JPH06197181A - Telecommunication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an inexpensive intelligent modular telecommunication system which can offer a flexible distributed call-processing ability. CONSTITUTION: A telecommunication network 10 is provided with local telecommunication equipment, such as chargeable telephone sets 12 and 14 and call- processing systems 16 and 18 and intelligent network platforms 20, 22, and 24. The platforms 20, 22, and 24 are respectively composed of highly flexible modular systems. Each modular system is provided with a system control module 56, a management control module 50, a realtime module 52, an interface module 56, a switch module 46, a service module 48, and a power module 54, which are connected to each other through a multichannel bus 36. The platforms 20, 22, and 24 process call traffics through the telecommunication network 10 by being interfaced to the intelligent chargeable telephone sets 12 and 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to telecommunications systems.
m), especially modular telecommunication systems (mod)
ural telecommunication sy
The method and apparatus using a system).

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditional configurations of telecommunications systems use central offices over telephone lines.
Equipped with a relatively simple telephone device connected to e). In this configuration, call processing (call process)
g) and many other sophisticated systems reside within the central office, with the local telephone acting as a passive interface to the central office, generally as merely an interface to the end user.

Recent developments have been highly sophisticated (sma
rt) Helps processing power to form the telephone system. These highly sophisticated telephones are capable of performing call processing and automatic operator services locally and enhancing the performance of telecommunications networks. Such a scheme and functionality of telecommunications which has been completely obscured are related to U.S. Pat.
No. 4,908,852, No. 4,952,588 and No. 4,920,562, the contents of which are referred to in the present specification.

There is a need for systems and methods that better serve and localize the processing power of central offices. Intelligent network platform (Intelligent network) with higher flexibility
It is necessary to provide a reliable telecommunications network environment with a k platform. A flexible and secure telecommunications network can provide rapid telecommunications services without the need for costly retrofits or improvements to existing systems. This complex processing power, which goes beyond the functionality of the "highly sophisticated phone", is obtained on a network platform, such as the intelligent network platform described in the parent patent specification of this application and referenced in this description. Call processing capac obtained at low cost (call processing capab)
can form a platform for rapid telecommunications service deployment without the need for costly upgrades of the central office. For example, using intelligent network platforms distributed with or without traditional costly central office systems or retrofitting, large-scale, sophisticated telecommunications services can be provided to regions very cheaply and very quickly. it can.

Therefore, it is inexpensive and has an intelligent (in
There is a need for a modular telecommunications system that is both intelligent and flexible and that provides distributed call processing capabilities.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a modular telecommunications system that substantially eliminates or reduces the drawbacks associated with conventional systems.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a modular intelligent network with extremely high flexibility.
A reliable telecommunications network environment with a platform is obtained. These platforms allow rapid deployment of telecommunications services without the need for costly retrofits or improvements to existing network elements and central office systems.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an intelligent network platform system is provided which can share multiple telephones and call processing systems. Intelligent network platforms provide flexible switching or switching capabilities. The intelligent network platform is modular in nature and can therefore be used in service appliances with a wide variety of complexities. The intelligent network platform includes call processing services such as voice mail and messaging.
ll processing service, and provides sophisticated system management services capable of maintaining, monitoring and managing telecommunications networks.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, out-of-band transmission (o
ut-of-band-signaling or data-over-voice.
e) Transmission is used to transfer data between premises equipment, such as telephones and call processing devices, and intelligent network platforms that provide the processing power for the reliable network of the present invention. Data over voice transmission is used to create complex anti-fraud algorithms to ensure the network of the present invention. Further, data over voice transmission can result in the system management and monitoring functionality typically associated with relatively expensive SS7 networks without the costly central office and network equipment required to support SS7.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an existing network is provided with an intelligent network platform and an advanced customer premises equipment (customer p).
A remises equipment) is provided to expedite advanced telecommunications services without costly modification and modification of existing network equipment. For example, new types of voicemail messaging, information services, public and emergency services, and international and other forms of call traffic.
c) Response monitoring can be done using the intelligent network platform of the present invention. The intelligent network platform of the present invention is highly modular and flexible enough to interact with existing network systems. In this way, these network networks can be
By allowing the system to share an intelligent network platform and customer premises equipment, highly advanced telecommunications services are obtained.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, an intelligent network platform interacts with customer premises equipment to provide an improved fraud prevention method and system. Using the processing functions of the intelligent network platform and the processing functions of the telephone and call processing system located at the customer premises, the call authorization (call auth) can be used to prevent network fraud.
origination and call progress signaling.
ng) can be used. In this way, an advanced and reliable telecommunications network is obtained using intelligent network consoles and advanced customer premises equipment. Providing a secure network allows various prepaid and postpaid telecommunications services to be obtained without the fraud normally associated with providing such services.

In accordance with another aspect of the system of the present invention, a prepaid telephone call is made using an intelligent network platform.
confirmation of billable telecommunications traffic of local and other types. Prepaid accounts, for example, can be tracked using intelligent network platforms and credit cards, and collect call traffic.
The ct call traffic can be confirmed prior to making a phone call to ensure that the phone call requested by the prepaid account, credit card account or destination telephone number can be paid.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, an intelligent network platform is used to provide a least cost direction call pro.
processing) can be performed. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the intelligent network platform has a destination number to an originating number.
ing number) can be determined to be less expensive than a call made from a calling number to a destination number. Such an intelligent network platform, which is cheaper to operate in conjunction with the network, can connect the call for lowest cost transmission to the calling party.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the intelligent network platform can be used to provide prepaid telephone line service to customers who are not compatible with telephone services from conventional telecommunications networks. For example, a customer in a credit crisis can use the intelligent network platform to ensure that all calls are not passed through the intelligent network platform and that the user does not exceed the prepayment for call traffic. Buy a secure, prepaid phone line.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, an intelligent network platform is used to bypass the central office system, the shared carrier system, or both. According to this embodiment some telephones can be directly connected to an intelligent network platform which can be coupled to a communication system such as a satellite link or a microwave station. In this way, the intelligent network platform can create a completely separate telecommunications network, independent of existing ordinary carrier networks and central office systems. Alternatively, the intelligent network platform can be used as the terminal point of an ordinary carrier trunk line. In this way, the central office system can be bypassed and use intelligent network platforms to switch multiple telephone lines to ordinary carrier trunks and to service the existing network without modification.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the network of the present invention utilizing an intelligent network platform system allows for subscriber adoption without accounting for costly central office systems. (Billed Party Preference
Capability) can be given. The present invention provides an intelligent network platform with the ability to directly access a subscriber adoption information database which accounts for searching the appropriate carrier associated with the identified caller. The intelligent network platform can then either directly access the appropriate carrier or dial through the central office and combine the caller's call using the information retrieved from the subscriber's adopted database for billing. it can.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018]

1 is a block diagram of a telecommunications network 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The telecommunication network 10 can be conceptually divided into three groups of equipment.
The first group is toll phones 12, 14 and a call processing system [call processing system] 1.
6 and 18, the customer premises equipment (custo) shown in FIG.
mer premise equipment). The second group of equipment is shown in FIG.
Network platform 20, 22 and local intelligent network platform 2
It is an intelligent network platform shown by 4. The last section of the telecommunication network 10, called the existing connection network, is represented in FIG. 1 by the central office systems 26, 28, 30 and the satellite stations 32 and the microwave stations 34.

Pay phones 12, 14 and processing system 1
Customer premise equipment with 6, 18 is a "dum"
b) "and" smart "toll phones and various local telecommunication devices including call processing systems and telephone terminal combinations. The telecommunications network of the present invention can provide complex telecommunications capabilities to existing telephones that have little or no processing capabilities themselves. Furthermore, the telecommunication network of the present invention,
In particular, the intelligent network shown in Fig. 1
Intelligent like platforms 20 and 22
The network platform is capable of interacting with customer premise equipment that has processing capabilities to produce the various functions described in this description. Certain pay phones, such as pay phone 12, may be connected to an intelligent network.
Interacts with intelligent network platforms, such as platform 20, resulting in fraud prevention algorithms to prevent telecommunications network 10 from unauthorized use. Customer premises equipment, such as payphone 12 and call processing system 16, may be directly coupled to a remote intelligent network platform, such as remote intelligent network platform 20. Alternatively, toll telephone 12 or call processing system 16 may be coupled via central office 26 to a local intelligent network platform, such as intelligent network platform 24. Customer premises equipment, such as payphone 12 and call processing system 16, are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,933,965 and 4,944,966, which are related to assignee applications.
No. 4,890,317, No. 4,908,85
No. 2, No. 4,952,588 and No. 4,920,
A complex telecommunications processing system capable of performing automated operator service and telephone bill management functions may be provided, such as the systems described in the respective publications of No. 562 and referred to in this description.

The second major component of telecommunications network 10 comprises the connectivity network system. As mentioned above, these include central office systems or other forms of telecommunication transmissions such as satellite or microwave stations. An important technical advantage of the present invention is that the processing capabilities within the customer premises equipment and within the intelligent network platform of the present invention allow these systems to interface with existing network systems to modify or improve existing networks. You can get improved telecommunications services without doing it. The complexity and size of existing central office and telecommunications network systems makes it difficult to realize new services on a customer-by-customer basis. For example, implementing a voice messaging system in a particular area or business unit requires millions of dollars of upgrades over existing central office systems when utilizing traditional methods and systems. An advantage of the present invention is that services such as voicemail, messaging, etc. can be provided to a particular customer at little cost and time without modifying or interfering with existing network structures.

These advantages are obtained in part by the function of the final part of the telecommunications network 10 of the present invention, the intelligent network platform. The intelligent network platforms 20, 22, 24 shown in FIG. 1 are highly flexible modular telecommunications processing systems. The remote intelligent network platforms 20, 22 include various telecommunications switching systems, telecommunications service systems and telecommunications telecommunications management systems used to operate the telecommunications network 10. "Remote"
The terms (remote) and “local” simply refer to an intelligent network platform, which in this case is directly coupled to the telephone, and a platform which is coupled to the telephone on another intelligent network platform via a central office. The intelligent network platforms 20, 22 used to distinguish are the local intelligent network platform 24 and the central office 26,
It may also be coupled via 28 via a conventional telecommunication line.
In addition, the intelligent network platform 24 is programmed to communicate directly with the intelligent network platform 20, 22 and uses an ordinary high speed data communication system to provide the intelligent network platform 20, 22.
May be combined with.

The intelligent network platform 24 may be another part of a conventional telecommunications network, such as another central station 30, a satellite communication facility such as a satellite station 32, or a microwave telecommunications such as a microwave station 34. Equipment or regular cellular / RF connectivity (c
ellular / RF connectivie
It may be bound to s). FIG. 1 illustrates the flexibility of a telecommunications network constructed according to the present invention. Intelligent network platform system 20, 2
2, 24 are modular in construction and very flexible in construction and operation. For example, the intelligent network platform system, located on either side of the central office, can effectively communicate with toll telephones or call processing systems as shown in FIG. Further, an intelligent network platform, such as intelligent network platform 24, is responsive to an intelligent network platform, such as intelligent network platform 20, such that intelligent network platform 24 is the central office. Can be programmed.

Intelligent network platform 20 and pay telephone 12 or call processing system 16
An intelligent network platform, such as intelligent network platform 20, in direct communication with a telephone or call processing system, such as toll telephone 12 or call processing system 16, without a central office therebetween. One advantage of having
Out-of-band or data-over-voice communication occurs. By using a regular telephone line and a frequency much higher than the voice communication bandwidth and a switching frequency much lower than the voice communication bandwidth, the pay telephone 12
Alternatively, data can be sent concurrently with voice communication between the call processing system 16 and the intelligent network platform 20. This data communication can be used to prevent tampering with the telecommunications network 10 or to transmit status information in either direction. A normal in-band call (in-band) prior to the initiation of a telephone call.
d-signalling), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07 / 944,166, entitled "Telecommunications Corruption Prevention System and Method" (TELLE)
COMMUNICATION FRAUDPREVEN
A fraud prevention algorithm can be implemented as in "TION SYSTEM AND METHOD". The description of said US patent application is incorporated herein by reference. The out-of-band communication or data-over-voice communication facility provided by the present invention may be used in addition to the fraud prevention methods and systems described above. In addition, the intelligent network platform 20 may receive or send tariff information or other information needed during the processing of a telephone call. Out-of-band communication or data-over-voice communication is generally SS7 in advanced telecommunications network environments.
The network 10 is provided with the same signal communication function as that permitted for outgoing call (SS7signalling). These features are obtained without the time consuming and costly implementation of SS7 functionality and central office environment by providing this feature between the customer premises equipment and the intelligent network platform of the present invention.

A single intelligent network platform, such as intelligent network platform 24, pay network 1 without intelligent network platform 20
If you connect to a pay phone like 2 via Central Office 26,
Intelligent network platform 24
And payphone 12 can still effectively communicate to handle calls and manage telecommunications network 10. However, when the central office 26 is located between the intelligent network platform 24 and the toll telephone 12, the conventional central office system does not carry signals outside the regular voice bandwidth, so that the outer frequency bandwidth serial data link described above is used. Can be omitted.

The modular structure of the intelligent network platforms 20, 22, 24 allows the intelligent network platform to perform the various roles shown in the telecommunications network 10 described with respect to FIG. Further, due to the flexibility of the modular structure of intelligent network platforms, such as intelligent network platform 24, telecommunications system 10 allows telecommunications system 10 to, for example, interface circuitry within intelligent network platform 24. ) Can be made "network independent" in that it can interface to any ordinary telecommunications network.
The platform 24 includes a microwave transceiver, a satellite communication interface, or a conventional fiber or landline interface to communicate with a conventional central office system. Other telecommunications network functions, such as cellular and wireless communications, may also
The intelligent network platform 24 may be interfaced with by including the required interface system within the modular structure of the particular equipment of the platform 24. In this way, intelligent pay phones and call processing systems and associated intelligent network platforms
The system can be used to rapidly deploy telecommunications services in each area when primary telecommunications systems or improvements in telecommunications systems are needed. The flexibility of the intelligent network platform allows this platform to interface to whatever communication features pre-exist.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the telecommunication network 10. In FIG. 2, intelligent network platform 24 communicates with toll phones 12, 14 and call processing systems 16, 18 via a cellular system. The intelligent network platform 24 is coupled to the network MUX and DEMUX functions 25. Further, pay phones 12 and 14 are respectively coupled to the cellular transceivers 13 and 15 shown in FIG. Similarly, the call processing systems 16 and 18 are similar to those of FIG.
It is coupled to the cellular transceivers 17 and 19 as shown in FIG.

According to this embodiment, the link between, for example, the intelligent network platform 20 and the payphone 12 utilizes a conventional cellular link. Using the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a new telecommunication network can be operated in an area with no landline capability. Answer commands for cellular pay phones and cellular call processing systems are obtained using the intelligent network platform 20. The intelligent network platform 20 issues hard response commands to the cellular toll telephone and call processing system in-band or out-of-band.
f band signaling).
Intelligent network platform 24
Is a cellular pay telephone 12 and a cellular call processing system 1
6 can receive signals from the central station 30, satellite station 3
2 or the microwave station 34 can be directly interfaced to complete communication with the remote portion of the network.

The present invention provides a modular telecommunications system that substantially eliminates or reduces the drawbacks associated with conventional systems. It provides a secure telecommunications network environment consisting of a flexible, modular intelligent network platform. These platforms enable rapid deployment of telecommunications services without the need for costly modifications or improvements to existing network elements and central office systems. An intelligent network platform system is provided that can interface to multiple phones and call processing systems. Intelligent network platforms provide flexible switching capabilities. Intelligent network platforms are modular in nature and can therefore be used to implement services of varying complexity. Intelligent network platforms provide call processing services such as voice mail and messaging, and sophisticated system management services allow maintenance and monitoring of telecommunications networks.

Out-of-band origination or data over voice transmission is used to make data transmissions between premises equipment, such as telephones and call processing equipment, and intelligent network platforms that provide processing capabilities to the secure network of the present invention. use. Data over voice transmission is used to implement complex fraud prevention algorithms to ensure the network of the present invention. In addition, data over voice transmission can provide the system oversight capabilities commonly associated with relatively expensive SS7 networks without the costly central office equipment required to support SS7.

Intelligent to existing networks
Locating the network platform and advanced customer premises equipment helps to speed up advanced telecommunications services without costly changes or improvements to existing network equipment. For example, advanced voicemail, messaging, information services, public and emergency services, international and other forms of call traffic response monitoring can be performed using the intelligent network platform of the present invention. The intelligent network platform of the present invention is highly modular and flexible enough to interact with any existing network system. Thus, by interfacing intelligent network platforms and customer premises equipment to existing network systems without modification of these network systems, highly advanced telecommunications services are obtained. Intelligent network platforms interact with customer premises equipment to produce advanced fraud prevention laws and systems. By utilizing the processing function of the intelligent network platform and the processing function of the telephone and the call processing system located at the customer premises, the call authorization (call author)
IZATION SIGNALING AND CALL PROGRESS SIGNALLIN
g) can be used to prevent network fraud. In this way intelligent networks
Advanced solid telecommunications networks can be created using platforms and advanced customer premises equipment.

By providing a reliable network,
It can be used to justify various prepaid telephone calls and other forms of billable telecommunications traffic without the fraud normally associated with providing such services. Prepaid accounts, for example, can be tracked using intelligent network platforms, and credit card and collect call traffic ensures that prepaid accounts, credit card accounts or destination telephone numbers are required for phone calls. It can be validated prior to making a phone call so that you can pay for. Intelligent network platforms can likewise be used to handle calls made using prepaid accounts accessed using a personal identification number (PIN). If the PIN is validated, the account balance can be monitored using the processing functions of the Intelligent Network Platform described above.

The intelligent network platform provides the least cost east call processing.
direction call process
Used to do g). The intelligent network platform can determine if the call made from the destination number to the calling number is cheaper than the call made from the calling number to the destination number. In such cases, the intelligent network platform operating in conjunction with the network can connect the call in the least cost direction. Intelligent network platforms are used to provide prepaid telephone line services to customers who are unable to accommodate telephone services from ordinary telecommunications networks. For example, a potentially untrustworthy user may purchase prepaid telephone lines that are fixed and controlled by the intelligent network platform to route all user calls through the intelligent network platform.
to prevent the user from exceeding the prepaid amount of call traffic.

The intelligent network platform is used to bypass the central office system, carrier collaboration system, or both. Some phones can connect directly to an intelligent network platform that can be coupled to a satellite link or microwave station. In this way, the intelligent network platform can be used to create a completely separate telecommunications network, independent of existing carrier collaboration networks and central office systems. Alternatively, the intelligent network platform can be used as a terminal point for carrier-sharing trunks. In this way the central office system is bypassed and the intelligent network can be used to switch multiple telephone lines to leased lines.

The network of the present invention, which utilizes an intelligent network platform system, can create subscriber adoption possibilities for billing without the use of costly central office systems. The intelligent network platform is a billing subscriber information adoption database (bil).
led party preference data
It has a function of accessing the base of information and searches for an appropriate carrier associated with the identified caller. The intelligent network platform can then combine the caller's call with information retrieved from the subscriber's information adoption database that directly accesses and bills the appropriate carrier.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a "dumb" customer premises equipment that lacks substantial processing capabilities by concentrating these operations on an intelligent network platform coupled to the customer premises equipment. Automatic operator service (automated operator)
ator service) is added. Such automated services are described, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 4,933,965, 4,944,966, 4,890,317, and The automatic collect call and the like as described in the respective publications of Nos. 4908,852, 4,952,588 and 4,920,562 are included. For example, an intelligent network platform may receive a request for a dialed telephone call in O + format, verify this call with some form of payment from the user, and then convert the call to a direct dial call. it can. More intelligent network
The platform is equipped with the necessary system to complete the automatic collect call by recording the user's name, making a direct dialing call to the called party and receiving a refund from the recorded name. In this case, the intelligent network platform prompts the called party using the stored voice message and completes the call when the called party acknowledges responsibility for the charges associated with the call. These and other advanced automated services can be added to multiple phones using a single central intelligent network platform constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an intelligent network platform 20, 22, 24 constructed according to the present invention.
Details of the embodiment of FIG. 3 shows a modular structure with a plurality of separate modules connected using a multi-channel bus 36. The multi-channel bus 36 comprises a system control bus 38, a system monitoring bus 40 and a system data / voice bus 42. The system control bus 38 and system monitoring bus 40 are
Passing method and method (message passi)
ng method and system)
It comprises a conventional computer data communication channel such as an S232 serial communication link or a local area network communication link. The system data / voice bus 42 provides a conventional PCM path for time multiplexing for telephone ringing and control signaling traffic. As mentioned above, the intelligent network platform 24 comprises a plurality of separate modules coupled to each other via a multi-channel bus 36. As shown in FIG. 3, these modules include interface module 44, switch module 46, service module
It comprises a module 48, a supervisory control module 50, a real time module 52, a power module 54 and a system control module 56. The interface module 44 has some local switching performance (l
ocal switching capability
y) and generally serves to interface various telecommunication links coupled to the intelligent network platform 24. The switch module 46 exchanges incoming and outgoing telecommunications links and between each telecommunications link and services provided by other systems within the intelligent network platform, such as voice facilitation, messaging capabilities, and the like. To do. The service module 48 comprises modules that provide any number of telecommunications functions, such as voice mail, as well as complex functions that are widely used for DTMF voice detection and generation. The management control module 50 serves to manage the configuration of the rest of the system and serves to manage a database of information such as billed records and system communications. The real-time module 52 is responsible for managing the real-time switching and other functions required for call traffic route selection and handling. The power module 54 sends power to the remaining modules in the intelligent network platform 24 and connects to the intelligent network platform by a live powered payphone.
can be used to send power to ne). In addition, the power module 54 can send ringing signals and ringing voltages to pay phones or other phones connected to the intelligent network platform 24. The system control module 56 operates to monitor the rest of the system for anomalies, with the control and alert signals necessary to maintain the integrity and smooth operation of the intelligent network platform 24. Monitor and generate.

The first of the modules described below is the interface module 44 which is coupled to the system control bus 38, the system monitoring bus 40 and the system data / voice bus 42, respectively. The interface module 44 comprises a plurality of interface boards, which will be described in more detail below. Each interface board is coupled to, for example, six telephone lines and six central office lines. Each interface board is capable of coupling any of the six telephone lines to any of the six central office lines via internal unique switching functions. As will be described in further detail, the interface module 44 has a switching capability such that the telephone lines and central office lines associated with the interface boards in the single interface module 44 can be switched and selectively coupled together. . In addition, the intelligent network platform 24 includes some interface modules that are the same as the interface module 44 when multiple lines are needed. The internal switching function of interface module 44 allows up to three interface modules to switch between any of the wire and central office lines serviced by the three interface modules. . Interface module 4
If more than two interface modules, such as switch 4, are required for a particular implementation, a switch module, such as switch module 46 shown in FIG. 2, may be provided to provide additional replacement functionality. In this way, the intelligent network platform 24 has four levels of telecommunication switching capabilities. First, the interface card that forms the interface module 44 connects any of the six telephone lines to any of the six central office lines directly coupled to the particular card. In-card exchange performance (intracard sw)
It has an etching capability. Second
In addition, the interface module 44 allows intra-module / inter-card exchanges between adjacent cards within a single interface module 44.
ercard switching). Third, the interface module contains the necessary processing functions to exchange between up to three interface modules without assistance. Fourth and finally, if more than two interface modules are included in a particular intelligent network platform 24, a switch module 46 is provided to allow some interface
Module 44 can assist in making further exchanges between the telephone and central office lines served. This multi-level switching capability is extremely flexible in meeting the needs of particular telecommunications networks. Further, the modularity of the structure of intelligent network platform 24 allows the same modules or configurations to be used for various switching and telecommunication network system functions. Due to the modular nature of the intelligent network platform 24, substantially the same piece of equipment can be configured into a very sophisticated and complex switch, or with a lower switching capability and other modules. The addition can be configured to result in an administratively sophisticated automated operator service. The interface cards in interface module 44 may be conventional telephone line interface modules, analog or digital trunk line interface modules, or SS7 link interface modules, depending on the nature of the particular line associated with each interface card. Consists of. interface·
The card also provides signal buffering and other conventional telecommunication data processing functions.

The switch module 46 has a size of 8 ×.
Eight to about 512 × 512 or more conventional digital crossover switches are included. As mentioned above, the switch module 46 serves to couple the telephone line to a central office line or other telephone. Switch module 46 also serves to couple incoming and outgoing telecommunications paths to one or more service modules, such as service module 48 shown in FIG. service·
Module 48 provides various resources needed for telephone calling and automated operator service capabilities.
For example, service module 48 uses DTMF and M
An F detection circuit, a voice message recording / reproducing circuit, and a voice memory for storing a digitized voice instruction message are provided. Service module 48 also includes circuitry capable of performing response detection using signals traveling along the telephone line. The service module 48 further comprises a system that provides voice recognition functionality or other complex functionality shared by the rest of the intelligent network platform 24. The intelligent network platform 24
It includes some service modules 48 that serve different general or specific functions. For example, a single service module 48 is dedicated to produce a voice mail system and comprises the voice circuitry, processing circuitry and message storage circuitry required to provide voice mail services.

The intelligent network platform 24 further couples to the rest of the modules within the intelligent network platform 24 via a system control bus 38, a system monitoring bus 40 and a system data / voice bus 42.
It has 0. The management control module 50 functions to control the operation of the intelligent network platform 24, and is a conventional 386 or 486 type compatible with a central processing system data communication system and a large time storage system. Equipped with a personal computer. The management control module 50
It is provided with the memory system used in the fraud prevention protocol described in the parent patent application 07 / 944,166, which is related to the assignee of the present application and referred to in the present description. The management control module 50 allows a user to interact with the intelligent network platform 24 for system configuration monitoring, system service and system improvement. Management control module 5
Of course, 0 also benefits from the modularity of the inventive arrangements. For example, a particular implementation of intelligent network platform 24 utilizes a plurality of special purpose management control modules 50 controlled by a single main management module. A special purpose management control module is a file server.
r), eg credit card telephone calls, debit card telephone calls PIN calls or smart card telephone calls, placement and billing (b).
It manages a large database of information used to check the account number with the account used for illing).

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the database management system managed by the management control module 50 comprises an IntelliCall Incorporated
lilcall Inc. US Pat. No. 4,9, which is incorporated by reference and is referred to in this description in connection with the assignee's application of the present invention
33,965, 4,933,966, 4,
It is provided with a validity checking interface computer system constituted by the respective publications of 890,317, 4,908,852, 4,952,588 and 4,920,562. In operation, the management control module 50 functions to access a database that identifies credit card numbers, telephone numbers, and other billed account numbers used to evaluate billable telecommunications traffic. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the intelligent network platform 2
4 uses a management control module 50 to make a prepaid smart card or a plain magnetic card.
It is operable to route the telephone traffic billed in d). According to this embodiment, a telecommunications network customer purchases a prepaid telecommunications debit card. This card can be a plain plastic card with a card identification magnetic strip, a smart card with an integrated circuit chip that stores the card residual value, or Landis End GYR Technology (Landis).
It may be any "opt-card" such as a card from and GYR Technology. In operation, a user of the telecommunications network 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 inserts the card into a card reader of a pay phone, such as pay phone 12 illustrated in FIG. The pay phone 12 reads the identification from the user's card and uploads this information to the intelligent network platform 24 and the management control module 50 that manages the database of card numbers using conventional telecommunications technology.
To do. Intelligent network platform 24 and management module 50 then inspect a database to verify that the card is being used to evaluate telecommunications traffic. If the card is equipped with a memory system that stores the card's value, the local telephone 12 can also retrieve the value remaining on the card and further upload that information to the intelligent network platform 24. The intelligent network platform 24 then monitors the call,
Make sure you do not exceed the amount of money left on your card during a phone call. At the end of the telephone call, the intelligent network platform 24 instructs the telephone to reduce the amount stored on the card. The phone then writes the appropriate amount on the card. The intelligent network platform 24 also stores the amount of money associated with this card in its own database and uses it to further match calls after it has been evaluated using this card. Thus, at any given time, the amount allocated to a particular card is accessed on the intelligent network platform 24 using the central database of card values and on the local telephone by retrieving the value from the user's card. be able to.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a debit card is used. This card does not include circuitry to store the amount of money associated with this card. According to this embodiment, the card simply includes a magnetic or optical identifier strip that can be read by the telephone 14 using a magnetic or optical card reader or other conventional system. . This identifier strip is then uploaded to an intelligent network platform 24 that can access a central database to find the amount associated with a particular card. According to this embodiment, the intelligent network platform 24 ensures that the card number uploaded from the phone 14 is valid, and that this card number is sufficient to evaluate the desired call. Make sure that. The intelligent network platform 24 further monitors this call and the charges for this call are
Make sure you do not exceed the amount stored on the card.
At the end of the call, the ingress of the database associated with this particular call is reduced to reflect the charges associated with this call. This embodiment has the technical advantage that it does not require writing information to the card and therefore the equipment in the telephone 14 is significantly cheaper and more reliable.
In this way the use of current is significantly reduced. In addition, magnetic debit cards are line-powered telephones (line-
It is not necessary to provide A / C power to the local telecommunications device by being provided to the power telephone.
Of course, in accordance with the present invention, the smart card system can also be used in conjunction with line powered telephones. The processing power within the intelligent network platform 24 provides centralized control and access to a database of card values, monitoring of the database and whether smart card, magnetic debit card, optical card or other card technology is used. Easy to explain to card customers.

An important technical advantage of the present invention is that all three major card technologies can be supported by the present invention in that the present invention can take advantage of the capabilities of magnetic strip cards, smart cards or optical cards. It is in. An important advantage of the present invention is that it allows the use of cheaper magnetic cards with the same or better security levels as can be obtained with more expensive optical cards. This is due to the use of the fraud prevention method and system as described above in US patent application Ser. No. 07 / 944,166 with inherent processing performance within intelligent network platforms and local telecommunications equipment. This is possible because it creates an absolutely reliable network. In this way, a much less expensive system can be used to make very reliable prepaid card telephone calls on line powered telephones.

The intelligent network platform 14 also includes a real-time module 52 coupled to the remaining modules in the intelligent network platform 24 by a system control bus 38, a system monitoring bus 40 and a system data / voice bus 42. I have it. The real-time module 52 is used to offload the real-time operation of call processing from the supervisory control module 50, eliminating the expense of unnecessary resource repetition within a particular supervisory control module 50. The real-time module 52 is intelligent
It serves to manage telephone traffic through the network platform 24. For example, the switch module 48 operates under the control of the real-time module 52 and is connected to a particular incoming and outgoing telephone line or a particular resource within the service module 48 that requires a telephone that requires this resource. Connect to the call. Also in FIG. 3, according to some embodiments of the present invention, management control module 50 is dedicated to management of other modules. For example, a single management control module 50 is dedicated to the management of service modules 48 to optimize the use of the resources provided by a particular service module.
Further, a single management control module 50 is dedicated to managing a given plurality of interface modules 44.
These specialized management control modules are then managed by the additional management control module 50 to form a pyramidal control mechanism. In this way, the module configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 facilitates expansion and optimization of system resources for a particular telecommunications environment.

The intelligent network platform 24 also includes the power module 5 shown in FIG.
It is equipped with 4. Power module 54 is coupled to system control bus 38 and is operative to provide various voltages to each of the remaining modules. For example, power module 54 provides -48VDC and 96VDC for telecommunications loop current and also provides a normal logic level such as ± 5Va for the digital circuitry residing in the remaining modules in intelligent network platform 24. Supply voltage. The power module 54 also supplies power to the line-powered telephone and provides ringing signals and voltage to the instrument connected to the intelligent network platform 24. The power module 54 is provided to the remaining modules in the intelligent network platform 24 via the system control bus 38 of the multi-channel bus 36.

The intelligent network platform 24 also includes an intelligent network
It is coupled to the remaining modules in platform 24 via system monitoring bus 40. The system control module 56 functions to monitor the remaining modules in the intelligent network platform 24 for anomalies, and when some alarm contention is detected in the intelligent network platform 24, an alarm is generated. System function. The system control module 56 also serves to initialize the system at power up and functions to maintain the state and integrity of the system in the event of an emergency outage.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the interconnection of multiple modules within an intelligent network platform. FIG. 4 also shows a multi-channel bus 36
Indicates. As mentioned above, the multi-channel bus 36 comprises a system control bus 38, a system monitoring bus 40 and a system data / voice bus 42. FIG. 4 shows a scheme in which the multi-channel bus bar 36 is communicated with the card forming each module by using an internal bus bar parallel to the structure of the multi-channel bus bar 36. For example, FIG. 4 shows an interface module 58 with interface cards 60, 62, 64. Each interface card 60, 62, 64 has a modular multiple bus 6
It is connected to 6. The modular multiple bus 66 is a modular interface bus generated by a modular interface circuit 70.
A system control bus 68 is provided. The modular interface circuit 70 includes a modular system control bus 68.
Operative to interface the system control bus 38. The modular system control bus 68 transmits to each interface card 60, 62, 64. Similarly, the modular system monitoring bus 70 and the modular system data / voice bus 72 are connected by the modular interface card to each interface card 60, 6
2, 64, and serves to allow communication between the system monitor bus 40 and system data / voice bus 42 and each interface card 60, 62, 64.

As mentioned above, each interface card is coupled to, for example, six telephone lines and six central office lines. For example, interface card 60 is coupled to central office line 74 and telephone line 76. Similarly, interface card 62 is coupled to telephone line 78 and central office line 80. As described above, the interface card 60 has the ability to switch any of the telephone lines 74 to any of the central office lines 76.
This is the first switching level specific to the present invention, and is a conventional intra-card switching.
ng). Modular multi-channel bus 66
Together with the performance of the interface cards 60, 62, the intra-module / inter-card switching (intramodule
/ Intercard switching). For example, any of the central office lines 74 can be connected to any of the lines 80 without relying on switching hardware residing within the rest of the intelligent network platform system. .

Module 82 is also connected to multi-channel bus 36 via module interface 84. Module 82 includes interface card 8 which is coupled to telephone and central office lines as described above.
It is similar to the module 58 in that it includes 6,88. In addition, the module 82 also includes a module multi-channel bus 9
0, the module multi-channel bus 90 includes interface card 86, interface card 8
8 and a module coupled to the service card 98
It consists of a system control bus 92, a module system monitoring bus 94 and a module system data over bus bus 96. Module 92 incorporates a service card into another module so as to provide the card with shared services locally within a particular module or within an adjacent module using the inherent inter-module switching capabilities of the system of the present invention. Shows the performance of. For example, the service card 98 can be used by the module 82 without relying on the switching hardware present in the rest of the intelligent network platform system.
Other cards within the same and a limited number of other adjacent modules are provided with the services described above for service module 48. For example, service card 98 provides DTMF and MF signaling and detection voice recognition and voice message storage and retrieval services for calls processed by module 82 within each adjacent module. Service card 98 communicates with the rest of the system via modular multi-channel bus 90 and multi-channel bus 36.

FIG. 4 also illustrates a module 10 with a modular multi-channel bus 102 consisting of a module system control bus 104, a module system monitoring bus 106 and a module system data / voice bus 108.
Indicates 0. The cards in module 100 communicate with the rest of the system via module interface card 110 which couples module multi-channel bus 102 to multi-channel bus 36 as described above. Module 100 demonstrates the performance of the system of the present invention including heterogeneous cards within a single module. For example, the module 100 includes a real-time card 112, a switching card 11
4. A service card 116 and a management card 118 are provided. The real-time card 112 provides similar functionality as described for the real-time module 52 above. The real-time card utilizes modular multi-channel bus 102 and multi-channel bus 36 to communicate the remaining cards in module 100 with the cards in the remaining modules, respectively. Similarly, switch card 114, service card 116 and management card 118 locally provide the functionality described above for switch module 46, service module 48 and management module 50, respectively. As mentioned above, for more complex systems all modules can be dedicated to produce a particular service or management function. Accordingly, each module 100 includes a plurality of service cards that provide different functions, for example, within a complex state-of-the-art voice mail system. According to another embodiment of the invention, all modules are dedicated to management functions, and different cards within a particular module are intelligent.
A fully functional computer system (f dedicated to managing the rest of the network platform)
ully functional computer
different parts of the system). Any of these cards utilize the module multi-channel and inter-module multi-channel bus 36 described with respect to FIG. 4 to interface and communicate with the rest of the system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a typical interface card 60 described above with respect to FIG. The interface card 60 is, for example, a Motorola.
a) It has a microprocessor circuit 120 consisting of a 16-bit microprocessor such as the 68340. Microprocessor circuit 12
0 has a debug port 122 used for configuration and testing of the software used to operate the microprocessor circuitry 120. The interface card 120 also receives 48V of power from the modular system control bus 68, to the microprocessor circuitry 120 in the interface card 60 and to each of the remaining digital circuitry.
A power supply 124 that outputs a digital power supply voltage of 5V is provided. Microprocessor circuit 120
Communicate with the rest of the circuitry in interface card 60 via parallel control bus 126. Parallel control bus 126 is coupled to telephone line interface circuit 128. Telephone line interface circuit 128 is coupled to, for example, six telephone lines. Telephone line interface circuit 128 is also coupled by telephone lines and central office lines coupled to interface card 60 to a conventional 32 channel PCM line 130 used for voice carrying and in-band data transmission.

Out-of-band communication or data over voice communication is provided by an 18 kHz signal circuitry 132 coupled between telephone line 74 and parallel control bus 126. The central office line 76 passes through the central office line interface / circuitry 134 shown in FIG.
Interfaced to 30. Central office line interface circuitry 134 receives control signals via parallel control bus 126 and through microprocessor circuitry 120 to central office line 136 and PCM bus 13.
Controls the interface between 0s.

The interface card 60 is further illustrated in FIG.
The plurality of resource circuits 136 shown in FIG. The resource circuit 136 may be, for example, a DTMF receiver, a DTMF.
Transmitter, call progress tone detector (call progress)
Special tone detectors such as ss tone detectors and other cuckoo detectors and for example 1200 baud (Bau).
d) A communication circuit such as a modem is provided. The resource circuit 136 locally forms telecommunications resources. The resource circuit 136 is connected from the microprocessor circuit 120 to the parallel control bus 126.
Controlled by a control signal received via. The resource circuit 136 is a digital switch circuit 1
38 and PCM bus 130 to a telephone line 74 or central office line 76. The digital switch circuitry 138 comprises a 32x16 channel switching matrix. Digital switch circuitry 138 is controlled by microprocessor circuitry 120 via control signals transmitted over parallel control bus 126. Digital switch circuitry 138 also serves to couple PCM busbar 130 to the PCM busbar portion of modular system data and voice busbar 72.

Digital Switch Circuitry 1
38 is also a clocking selection circuit [cloc
king select circuit] 140
Receive a clocking signal from. The clocking selection circuitry 140 includes a parallel control bus 12 for each of the remaining circuits.
A clock signal is supplied via 6. Clocking selection circuitry 140 receives primary and secondary clock signals from modular system data and voice bus 72. Clocking selection circuitry 140 also outputs a clock signal via modular system data / voice bus 72.

The interface card 60 is monitored via a modular system control bus 68 which is coupled to the parallel control bus 126 via the interface circuit 142.

The interface card 60 also includes an alarm and reset circuit 149. Alarm and reset circuit 1
49 is coupled to the parallel bus 126 and is controlled by the microprocessor circuitry 120 via the parallel bus 126. The alarm and reset circuit 149 operates to locally display alarm and reset conditions and report such conditions to the rest of the system via the system monitoring bus 70. The alarm and reset circuit 149 also receives an emergency control signal, such as a system reset signal, via the system monitoring bus 70. The alarm and reset circuit 70 causes the interface card 60 to provide an indication function such as a full reset.

FIG. 6 shows an intelligent pay telephone 150.
The block diagram of is shown. Intelligent pay phone 15
0 comprises a processor 152, which may be, for example, a Motorola 68340 16-bit processor. The processor 152 is coupled to a real time clock serial number ROM circuit 154 which provides the real time to the processor and stores the serial number of the intelligent payphone 150. The processor 152 may also configure the intelligent payphone 150 with configuration data.
factory configuration used to store data (facto)
ry configuration) EEPROM15
Is combined with 6. The processor 152 is accessed from outside the intelligent payphone 150 via a debug interface circuit 158 and a parallel interface 160. Debug interface circuit 15
8 acts to couple the processor 152 to the debug port 162. The debug port 162 is used to put the processor 152 and the intelligent payphone 150 in a test mode to isolate and correct operational errors of the intelligent payphone 150. Similarly, parallel interface circuit 160 serves to couple processor 152 to monitor port 164. Monitor port 164 is used by processor 1 during testing and normal operation.
52 and intelligent payphone 150 are used to check operation.

The processor 152 is shown in FIG.
16-bit address line, collectively shown as 6, and 1
It is connected to a 6-bit data / control line. The parallel bus 166 connects the processor 152 to the first and second static random access memory circuits.
om access memory circuit)
It acts to help bind to 168,170. Each static random access memory circuit 168, 170 is
128 kilobytes of normal static RAM each
Is equipped with. Further, the parallel bus 166 is connected to the processor 1
52 is an EPROM circuit 172 with an electrically programmable read-only memory of, for example, 64 kilobytes.
Be combined with. Each memory circuit 168, 170, 172
Are partially controlled by write protection and control circuit 174, which is also coupled to parallel bus 166. The memory write protection and control circuit 174 includes memory circuits 168, 170,
Control access to 172 and prevent overwriting of data stored in memory. Memory write protection and control circuit 1
74 is also an expansion memory (expansio)
n memory). Additional memory, such as expansion RAM circuits 176 and 178,
Parallel bus 1 using memory write protection and control circuit 174
Accessed via 66. In addition, the memory write protection and control circuit 174 can be used to control the expansion EEPROM circuit 180. Each memory circuit 168, 170, 172, 176, 178, 180
Is useful for storing routines and data used by the processor 152, generally providing a working area for program execution by the processor 152, and for operating the sophisticated telecommunication functions performed by the intelligent payphone 150. It is used to store various necessary data.

Parallel bus 166 is coupled to peripheral bus 182 via peripheral bus interface circuit 184. In general, the peripheral bus 182 and the peripheral bus interface circuit 18
4 is a processing engine including the processor 152 and its memory.
e) is useful for coupling to the interface. These interfaces couple the processor 152 to the outside world and the resources used by the processor 152 to perform its functions. For example, the peripheral bus 182 connects the voice processor circuit 186 to the intelligent pay telephone 1
Helps connect to the rest of the circuitry within 50. The voice processor circuit 186 includes a voice memory module 18
Is combined with 8. A voice processor circuit 186 records a person's voice and retrieves voice messages during the ongoing telecommunications traffic being processed using the intelligent payphone 150. Voice memory module 188 stores voice prompts used to prompt users of intelligent payphone 150. The voice memory module 188 is also used to store some of the user's voice. For example, the user's name is recorded during the evaluation of the automatic collect call. A voice processor circuit 186 is selectively coupled to the incoming voice signal received from the handset, and also includes the voice switch and switch shown in FIG.
It is coupled to a speaker in the handset for voice prompts via matrix 190. Voice switch as described below
The matrix 190 operates to couple any number of input signals and resources to the output path and to couple received signals to the resources within the intelligent payphone 150 used to process these received signals. To do.

The peripheral bus line 182 has a first DTMF generator circuit 192 and a second DTMF generator circuit 19.
It is connected to 4. Each DTMF generator circuit 192,
194 operates under the control of processor 152 and is a dual-tone multifrequency signal used in processing telecommunications traffic by intelligent toll telephone 150.
cy signal). For example, DTMF tones are often used to signal numbers dialed by intelligent toll telephone 150. Peripheral bus 182 is also coupled to a DTMF receiver 196 operable to receive and decode dual tone multi-frequency signals received over the telephone line. DTMF
Tones are used, for example, in automatic collect calls,
The called party, by pressing a particular key prompted by the intelligent payphone 150, instructs the intelligent payphone 150 whether or not the called party will approve the charge for the telephone call. As shown in FIG. 7, the received DTMF tones are generated by the intelligent pay telephone 15
From the telephone line tied to 0 is routed to the DTMF receiver 196 via the voice switch matrix 190. Peripheral bus 182 also includes call progress detector 198, call status circuit 2
00 and specific measurement pulse detection circuit 202.
The call progress detector 198 is an intelligent pay telephone 1
It is equipped with an energy detector that monitors the energy of the telephone line connected to 50. The call progress detector 198 is 350
Or 620 Hz signal is detected and the characteristic is determined. Many common call progress signals, such as dial tones and busy signals, are within this frequency range. The call status circuit 200 also
The telephone line signal coupled to the intelligent pay telephone 150 is monitored. The call status circuit 200 detects various types of signals transmitted on the telephone line, including certain information tones, ringback tones, busy tones, and fast busy tones. Call status circuit 20
The zero also includes two programmable tone detectors capable of detecting a predetermined frequency and a return signal indicating the presence or absence of a signal having a preselected frequency. These programmable tone detectors are flexibly tuned to different telecommunications protocols, for example, and can be used to detect modem tones. Processor 152 utilizes signals from call status circuit 200 and call progress detector 198 to accurately track the progress of telephone calls made to intelligent payphone 150. For example, the combination of the processing performed by call progress detector 198 and call status circuit 200 allows the response to be accurately detected using only signals received over the telephone line connected to intelligent pay telephone 150. Accurate detection of the response to a telephone call is crucial in accurately determining the time of the telephone call, and also in prompting the user and the called party during the telephone call's pendency. . Specific summing pulse detection circuit [metering pulse d
The detector circuit 202 monitors signals on the telephone line coupled to the intelligent toll telephone 150 and detects SPM signals commonly used in European telecommunications systems to make telephone call accruals. .

Peripheral bus 182 is also coupled to modem circuit 204. Modem circuit 204 receives the data signal from voice switch matrix 190 and transmits the data signal over a telephone line coupled to intelligent toll telephone 150 in accordance with normal operation of the modem circuit. Peripheral bus 182 is also coupled to a software security circuit 206 that operates to monitor the operation of intelligent payphone 150 and control access to the operational configuration of intelligent payphone 150.

Peripheral bus 182 is also coupled to a plurality of interface circuits that couple peripheral bus 182 to the external inputs used by intelligent payphone 150. For example, the peripheral bus 182 is an intelligent pay telephone 15
0 is coupled to an LCD interface circuit 208 which operates to drive a liquid crystal display 210 which is used to display messages to the user.

Peripheral bus 182 is also coupled to keypad interface circuit 212. The keypad interface circuit 212 connects the peripheral busbar 182 to an external keypad 214 used by users of the intelligent payphone 150 to enter digital information such as telephone numbers, credit card numbers, etc. To work. The peripheral bus 182 is also a coin validator and escrow interface.
escrow interface) circuit 216. The coin confirmation escrow interface circuit 216 receives a signal from the coin confirmation circuit 218 that helps the subscriber of the intelligent pay telephone 150 to identify and verify the coins placed in the intelligent pay telephone 150. Coin confirmation escrow interface circuit 2
16 is also an escrow unit 220 used to hold coins deposited by the user of the intelligent payphone 150 until such time as the processor 152 determines that the coins are collected or returned to the user. Act to control.

Peripheral bus 182 is also coupled to card interface 222 which serves to connect peripheral bus 182 to card reading system 224. As mentioned above,
The card reading system 224 comprises a system operable to read magnetic cards, smart cards or optical cards or combinations of these card technologies.

Peripheral bus 182 is also coupled to speech recognition interface circuit 226, which is coupled to speech recognition circuit 228. The voice recognition circuit 228 is operable to receive a voice signal from the voice switch matrix 190 via the voice recognition interface circuit 226. The voice signal is received and processed by the voice recognition circuit 228. The voice recognition circuit 228 is operable to perform voice recognition independent of the user to facilitate receiving instructions from the user or called party during the evaluation of call traffic by the intelligent pay telephone 150. Acceptance of collect call traffic, for example, is completed by the called party speaking the word "yes" when prompted by the intelligent toll telephone 150. The spoken word “yes” is then processed using the speech recognition circuit 228, the result of which is processing from the speech recognition circuit 228 via the peripheral bus 182 and the parallel bus 166 to the processor 1.
52.

The intelligent pay telephone 150 receives the voice signal from the voice switch matrix 190 via the adder circuit 232 and the attenuator circuit 234.
Equipped with an ordinary telephone handset. The handset of the intelligent payphone 150 also includes a buffer amplifier 238 in the voice switch matrix 190 as shown in FIG.
It includes a microphone 236 provided with conventional transducers that convert voice and other acoustic energy into electrical signals that are routed through. Intelligent pay phone 1
50 is coupled to the tip and ring of a regular telephone line 240 via a line interface circuit 242. The line interface circuit 242 receives the signal transmitted on the telephone line 240 from the attenuator circuit 244. The attenuation circuit 244 is
From the voice switch matrix 190 to the adder circuit [su
mmer circuit] 246 to receive the signal. The adder circuit 246 also includes the DTMF generator circuit 19
2 and the output of modem circuit 204. The line interface circuit 242 also outputs a line signal to a specific summing pulse detection circuit 202.

Ring detect circuit 248 is coupled to line interface circuit 242 and operates to monitor the signal on telephone line 240 for ringing signals. From the ring detector 248 to the ring count watchdog circuit [ring countwatchdog cir
CUT] 250 outputs a control signal. The line interface circuit 242 may also be line-powered.
power) sends power to the power supply circuit 252 in the case of a telephone. The 18 kHz modem circuit 254 is also coupled to the line interface circuit 242 to provide the telephone line 2 described above.
40 is operable to perform data over voice outgoing traffic. 18 kHz modem circuit 254
The signal from the processor is sent directly to a serial buffer multiplexer circuit 256 which operates to convey the selected signal to the serial port of processor 152. Serial buffer multiplexer circuit 256 also receives serial signals from coin validator circuit 218, card reader circuit 224 and modem circuit 204.

The intelligent pay telephone 150 also has
General purpose I coupled to voice switch matrix 190
A / O interface 258 is provided. The general purpose I / O interface 258 is an analog or digital expansion device.
ent) can be connected to the intelligent pay telephone 150. With a general purpose I / O interface 258, a 9600 baud modem
Various types of special sound generation systems, such as, can be connected to the intelligent payphone 150 and used with the intelligent payphone. The general purpose I / O interface 258 can signal the serial buffer multiplexer circuit 256 to communicate with the processor 152.

Attenuation and buffering of the signal passing through the voice switch matrix 190 is accomplished by the attenuation generator circuit 26.
0,262. Attenuator generator circuit 260 includes voice switch matrix 190 to adder circuit 264.
To receive the signal. Attenuator generator circuit 262 receives the signal from voice switch matrix 190 via adder circuit 266.

Power supply 252 receives a ring count watchdog signal from ring count watchdog circuit 250. In addition, the power supply 252 is a program
A watchdog signal is received from the watchdog circuit 268. The program watchdog circuit 268 also transmits a signal to a wake-up circuit 270. The wake-up circuit 270 also includes a conventional hook switch system.
signal) from the system 272. The wake-up circuit 270 serves to initialize the intelligent pay telephone 150 and provides a reset signal to the processor 152.

An important technical advantage of the telecommunications network of the present invention is the implementation of the various components of this network.
Modular hardware, software, and
It is to utilize the system and provide portability of these resources. In the above description and the drawings, a plurality of such examples are described. For example, the interface card 60 and payphone card 150 may both utilize a Motorola 68340 microprocessor as the processor 120 and processor 152. Further, as described above, the interface card 60 includes a plurality of resources included in the resource circuitry 136.
As mentioned above, many of these resources are also used by the intelligent toll telephone 150. According to the present invention, similar design is used instead of resources, if necessary, to avoid redundant design efforts and to enable software portability between modules such as intelligent payphone 150 and interface card 160. Circuitry can be used. For example, the interface
Both card 160 and intelligent payphone 150 utilize DTMF tone generation and call progress detection. Each circuit can be duplicated in both systems and ordinary routines can be used to drive these circuits.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the novel organized structure and communication performance of the software environment used in the telecommunications network of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram 280 showing a hierarchical organization according to a modification of the software used in the present invention.
The external application layer 282 represents a wide and complex telecommunication mechanism provided under the telecommunication network of the present invention. Application programs include call management, ie, evaluation and routing of telephone calls, voice mail services, system management and billing, fraud prevention, or other complex implementations using the network of the present invention as described above. It has all the necessary software to implement any of the mechanisms.

Due to the hierarchical structure of this software environment, a writer for a complicated telecommunication application program
ter) need not be concerned with the bit and wire level operation details of its utilizing hardware, which is done by giving the application writer the system application program or SAP indicated by block 284 in diagram 280. Will be completed. In accordance with the present invention, a system application program allows for a higher level of programming related to particular hardware.
The hardware can be used according to the above. For example, the system application program is DTM
Related to the F generator circuit 192. In this case, the application program can communicate with the system application program associated with the DTMF generator circuit 192. In this way, the application program only transmits a command to the system application program associated with the DTMF generator circuit 192 to indicate what tone is to be generated. The system application program then completes the tone generation by interacting with the specific hardware in the DTMF generator circuit 192. In this way, a person who creates, uses, or serves a high level application program does not have to be concerned with the complexity of the hardware, but rather utilizes the system application program associated with the hardware to create these functions. can do. In addition, the portability of SAP in the system ensures uniformity and consistency wherever these resources are used in the interface with the resources. For example, a high level programmer, whether DTMF resources are located on the interface card 60 or the intelligent payphone 150, counts on the same interface used to enable the generation of DTMF tones. be able to.

Similarly, the system application program is executed by the state machine engine (stat) indicated by block 286.
e machine engine) can be used to further isolate the system application program level 284 from the base operating system indicated by block 288 in diagram 280. State machine engine 2
86 operates to set any particular system to a constant state when commanded by either the application program or the system application program. The state machine engine 286 also monitors a particular state and changes the system state to a second identification state when a particular event occurs. The state machine engine 286 also frees both application and system application programmers from the complexity of the gate level operation of the present system. The programmer of the high level routines can simply determine what state the system wants the programmer to be in and instruct the state machine engine to set each parameter of the system to a particular state.

The final level of detail in the software architecture of the present invention is the base level indicated by block 288 in diagram 280. This architecture is called the operating system of the network system of the present invention and comprises a multitasking, multiprocessor operating system. Base level 288 is for task scheduling and intra-system communication, i.e. between modules,
System common to multitasking and multiprocessor operating systems such as communication between cards and between processors
Creates utility.

As described above, the layered approach to the software architecture illustrated in the diagram 280 provides the developers and operators of the system of the present invention with appropriate equipment so that such persons can develop their own development. No need to be involved in the details of system operation under the level of. However, as shown in diagram 280, the software architecture of the present invention allows communication between all layers of the software architecture when desired for such communication. For example, an application programmer who develops a specific application 282 has all the system application programs 284 for its processing. However, the application program 282 also utilizes the state machine engine, or optionally base level 288.
You can go directly to. An application developer who wishes to use system utilities, including, for example, performing intersystem messaging between various cards, operates system 288 in accordance with the present invention architecture.
Such functionality of can be accessed directly.

Further, as shown in diagram 280, the developer of the system application program utilizes the state machine engine 286 if desired. However, the system application programmer also goes directly to the equipment created by the base operating system 288. Therefore, the software architecture of the present invention is transferable to higher level programmers,
It also provides a modified hierarchical approach that allows the use of certain lower level routines that are modular. However, if the programmer bypasses such routines and needs such functionality, a mechanism is provided to access the lower level utilities.

FIG. 9 is a diagram 290 showing in greater detail a layered architecture with variations of software used in accordance with the present invention. Diagram 290 illustrates a plurality of features 292 with call management services or voicemail, as described above, for example. These features, illustrated by line 294 in FIG. 9, are application level 296, system application level 29.
8. Has the ability to access all levels of the software architecture, including state machine engine level 300 and base operating system level 302. Diagram 290 further illustrates that application level 296 is further subdivided or layered. Application level 296
Manager module 304, functional module 306
And an agent module 308. The manager, function, and agent levels shown in FIG. 9 are of a software architecture such that a manager module can rely on a function module to perform lower level tasks, and a function module can depend on an agent module. Stratif
ication). However, each level, as indicated by line 294, is still directly accessible by higher levels within this architecture. For example, performance [c
availability] or mechanism [feature] 29
Any of the two can directly access the agent module 308, for example.

FIG. 10 is a diagram 310 showing a particular example of performance or mechanism and some of the manager, function and agent modules that it utilizes. Diagram 310 shows call management system facility 312. The call management system 312 is a software program that monitors and routes telecommunications traffic by the intelligent network platform of the telecommunications network of the present invention. Call management system 31
2 receives incoming telephone calls, connects incoming telephone calls to outgoing trunks, monitors certain information tones and call progress signals during telephone calls, and concludes the call.
use) the various modules described with respect to FIG. Call management system 312 utilizes call processing manager module 314 to perform these tasks. The call processing manager module 314 has various functional modules in its processing. Three of these functional modules are shown in FIG. The diagram 310 shows the translation module 31.
6, a connection module 318 and a device identification code module 320 are shown. The translation module 316 contains all the tables needed to translate the received digits into an internal code so that a telephone call connection can be made. For example, the translation module 316, given an area code and a 7-digit telephone number, translates this telephone number into the required digit stream and interconnects telephone lines and appropriate trunk lines within the network system of the present invention. To do. The layered advantages of the software architecture are clear in this respect. The call processing manager module
Only the digits of the telephone number can be communicated to the translation module 316, and the call processing manager module itself need not be concerned with how the translation actually takes place. The translation module then returns to the call processing manager module 314 the required digit flow to connect the call.

Continuing with this same example, the call processing manager module 314 takes the data it receives from the translation module 316 and sends it to the connectivity function module 318. The connection function module 318 then checks whether the required port is in use and the translation module 316.
It performs the function of making an actual connection between the ports identified by. The connection function module 318 is thus provided with a software image of the hardware connections within the network. Also, software stratification allows the call processing manager module 314 to download valid functionality to the functional module. The call processing manager module 314 is not concerned with exactly how to make the connections between the ports. Hardware connection and connection monitoring are all performed within the connection function module 318.

The complex anti-fraud algorithms and systems used in the network of the present invention are also contained within a functional module known as device identification code module 320. The equipment identification code module 320 receives the code transmitted from the local telecommunications equipment and performs the necessary calculations to ensure that the local telecommunications equipment is authorized to utilize the intelligent network platform. Also, this architectural stratification allows functionality to be included only within the device identification code module 320. The call processing manager module 314 uses a device identification code to perform security checks.
Only module 320 is needed. The call processing manager module then receives a "go" or "no go" code from the equipment identification code module 320 regarding whether the telephone equipment is authorized or not.

The diagram 310 shows that there are additional levels of agent modules between each functional module and the system application program level 298 illustrated in FIG. Diagram 310 shows line agent module 322, trunk agent module 324, and outgoing agent module [signaling agent module].
e] shows a specific example of an agent module including 326. The line agent module 322 is used, for example, by the connection function module 318 to handle the actual hardware connection and communication over the telephone line. In operation, for example, connectivity feature module 318 identifies that a telephone line needs to be seized. The line agent module 322 then communicates with the system application program which controls the hardware interface to the actual line. Trunk agent module 324 performs similar functions for the trunk side of the communication path.

The signal agent module 326 is
The above-mentioned data over voice transmission (data-o)
Performs the functions required to perform ver-voice signaling). This can be used in the fraud prevention method and system described above. In this example, device identification code module 320 utilizes signal agent module 326 to send and receive security codes between the intelligent network platform and local telecommunications equipment.

FIG. 11 shows a graphical comparison of the communication protocol used in the architecture of the present invention as it pertains to the standard OST stack protocol. FIG. 11 shows a communication protocol detail stack 330 [communication protocol].
col detail stack]. FIG. 11 also shows communication protocol stack 332 and conventional OSI stack 334. As shown in FIG. 11, the conventional OSI
The stack application level corresponds exactly to both the communication protocol suite and the detail stack application level. The OSI stack presentation level and the session level correspond to the agent level in the group stack, and the communication protocol detail stack 3
It is subdivided into a high level and a bottom level within 30. The transport level of the OSI stack accommodates high level system applications of both the communication protocol stack 332 and the detail stack 330. The network, data link, and physical levels of the OSI stack correspond to the message transfer protocol of the communication protocol stack.
Corresponds to the level. The network level and data link level of the OSI stack correspond to the lower level system application program level of the communication protocol detail stack. The physical level of the ordinary OSI stack directly corresponds to the physical level of the communication protocol detail stack. In this way, the internal architecture of the software system and the hardware system used in the network of the present invention is a normal OS.
Lateral compatibility with I-stacks (lateral co
Mpatability) is provided.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a standard message format used for in-system communication within the telecommunications network of the present invention. The standard message format begins at template and length block 336. The next part of this standard message format is class block 338. The next part contains the destination information shown in block 340. This destination information includes information identifying the node, module, task or queue to which the message is directed. Block 342 in the next portion of the standard message format indicates the message source. This block of standard message format contains data that identifies the node, module or task where the message begins. Field 3 next to standard message format
Reference numeral 44 indicates the type of message to be transmitted. The next field 346 of the standard message format has data containing information on how to route the information through the system. The actual data for this message is contained in block 348, the last block in the standard message format.

Although the telecommunications network and methodology in accordance with the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the present invention is still capable of variations in variety without departing from its spirit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a telecommunications network according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the telecommunications network of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the modular structure of the intelligent network platform of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating another modular structure of the intelligent network platform of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a telephone line interface circuit and a telephone network interface used in the intelligent network platform of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a telephone configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a telephone configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the software architecture used in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the software architecture used in the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of the software architecture used in the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship of the OSI protocol to the protocol used in the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the message protocol used in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 telecommunications network 12,14 toll telephone 16,18 call processing system 20,22,24 intelligent network
Platform 36 Multiple Channel Bus 44 Interface Module 46 Switch Module 48 Service Module 50 Management Control Module 52 Real Time Module 54 Power Module 150 Intelligent Pay Phone

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Lindsey, Dee, Owin Lieujan Circle 1611, Carrolltan, Texas, United States (72) Inventor David, Dubro, Sorn Woodowk 1603, Richardson, Texas, United States Invention (72) Harald, E, A, Hansen, Hidden Cove 3300, Pleinaud, Texas, USA

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A telecommunications system, a local telecommunications device accessible to a user of the telecommunications system, and operatively coupled to the local telecommunications device and operable to receive telephone calls from the local telecommunications device. An intelligent network platform and an interface system associated with the intelligent network platform and operable to couple the intelligent network platform to a communication link associated with a telecommunications network; Electricity associated with the platform and operable to provide an automatic telecommunication service to the user in connection with a telephone call made by the user using the local telecommunication device. Telecommunication system comprising a signal service module. 2. The interface system is coupled to a plurality of network lines, the local telecommunications device and the intelligent network platform are coupled via a telephone line to the telecommunications service module, The telecommunications system of claim 1, further comprising a switching system operable to selectively couple the telephone line to a selected one of the network lines. 3. The telecommunications system of claim 2, wherein the switching system is further operable to selectively couple the telephone line to another selected one of the telecommunications service modules. 4. The telecommunication service module comprising:
The telecommunications system of claim 1, further comprising a voice mail module operative to record and reproduce voice messages left by a user of the telecommunications system. 5. The local telecommunications device and the intelligent network platform are connected via a telephone line, further associated with the intelligent network platform, the intelligent network platform being connected to the telephone line. A telephone line interface that can act as a bond
A first out-of-band communication circuitry comprising a circuitry, the telephone line interface circuitry being operable to transmit and receive over the telephone line using a predetermined frequency, and to the local telecommunications device. And a second out-of-band communication circuitry associated with the telephone line and operable to transmit and receive over the telephone line using the predetermined frequency. . 6. A card reading system associated with the local telecommunications device and operable to receive and read data from a card associated with a user.
Telecommunications system. 7. A modular telecommunications system coupled to a link of a telecommunications network and operable to process telecommunications traffic through the telecommunications network, comprising: a multi-channel bus; coupled to the multi-channel bus; A power module operable to deliver operating power to a modular telecommunication system, coupled to a plurality of links of said telecommunication network,
An interface module coupled to the multi-channel bus and operable to communicate traffic from the link to the modular telecommunications system; utilization of the modular telecommunications system and the telecommunications network coupled to the multi-channel bus A service module operable to provide telecommunications service to a person, the modular telecommunications system coupled to the multiple channel busbar and between selected links serviced by the interface module and the service module. A switch module operable to selectively route internal traffic; and electrical using the interface module, service module and switch module coupled to the multi-channel bus. Modular telecommunication system comprising a real-time module, a operable to control the processing of signals traffic. 8. An apparatus coupled to the multi-channel bus and operable to manage the modular telecommunications system configuration for storing information related to telecommunications traffic processed by the modular telecommunications system. 8. The modular telecommunications system of claim 7, including a supervisory control module with an operable memory system. 9. The memory system is operable to store account identification and balance information associated with an account associated with a user of the modular telecommunications system, wherein the management and control module is the modular electrical system. 9. A oper- ation operable to update balance information by applying a charge associated with telecommunications traffic processed by a communication system to an appropriate account stored in the memory system. Modular telecommunication system. 10. The memory system is operable to store an account identification and priority carrier information associated with an account associated with a user of the modular telecommunication system, wherein the management and control module is the modular control module. Operable to retrieve specific preferred carrier information associated with a particular user of the telecommunications system, the interface module being identified by the specific preferred carrier information associated with the particular user. An interface circuit operable to be coupled to a plurality of common carrier trunks including a particular common carrier trunk, wherein the modular telecommunications system uses the particular common carrier trunk. To route the appropriate telecommunications traffic required by the particular user. The modular telecommunications system of claim 8, wherein the modular telecommunications system is operable. 11. The modular telecommunications system of claim 7, wherein said service module is provided with a voice mail system operable to record and play voice messages received from said modular telecommunications system and telecommunications network. 12. The modular telecommunications system, wherein the service module is provided with an automatic operator system operable to process an automatic collect call by recording information from the user identifying the user. Is operable to complete a communication path to the called party and use the recorded information from the user to inform the called party of the requested collect call, and further wherein said modular telecommunication system 8. The modular telecommunication system of claim 7, wherein the modular telecommunications system is operable to instruct acceptance of the collect call and instruct the called party as to how to receive a response to the instruction from the called party. 13. The modular telecommunications system is coupled to a local telecommunications device and directs billing charges associated with telephone calls to an account other than an account associated with the local telecommunications device. Operable to receive a telephone number dialed within a first billing format, wherein the modular telecommunications system converts the telephone number directly from the first billing format to a dial format. 8. The modular telecommunications system of claim 7, operable to complete a collect call using the direct dial format. 14. The interface module comprises:
The modular telecommunications system of claim 7, further comprising a telephone line interface circuitry operable to couple the modular telecommunications system to a telephone line associated with the telecommunications network. 15. The interface module comprises:
8. The modular telecommunications system of claim 7, further comprising an SS7 link interface circuitry operable to couple the modular telecommunications system to an SS7 link associated with the telecommunications network. 16. The interface module comprises:
8. The modular telecommunications system of claim 7, further comprising an optical fiber line interface circuitry operable to couple the modular telecommunications system to an optical fiber line associated with the telecommunications network. 17. The interface module comprises:
A network multiplexer / demultiplexer interface circuitry operable to couple the modular telecommunications system to a network multiplexer / demultiplexer system associated with a cellular interface in the telecommunications network, The modular telecommunication system of claim 7. 18. A telecommunications system operable to route telecommunications traffic, comprising a calling telephone having an input system operable to receive destination identification information and accessible to a user of said telecommunications system. A first intelligent network platform selectively coupled to the calling telephone and having a first interface module operable to receive destination identification information from the calling telephone; and a second interface. A second intelligent network platform having a module; a destination telephone identified by the destination identification information and selectively coupled to the second intelligent network platform; and the first and second interfaces. Selective coupling between modules Telecommunication system including a transmission system operable to routing telecommunications traffic in the second intelligent network platform from the first intelligent network platform is. 19. The transmission system comprises a microwave transmitter associated with the first intelligent network platform and a microwave receiver associated with the second intelligent network platform. Telecommunications system. 20. The transmission system includes a first satellite transceiver associated with the first intelligent network platform, a second satellite transceiver associated with the second intelligent network platform, and the second satellite transceiver associated with the second intelligent network platform. The telecommunication system of claim 18, further comprising: a telecommunication satellite operable to route telecommunication traffic between the first and second satellite transceivers. 21. In the telecommunication system, a local telecommunication device accessible to a user of the telecommunication system, and coupled to the local telecommunication device via a telephone line,
An intelligent network platform operable to receive telephone calls from the local telecommunications device, and associated with the intelligent network platform, and coupling the intelligent network platform to a communication link associated with the telecommunications network. Associated with the intelligent network platform and providing an automated telecommunications service to a user in connection with a telephone call made by a user using the local telecommunications device. And a storage circuit associated with the local telecommunication device and operable to store identification information unique to the particular local telecommunication device. And over, the connection with the local telecommunication device, access to the intelligent network platform,
A telecommunication system comprising: a processing circuitry operable to retrieve the unique identification information and transmit it to the intelligent network platform without fear of unauthorized use. 22. A telephone line interface circuit associated with the intelligent network platform and operable to couple the intelligent network platform to a telephone line, the telephone line interface circuit circuit comprising: A first out-of-band communication circuitry operable to transmit and receive over the telephone line using a predetermined frequency, associated with the local telecommunications device, coupled to the telephone line, A second out-of-band communication circuitry operable to transmit and receive over the telephone line using a predetermined frequency; and wherein the local telecommunications device uses the second out-of-band communication circuitry To the intelligent network platform Wherein the intelligent network platform is operable to transmit a unique identity, the intelligent network platform being operable to receive the unique identity using the first out-of-band communication circuitry. Item 21: A telecommunication system. 23. A modular telecommunications system coupled to a link of a telecommunications network and operable to process telecommunications traffic by said telecommunications network, comprising: a multi-channel bus; coupled to the multi-channel bus; A power module operable to deliver operating power to a communication system, coupled to a plurality of links of the telecommunications network,
An interface module coupled to the multi-channel bus and operable to communicate traffic from the link to the modular telecommunications system; utilization of the modular telecommunications system and the telecommunications network coupled to the multi-channel bus A service module operable to provide telecommunications services to a person, and the modular telecommunications system between selected links coupled to the multi-channel bus and serviced by the interface module and service module. A switch module internally operable to selectively route traffic, coupled to the multi-channel bus, using the interface module, service module and switch module A real-time module operable to control processing of telecommunications traffic, coupled to the multi-channel bus and operable to manage a configuration of the modular telecommunications system, processed by the modular telecommunications system. A management and control module having a memory system operable to store information related to telecommunications traffic, wherein the memory system is authorized to access the modular telecommunications system. Operable to store security information identifying a communication device, the management control module operable to access the security information in response to a request for access to the modular telecommunication system. A modular telecommunication system.