MXPA00008677A - Method for improving a network structure, especially an in (intelligent network) network structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for improving a network structure, especially an IN (Intelligent Network) network structure and the multi-feature services thereof, and for the objective to provide easier customising and tailoring of the services to different customers in connection with such multi-feature services, and in order to more easily address such different features, it is according to the present invention suggested a method which is characterized by letting each feature within the service be assigned a unique number, a so-called feature key.

Description

METHOD TO IMPROVE A NETWORK STRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY ONE NETWORK STRUCTURE Rl (INTELLIGENT NETWORK) FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the method for improving a network structure, especially a network structure Rl (Smart Network) and the multiple features services of said network structure. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Most Rl services today comprise services that can be adapted and provide different characteristics to different clients. This is commonly referred to as multi-feature services.

The services of multiple characteristics are subject to continuous changes and therefore the need for a fast and flexible way to introduce new versions of the features, and to adapt the full service. Smart grids are a telecommunication network architecture whose purpose is to offer new telecommunications services quickly, flexibly and economically. The core part of an intelligent telecommunication network consists of a Service Switching Point (SSP) which is a switching system that can intercept telephone calls and which can be found at a Control Point.

Service (SCP), which is a system that contains specific logic of services and data that will allow returning instructions to the SSP on how to deal additionally with the intercepted call. The essential part of the intelligent network will attend to the basic handling of the call. If the service requires some kind of special functionality (this would be functionality to produce advertisements and receive digits etc.), the service will connect to an external device, an IP / SRF, that provides the required functionality. Multiple-feature services are implemented on this intelligent network platform. The user of the service will have access to this feature through a user interface. The SCP has limitations as to what technology can be provided to the user interface (the standard SCP / SSP will support only one DTMF interface). For this reason, user interfaces must be equipped with external devices (IP / SRF) that provide the necessary technology (they could be devices that provide technology for speech recognition or access to a service from a PA). PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE Most of the services used today using a DTMF interface. If more sophisticated interfaces are to be provided, an external IP that provides the required technology must be connected. This will frequently result in the fact that the service must be updated and adjusted for this type of technology and user interface. By defining an interface against the IP provided by the user interface technology, the service could be developed independently of the technology used. In this way the user interface could easily be changed by connecting to a different IP. ADDITIONAL PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE US 5 537 466 (Tayler et al.) Refers to an intelligent communication network that controls communication in such a way as to provide diagrams illustrating how telephone calls are processed. Such diagrams contain tables that, in turn, include service keys and specific telephone data. US 5 379 383 (Yunoki) discloses a control system for communication services in an intelligent network that provides a service applicator that stores data comprising numbers of program components indicating the type of service. The service application unit comprises service keys. US 5 251 255 (Epley) discloses a method for controlling the processing of telephone calls from feature processors, which are shared databases between various communication systems. US 5 530 931 (Cook-Hellberg et al.) Discloses a method and apparatus for providing an anticipation feature of an improved call transfer in a telephone call in a telephone communication system. The prior art suggests tables in terms of characteristics and discloses how such characteristics are processed. US 5 457 736 (Cain et al.) Discloses a system and method for providing microcellular personal communications (PCS) services through the use of a DRPC architecture. Said PCS services comprise a database that is used to store UPT numbers that have been assigned to PCS users. US 5 386 464 (Pruitt) discloses a method for implementing telecommunications features in switches, which comprises a memory device and various system conditions. The characteristics are controlled by its own program of characteristics that is executed in the memory device of the switches. US 5 574 780 (Andruska et al.) Discloses a method for controlling telephone call characteristics supplied to a user from a hierarchical telecommunication switch. US 5 337 351 (Manabe et al.) Discloses a control unit, that is, a Character Interaction Arbitrator (FIA) that identifies and controls the interaction between various telephone call features. This prior technique suggests tables that illustrate the properties of these elements. In addition, the applicant is aware of the following patent publications WO 95/24011 (Telescan / Carlin et al.), US 5 206 899 (Gupta et al.), WO 96/13927 (LM Ericson / Iapalucci et al.), US. 255 264 (Cotton et al.), US 5 519 772 (Akman et al.), US 5 530 742 (Taylor et al.), US 5 572 583 (Wheeler, Jr. et al.), US 5 533 115 (Hollenbach et al.), As well as the Swedish patent applications of the same applicant: 97-272405 (3.11.95) system that provides characteristics of returning subscriber calls. 95-275585 (31.1.94) network-based telephone system containing interactive capabilities. 97-045167 (23.6.95) method of subscriber interaction for intelligent network. 97-045166 (23.6.95) method of subscriber interaction for intelligent network. 96-333569 (13.10.94) advanced intelligent network subscriber-specific message log. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A main object of the present invention is to offer a method for improving a network structure and the multi-feature services of said network. Another object of the present invention is to offer a method of this type where its different characteristics can be combined in a more flexible manner. Another object of the present invention is to provide services with a user interface different from the standard DTMF interaction, possibly by involving the use of external devices. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to present a more flexible way to handle different characteristics in multi-feature services and the interface and information transferred between an external device and the IN service, especially when addressing features within the service from any external device. Another object of the present invention is to offer a method where the service could be made independent of the technology employed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method in which the user interface could be easily changed by connection with different IPs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects are achieved in a method in accordance with that claimed in the preamble, which according to the invention is characterized by the characterization clause of appended patent claim 1. Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description in combination with the appended figures, as well as from the appended patent claims. BRIEF PRESENTATION OF THE DRAWINGS The following will describe embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating the concept of feature key and feature selector. Figure 2 is a simplified representation of IP-SCP communication where IP initiates the execution of a feature in the SCP. Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a call scenario related to UPT services, where a specific feature is executed according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES The invention describes how features in multiple feature services can be addressed and how an external device such as IP / SRF addresses features within a multi-feature service. The services may consist of many different characteristics. In this invention, each characteristic within any service is assigned a unique number, which is known as a Feature Key. When a characteristic must be executed, the Characteristic Key of the characteristic is sent to a service called characteristic selector. The feature selector identifies the correct characteristic from the Feature Key and executes it, see figure 1. When an external IP / SRF must be used by the service, the protocol used for the exchange of information between the IP and the SCP it could be CS1. If the IP wishes to initiate the execution of a specific characteristic, the Property Key of the characteristic (and possibly feature output) will be signaled back to the service by CS1 operations, see figure 2. The Feature key will then be sent to the Feature Selector, and the characteristic will be executed. This concept can be used to provide services with new user interfaces. An IP that provides the technology for the desired user interface is established in a network. This IP will handle the user interaction, that is, the user will receive this service, offer guidance to the user through possible menu structures, identify what features the user wants to run, and collect possible input for this feature, etc. The service will be activated as usual, for example, by a call from a user to a specific B number. The activated service will then be connected to an IP that provides the desired user interface (1. and 2. in Figure 2). The service then starts the execution of the user interaction on the IP (3. in Figure 2). The IP will then initiate the dialogue with the user, and in the meantime the service will wait for an IP response. The dialogue between the user and the IP will continue until the IP decides that it has collected enough information to initiate a feature in the service that works in the SCP. The IP will then send the Characteristic Key that identifies the characteristic that must be executed back to the service (4 in Figure 2), together with possible feature / data entry. The Feature Selector will then filter the Feature Key and execute the correct feature. When this concept is used for user interfaces, changing the user interface in a service is very easy since it only includes the connection to a different IP. CALL SCENARIO As an example of a call scenario we will use the Ericsson UPT service, as illustrated in figure 3. It is a multi-feature service, and will use voice recognition as a possible user interface: You subscribe to a Ericsson UPT service, which supports voice recognition. You arrive at your home and want to re-send all your incoming UTP calls to your home terminal. You access the service by checking the UPTAN. The service then establishes a temporary connection to the voice recognition IP to provide the desired user interface. The service then sends a start and collection of user information (PCUI) to the IP to initiate the user interaction, which then presents a welcome announcement and can then provide its commands. When you say <; REEXPED > between < DOMICILE > , the IP identifies this as the UPT Feature "Re-send all calls to the subscriber's home address", which is identified, for example, by the Feature Key 1234. The Feature Key 1234 is then sent to the service as the Response parameter digital in Return Result for PCUI. The Feature Selector receives the Feature Key 1234 and identifies this as the characteristic "redirect all calls to the subscriber's home address" and that characteristic is executed. All incoming calls will now be redirected to your home terminal. ADVANTAGES / CASES OF USE • It can be used when the characteristics within a service must be accessed / activated from external equipment such as an IP. • The service can be done independent of the user interface.

• The interface is independent of the technology used.

• Easy to handle new features (addition / movement of pointers in the Selector of Characteristic) . • The IP and the SCP are independent. In the change of characteristic in one of the nodes can be carried out without influencing the other. EXTENSION This document refers to communications between a multi-feature service and an IP that provides a user interface. The implementation of the invention can encompass other types of equipment that can be used together with a multi-feature service.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS A method to offer multiple feature services in a network structure Rl (Intelligent Network) available to a user, characterized in that each feature receives a feature identifier represented by a unique number, to represent a function address for the characteristic in question, when a characteristic must be executed the associated feature identifier is sent to a characteristic selector designated by the service, said characteristic selector is adapted based on a correct property key identified to execute the associated characteristic. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that when an external IP (Peripheral Intelligent) / SRF (Special Resource Function) must be used by the service in question, the protocol used for the exchange of information between said IP and the SCP (Service Control Point) could be a CS1 (Capability Set 1) . A method according to claims 1-2, characterized in that when an external IP wants to start the execution of a specific characteristic, then the key of the characteristic (and possibly feature input) will be signaled back to the service by said operation CS1, said characteristic key is then sent to said characteristic selector to execute the characteristic in question. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in an IP there is established technology for the desired user interface in order to handle, for example, the user's intersection, comprising many structures, available and possible features. means of entry for its execution. A method according to claim as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a service is activated, for example, by dialing a specific B number, after which the activated service is connected to an IP that provides the interface of desired user (1 and 2 in Figure 2), and then leaving said service to initiate the execution of the user interaction on said IP (3 in Figure 2). A method according to claim 5, characterized in that after having finished the dialogue between the user and said IP, said IP will initiate a characteristic in the service that works in said SCP, after which, said IP will send the characteristic key associated back to the service (4 in Figure 2) together with possible data / feature entry, at that time said characteristic selector will filter said characteristic key and execute the correct characteristic. A method according to claim as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a change of user interface in a service is effected by a connection to a different IP. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in relation to a UPT (Universal Personal Telecommunication) service that supports, for example, voice recognition, access to a service in question is performed by the user through dialing of UPTAN, and said service then establishes a temporary connection with the voice recognition IP to provide the necessary user interface, after which said service sends a PCUI (Start and Collection of User Information) to the IP to initiate the interaction of user, after which a user message command is identified by said IP as the UPT characteristic in question, that is, identified by the associated feature key. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the feature key initiated by user message command is sent to the service as a digital response parameter in result return for said PCUI through the characteristic selector to execute said ordered characteristic.