Hybrid intelligent network

• US 20050111650A1
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Septier Communication Ltd
• Original Assignee: Septier Communication Ltd
• Inventors: Fixler, Dror, Baratz, Yaron, Savoray, Uri
• Granted Patent: US 7,106,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/221.80
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing Intelligent Network services are provided. Signaling probes separate from a switch listen to traffic on a signaling network wherein the switch communicates with other switches and subscriber equipment. Events identified within the signaling traffic are communicated to a Service Contact Point (SCP) via an ancillary network such as a packet switch network. Optionally, the SCP relays a command to the switch in response to the detected event.

Claims

1. ) In a telecommunications network wherein a switch communicates with subscriber equipment (SE) and with other switches via a first signaling network, wherein the switch communicates with a Service Contact Point (SCP) via a second signaling network, a method of implementing Intelligent Network services comprising:

a) providing a signaling probe separate from the switch;

b) identifying an event in the first signaling network with said signaling probe; and

c) sending a communication describing said event to the SCP.

2. ) The method of claim 1 further comprising the step:

d) providing an ancillary network,

wherein said communication is sent to said SCP via said ancillary network.

3. ) The method of claim 2, wherein said ancillary network is a packet switched network.

4. ) The method of claim 3 wherein said ancillary network is a TCP/IP network.

5. ) The method of claim 4 wherein said ancillary network is an internet.

6. ) The method of claim 1 wherein said event is identified by the steps:

i) listening to signaling traffic on said first signaling network;

ii) decoding said signaling traffic;

iii) identifying, from the decoded signaling traffic, said event.

7. ) The method of claim 6 wherein said signaling traffic is encoded by a protocol appropriate for a network selected from the group consisting of fixed-line, GSM, CDMA, GPRS, UMTS and CDMA2000.

8. ) The method of claim 6 wherein said signaling traffic is encoded by a SS7 protocol.

9. ) The method of claim 8 wherein said SS7 protocol is selected from the group consisting of Interim Specification number 41 (IS-41), Interim Specification number 638 (IS-638), Integrated Services Digital Network User Part (SS7) (ISUP), Interoperability Specification (IOS), and Mobile Application Part (MAP).

10. ) The method of claim 6 wherein said listening includes detecting electrical signals within said first network.

11. ) The method of claim 6 where said listening includes detecting electrical signals within the switch.

12. ) The method of claim 6 where said listening includes detecting electrical signals on a communication line selected from the group consisting of a communication line between the switch and another switch, a communication line between the switch and subscriber equipment, and a communication line connected to a mobile gateway.

13. ) The method of claim 6 where said listening includes detecting electrical signals within a mobile gateway.

14. ) The method of claim 1 wherein said event is generated by subscriber equipment.

15. ) The method of claim 1 wherein said event is generated by a mobile handset.

16. ) The method of claim 1 wherein said event is generated by a prepaid subscriber.

17. ) The method of claim 1 where said event is selected from the group consisting of dialing of a number, an off-hook event, the connection of a voice call, the connection of a data call, the termination of a voice call, the termination of a data call, a roaming event, changing location event during a call, changing location event during idle mode, power on at a cellular network, power off at cellular network, a call arriving from another network, a ringing handset, a call being forwarded, a call being answered, the continuation of a call, sending of at least one short message, the receiving of at least one short message, and changes of supplementary service user characteristics.

18. ) The method of claim 1 further comprising

d) sending a command from said SCP to the switch.

19. ) The method of claim 1 wherein said command is sent from said SCP to the switch using the second signaling network.

20. ) The method of claim 18 wherein said command comprises instructions to perform an action selected from the group consisting of terminating a voice call, terminating a data call, continuing a voice call, continuing a data call, transferring a voice call from one subscriber to another subscriber, transferring a data call from one subscriber to another subscriber, transferring a call to an Intelligent Peripheral, sending a message, receiving a message, sending a DTMF (dual tone multi frequency) tone, receiving a DTMF tone, changing a user supplementary service profile, adding a subscriber to a database, deleting a subscriber from a database, checking a mobile identity and setting up a trigger.

21. ) The method of claim 20 wherein said message is a text message.

22. ) The method of claim 21 wherein said text message is a short message service (SMS) message.

23. ) The method of claim 20 wherein said database is selected from the group consisting of a home location register (HLR) database and a visitor location register (VLR) database.

24. ) In a network wherein a switch communicates with subscriber equipment (SE) and with other switches via a first signaling network, wherein the switch communicates with a Service Contact Point (SCP) via a second signaling network, a system for providing Intelligent Network services comprising:

a) a signaling probe separate from the switch configured to receive event data from the first signaling network;

b) an ancillary communications network providing a data link between said signaling probe and the SCP.

25. ) The system of claim 24 wherein said signaling probe comprises at least one data input port, a data bus, a protocol analyzer and a data output port.

26. ) The system of claim 25 wherein said protocol analyzer is configured to analyze data encoded in a protocol appropriate for a network selected from the group consisting of fixed line, GSM, CDMA, GPRS, UMTS and CDMA2000.

27. ) The system of claim 25 wherein said protocol analyzer is configured to analyze data encoded in an SS7 protocol.

28. ) The system of claim 27 wherein said SS7 protocol is selected from the group consisting of Interim Specification number 41 (IS-41), Interim Specification number 638 (IS-638), Integrated Services Digital Network User Part (SS7) (ISUP), Interoperability Specification (IOS), and Mobile Application Part (MAP).

29. ) The system of claim 25 wherein at least one said data input port is connected to the switch.

30. ) The system of claim 25 wherein at least one said data input port is connected to a communication line selected from the group consisting of a communication line between the switch and another switch, a communication line between the switch and subscriber equipment, and a communication line connected to a mobile gateway.

31. ) The system of claim 25 wherein at least one said data input port is connected to a mobile gateway.

32. ) The system of claim 24 wherein said signaling probe physically separated from the switch.

33. ) The system of claim 24 wherein said ancillary communications network is a packet switched network.

34. ) The system of claim 33 wherein said ancillary communications network is a TCP/IP network.

35. ) The system of claim 34 wherein said ancillary communications network is an internet.