JP2000099430A - System and method for providing high-grade telecommunication service - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for providing a call processing service simultaneously corresponding to plural communication protocols while also dealing with communication utilizing not only a No. 7 signal system but also the other communication protocol (X.25 or TCP/IP) concerning a service controller for high- grade telecommunication service such as an intelligent network. SOLUTION: An application for call processing at the service controller is divided to a communication protocol depending part 1 of low-order layer and a communication protocol non-depending part 2 of high-order layer. An application 5 in charge of absorbing a difference caused by the communication protocol is arranged at the interface parts of the both and the format of resources managed by the low-order layer and the format of resources managed by the high-order layer are mutually transformed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for providing an advanced telecommunications service represented by an intelligent network (IN). X.7 as communication protocols other than X.7. 25. A method of providing an advanced telecommunication service corresponding to a plurality of communication protocols such as TCP / IP.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, the following literature is referred to as this kind of prior art.

[0003] References (ITU-T, "ITU-T Recom
mendation Q. 1215 Physical Plane For Int
elligent Network CS-1 ”, March 1993, No. 5
Page, FIGURE 1 / Q. 1215).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a network architecture for realizing conventional IN call processing (for details, see FIG. 1 / Q.1215, Scenarios for ph
ysicalarchitectures). In FIG. 4, AD (Adjunct), I
P (Intelligent peripheral), SSP (Service swit
ching point), SCP (Service control point), S
N (Service node), NAP (Network access point)
t), SPP (Service data), SSCP (Service swi
tching and control point), and as a functional entity (FE), CCF (Call control function),
CCAF (Call control agent function), SCF (S
ervice control function), SDF (Service data fu
nction), SRF (Special resource function), S
There is SF (Service switching function). In the figure, a solid line indicates a transport, a dashed line indicates a signaling, and a functional entity (FE) surrounded by a dashed line is optional.

In the conventional IN call processing, No. A service switching point (hereinafter referred to as "SS") using a communication protocol called common channel signaling # 7 (No. 7 common channel signaling).
P ”). Therefore, even in the call processing application in the SCP, No. SS using 7 signaling
It is assumed that the communication with the P is performed, and the realization of the IN call processing service using another communication protocol is not considered.

[0006]

The above-mentioned conventional system is
It has the following problems.

[0007] In the conventional IN call processing, no. When an attempt is made to introduce a service using a communication protocol (for example, X.25, TCP / IP) other than the signaling system No. 7, the normal No. 7 signaling system is used. This means that more man-hours are required for development than in the case of introducing a new service between SSP and SCP (service control point) using the seven-signal system.

[0008] The reason is that the application range of the SCP call processing application is no. 7
In the signaling method, since the external device of the communication partner is limited to the SSP, in other cases, a useful function of the call processing application of the SCP (for example, a service logic execution function by a combination of service components) is provided. This is because they cannot be used, and in many cases, it is necessary to develop a dedicated application that meets the specifications of the service to be realized.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide X.7 signaling as well as X.7 signaling. 25, TCP (Transmission Control
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system that enables the application for call processing of the SCP to be applied to a service using a (Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol) communication protocol.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, in a system for realizing a service based on message communication between a service control point (hereinafter referred to as "SCP") in an intelligent network (IN) and another node, If the SCP call processing application is No. X.7 signaling as well as X.7 signaling. 25, TCP /
It is also characterized in that it supports communication using other communication protocols such as IP, and at the same time can perform call processing corresponding to a plurality of communication protocols.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the call processing application at the SCP (service control point) is divided into a lower layer communication protocol dependent unit (1 in FIG. 1) and an upper layer communication protocol independent unit (FIG. 1). 2), and the interface part of both
An application (an interface application 5 in FIG. 1) that absorbs the difference due to the communication protocol is arranged, and in this application, the format of the resource managed by the lower layer and the format of the resource managed by the upper layer are mutually converted.

In the embodiment of the present invention, data managed in the upper layer of the call processing application in the SCP has a common format independent of a communication protocol.

A message transmitted / received to / from an external device is converted into data called CID (Call Instance Data) in the upper layer of the call processing application in the SCP, and operation from a service scenario is possible. Become.

In the embodiment of the present invention, X. 2
5. For a service using the TCP / IP communication protocol, it is possible to generate and execute a service scenario by combining service components.

[0015]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7, X. 25, TCP / I
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchy of SCP call processing applications for supporting a plurality of P communication protocols.

The call processing application of the SCP comprises a communication protocol dependent unit 1 and a communication protocol independent unit 2.

The communication protocol dependent section 1 is divided into a communication processing driver 3, a communication processing application 4, and an interface application 5.

The communication processing driver 3 has the No. 2 which controls the lower layer of the communication protocol. 7 drivers, X.7 This layer is not described because it corresponds to a TCP / IP communication function (socket interface) implemented as a standard in an OS (Operating System) and a driver, and is not directly related to the subject of the present invention.

The communication processing application 4 is a part for transmitting and receiving a message to and from an external device by using each communication processing driver 3 and also has a function to cope with a communication failure.

The interface application 5
This is a part that links the resources managed in the lower layer (having a form that depends on the communication protocol) with the resources managed in the upper layer (having a standard form that does not depend on the communication protocol).

In this layer, the communication partner address information, call identification information, and message identification information in the lower layer are associated with the call model ID, call ID, and message identifier in the upper layer, respectively. At the time of transmission to the layer or vice versa, conversion to the resource expected by the destination layer is performed. Note that the call model defines a call state transition rule when the IN application performs call control.

The communication protocol independent part 2 is divided into layers of an IN call processing application 6 and an IN service control application 7.

The IN call processing application 6 encodes / decodes the message based on the information of the call model ID and the message identifier. Thereby, the user data part in the message transmitted / received to / from the external device and the CID (C
All Instance Data (call instance data) is converted mutually.

The IN service control application 7
An IN service execution process is performed based on the service scenario.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention when a message is received from an external device and when a message is transmitted to the external device will be described.

First, an operation when a message is received from an external device will be described with reference to FIG.

The communication processing application 4 receives a message from the communication processing driver 3 using message receiving means provided by each communication processing driver. No. 7 communications, X.7. The messages 10, 11, and 12 from the 25 communication and the TCP / IP communication have a format as shown in (f), (g), and (h) of FIG.

The format of the message to be received depends on the communication protocol, but information required in a higher layer is extracted from the information included in the header of the message. No. In the case of 7 communication, address information (originating point code and subsystem number), call identification information (dialog identifier), and message identification information (operation code) of the communication partner are extracted. X. In the case of 25 communication, address information (logical channel number) of a communication partner is extracted. In the case of TCP / IP, address information (IP address) of a communication partner is extracted.

The communication processing application 4 sets the extracted information in the header of the message and transmits the message to the interface application 5 (FIG. 2).
(B), (c), and (d) messages 13, 14, 1
5).

The interface application 5
When a message is received, X. 25 communication or TCP /
In the case of IP communication, information necessary for management (call identification information and message identification information) is extracted from the user data section. The interface application 5 converts the communication partner address information, the call identification information, and the message identification information sent from the lower layer into a call model ID, a call ID, and a message identifier used by the upper layer, and converts the mutual linkage information. Hold.

The interface application 5
The call model ID, the call ID, and the message identifier are set in the header of the message, and the message is transmitted to the IN call processing application 6 (see message 16 in FIG. 2). This message 16 has a format common to each communication protocol (see FIG. 2 (i)).

Upon receiving the message 16, the IN call processing application 6 obtains the message ID and the message structure information from the database using the call model ID and the message identifier as keys, and decodes (disassembles) the user data portion. . Specifically, each parameter in the user data section is stored in a variable of CID (Call Instance Data) associated in advance in the database.

The IN call processing application 6 transmits a message including the message ID and the call ID to the IN service control application 7 (see message 17 in FIG. 2). IN service control application 7
Receives the message 17 (format is shown in FIG. 2 (e)) and performs a service execution process based on the service scenario for the call corresponding to the received call ID.

Next, an operation for transmitting a message to an external device will be described with reference to FIG. The IN service control application 7 transmits a message indicated by the message ID to the IN call processing application 6 based on the control of the service scenario (message 20 in FIG. 3).
reference).

Upon receiving the message 20, the IN call processing application 6 obtains the call model ID, the message identifier, and the message structure information from the database using the message ID as a key, and encodes the user data portion of the message to be transmitted. (Assembly).
Specifically, the current value of the CID (Coll Instance Data) associated with each parameter in the user data section is set for each parameter to form the user data section.

The IN call processing application 6 sets the call model ID, the call ID, and the message identifier in the header, and transmits them to the interface application 5 (see message 21 in FIG. 3).

The interface application 5
When the message 21 is received, the call model ID, the call ID, and the message identifier sent from the upper layer are
These are converted into communication partner address information, call identification information, and message identification information used in the lower layer, respectively.

X. In the case of 25 communication or TCP / IP communication, call identification information and message identification information are set at predetermined positions in the user data section.

The interface application 5
The message to the communication processing application 4 is edited and transmitted to the communication processing application 4 (messages 22, 23, and 24 in FIG. 3).
reference).

The communication processing application 4 transmits a message to the communication processing driver 3 using message transmission means provided by each communication processing driver (see messages 25, 26, and 27 in FIG. 3).

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention,
X. 25. If a service using the TCP / IP communication protocol is to be introduced, a special reduction in the number of steps for development is expected when a new service is created or an existing service is changed.

The reason is that in the present invention, X. 2
5. For TCP / IP communication protocol, SCP
In particular, a service scenario using a service development tool can be used because a service scenario in which service components are combined can be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention;
No. 7, X. FIG. 25 is a hierarchical diagram of an SCP call processing application for supporting a plurality of TCP / IP communication protocols.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation of one embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram showing an operation when a message is received from an external device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an operation of one embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram showing an operation when a message is transmitted to an external device.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a network architecture for implementing conventional IN call processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Communication Protocol Dependent Part 2 Communication Protocol Independent Part 3 Communication Processing Driver 4 Communication Processing Application 5 Interface Application 6 IN Call Processing Application 7 IN Service Control Application

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A service control device storing an application for realizing a communication service is provided, and a communication node providing a communication service to a user communicates with the service control device by message communication, and the service control device stores the application. In a communication service providing method for receiving a communication service provided by an application, the service control device includes a communication protocol dependent unit that executes a message communication process corresponding to each communication protocol, and a unified communication protocol independent unit. A communication protocol-independent portion that executes and processes an application based on format management data, and an interface that absorbs differences between individual communication protocols and executes an inter-communication process between the communication protocol-dependent portion and the communication protocol-independent portion. Department Advanced telecommunications service providing method characterized by having an application configured in. 2. A service control device storing an application for realizing a communication service is provided, and a communication node providing a communication service to a user communicates with the service control device by message communication, and the service control device stores the application. A communication service providing method for receiving a communication service provided by an application, the application comprising: a communication protocol dependent unit that processes message communication with the communication node in accordance with each communication protocol in a plurality of communication protocols; A communication protocol-independent part that executes and processes a service scenario that realizes the above based on management data in a unified format that does not depend on each communication protocol, and a management data that depends on each communication protocol of the communication protocol-dependent part. Formats and advanced telecommunication services providing system characterized in that it comprises an interface unit which performs mutual conversion between the unified format wherein the communication protocol-independent portion manages. 3. The communication unit according to claim 2, wherein the interface unit is information included in a message processed by the communication protocol dependent unit, the information being required by the communication protocol independent unit, and the communication protocol independent unit corresponding to the information. 3. The system for providing advanced telecommunication services according to claim 2, further comprising means for mutually converting and transmitting information used in the section. 4. The communication protocol-dependent unit is information included in a message of a message format corresponding to each communication protocol transmitted and received with the communication node, and is a communication required by the interface unit. Means for transmitting and receiving information predetermined for each protocol to and from the interface unit using a first internal message format, wherein the interface unit includes information included in a message of the first internal message format. Means for performing mutual conversion between the communication protocol independent part and information required for execution control of a call processing application in the communication protocol independent part, and transmitting / receiving the communication protocol independent part using a second internal message format. The communication protocol independent part includes the interface Executing a service scenario for realizing a communication service based on information included in the message of the second internal message format received from the source unit, and when it is necessary to send a message, 3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising means for editing necessary information and sending the edited information to the interface unit. 5. When it is necessary to send a message from the communication protocol independent part, the communication protocol independent part edits the sending information into a predetermined message format and sends it to the interface part. The interface unit converts the information included in the message received from the communication protocol independent unit into information necessary for an individual communication protocol determined in advance for each communication protocol, and sends the information to the communication protocol dependent unit. 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the communication protocol dependent unit edits the information received from the interface unit into a message format corresponding to each communication protocol and sends the message format to the communication node. . 6. A service control device storing a communication service control application for realizing a communication service is provided, and a communication node for providing a communication service to a user communicates with the service control device by message communication, and In a communication service providing method for receiving a communication service provided by a control application stored in a control device, the control application performs communication with a message transmitted / received from an external communication node in a lower layer communication protocol dependent unit. Executes and outputs the mutual conversion processing between the protocol-dependent management data format and the unified format managed by the communication protocol independent part, and realizes the communication service in the upper layer communication protocol independent part. Service scenarios A method for providing an advanced telecommunications service, characterized in that execution processing is performed based on management data in a unified format that does not depend on individual communication protocols. 7. The communication protocol dependent unit receives a message corresponding to a plurality of protocols with an external device, and extracts, from the received message, address information on the external device of the communication partner and identification information of the message. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said extracted information is converted into a format required by an upper layer from a correspondence information between messages held in advance, and converted into a common format required by an upper layer, and output. The method for providing an advanced telecommunications service according to the above. 8. The protocol-independent unit assembles a message output from the lower layer into a message format required by the upper layer, decodes the message, and analyzes a user message received from the external device. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the service is executed based on the correspondence between the analysis result and the service scenario. 9. The communication protocol-dependent unit is information included in a message in a message format corresponding to each communication protocol transmitted and received between the communication node and the communication protocol, and the communication required by the interface unit. Information predetermined for each protocol is transmitted and received between the interface unit using a first internal message format, the interface unit includes information included in a message of the first internal message format, Performs mutual conversion with the information required in the execution control of the call processing application in the communication protocol independent part, and transmits and receives between the communication protocol independent part using a second internal message format, the communication protocol The non-dependent part receives the information from the interface part. If a service scenario for realizing a communication service based on the information contained in the message of the second internal message format is executed and message transmission is required, the necessary information is edited in the second internal message format and the interface is edited. 7. The method for providing an advanced telecommunication service according to claim 6, wherein the method is transmitted to a communication unit. 10. The protocol-independent unit assembles a message for transmission to an external device based on predetermined parameter information and outputs the message to a lower layer based on control of a service scenario. The dependent unit converts and converts the message received from the protocol-independent unit into communication partner address information and message information required in each lower layer, and transmits the message as a message corresponding to each communication protocol process. 7. The method for providing advanced telecommunication services according to claim 6, wherein: 11. When it is necessary to send a message from the communication protocol independent part, the communication protocol independent part edits the sending information into a predetermined message format and sends it to the interface part. The interface unit converts the information included in the message received from the communication protocol independent unit into information necessary for an individual communication protocol determined in advance for each communication protocol, and sends the information to the communication protocol dependent unit. The method according to claim 6, wherein the communication protocol dependent unit edits the information received from the interface unit into a message format corresponding to each communication protocol and sends the message format to the communication node.