Intelligent routing

• US 6,687,366 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1999
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Jonsson, Lars, Pettersson, Göran
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AL AUBAIDI, RASHA S
• Application Number:
  US09/355,484
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207, 379/230, 379/211, 379/221.08, 379/205.01, 379/221.09, 455/406, 705/14
• US Class Current: 379/221.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement, a network and methods for identifying the relevant SDP for a question from an SCP in a telecommunication network with a large amount of subscribers and handling and administration of a large amount of subscribers by introducing a function for intelligent routing. The intelligent routing between SCP and SDP can be handled by a node standing by itself in the network or as a part-function in an already existing node, for example an SCP. When a new subscriber shall be stored in an SDP subscriber data is transferred from the service administration to a master IRF (Intelligent Routing Function). The IRF comprises a function for determining which SDP that shall store the subscriber data and the IRF thereafter transfer the subscriber data to the SDP. The IRF also stores this information. The information is also transferred to the other IRFs. When an SCP gets a call from an SSP, the SCP contacts an IRF which contacts an SDP.

Claims

1. A network for being able to handle a large number of Intelligent Network (IN) calls and a large number of IN subscribers, comprising:

at least two service data points (SDPs);

at least one service control point (SCP);

at least one intelligent router (IR) wherein said IR is an IN node communicably coupled to said at least two SDPs and said at least one SCP and wherein said SCP is arranged to request subscriber data associated with a particular subscriber from one of said SDPs wherein said request further includes an indicator, and that said IR is arranged to first receive said request from said SCP and thereafter selectively directing said request to one of the SDPs based on said indicator without communicating with any other SCP.

2. A network according to claim 1 wherein said network further comprises a plurality of IRs and said SCP comprises means for electing a particular IR in dependence of the present load situation or in dependence of the geographical situation.

3. A network according to claim 2 wherein said plurality of lRs each contain the same routing data for selectively directly said request to one of the SDPs.

4. A network according to claim 2 wherein a particular one of said plurality of IRs further comprises means for receiving subscriber data associated with a particular subscriber from said network and further storing said received subscriber data with a particular one of said SDPs.

5. A network according to claim 4 wherein said particular IR updating its routing date to reflect the newly stored subscriber data and communicating said updated routing data with the rest of said IRs.

6. A network according to claim 1 wherein said indicator comprises subscriber identification data.

7. A network according to claim 1 wherein said indicator comprises service identification data.

8. An arrangement for being able to handle a large amount of IN calls and a large amount of IN subscribers;

within an intelligent telecommunications network including a plurality of service control points (SCPs) and a plurality of service data points (SDPs), said arrangement comprising;

a first interface for connecting to at least one SCP over said intelligent telecommunications network;

a second interface for connecting to at least two SDPs and said arrangement is arranged to receive a request from said SCP wherein said request includes identification data and direct said request to one of the SDPs based on said received identification data without communicating with any other SCP.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 further comprising means for receiving said requested subscriber data from said SDP and communicating said subscriber data to said requesting SCP.

10. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein said identification data comprises subscriber identification data.

11. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein said identification data comprises service identification data.

20. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

receiving said requested subscriber data from said SDP; and

forwarding said received subscriber data to said requesting SCP.

21. The method of claim 9 wherein said SDP provides the requested subscriber data directly to said requesting SCP.

22. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to store subscriber data associated with a particular subscriber;

determining which one of said SDPs is to store said received subscriber data;

transmitting said received subscriber data to said determined SDP; and

updating routing data within said IR for correlating each of said SDPs with said plurality of subscribers.

12. A method for handling a large number of Intelligent Network (IN) calls and a large number of IN subscribers In a telecommunication network, comprising the steps wherein:

an service control point (SCP) receiving an IN call from an service switching point (SSP);

said SCP analyzing said call and the present traffic situation, that said SCP calling an intelligent router (IR) chosen from a multitude of IRs, in dependence of said analysis; and

said IR analyzing said call from said SCP, that said IR electing a particular service data point (SDP) from a multitude of SDPs, in dependence of said analysis without communicating with any other SCP, and that said elected SDP supplies said SCP with subscriber data.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said SCP calls a special IR, from a multitude of IRs, in dependence of which IR has the lowest load, or which IR is geographically closest, or which IR is in view of signaling closest to said SCP.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said IR receives information from said SCP, that said information uniquely points out a special subscriber or service, that said IR compares said information with information stored in a table in said IR, that said IR elects a special SDP, from a multitude of SDPs, In dependence of said comparison.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein said elected SDP transfers subscriber data to said IR and that said IR transfers said subscriber data to said SCP.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein said elected SDP transfers subscriber data directly to said SCP.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein said table in all IRs, in said multitude of IRs, comprises the same information.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein each SDP in a first subset of the multitude of SDPs, comprises subscriber data for different types of services, but for the same subscribers, and that each SDP in a second subset of the multitude of SDPs comprises subscriber data for unique subscribers, but for the same type of service.

19. A method for providing IN calls within a telecommunications network including a service control point (SCP) for providing call control instructions to one or more service switching points (SSPs), and two or more service data points (SDPs) for storing subscriber data associated with a plurality of subscribers, said method further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to provide subscriber data from said SCP wherein said request includes subscriber identification data wherein said request is received from said SCP over said telecommunications network;

reviewing said subscriber identification data and determining which one of said SDPs is storing the requested subscriber data; and

forwarding said received request to said determined SDP without communicating with any other SCP.