objects are encoded in an object oriented language.
-
33. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 31, wherein the plurality of managed objects are encoded as Java bytecodes.
-
34. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 28, wherein the service layer execution environment includes a managed object layer and a library layer.
-
35. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 28, wherein an a set of operational rules are used to determine whether or not a specific managed object can be deployed and instantiated.
-
36. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 35, wherein the set of operational rules are encoded within the specific managed object.
-
37. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 35, wherein the set of operational rules are encoded at a network management system.
-
38. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 28, wherein the network management system resolves any conflicts occurring in the set of operational rules when the managed object is deployed or instantiated.
-
39. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 36, wherein the set of operational rules specific logical conditions during which the managed object is permitted or forbidden from being deployed or instantiated.
-
40. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 28, wherein the set of operational rules specify physical locations where the managed object is permitted or forbidden from being deployed or instantiated.
-
41. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 28, wherein the service layer execution environment further includes:
-
means for deploying and removing a plurality of managed objects;
means for instantiating, querying and destroying a plurality of managed object instances;
means for supporting the interaction and collaboration of the plurality of managed objects;
means for administering access to a native library;
means for communicating with an interface to a network management system to receive and implement control signals;
means for asserting a plurality of global values; and
means for controlling the starting and stopping of the plurality of managed objects.
-
-
42. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 28, wherein the service layer execution environment includes a base class of managed objects including a service control class, a call control class, bearer control class and a resource proxy class.
-
43. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 42, wherein the service control class further includes:
-
a session manager;
a bearer capability class;
a service arbitration class;
a feature class;
a service discriminator class;
a media independent service class; and
a connection manager class.
-
-
44. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 42, wherein the call control class further includes an origination class and a termination class.
-
45. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 42, wherein the bearer control class adapts specific signals and events to and from the resource complex via the resource proxy.
-
46. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 42, wherein the resource proxy class interfaces the execution environment to a plurality of switching devices in a bearer network.
-
47. The intelligent switching node as recited in claim 42, wherein the resource proxy class further includes:
-
a phone class;
a voice response unit class;
a trunk circuit class; and
a modern class.
-
Specification