System and method for mixed mode communications in an advanced intelligent network telephone system

• US 7,139,384 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2000
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: Nodell, Howard Mark, McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Ekstrom, Gayle Roberta
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Creighton
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Joseph T
• Application Number:
  US09/649,831
• Time in Patent Office: 2,275 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 379/221.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13546 Intelligent Peripheral
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A system and method of processing calls in a telephone network having advanced intelligent network (AIN) capabilities is provided. The method includes the step of coordinating the use of an indirect interface and a direct interface over direct and indirect data paths between a service control point and an intelligent peripheral in the telephone network. The system includes a service control point having an interface mediator for coordinating the use of the direct and indirect interfaces.

Claims

1. In an advanced intelligent network comprising a first network element for communicating with an end user, a call processing network element for managing call processing resources associated with a telephone call, a first data path permitting communication between the first network element and the call processing network element through an intelligent switch, and a second data path between the first network element and the call processing network element bypassing the intelligent switch, a method of processing telephone calls comprising:

detecting a call processing trigger;

the intelligent switch sending a request for call processing instructions to the call processing network element;

establishing direct communication between the call processing network element and first network element over the second data path, wherein establishing direct communication between the call processing network element and first network element further comprises;

the call processing network element initiating communication with the first network element over the second data path;

the call processing network element sending a resource request to the first network element; and

the first network element sending an information message to the call processing network element over the second data path, wherein the first network element sends the call processing element at least one port ID and informs the call processing network element of any processing limitations;

the call processing network element providing the first network element with a set of instructions over the second data path and sending a second set of instructions to the intelligent switch conveying the port ID received from the first network element, wherein the port ID indicates the destination for the telephone call;

coordinating use of a first interface over the first data path with use of a second interface over the second data path, wherein the call processing network element exchanges information with the first network element over the first and second data paths; and

the call processing network element maintaining communication with the intelligent switch to control disposition of the telephone call after first network element interaction with the telephone call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the call processing element maintaining communication with the intelligent switch comprises instructing the intelligent switch to play a delay announcement, wherein the call processing network element and first network element prepare appropriate call processing connections while the delay announcement is played.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first interface used over the first data path comprises a predetermined portion of a Bellcore GR-1129-CORE interface.

4. In an advanced intelligent network (AIN) comprising a first network element for communicating with an end user, a call processing network element for managing call processing resources associated with a telephone call, a first data path permitting communication between the first network element and the call processing network element through an intelligent switch, and a second data path between the first network element and the call processing network element bypassing the intelligent switch, a method of processing telephone calls comprising:

receiving a request for call processing instructions from the intelligent switch over a segment of the first data path;

sending instructions to the intelligent switch from the call processing network element over the segment of the first data path;

initiating a transaction between the call processing network element and the first network element by obtaining call processing resource information at the call processing network element from the first network element over the second data path, and instructing the intelligent switch over the segment of the first data path to establish a connection between the end user and the first network element based on the obtained call processing resource information;

transmitting interaction results to the call processing network element, wherein the interaction results comprise information received by the first network element from the end user related to a pager service subscriber, prior to terminating the connection between the end user and the first network element;

terminating the connection between the end user and the first network element and instructing the first network element over the second data path to perform additional tasks while maintaining the transaction between the call processing network element and the first network element; and

wherein instructing the first network element over the second data path to perform additional tasks comprises instructing the first network element to initiate a telephone call to the pager service subscriber.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second interface is a selected portion of an Ericsson interface.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first interface is a selected portion of Bellcore GR-1129-CORE.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the second data path comprises an ANSI SS7 transactions capabilities application part data transport layer.

8. The network of claim 4, wherein the second data path comprises an ethernet connection.