System and method of controlling and managing voice and data services in a telecommunications network

• US 6,856,676 B1
• Filed: 10/14/1999
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Pirot, Johan, Jadoul, Marc, Roscam, Rombaut J., McDermott, Thomas C., O'Connell, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deane, Jr., William J.
• Application Number:
  US09/418,113
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: 379/219, 379/230, 379/201.01, 379/201.03, 379/201.12, 379/126, 379/127.02, 379/93.02, 379/210.02, 379/189
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/065 involving logical or physical relationship, e.g. grouping and hierarchies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5029 Service quality level-based billing, e.g. dependent on measured service level customer is charged more or less
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5061 characterised by the interaction between service providers and their network customers, e.g. customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/773 per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 Hybrid network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7268 : per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless

Abstract

A system of controlling and managing voice and data services in a telecommunications network includes a media gateway interface coupled to a plurality of diverse voice and data media gateways operating under diverse protocols in the telecommunications network, the media gateway interface being operable to communicate service logic with the media gateways.

A media gateway controller is in communications with the media gateway interface and media gateways and carries out service logic for a voice or data service according to input received from the media gateways. The system also includes a service management subsystem in communications with the media gateway controller and being operable to provision services with customers and provide service management tools for managing the services, and a service creation subsystem in communications with the service management subsystem and being operable to provide service creation tools for creating the service logic of the services. A customer care subsystem in communications with the service management subsystem is provided for generating billing records and customer invoices for the voice and data services.

Claims

1. A system of controlling and managing voice and data services in a telecommunications network:

a media gateway interface coupled to a plurality of diverse voice and data media gateways operating under diverse protocols in the telecommunications network, the media gateway interface being operable to communicate service logic with the media gateways;

a media gateway controller in communications with the media gateway interface and media gateways and carrying out service logic for a voice or data service according to input received from the media gateways, said service logic utilizing internal and external databases handlers to access data from internal and external databases;

a service management subsystem in communications with the media gateway controller and being operable to provision services with customers and provide service management-tools for managing the services;

a service creation subsystem in communications with the service management subsystem and being operable to provide service creation tools for creating the service logic of the services; and

a customer care subsystem in communications with the service management subsystem and being operable to generate billing records and customer invoices for the voice and data services.

2. The system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a service assurance subsystem in communications with the service management subsystem and being operable to collect data and voice service events and monitor the performance of data and voice services in the network.

3. The system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the service assurance subsystem is further operable to detect and protect against fraudulent usage of services.

4. The system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the service assurance subsystem is further operable to manage service level agreements.

5. The system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a network management subsystem in communications with the media gateway controller and being operable to monitor and manage the behavior of the media gateways.

6. The system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a directory in communications with the service management subsystem and the media gateway controller and being operable to provide customer name, location and domain translations.

7. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the media gateway interface is operable to interface with media gateways operating under the SS7 signaling protocol.

8. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the media gateway interface is operable to interface with media gateways operating under the IPDC/SGCP protocol.

9. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the media gateway interface is operable to interface with media gateways operating under the RAS protocol.

10. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the service logic comprises logic for mediation services.

11. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the service logic comprises logic for authentication, authorization, and accounting services.

12. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the service logic comprises logic for virtual private network services.

13. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the service logic comprises logic for device and client configuration data services.

14. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the service logic comprises logic for class services.

15. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the service management subsystem further comprises customer self service tools for network operators, content service providers and end-users to enter, view and edit service data.

16. A system of controlling and managing voice and data services in a telecommunications network:

a media gateway interface coupled to a plurality of diverse voice and data media gateways operating under diverse protocols in the telecommunications network, the media gateway interface being operable to communicate service logic with the media gateways;

a media gateway controller in communications with the media gateway interface and media gateways and carrying out service logic for a voice or data service according to input received from the media gateways, said service logic utilizing internal and external databases handlers to access data from internal and external databases;

a service management subsystem in communications with the media gateway controller and being operable to provision services with customers and provide service management tools for managing the services;

a service creation subsystem in communications with the service management subsystem and being operable to provide service creation tools for creating the service logic of the services;

a customer care subsystem in communications with the service management subsystem and being operable to generate billing records and customer invoices for the voice and data services;

a service assurance subsystem in communications with the service management subsystem and being operable to collect data and voice service events and monitor the performance of data and voice services in the network;

a network management subsystem in communications with the media gateway controller and being operable to monitor and manage the behavior of the media gateways; and

a directory in communications with the service management subsystem and the media gateway controller and being operable to provide customer name, location and domain translations.

17. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the service assurance subsystem is further operable to detect and protect against fraudulent usage of services.

18. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the service assurance subsystem is further operable to manage service level agreements.

19. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the media gateway interface is operable to interface with media gateways operating under the SS7 signaling protocol.

20. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the media gateway interface is operable to interface with media gateways operating under the IPDC/SGCP protocol.

21. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the media gateway interface is operable to interface with media gateways operating under the RAS protocol.

22. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the service logic comprises logic for mediation services.

23. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the service logic comprises logic for authentication, authorization, and accounting services.

24. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the service logic comprises logic for virtual private network services.

25. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the service logic comprises logic for device and client configuration data services.

26. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the service logic comprises logic for class services.

27. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the service logic comprises logic for voice mail, calling card and number portability services.

28. The system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the service management subsystem further comprises customer self service tools for network operators, content service providers and end-users to enter, view and edit service data.