Method and system for providing multiple services per trigger

• US 6,532,285 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1999
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Scott, David A., Tucker, Brenda N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, BING Q
• Application Number:
  US09/323,677
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207.02, 379/207.04, 379/207.05, 379/211.02, 379/215.01, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/201.05, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/207.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4217 Managing service interactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0041 involving techniques for avoiding interaction of call service features

Abstract

The present invention allows a single trigger, such as a Termination Attempt Trigger, to invoke multiple feature service logic programs (feature SLPs) through the use of a Feature Interaction Manager service logic program (FIM-SLP) installed at a service control point (SCP). A database, accessible by the service control point, contains subscriber information such as the type of services subscribed and the order in which the services are to be invoked. The Feature Interaction Manager service logic program invokes individual feature SLPs based on the information contained in the database that specify how the feature SLPs will interact. In one embodiment, the present invention allows multiple services to be deployed within a common service control point. In a different embodiment, the Feature Interaction Manager service logic program located in a first service control point can also invoke features SLPs that are located in other service control points. The Feature Interaction Manager SLP and the feature SLPs can reside on the same SCP. Alternatively, the Feature Interaction Manager SLP and feature SLPs can reside on multiple SCPs. In the case of multiple SCPs, the Feature Interaction Manager SLP can reside by itself or can be co-located with one or more feature SLPs.

Claims

1. An advanced intelligent network telecommunication system comprising:

(a) at least one service switching point;

(b) a service control point in communication with the at least one service switching point;

(c) a trigger with a translation type provisioned on a subscriber'"'"'s telephone line at the service switching point;

(d) a first feature service logic program on the service control point;

(e) a second feature service logic program on the service control point;

(f) a feature interaction manager service logic program, located on the service control point; and

(g) a database accessible to the service control point, wherein the database contains service interaction rules for providing multiple services per trigger to the subscriber, wherein the service interaction rules specifies an order in which the first feature service logic program and the second feature service program are to be invoked by the feature interaction manager service logic program, wherein the order is predetermined by the subscriber,

wherein when said trigger prompts said at least one service switching point to send a query containing said translation type to the service control point, said feature interaction manager service logic program is invoked and in turn subsequently invokes at least one of said first feature service logic program and said second feature service logic program, according to said service interaction rules in the database.

2. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 1, further comprising a signal transfer point located between the service switching point and the service control point, wherein the signal transfer point has the capability of supplementing a query from the service switching point with a subsystem number identifying said feature interaction manager service logic program.

3. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein said trigger is a termination attempt trigger.

4. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 1, further comprising a second service control point, wherein at least one additional feature service logic program is installed on said second service control point.

5. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the first and the second feature service logic programs are two services selected from the group consisting of flexible call forwarding, Internet call waiting, privacy director, advanced intelligent messaging, and simultaneous ringing.

6. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 4, wherein said feature interaction manager service logic program invokes said at least one additional feature service logic program via SS7 network according to said rules in the database.

7. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 6, wherein the first, the second, and said at least one additional feature service logic programs are selected from the group consisting of flexible call forwarding, Internet call waiting, privacy director, advanced intelligent messaging, and simultaneous ringing.

8. A method for providing multiple services per trigger to a telephone line subscriber of an advanced intelligent network telecommunication system having a telephone line, a service switching point, a service control point, and a database, comprising the steps of:

(a) provisioning a trigger with a translation type on the subscriber'"'"'s telephone line at the service switching point;

(b) providing a first feature service logic program on the service control point;

(c) providing a second feature service logic program on the service control point;

(d) providing a feature interaction manager service logic program on the service control point; and

(e) specifying in the database service interaction rules of priority for invoking at least one of the first feature service logic program and the second feature service logic program, wherein the service interaction rules specifies an order in which the first feature service logic program and the second feature service program are to be invoked by the feature interaction manager service logic program, wherein the order is predetermined by the subscriber,

wherein when said trigger prompts said service switching point to send a query to the service control point,

the feature interaction manager service logic program is invoked such that it subsequently invokes at least one of the first feature service logic program and the second feature service logic program as specified in the service interaction rules.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a signal transfer point located between the service switching point and the service control point, wherein the signal transfer point supplements the query from the service switching point with a subsystem number identifying said feature interaction manager service logic program.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said trigger is a termination attempt trigger.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said advanced intelligent network has a second service control point, the method further comprising the step of providing at least one additional feature service logic program on said second service control point.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and the second feature service logic programs are two services selected from the group consisting of flexible call forwarding, Internet call waiting, privacy director, advanced intelligent messaging, and simultaneous ringing.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said feature interaction manager service logic program invokes said at least one additional feature service logic program via SS7 network according to said rules in the database.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first, the second, and said at least one additional feature service logic programs are selected from the group consisting of flexible call forwarding, Internet call waiting, privacy director, advanced intelligent messaging, and simultaneous ringing.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the feature interaction manager service logic program is invoked such that it subsequently invokes at least one of the first and the second feature service logic programs on the first service control point and said at least one additional feature service logic program on said second service control point as specified in the service interaction rules.

16. A service control point for providing multiple services per trigger to a telephone line subscriber of an advanced intelligent network telecommunication system having a telephone line, a service switching point, and a trigger with a specific translation type on the subscriber'"'"'s telephone line at the service switching point, said service control point comprising:

(a) a plurality of feature service logic programs each of which has a unique subsystem number;

(b) a feature interaction manager service logic program having its own unique subsystem number; and

(c) a database comprising service interaction rules for invoking one or more of said plurality of feature service logic programs, wherein the service interaction rules specifies an order in which the plurality of feature service logic programs are to be invoked by the feature interaction manager service logic program, wherein the order is predetermined by the subscriber,

wherein when the service control point receives a query with said feature interaction manager service logic program'"'"'s unique subsystem number, said feature interaction manager service logic program routes said query to one or more of said plurality of feature service logic programs according to said service interaction rules.

17. The service control point of claim 16, further comprising a signal transfer point located between the service switching point and the service control point, wherein the signal transfer point supplements an initial query received from the service switching point with said feature interaction manager service logic program'"'"'s own unique subsystem number.

18. The service control point of claim 16, wherein said trigger is a termination attempt trigger.

19. A method for managing a plurality of feature service logic programs through a feature interaction manager located on a service control point, comprising the steps of:

(a) provisioning a trigger on a subscriber'"'"'s line at a service switching point;

(b) receiving a query from the service switching point at the service control point;

(c) in response to the query, consulting a database containing service interaction rules regarding how the services are to be invoked, wherein the service interaction rules specifies an order in which the plurality of feature service logic programs are to be invoked by the feature interaction manager, wherein the order is predetermined by the subscriber; and

(d) using the feature interaction service manager to manage the plurality of feature service logic programs according to said service interaction rules.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a signal transfer point located between the service switching point and the service control point, wherein the signal transfer point supplements an initial query received from the service switching point with a subsystem number identifying said feature interaction manager service logic program.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of said plurality of feature service logic programs is installed on a first service control point and at least a second one of said plurality of feature service logic programs is installed on a second service control point.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said feature interaction manager is invoked such that said feature interaction manager subsequently invokes at least one of said plurality of feature service logic programs located on said first service control point and said at least one of said plurality of feature service logic programs installed on said second service control point, according to said service interaction rules in the database.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said trigger is a termination attempt trigger having a translation type to invoke said feature interaction manager service logic program.

24. A method for managing multiple services of an advanced intelligent network telecommunication system having a telephone line, a service switching point, a signal transfer point, and a service control point comprising the steps of:

(a) installing a feature interaction manager service logic program on the service control point;

(b) installing a first feature service logic program and a second feature service logic program on the service control point;

(c) installing on the service control point service interaction rules for invoking said first feature service logic program and said second feature service logic program, wherein the service interaction rules specifies an order in which the first feature service logic program and the second feature service program are to be invoked by the feature interaction manager service logic program, wherein the order is predetermined by the subscriber;

(d) assigning a first subsystem number to the feature interaction manager service logic program;

(e) assigning a second subsystem number to the first feature service logic program package and a third subsystem number to the second feature service logic program package;

(f) provisioning a trigger on the subscriber'"'"'s line at the service switching point;

(g) assigning a unique translation type to the trigger on the subscriber'"'"'s line;

(h) upon receiving a query at the signal transfer point from the service switching point containing the unique translation type, supplementing said query with the first subsystem number and sending said supplemented query to the service control point;

(i) upon receiving said supplemented query at the service control point containing the first subsystem number, invoking the feature interaction manager service logic program; and

(j) managing, in the feature interaction manager, said first and second feature service logic programs according to said service interaction rules.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said trigger is a termination attempt trigger.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the first and the second feature service logic programs are two services selected from the group consisting of flexible call forwarding, Internet call waiting, privacy director, advanced intelligent messaging, and simultaneous ringing.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of installing a second service control point, wherein at least one additional feature service logic program is installed on said second service control point.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said feature interaction manager service logic program is invoked such that it subsequently invokes at least one of the first feature service logic program, the second feature service logic program, and said at least one additional feature service logic program, according to said service interaction rules in the database.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of installing a second service control point having at least one additional feature service logic program, wherein said feature interaction manager service logic program invokes said at least one additional feature service logic program via SS7 network according to said service interaction rules in the database.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first, the second, and said at least one additional feature service logic programs are selected from the group consisting of flexible call forwarding, Internet call waiting, privacy director, advanced intelligent messaging, and simultaneous ringing.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the feature interaction manager service logic program is invoked such that it subsequently invokes at least one of the first and the second feature service packaging applications on the first service control point and said at least one additional feature service logic program on said second service control point as specified in the service interaction rules.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein said feature interaction manager service logic program returns a default response to the service switching point as specified in the service interaction rules when none of said first and second feature service logic programs has been activated.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said default response is an instruction authorizing call termination.

34. An advanced intelligent network telecommunication system comprising:

(a) a telephone line associated with a subscriber;

(b) a service switching point that is connected to the telephone line;

(c) a trigger having a unique translation type provisioned on the subscriber'"'"'s line at the service switching point;

(d) a service control point in communication with the service switching point;

(e) a feature interaction manager service logic program installed on the service control point having a first subsystem number;

(f) a first feature service logic program having a second subsystem number and a second feature service logic program having a third subsystem number; and

(g) means for managing said first feature service logic program and said first feature service logic program according to a set of service interaction rules, wherein the service interaction rules specifies an order in which the first feature service logic program and the second feature service program are to be invoked by the feature interaction manager service logic program, wherein the order is predetermined by the subscriber.

35. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 34, further comprising a signal transfer point located between the service switching point and the service control point, wherein the signal transfer point supplements an initial query received from the service switching point with said first subsystem number.

36. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 34, wherein said trigger is a termination attempt trigger.

37. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 34, wherein the first and the second feature service logic programs are two services selected from the group consisting of flexible call forwarding, Internet call waiting, privacy director, advanced intelligent messaging, and simultaneous ringing.

38. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 34, further comprising a second service control point, wherein at least one additional feature service logic program is installed on said second service control point.

39. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 38, wherein said feature interaction manager service logic program is invoked such that it subsequently invokes at least one of the first feature service logic program, the second feature service logic program, and said at least one additional feature service logic program according to said service interaction rules in the database.

40. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 39, wherein the first, the second, and said at least one additional feature service logic programs are services selected from the group consisting of flexible call forwarding, Internet call waiting, privacy director, advanced intelligent messaging, and simultaneous ringing.

41. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 34, further comprising a second service control point having at least one additional feature service logic program, wherein said feature interaction manager service logic program invokes said at least one additional feature service logic program via SS7 network according to said service interaction rules in the database.

42. The advanced intelligent network telecommunication system of claim 41, wherein the first, the second, and said at least one additional feature service logic programs are selected from the group consisting of flexible call forwarding, Internet call waiting, privacy director, advanced intelligent messaging, and simultaneous ringing.

43. A method for managing multiple services of an advanced intelligent network telecommunication system having a telephone line associated with a subscriber, a service switching point, and a signal transfer point, comprising the steps of:

(a) installing a feature interaction manager service logic program on a first service control point;

(b) installing a first feature service logic program on said first service control point;

(c) installing a second feature service logic program on a second service control point;

(d) installing on said first service control point service interaction rules for invoking said first feature service logic program and said second feature service logic program, wherein the service interaction rules specifies an order in which the first feature service logic program and the second feature service program are to be invoked by the feature interaction manager service logic program, wherein the order is predetermined by the subscriber;

(e) assigning a first subsystem number to the feature interaction manager service logic program;

(f) assigning a first unique subsystem number to the first feature service logic program package and a second unique subsystem number to the second feature service logic program package;

(g) provisioning a trigger on the subscriber'"'"'s line at the service switching point;

(h) assigning a unique translation type to the trigger on the subscriber'"'"'s line;

(i) upon receiving a query at the signal transfer point from the service switching point containing the unique translation type, supplementing said query with the first subsystem number and sending said supplemented query to said first service control point;

(j) upon receiving said supplemented query at said first service control point containing the first subsystem number, invoking the feature interaction manager service logic program; and

(k) managing, in the feature interaction manager, said first and second feature service logic programs according to said service interaction rules.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said trigger is a termination attempt trigger.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the first and the second feature service logic programs are selected from the group consisting of flexible call forwarding, Internet call waiting, privacy director, advanced intelligent messaging, and simultaneous ringing.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein said feature interaction manager service logic program returns a default response to the service switching point as specified in the service interaction rules when none of said first and second feature service logic programs has been activated.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said default response is an instruction authorizing call termination.

48. An advanced intelligent network telecommunication system comprising:

(a) at least one service switching point associated with a telephone line of a subscriber;

(b) a first service control point in communication with the at least one service switching point;

(c) a trigger with a translation type provisioned on the subscriber'"'"'s telephone line at the service switching point;

(d) a feature interaction manager service logic program, located on the first service control point;

(e) a first feature service logic program on a second service control point;

(f) a second feature service logic program on one of a third service control point and the second service control point; and

(g) a database accessible to the service control point, wherein the database comprises service interaction rules, wherein the service interaction rules specifies an order in which the first feature service logic program and the second feature service program are to be invoked by the feature interaction manager service logic program, wherein the order is predetermined by the subscriber,

wherein when said trigger prompts said at least one service switching point to send a query containing said translation type to the first service control point, said feature interaction manager service logic program is invoked and in turn subsequently invokes at least one of said first feature service logic program and said second feature service logic program, according to said service interaction rules in the database.