MXPA99005710A - Method and system for monitoring the operational status of a network element in an advanced intelligent network - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring the operational status of a network element in an advanced intelligent network are provided. Custom telecommunications services, such as a call forwarding service, are processed by routing a call to a network element, such as a service circuit node, that processes the call and provides the custom telecommunications service. When the network element or application software resident at that network element fails, calls routed to that network element may be mishandled. The method and system of the present invention utilize advanced intelligent network services to monitor a desired network element prior to routing a call to that network element forcustom telecommunications service. A heartbeat message is utilized between a monitored network element and a monitoring network element. The method and system reduce network element downtime by alerting maintenance personnel of network element or application software failure.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE OPERATIONAL STATUS OF A NETWORK ELEMENT IN AN INTELLIGENT ADVANCED NETWORK FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to telecommunications, and more particularly, to a method and system for using an operation signal message, in an advanced intelligent network, to monitor the operating status of an operating element. net.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, the demand for telecommunications services for businesses and individuals has increased dramatically. This dramatic increase has led to a corresponding increase in the demand for specialized features adapted to the customer's call processing such as call transfer service, call waiting, call waiting, audio with name of the caller and answering of calls. Some telecommunications networks and, more particularly, some telecommunications services based on an advanced intelligent network (AIN), require the interaction and cooperation of the application program in one or more distributed network elements, to end of P138 / 99MX provide services adapted to the client. In order to process the services adapted to the client, such as the transfer of calls, the most current telecommunication networks use application programs in some network element to which the task of providing the desired characteristic of the calls is assigned, requested by the client. For example, calls that require transfer under a call transfer service can be routed or routed to a particular network element, which contains a call transfer application program. That network element and particularly the application program resident in the network element, processes the call according to the customer-adapted characteristic, ordered by the subscriber of the service adapted to the client. For example, if Ms. Price orders that all calls directed to your home telephone number go temporarily to the telephone number of Mr. C an's home, a call directed to Mrs. Price's home telephone number Mr. Ven will be routed or routed to an assigned network element with the task of processing calls that require call transfer processing. That network element will provide the necessary processing and route or route the call to the alternate telephone number ordered by the subscriber, Mrs. Price.

P1387 / 99MX However, a problem occurs when the network element or the application program to which the task of providing the call feature adapted to the client was assigned is out of service. The physical equipment in the network element may malfunction or be taken out of service manually for preventive maintenance. Similarly, the application program residing in the network element may develop problems that limit its ability to process the customer-adapted service. When a failure of the network element or the application program occurs, the call that requires customer-adapted treatment is often completely lost. By way of illustration, if the network element or the application program to which the handling task of the call transfer example discussed above is assigned is to be taken out of service, the call will still be routed to the network element, but not it will be processed. The result may be that the call made by Mr. Ven will literally ring until Mr. Ven finishes the call. As a result, Ms. Price will not be located or the desired alternate telephone number or the telephone number of her home. There is no method or system known in the prior art for making a network element monitor the operation status of a second element Network P1387 / 99MX before allowing a call to be routed to the second network element for processing or processing adapted to the client of the call. Equally, there is no method or system known in the prior art to cause a particular application program resident in a network element to monitor the associated application program, resident in the second network element. There is a need in the art for a method and a system for making a network element monitor the operating state of another network element or elements. Accordingly, there is a need for a method and system for efficiently and cheaply using advanced intelligent network services to monitor a network element or application program residing in a network element before routing the call to that element network or application program, to provide some personalized treatment of calls before the termination of the call.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention meets the needs described above, by providing a method and system for monitoring the operation status of the network elements of an advanced intelligent network. The preferred method and system of the present invention uses messages to P1387 / 99MX a first network element from a second network element to allow the first network element to monitor the operation status of the second network element. In this way, the present invention provides efficient use of the network elements and prevents the necessary transfer of calls to non-operational network elements. The method and the system reduce the idle time of the network element by alerting the maintenance personnel of the failure of the network element or the application program. Generally stated, in a telecommunications network, switched, intelligent, including the plurality of network elements for processing telephone communications, a method is provided for monitoring the operating status of a network element before routing a call to that network element. network element for the service adapted to the client, comprising the steps of receiving a call in a switch; causing the switch to route the identification information corresponding to the call to a first network element; and making the first network element, in response to receiving the identification information, determine whether the call requires customer-adapted service of a second network element. If the first network element determines that the call requires client-adapted service of the second network element, then the method causes the P1387 / 99MX first network element determines whether the second network element is operational. If the first network element determines that the second network element is operational, then the method causes the first network element to provide instructions to the switch to route the call to the second network element for reception of the customer-adapted service. Preferably, if the first network element determines that the second network element is not operational, then the method causes the first network element to provide instructions to the switch to route the call around the second network element to a predetermined destination . Preferably, the method of the present invention further comprises the steps of making the second network element send a message to the first network element and receive the message in the first network element from the second network element. Preferably, the message is an operation signal message, and the step of receiving a message in a first network element from a second network element further comprises receiving the operation signal message in the first network element from the network element. second network element. In response to receiving the message, the method preferably makes the first network element determine whether the second network element is P1387 / 99MX operational, and if the first network element determines that the second network element is operational, then the method causes the first network element to designate the second network element as operational. If the first network element determines that the second network element is operational, then the method causes the first network element to designate the second network element as "in service". If the first network element determines that the second network element is not operational, then the method can cause the first network element to designate the second network element as "out of service". In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first network element is a service point of an intelligent, advanced network.

(AIN), and the step of making the first network element, in response to receiving the message, determine whether the second network element is operational, further comprising making the AIN service control point determine whether the second network element is operational. The second network element is preferably an intelligent, advanced network (AIN) service circuit node, and the step of making the AIN service control point determine whether the second network element is operational, comprises In addition, make the AIN control point determine if the AIN service circuit node is operational.

P1387 / 99MX The second network element can be an automatic call distributor, and the step of making the AIN service control point determine if the second network element is operational can • understand making the control point of the network. AIN service determine if the automatic call distributor is operational. Alternatively, the second network element can be a private exchange switch, and the step of having an AIN service control point determine whether the second network element is operational can comprise making the service control point of AIN determine if the private exchange switch is operational. In another aspect of the present invention, in a telecommunications network, intelligent switching, includes a plurality of network elements for processing telephone communications, a method is provided for monitoring the operation state of a network element, comprising the steps of receiving a message on a first network element from a network element, causing the first network element, in response to receipt of the message, to determine whether the second network element is operational; and if the first network element determines that the second network element is operational, then have the first network element designate the second network element as operational. In response to the first element of P1387 / 99MX network that designates the second network element as operational, the method causes the first network element to cause a telephone communication that requires processing by the second network element to be routed to the second network element for processing. In another aspect of the present invention, in a telecommunications network, intelligent switching, including a plurality of network elements for the processing of telephone communications, a. system for monitoring the operating state of a network element before routing a call to that network element for the customer-adapted service, comprising a first network element and a second network element functionally connected to the first network element , where the second network element is operational to send a message to the first network element. The first network element is operational to receive the message from the second network element and, in response to receiving the message, determines whether the second network element is operational. In another aspect of the present invention in a telecommunication, switched, intelligent network, which includes a plurality of network elements for the processing of telephone communications, a system for monitoring the state of the telephone is provided.

P1387 / 99MX operation of a network element before routing a call to that network element for customer-adapted service, comprising an operational switch to receive a call from a first network element that is functionally connected to the switch and a second network element. The first network element is operational to receive the identification information corresponding to the call, to determine if the call should receive the customer-adapted service of the second network element, to determine if the second network element is operational, and to providing instructions to the switch to route the call to the second network element if the first network element determines that the second network element is operational. The switch is additionally operational for routing the call to the second network element, and the second network element is operational to provide customer-adapted service to the call. Preferably, the second network element is additionally operable to send a message to the first network. The first network element is additionally operational to receive the message from the second network element and to determine from the message whether it is operational to the second network element. In the preferred form in this aspect of the present invention, the first network element is a P1387 / 99MX Intelligent, Advanced Network Service Control Point (AIN) and the second network element is an Advanced Intelligent Network Service (AIN) circuit node. The second network element can be an automatic call distributor or a private exchange switch. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient method and system for utilizing advanced, intelligent network services to monitor the state of operation of a network element in an intelligent, advanced network. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram of a portion of an advanced intelligent network (AIN) in a telephone system that forms the environment for the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the preferred method of the present invention. Figure 3 (a) is a flow diagram illustrating the initiation of operation signal messages used by the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

P1387 / 99 X Figure (b) is a flow diagram illustrating the preferred decision steps made in step 240 in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating an example operation of the preferred method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Generally stated, the preferred method and system of the present invention utilize the services of an intelligent, advanced network (AIN) to monitor the operating status of a network element. As discussed below, the present invention preferably allows the efficient use of intelligent network elements when verifying the operating state of a desired intelligent network element or of a particular application program, resident in an intelligent network element. , desired before routing a call to that intelligent network element or application program. If a first intelligent network element to which the task of monitoring the operation status of a second intelligent network element is assigned determines that the second intelligent network element is not operational, the first intelligent network element routes a call around the second non-operational intelligent element to a predetermined destination, P1387 / 99MX thus preventing the call from being routed erroneously to the second non-operational intelligent network element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PRESENT INVENTION The modern telephone, switched, public (PSTN) network forms the basic environment of the present invention. The public, switched, public telephone network has signaling routes, separate for voice signals (or other communication circuits, used by the customer) and for control signals. The control signals include the information transmitted throughout the network to control the connection and disconnection of the voice circuits. Figure 1 is a block diagram representing at least a part of the intelligent, advanced (AIN) network 10 of a typical local company. The advanced intelligent network uses the signaling system network 7 (SS7) for the transport of signals or system control messages. The elements thereof are well known to those skilled in the art. The operation of many of the elements of the advanced intelligent network is also described in U.S. Patent No. 5,245,719 to Weisser entitled "Mediation of Open Advanced Intelligent Network Interface by Shared Execution Environment" P1387 / 99MX is incorporated herein by reference. The SS7 communication protocol is provided in the document entitled "Bell Communications Research Specification of Signaling System 7", Document TR-NWT-000246, Publication 2 (June 1991), plus Revision 1 (December 1991), which is also incorporated herein by reference. With reference still to Figure 1, a plurality of central offices are provided in a public, switched, public telephone network. As shown in Figure 1, each central office may include an electronic switch known to those skilled in the art as a service switching point (SSP). These are indicated in Figure 1 as the SSP switches 12, 14 and 16. The number of SSP switches depends on the number of subscribers that are serviced by the public, switched, telephone network. An SSP (specifically, a class 5 central office switch) in the AIN element of an electronic switch, typical of central office used by a local company. The terms "SSP" and "switch" are used interchangeably hereinafter and are understood to refer to a telecommunications switch having the capacity of AIN and which can be used to switch circuits of voice channels, including lines of speech channels, such as P1387 / 99MX lines 30 and 32. As shown in Figure 1, the central office switches (SSP) 12, 14 and 16 have a plurality of subscriber lines 18, 20 and 22 connected to them. Each of the subscriber lines 18, 20 and 22 is connected to a destination piece or pieces of the customer's local equipment which are represented by the normal telephone sets 21 and 24 and the facsimile devices 26 and 28. The destination equipment it can also include a variety of other devices as is well known to those skilled in the art. The SSP switches 12, 14 and 16 are connected by a plurality of trunk lines circuits indicated as 30 and 32 in Figure 1. These are the voice path link lines that are connected in the central offices 12, 14 and 16 on which the calls are connected when they are terminated. Each piece of target equipment in the PSTN is preferably assigned to a directory number. The term "directory number" is used herein in a manner consistent with its meaning of general understanding of a number that is dialed or entered by an originating party at a home station to arrive at a destination station associated with the destination. directory number. A directory number, typically a 10-digit number, is commonly referred to as a "telephone number" and can be P1387 / 99MX assign to a specific telephone line, such as the telephone line 18 shown in Figure 1. Much of the intelligence and basis for many of the new improved features of the network reside at the local AIN service control point (SSP) 42 which is typically connected to one or more control offices through a signal transfer point 34 via the SS7 data link 44. As is known to those skilled in the art, the service control points of AIN, such as the SSP of AIN 42, is physically implemented by relatively powerful fault tolerant computers. Among the functions performed by the service control points are the maintenance of the network databases used in the provision of the improved services. As is readily understood by those skilled in the art, many of the improved services performed by the SSP computers are realized via the implementation of the application program. Additional devices are provided to implement advanced network functions within the AIN 10, by the STPs (not shown), the AIN SCPs, regional (not shown) and the service management system (SMS, for its acronym in English) , 48. Both the regional AIN SCPs and the local AIN 42 SCPs, which represent a plurality P1387 / 99MX of local AIN SCPs distributed throughout the AIN 10, are connected via respective data links to the SMS 48. The SMS 48 provides a centralized platform for the remote provision of the various AIN SCPs of the AIN 10, so that an information processing system can be implemented, coordinated for AIN 10. SMS 48 is implemented by a large general-purpose computer and interconnected to the local company's business offices and telephone exchange companies. . The AIN 10 also includes the service circuit nodes (SCN) such as the service circuit node 50 shown in Figure 1. Those skilled in the art will be familiar with the service circuit nodes, which are physically implemented by the service circuit nodes. same types of computers that include the service control point 42. In addition to the characteristics of computing capacity as well as maintenance of the database, the service circuit node 50 uses the integrated services digital network (ISDN) lines and may include dual tone multi-frequency signal recognition (DTMF) devices , tone generation devices, speech synthesis devices and other voice or data resources. While the service circuit nodes P1387 / 99MX 50 are completely similar in physical form to SCP 42, there are some important differences in the uses to which the SCNs are put. Service control points, such as SCP 42, typically implement high-volume routing and translation and routing services of the 800 number. They are also used for the maintenance and provision of access to high-volume databases for billing authorization. , such as credit card number validations. In many networks of local companies, service control points are only used for database search and routing services that takes place before the logical termination of the call, that is, the provision of a call signal to the subscriber line called and calls back to the calling subscriber. In contrast, service circuit nodes are used primarily when a feature or service adapted to the client is needed that requires an audio connection to the call or transfer of a significant amount of data to the subscriber over a switched connection during or after a call. As with the SCP computers discussed above, many of the enhanced services performed by the SCN computers are made via the implementation of the application program. As shown in Figure 1, the nodes P1387 / 99MX of service circuit 50 are typically connected to one or more SSP central office switches (but usually only a few) via the ISDN links shown as lines 54. In this way, these services are implemented during a call ( that is, after the termination of the so-called subscriber call or take) employ the installation of a service circuit node such as the service circuit nodes 50. In the operation, the intelligent network elements of the AIN 10, as described above, they communicate with each other via digital data messages transmitted over a network of digital signaling links. An SSP can be configured to interconnect with these network elements through the use of an activator. An activator in the network is an event associated with a particular subscriber or call line that causes the SSP to generate a packet data message to be sent to a service control point. In order to keep the processing of data and calls as simple and generic as possible in the central office switches, such as switches 12, 14 and 16 of the SSP central office, a relatively small set of triggers is required. defined in the switches of the SSP central office for each call. The message created by an SSP 12 in response to P1387 / 99MX an activator is known as a "question" message. A question message opens a "transaction" and the SSP generally maintains the communication until it receives a reply from an appropriate network element via the network of digital data links that instructs the SSP 12 to take a certain action. If the SSP 12 does not receive instructions within a certain amount of time, the SSP "interrupts" and executes a default task for communication. The answer to the question message can be a "conversation" message or a "response" message. Conversation messages allow bidirectional exchanges between network elements while the transaction remains open. A "response" message closes the open transaction for the question message, and usually instructs the SSP 12 to route the sustained communication for connection to a destination station. Question messages, conversation messages, and response messages are normal types of messages defined by the AIN protocol. The AIN protocol details are well known to those skilled in the art and will not be further described herein. For more information regarding the AIN protocol, see GR-1298-CORE Switching Systems Generic Requirements for AIN, which is incorporated herein by reference.

P1387 / 99MX As shown in Figure 1, the SCN 50 and SCP 42 are functionally connected through an SSP. The SCN 50 can be connected to the SCP 42 directly as shown in Figure 1, data link path 55. The data link 55 illustrated in Figure 1 is an X.25 data link. The X.25 data link, as is well known to those skilled in the art, is a type of data link network that can be used between computer central computers, minicomputers, microcomputers and a wide variety of other electronic physical equipment. specialized for the communication of data switched in packets. It should be understood that the data link between the SSP 42 and the SCN 50 may comprise an SS7 network data link, or a TCP / IP network data link, or a DTMF data link. As with the X.25 network data link, those data links are well known to those skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communication links between the network elements such as the X.25 data link 55, shown in Figure 1, between the SCN 50 and the SCP 42, are used to allow a The first network element such as the SCP 42 monitors the status of a second network element such as the SCN 50. When monitoring the SCN 50, the SSP 42 can determine if the SCN 50 is operational before having a call routed to the network.

P1387 / 99MX SCN 50 to provide a service adapted to the client. By monitoring the state of a network element such as the SCN 50, the reliability and complete efficiency of the AIN 10 is increased because the calls are not routed unnecessarily to the network elements that are out of service. It should be readily understood that the present invention can be used to monitor a variety of other communication elements, such as a private exchange (PBX) switch or automatic call distribution (ACD). These systems are well known to one skilled in the art. As with SCN 50, monitoring the operation status of an individual PBX or ACD will prevent unnecessary transfer of calls to these systems if it is out of service. An example of a customer-adapted service feature, implemented by the service circuit nodes, is the call transfer service. As is well known to one skilled in the art, the call transfer service allows a telecommunications subscriber to direct the provider of their telecommunications services to send calls addressed to their directory number or an alternative directory number where it can be reached to the subscriber. As discussed in detail later, the service circuit nodes can be used for the implementation of P1387 / 99MX customer-adapted services such as call transfer service by routing the call to a service circuit node for the treatment of the customer-adapted service before the final connection of the call to a desired directory number. In the case of the call transfer service, a call addressed to a sent number can be routed to a service circuit node which in turn causes the call to be routed to the alternative number designated by the subscriber. Another feature adapted to the client, implemented by the service circuit nodes is the audio call name circuit. The audio call name is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 08 / 670,803 entitled "A System and Method to Provide An Audio Calling Yam Service Implemented through Advanced Intelligent Network", filed June 25, 1996 , which is incorporated herein by reference. Preferably, the preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a message from one network element to another network element. The preferred message used by the present invention is an operation signal message. As is well known to those skilled in the art, an operation signal message is a signal quality test function that can be used for the P1387 / 99HX self-test. Preferably, in the present invention, an operation signal message is used between the network elements in the AIN 10 to allow a first network element to monitor the state of a second network element. More particularly, as discussed below, an operation signal message may be used by the present invention to allow a specific application program packet resident in a first network element to monitor the status of an application program packet. resident partner in a second network element. Additionally, the operation signal message can be used to monitor the operation status of the data link between the two network elements, such as X.25 network data link 55, shown in Figure 1. The state The operation of the data link 55 can be monitored by sending operation signal messages on the data link (to be monitored) from a second network element with the known operation state to a first network element with the status of known operation. For more information on operating signal messages, see Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Specification 802.3. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operation signal message is used from an intelligent network element, such P1387 / 99MX as the service circuit node 50, to another intelligent network element, such as the service control point 42, so that the service control point 42 can monitor the status of the service circuit node 50 As discussed above, monitoring the service circuit node 50 via an operation signal message allows efficient utilization of the service circuit node 50 by preventing the routing of calls to the service circuit node 50 when it is out. of service to the SCN 50. Preferably, as shown in Figure 3 (a), operation signal messages are automatically initiated between the SCN 50 and the SSP 42 as soon as a desired application program is executed in the SCN 50. For example, in the case of the application program for the call transfer service resident in the SCN 50, the operation signal messages are initiated between the SCN 50 and the SSP 42, as on how the application program for the call transfer service in the SCN 50 is started. Once the operation signal messages are started from the SCN 50 to the SSP 42, the operation signal message is sent to the SSP 42 at some programmable frequency such as every 30 seconds. In general, if the SNA 50 is not P1387 / 99MX operational, or if the X.25 network data link 55 between SCN 50 and SCP 42 has failed, the operation signal message will not be sent to SCP 42. If no operation signal messages are sent to SCP 42, SCP 42 will determine that there is a problem with the X.25 network or with the SCN 50. Accordingly, the SCP 42 will route the calls that will normally be routed to the SCN 50 to an alternative or predetermined location. The particular application program, such as the application program for the call transfer service, resident in SCN 50, can be monitored by the associated application program in SCP 42. That is, while SCN 50 and the X.25 network may be in operational status, operation signal messages may be used to inform SCP 42 that a particular application program, such as the call transfer service, is not operational in SCN 50. Therefore, a call that requires a service adapted to the client such as the call transfer service will not be routed to the SCN 50 if the particular application program is not operational for some reason. Preferably, when SCP 42 determines that the data link network 55, the SCN 50, or the particular application program in the SCN 50 is not operational, the SCP 42 can cause a P1387 / 99MX alarm message to inform operations personnel of problems in the network. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, SCP 42 includes the associated application program for each application program (to be monitored) in SNA 50. The associated application program in SCP 42 and SNA 50 they are known as "equal" applications. Therefore, through the use of the operation signal messages, as described herein, any application program in the SCN 50 can be monitored by its same application in the SCP 42. Reference is made below to SCP 42 and SNA 50 should be understood to include a preference for the particular "equal" application program resident in SCP 42 and SNA 50. It should also be understood that an individual SCP 42 may be used to monitor a plurality of SCN 50. Once the operation signal messages are initiated between the SCN 50 and the SCP 42, the operation signal messages may be stopped by issuing a "stop" message of operation signal from the service circuit node. When the SCP 42 receives the "stop" message of operation signal, the SCP 42 assumes that the SCN 50 is working previously without receiving subsequent messages of the operation signal. By stopping transmission messages from SCN 50 to SCP 42, P1387 / 99MX in X.25 network data link between SCN 50 and SCP 42 can be used for other applications. However, if SCP 42 does not receive a "stop" message from SCN 50, and SCP 42 does not receive an operation signal message in the appropriate range, SCP 42 will determine that SCN 50 is not operational, and the SCP 42 will designate SCN 50 as "out of service" (OOS). Once SCN 50 is designated as "out of service", SCP 42 does not route calls to SCN 50. Instead, SCP 42 routes calls to a predetermined destination, such as an alternative directory number provided by the subscriber of the service adapted to the client. If desired, the SCN 50 or the particular application program resident in SCN 50 can be manually taken out of service for the purposes of preventive maintenance. Once the failure of the SCN 50 is corrected, a "start" signal of operation signal can be issued from SCN 50 to SCP 42 to inform SCP 42 that the SCN 50 or the particular application program is operational again .

OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the preferred method of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in P1387 / 99 X step 210, SCP 14, shown in Figure 1, receives a call initiated by a call originator from telephone set 24 on line 20. In step 220, SSP 14 asks a question and sends the question to a first intelligent network element such as SCP 42. In step 230, the first intelligent network element (SCP 42) determines whether the number dialed by the call originator must receive some type of service adapted to the client, such as call transfer. If the first intelligent network element determines that or customer-adapted service is required for the directory number dialed by the call originator, the first intelligent network element instructs SCP 14 to determine the call according to the directory number , marked. However, if the first intelligent element, in step 230 determines that the directory number dialed by the call originator requires customer-adapted service, such as the call transfer service, the method follows the branch "YES" in step 230, and step 240 proceeds. In step 240, the preferred method determines whether the second intelligent network element, such as SCN 50, has been designated as "in service" or "out of service. discussed later, the first intelligent network element designates the second element Intelligent network P1387 / 99MX as "in service" or "out of order" regardless of the processing of a particular call as illustrated in Figure 2. Accordingly, in step 240, the preferred method only determines whether the second item of Intelligent network has been assigned as "in service" or "out of service". If the first smart network determines that the second intelligent element is "out of service", the preferred method of the present invention follows the "NO" branch, in step 240, and instructs the SSP 14 to route the call in accordance with the directory number dialed. If the first intelligent network element determines that the second intelligent network is "in service", the preferred method of the present invention follows the branch "YES" in step 240 to step 250. In step 250, the first network element Smart instructs the SSP 14 to route the call to the second intelligent network element to provide the desired service, adapted to the client, such as the call transfer service. In step 240, the SSP 14 routes the call to the second intelligent network element. Step 270, the second intelligent network provides the desired service, adapted to the client. With reference now to Figures 3 (a) and 3 (b), the determination made is discussed in detail P1387 / 99MX in step 240 in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 3 (a), the operation signal messages from SCN 50 to SCP 42 or from the particular application program in SCN 50 to the program The associated application in SCP 42 is automatically initiated once the application program in the SNA 50 is started. It should be understood that the SNA 50 may include a plurality of application programs directed to a plurality of services adapted to the client, such as the call transfer service. It should also be understood that the initiation of the operation signal messages of the SCN 50 is independent of the processing of a particular call, such as the call processing illustrated in Figure 2. This is, as discussed below, the initiation of the calls. operation signal messages from the second intelligent network element to the first intelligent network element causes the first intelligent network element to designate the second intelligent network element as "in service" or "out of service". Accordingly, during the processing of a call requiring customer-adapted service by the second intelligent network element, as illustrated in Figure 2, the first intelligent network element needs only to determine whether the second intelligent network element has been assigned as "in service" or "outside" Service P1387 / 99MX. "As shown in Figure 3 (b), the designation of the second intelligent network element as" in service "or" out of service "is made by the first intelligent network element (SCP 42) preferably based on the reception of the operation signal messages from the second intelligent network In step 310, the first intelligent network element determines whether the operation signal messages have been initiated As discussed above, the signal messages of operation are preferably initiated when a particular application program associated with the desired service adapted to the client is initiated in the second intelligent network element, as shown in Figure 3 (a). initiated, the method of the present invention follows the "NO" branch, and the first intelligent network element determines that the second intelligent network element is not operational. Next, the first intelligent network element designates the second intelligent network element as "out of service". If the first intelligent network element determines in step 310 that the operation signal messages have been initiated, the method follows the branch "YES" in step 315. In step 315, the first network element P1387 / 99 X Smart determines whether an "out of order" message has been received by the first intelligent network element of the second intelligent element. If an "out of order" (OOS) message has been received, the first intelligent network element follows the "YES" branch in step 315 to step 340 and designates the second intelligent network element as "out of service". If the first intelligent network element determines that an "out of order" message has not been received, the method follows the "NO" branch in step 315 to step 320. In step 320, the first intelligent network element determines if an operation signal message has been received in the appropriate interval, as discussed above. If the period established between the operation signal messages since the last operating signal message was received by the first intelligent network has not been exceeded, the method follows the branch "YES" in step 320 to step 325. The first intelligent network element determines that the second intelligent network element is operational, and consequently, the first intelligent network element designates the second intelligent network element as "in service". If, in step 320, the first intelligent network element determines that the designated period between the operation signal messages has been exceeded P1387 / 99MX since the last operation signal message was received by the first intelligent network, the method follows the "NO" branch, in step 320, to step 330. In step 330 the first intelligent network element determines if it has received the "stop" message of operation signal from the second intelligent network element. As discussed above, the second intelligent network element may issue a "stop" message of operation signal to the first intelligent network element. If the first intelligent network element receives a "stop" signal of operation signal, the first intelligent network element assumes that the second intelligent network element and any associated application program are operational. Accordingly, the first intelligent network element designates the status of the second intelligent network element as "in service" until it receives an "out of service" (OOS) message from the second intelligent network element. Accordingly, if the first intelligent network element has received a "stop" message of operation signal and has not received an "out of service" message, the first intelligent network element, in step 330, follows the branch "YES" to step 325, and the first intelligent network element designates the second intelligent network element as "in service". Yes, in step 330, the P1387 / 99MX first intelligent network element has not received a "stop" signal of operation signal, the first intelligent network element follows the branch "NO" to step 340. The first intelligent network element determines that the second element The intelligent network element is not operational, and the first intelligent network element designates the second intelligent network element as "out of service". In step 345, it is desired, that the first intelligent network element can generate an alarm to inform maintenance personnel of the second intelligent network element as "out of service".

EXAMPLE The method and system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is best illustrated by showing, as an example, how the method and the system process a call that requires the transfer treatment by the service circuit node (SCN 50) as part of a call transfer system. Referring now to the drawings, Figure 4 is a flow chart showing the steps performed in the preferred embodiment of the present invention in handling a call addressed to a telephone directory number that requires call transfer processing. At P1387 / 99MX present example, in step 400, Ms. Price, a subscriber of the call transfer services, orders that the calls addressed to the telephone directory number of her house be transferred or temporarily sent to the telephone directory number of Mr. Chan's house. Referring now to Figures 1 and 4, in step 410, a call originator, Mr. Ven dials Mrs. Price's telephone directory number from telephone number 24 in order to speak with Ms. Price. In step 415, the call placed by Mr. Ven is received at switch 14 of the SSP / central office. In step 420, SSP 14 formulates and sends a question to SCP 42 via STP 34. As is well known to those skilled in the art, a question sent to SCP 42 contains identification information corresponding to the call initiated by Mr. Ven. In step 425, SCP 42 in response to the question of SSP 14, gives the identification information sent by SSP 14 and performs a database search to determine if the call requires any type of treatment of services adapted to the client. . If SCP 42 determines that the call does not require any type of treatment of services adapted to the client, the method follows the "NO" branch in step 425 through step 460 and SCP 42 P1387 / 99MX f * 37 instructs the switch to continue the call in a conventional manner according to the directory number marked by Mr. Ven. In the present example, SCP 42 determines from the question sent by 5 SSP 14 that the directory number marked by Mr. Ven has been designated for the processing of customer-tailored services, specifically the transfer of calls to the directory number Mr. Chan's alternative, as designated by the subscriber of the call transfer service, Ms. Price. As discussed in detail above, in order to provide the call-to-call service initiated by Mr. Ven, the SCP 42 routes the call to SCN 50 to provide the call transfer service. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the SCP 42 first determines if the SCN 50 is operational before routing the call to the SCN 50 for the treatment of services adapted to the client. In step 435, SCP 42 determines whether the SNA 50 is operational based on whether SNA 50 has been designated as "in service" or "out of service". Designation of the preferred method of the 50 SNA as "in service" or "outside of The "service" is illustrated in Figures 3 (a) and 3 (b) discussed above, if, in step 435, SCP 42 determines that SCN 50 is "out of service", the P1387 / 99MX method follows the "NO" branch to step 460. Accordingly, in step 460, SCP 42 instructs SSP 14 to continue the call to the telephone directory number of Mrs. Price's house as marked by Mr. Ven. As you should understand, this step causes Mr. Ven's call to be placed in the home directory number of Ms. Price, however, Ms. Price's order that calls directed to her phone number. are transferred to the home directory number of Mr. Chan. This step represents a default treatment of the call the directory number originally marked. Advantageously, this default treatment prevents the call from being lost together by sending it to an "out of service" network element (in this case SCN 50). It should be understood that this default treatment routes the call around the "out of service" network element. It should be understood that another directory number can be selected as a default number. If SCP 42 determines that the SCN 50 has been designated as "in service", the method follows the "YES" branch to step 465. In step 465, SCP 42 instructs SSP 14 to route the call to the SCN 50 for the treatment of the call transfer service. In step 470, the SSP 14 P1387 / 99MX routes the call to the SCN 50. In step 475, the SCN 50 performs a database search to determine which service treatment adapted to the client is required for the directory number marked by Mr. Ven. As a result, SCN 50 determines that calls directed to the directory number originally marked by Mr. Ven have been designated for the call transfer service. In this example, SCN 50 determines that the directory number originally marked by Mr. Ven will be transferred to the phone number of Mr. Chan's home. Accordingly, in step 380, the SCN 50 routes the call to the SSP / central office switch 12 and instructs the SSP 12 to route the call to the home directory number of Mr. Chan as ordered by Ms. Price It should be noted that SCN 50 routes the call to the switch that hosts the alternate directory number. In the present example, the switch that waits for the alternative number in SSP 12. In step 485, SSP 12 routes the call to the telephone directory number of Mr. Chan's home on line 18 to telephone set 21. In step 490, Mr. Chan answers the telephone set 21 and hears Mr. Ven ask him about Ms. Price. Advantageously, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method and system for P1387 / 99MX monitor the state of operation of the intelligent network elements of an intelligent, advanced network system, by using operation signal messages between the intelligent network elements. In this way, the present invention provides for the efficient use of intelligent network elements and prevents the unnecessary transfer of calls to non-operational network elements. While this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as defined herein. in the appended claims.

P1387 / 99MX

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A method to monitor the operating status of a network element before routing a call to that network element to provide a service adapted to the client, the network element in a telecommunications network, switched, intelligent, includes a plurality of network elements for processing telephone communications, the method includes the steps of: receiving a call on a switch; causing the switch to route the identification information corresponding to this call to a first network element; characterized by: making the first network element, in response to the reception of the identification information, determine whether the call requires the service, according to the client, of a second network element; if the first network element determines that the call requires the service of the second network element adapted to the client, then it causes the first network element to determine whether the second network element is operational; and if the first network element determines that the second network element is operational, then have the first network element provide instructions to the switch to route the call to the second network element to receive the service adapted to the client. rf 42
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: if the first network element determines that the second network element is not operational, then the first network element is made to provide instructions to the switch to route the call around the network. second network element to a default destination.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of making the first network element determine whether the second network element is operational, further comprising the steps of: causing the second network element to send a message to the first network element; receiving the message in the first network element from the second network element; in response to receiving the message, have the first network element determine whether the second network element is operational; and if the first network element determines that the second network element is operational, then have the first network element designate the second network element as "in service".
4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of: if the first network element determines that the second network element is not operational, then have the first network element designate the second network element as "outside" of service".
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first network element is a service control point of the advanced intelligent network (AIN), wherein the step of making the first network element, in response to the reception of the message, determine if the second network element is operational, further comprises making the AIN service control point determine whether the second network element is operational.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second network element is an intelligent, advanced network (AIN) service circuit node, and wherein the step of making the AIN service control point determine if the second network element is operational it comprises making the AIN service control point determine whether the AIN service circuit node is operational.
7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second network element is an automatic call distributor, and wherein the step of making the AIN service control point determine whether the second network element is operational comprises further have the AIN service control point determine if the automatic call distributor is operational. ** '' 44
8. 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second network element is a private exchange switch, and wherein the step of making the AIN service control point determine whether the second network element is operational further comprises making the AIN service control point determines whether the private exchange switch is operational.
9. 9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the message is an operation signal message, and wherein the step of receiving a message in a first network element from a second network element, further comprises receiving the operation signal message of the first network element from the second network element.
10. 10. A system for monitoring the operation status of a network element before routing a call to that network element for the customer-adapted service, the network element in a switched, intelligent telecommunications network that includes a plurality of network elements for telephone communication processing, the system includes: an operational switch to receive a call; a first network element that is functionally connected to the switch and functionally connected to a second network element, the first network element is operational to: receive the identification information corresponding to the call; characterized in that: the first network element that is operational for: determining whether the call should receive the client-adapted service of the second network element, determining whether the second network element is operational, and providing instructions to the switch to route the call to the network element; second network element if a first network element determines that the second network element is operational; and the switch is further operational to route the call to the second network element; and the second network element is operational to provide the call for the service adapted to the client. The system according to claim 10, wherein: the second network element is additionally operational to send a message to the first network; and the first network element is additionally operational to: receive the message from the second network element, and determine from the message whether the second network element is operational. A ß

    12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the first network element is an intelligent, advanced network service control point. The system according to claim 10, wherein the second network element is an advanced, intelligent network service circuit node. The system according to claim 10, wherein the second network element is an automatic call distributor. The system according to claim 10, wherein the second network element is a private exchange switch. The system according to claim 11, wherein the message is an operation signal message.