Method and apparatus for providing real time execution of specific communications services in an intelligent network

• US 7,227,942 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Porter, Kelvin R., Deo, Ajay P., Wang, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US11/221,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20060008069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207.02, 379/219, 379/220.01, 37922108-22112, 379/229, 379/230, 719315-317
• US Class Current: 379/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/54 Object oriented software
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/052 software update
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0037 involving call modelling techniques, e.g. modifications to the basic call state model [BCSM]

Abstract

System and methodology for providing real-time call processing services received at a switch in an intelligent network having one or more service nodes having originating switches for receiving a call event. The system includes a platform-independent communication system for enabling communication between object instances executing at service nodes in the intelligent network. An operating system agent object instance executing in an execution environment associated with an originating switch communicates call origination information corresponding to a call event received at the switch to one or more object instances executing in an execution environment provided at a service node in the network; the object instances including a line object instance for maintaining the state of a communications line associated with a call origination, and, a service object implementing methods for performing a service according to a customer request. A first database storage device accessible by the service object provides call routing information according to a customer'"'"'s subscription. A second database storage device is accessible by the service object to provide a corresponding terminating switch location address at a node in the network for the call based on the retrieved call routing information. The platform-independent communication system communicates call routing commands between the service object and at least the line object instance, for enabling call connection between originating and terminating switches independent of their location in the network.

Claims

1. In a communications system comprising a first service processor associated with and communicably coupled to a first resource complex and a second service processor associated with and communicably coupled to a second resource complex, a method for performing service processing comprising:

receiving, in relation to a first call, a first call event at the first service processor via the first resource complex;

determining that processing of the first call is to involve a first remote process operating on the second service processor;

sending information about the first call event from the first service processor to the first remote process, the processing of the first call being affected by the first remote process;

receiving, in relation to a second call, a second call event at the second service processor via the second resource complex;

determining that processing of the second call is to involve a second remote process operating on the first service processor; and

sending information about the second call event to the second remote process operating on the first service processor, the processing of the second call being affected by the second remote process.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first call event includes a service request from a user of the communications system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first call event includes a call origination service request from a user of the communications system.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving information from the first remote process pertaining to how the first service processor is to process the first call.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein operation of the first resource complex is affected by a logic program operating in the first service processor that maintains a state of a bearer resource in the first resource complex, and

wherein operation of the first resource complex is also affected by a service logic program operating in the second service processor.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the logic program operating in the first service processor maintains a state of at least one of a network access point, a connection, or a line associated with the first resource complex.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first service processor and second service processor communicate via a wide area network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first call event affects a call state maintained at the second service processor.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

instantiating the first remote process at the second service processor in response to the first call event.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying, via the first service processor, the first remote process using a name translation function.

11. A method for service processing using location-independent managed objects, the method comprising:

receiving, in relation to a call, call origination information at a first object instance executing in a first service logic execution environment operating at a first distributed service node;

determining that the call is to involve a second object instance in a second service logic execution environment operating at a second distributed service node; and

sending, via a wide area network, the call origination information from the first object instance to the second object instance.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first distributed service node controls a first resource complex and the second distributed service node controls a second resource complex distinct from the first resource complex.

13. A system comprising:

a first node comprising;

a first resource complex configured to;

receive a first call event relating to a first call, and

forward the first call event, and

a first call processor operatively coupled to the first resource complex and configured to;

receive the first call event from the first resource complex,

identify a first remote process operating on a second node that is to be involved in processing the first call, and

send information relating to the first call event to the first remote process, the processing the first call being affected by the first remote process; and

the second node comprising;

a second resource complex configured to;

receive a second call event relating to a second call, and

forward the second call event, and

a second call processor operatively coupled to the second resource complex and configured to;

receive the second call event from the second resource complex,

identify a second remote process operating on the first node that is to be involved in processing the second call, and

send information relating to the second call event to the second remote process, the processing the second call being affected by the second remote process.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the first call event includes a service request from a user of the system.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the first call event includes a call origination service request from a user of the system.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the first call processor is further configured to:

receive information from the first remote process pertaining to how the first call processor is to act upon the first call.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein operation of the first resource complex is affected by a logic program operating in the first call processor that maintains a state of a bearer resource in the first resource complex, and

wherein operation of the first resource complex is also affected by a service logic program operating in the second call processor.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the logic program operating in the first call processor maintains a state of at least one of a network access point, a connection, or a line associated with the first resource complex.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein, when sending the information about the first call event, the first call processor is configured to:

send the information about the first call event to the first remote process operating on the second call processor via a wide area network.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein the first call event affects a call state maintained at the second call processor.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein the second call processor is configured to:

instantiate the first remote process in response to the first call event.

22. The system of claim 13 wherein, when identifying the first remote process, the first call processor is configured to:

identify the first remote process using a name translation function.

23. A method comprising:

receiving a first call event, in relation to a first call, at a first object instance executing in a first service logic execution environment;

identifying a second object instance executing in a second service logic execution environment to involve in processing the first call;

sending information relating to the first call event to the second object instance via a wide area network;

processing, via the second object instance, the information relating to the first call to create processed first call event information, the processed first call event information being used to process the first call;

receiving a second call event, in relation to a second call, at a third object instance executing in the second service logic execution environment;

identifying a fourth object instance executing in the first service logic execution environment to involve in processing the second call;

sending information relating to the second call event to the fourth object instance via the wide area network; and

processing, via the fourth object instance, the information relating to the second call to create processed second call event information, the processed second call event information being used to process the second call.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

receiving information from the second object instance pertaining to how the first object instance is to act upon the first call.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

instantiating the second object instance at the second service logic execution environment in response to the first call event.

26. A system comprising:

a first node configured to;

receive a first call event relating to a first call,

determine a second node to involve in processing the first call, and

forward information relating to the first call event to the second node via a wide area network; and

the second node comprising;

a first object instance configured to;

receive the information relating to the first call event, and

process the information relating to the first call event to create processed first call event information, the processed first call event information being used to process the first call.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the second node is configured to:

receive a second call event relating to a second call,

determine that the first node is to be involved in processing the second call, and

forward information relating to the second call event to the first node via the wide area network, and

wherein the first node comprises;

a second object instance configured to;

receive the information relating to the second call event, and

process the information relating to the second call event to create processed second call event information, the processed second call event information being used to process the second call.