MXPA99008706A - Decoupling service creation environment from service logic execution environment - Google Patents

Abstract

A service creation environment (SCE) (10) generates generic service creation information defining a certain service. The generic service creation information is then processed by a service execution agent (14) for mapping (102) onto service creation information that is specific to the service logic execution environment (SLEE) (12) of a service control point (SCP) upon which the service is to be executed and provided. This SLEE specific service creation information is then down-loaded (104) to the service logic execution environment, and converted in a conventional manner to service execution related information. The generic service creation information comprises only a certain limited number of primitives (instructions or commands) operating on a certain limited number of service independent building blocks (SIBs). The mapping operation (102) is made from these limited primitives and service independent building blocks to SLEE specific primitives and service independent building blocks, or SLEE specific general programming language commands, or SLEE specific specification description language (SDL) commands.

Description

DEACOPITION OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CREATION OF AN ENVIRONMENT SERVICE FOR THE EXECUTION OF SERVICE LOGIC REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority from, and also incorporates as a reference, the provisional United States provisional application, previously filed for serial patents No. 60 / 42,082 filed on March 28, 1997 and titled "The LDAP Coupling environment for the creation of service and for execution of the service logic ", by Roch Glitho, et al.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the creation and provisioning of special telephony services of an intelligent network.

Description of the Related Art Telephony service providers are constantly developing new telephone services to meet the needs of current customers, and also to attract new consumers. It is important then that service providers can create and deploy these services as quickly and efficiently as possible. Usually, services are created using an environment for the creation of the service (SCE). These created services are then executed by an environment for the execution of the service logic (SLEE) after being deployed in a certain communications network. In an intelligent network (IN), for example, the environment for the execution of the service logic is often established in a node at the service control point (SCP). The development of conventional telephony service generally has the commands that generate the environment for the creation of the service related to the created service that are specific (that is, designed according to specifications) for the control point of the service, and its environment for execution of the associated service logic, in which the service is going to be executed. Once downloaded to this control point of the specific service, the commands activate the construction of the service scripts. The scripts are then executed by the execution environment of the service logic included within this service control point to provide the telephone service. This conventional approach to service creation and provisioning has different limitations. The most restrictive of these limitations is that in the selection of a certain environment for the creation of service in order to create a given service, an environment must be used for the execution of the corresponding service logic in order to execute the service. In this way, it is observed that the environment for the creation of the service and the environment for the execution of the service logic for a given telephone service are closely coupled. The environment for the execution of the service logic that corresponds to the environment for the creation of the service used in the development of the service can then be implemented in the control point of the service through which the service is being provided. In addition, with this closely coupled relationship it is not possible to use the same environment for the creation of the service to design services for realization in different environments for the execution of the service logic. Likewise, it is not possible to use different environments for the creation of the service in order to design services for the same environment for the execution of the service logic. Then, it is recognized that this closely coupled limitation of the service creation and provisioning process of the prior art may require, in situations where a certain service must be provided on different types of platforms at the service control point each with an environment for the execution of the different service logic, the use of two or more different environments for the creation of service in the creation of such service for the installation of the extended network. As the creation and deployment of a single service may require the application of a significant amount of time and effortIt is not productive and inefficient to extend this effort two or more times to provide the same service for execution in multiple environments for the execution of the different service logic. This is especially an interest for the service provider when it uses different vendors to provide service control points for its intelligent network, as an environment may be necessary for the creation of the different service for each different control point of the service in which the Service must be provided. For the creator of the service there are also aspects about the redundant development of the service and possible inconsistencies in the multiple services created. There is a need then for a technique that supports the decoupling of the environment for the creation of the environment service for the execution of the service logic. This technique will allow it to effectively use any environment for the creation of selected service to develop telephone services for execution at a service control point by any environment for execution of the selected service logic.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION Instead of having environments for the creation of the service (SCE) generating information for the creation of the service that is specific (that is, closely coupled) for a certain environment for the execution of the associated service logic (SLEE) , the environment for the creation of the service of the present invention instead generates generic information for the creation of the service that defines a certain service. This generic information for service creation consists of only a limited number of primitives (instructions or commands) operating in a limited number of service-independent building blocks (SIBs) to define the service. An agent for the execution of the service receives the generic information for the creation of the service for the certain service and maps it into the information for the creation of the service that is specific for the environment for the execution of the logic of the service of a control point of service in which the service must be executed and provided. This service creation information specifies the environment for the execution of the service logic then is downloaded to the environment for execution of the service logic and converted in a conventional manner to the information related to the execution of the service for execution. This mapping function performed by the service execution agent operates in one of different ways. In a first embodiment, the agent for executing the service logic receives the generic information for the creation of the service from the environment for the creation of the service, and interprets the primitives defined by operating selectively in the service-independent building blocks in order to identify the environment specific primitives for the execution of the service logic and the corresponding independent service building blocks (that is, the specific information for the creation of the SLEE service) for the certain service control point (SCP) in which the service must be provided. For the second embodiment, the agent for the execution of the service resides from the environment for the creation of service the generic information for the creation of the service, and interprets the primitives defined by operating selectively on the independent building blocks of the service to identify the instructions of the language of general programming of the specific information for the creation of the corresponding SLEE service for the certain control point of the service in which the service must be provided. Furthermore, in a third embodiment, the agent for the execution of the service receives the generic information for the creation of the service from the environment for the creation of the service, and interprets the primitives defined by operating selectively in the independent building blocks of the service to identify the instructions of the description language of the specification (SDL) in the specific information for the creation of the SLEE service for the certain control point of the service in which the service will be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the present invention can be gained by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of an architecture of environment for the creation of the service and the environment for the execution of the decoupled service logic of the present invention; and FIGURE 2 is a flow chart illustrating the process of mapping functionality provided in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is now made to FIGURE 1, where a block diagram of the architecture of an environment for the creation of service and the environment for the execution of the decoupled service logic of the present invention is shown. In accordance with the technique of the present invention, a number of different environments for the creation of the service (SCE) 10 are supported. In addition, a number of different environments are supported for the execution of the service logic (SLEE) 12. According to the present invention, it is possible to use any of the environments for the creation of the selected service 10 to create a telephone service for execution in any of the environments for the execution of the selected service logic 12. To support this architecture, the present invention also includes an agent for the execution of service 14 consisting of an abstract service machine. The agent for the execution of the service 14 works in its most basic sense to map the generic information for the creation of service generated by a certain environment for the creation of service 10 for a certain service for the service creation information specified for the particular of the environments for the execution of the logic of the service 12 in which the certain service is going to be provided. This specific information for the creation of SLEE service is then downloaded to this means for the execution of the logic of the particular service 12 and is converted to service the related execution information executable by this environment for the execution of the logic of the particular service in the supply of this certain service. To perform this mapping function, the agent for executing the logic of the service 14 receives the output of the generic information for the creation of the service coming from a certain environment for the creation of service 10 which consists of the logic that describes the certain service more support data. This output of generic information for the creation of the service, preferably received, is in a generic and environment format for executing the logic of the service / independent of the control point. In response to the output of generic information for the creation of the service, received in the generic format, the agent for the execution of the service 14 converts the creation information related to the service into specific information for the creation of the environment service for execution of the logic of service 12 in one of several different formats. The conversion of the specific information for the creation of the SLEE service into the information related to the service execution is then done in a conventional manner by the environment itself for the execution of the service logic 12. The architecture of the present invention also gives support for the use of a simulator 16 to simulate the execution of the services created before deploying them to the service control point 18 for execution by means of an environment for executing the logic of the associated service 12. In this sense, any environment selected of the environments for the creation of service 10 can be used to create a service for simulation. The agent for the execution of the service 14 again works to map generic information for the creation of service generated by a certain environment for the creation of service 10 for a certain service in information for the creation of specific service for the particular environment of the environments for the execution of the logic of service 12 in which it is proposed that the certain service be provided. This specific information for the creation of the SLEE service is then downloaded to the simulator 16 for this environment for the execution of the logic of the destination service, proposed and it becomes the information for the execution related to the service executable by the simulator when simulated the supply of this certain service. To carry out the mapping function, the agent for the execution of the service 14 receives the output of the generic information for the creation of service coming from a certain environment for the creation of service 10 which consists of the logic that describes the certain service more support data This output of generic information for the creation of the preferred service is in a generic format independent of the environment for the execution of the logic of the service / service control point. In response to the output of generic information for the creation of the service, received, in the generic format, the agent for the execution of the service 14 converts the generic information for the creation of the service into specific information for the creation of the environment service for the execution of the logic of the service 12 in one of several different formats for the simulator 16. The conversion of the specific information for the creation of the SLEE service in information related to the execution of the service is then done in a conventional manner by the simulator 16. In order to generate the generic information for the creation of the service for the certain service, the environment for the creation of service 10 may use only a limited number of primitives 22 in connection with a limited number of independent service blocks (SIB) 24. The primitives 22 consist of orders ( commands or instructions) that operate in the independent building blocks of the service 24 pa to create the logic of the service. These primitives 22 are taken from a larger collection of primitives commonly used for the creation of the service, and generally fall into three categories: instantiation primitives, primitives for interconnecting the SIBs, and primitives for adding data or data parameters. Examples of instantiation primitives include: starting a service logic, terminating a service logic, and initializing a SIB. An example of a primitive for interconnecting SIBs is to: connect SIB 1 with SIB 2. Examples of primitives that add data or data parameters consist of: initializing data, connecting data to the SIB and connecting data parameters to the SIB. The independent building blocks of the service 24 contain descriptions of basic functions where any service can be defined (to create the logic of the service) by properly operating the primitives 22 in a certain order and in certain blocks. The independent building blocks of the service 24 used herein are taken from a larger SIB collection defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-T), and consist of the following thirteen blocks: algorithm, load, compare, distribution, limit, record call information, queue, screen, administration of service data, notification of service data, status notification, translation, user interaction and verification (see, ITU-T Recommendation Q.1213 (3/93 The generic information for the creation of the service generates by any environment for the creation of selected service 10 for the certain service, therefore, it consists in the use of certain of the series of primitives allowed 22 operating selectively in certain of the limited number of building blocks independent of the service 24. They are the data and the parameters of the data, as well as the topology of the interconnected n SIB (defined by the primitives), which adds an element of service dependency necessary for the creation of the service. The mapping function performed by the agent for the execution of the service 14 operates in one of different ways. In a first embodiment, the agent for the execution of the service 14 receives generic information of the creation of the service from the environment for the creation of the service 10 and interprets the defined primitives 22 operating selectively in the independent building blocks of the service 24 to identify the primitives environment-specific for the execution of the service logic, corresponding 26 and the independent building blocks of the service 28 (that is, specific information for the creation of the SLEE service) for the certain control point of the service 18 in which it is going to provide the service. As an example, consider a generic information for the creation of the service generated by the environment for the creation of the service 10 which consists of "Connect (primitive 22)" SIB 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Service independent building blocks 24"(connects (primitive 22) SIB 1, 2, 3 and 4 (building blocks independent of service 24) The mapping function performed by the agent for the execution of the service 14 operates in the first embodiment to recognize the generic information for the creation of service generated as equivalent to the specific information for the creation of SLEE service consisting, for example, "Conect (primitive 26" SIB A and B (service independent building bloks 28") connects (primitive 26) SIB A and B (building blocks independent of service 28) again it must be recognized that the mapping function generates specific information for the creation of the environment service for executing the logic of the service. way, for another environment for the execution of the logic of the service 12 different this same generic information for the creation of the received service is mapped to the specific information for the creation of the SLEE service consisting, for example, of "Connect (Primitive 26) SIB 157 and 54 (service independent building blocks 28)" (connects (primitive 26) SIB 157 and 54 (independent building blocks of service 28). In connection with a second embodiment, it is recognized that certain environments for executing the service logic 12 do not use primitives 26 or building blocks independent of the service 28 to perform the service. Instead, these environments for the execution of the service logic 12 can make use of a general programming language (such as JAVA or C ++) to define and implement their services. The agent for the execution of the service 14 receives the generic information for the creation of the service from the environment for the creation of the service 10, and interprets the defined primitives 22 operating selectively in the independent building blocks of the service 24 to identify the corresponding commands of the language General programming of the environment for the execution of the service logic 30 for the certain service control point 18 in which the service is provided. Again, consideration is given to the example of generic information for the creation of the service generated by the environment for the creation of service 10 that consists of "Connect (primitive 22) SIB 1, 2, 3, and 4 (service independing building i >loks 24) "connects (primitive 22) SIB 1, 2, 3, and 4 (building blocks independent of service 24). The mapping function performed by the agent for executing service 14 operates in the second embodiment to recognize the generic information for the generated service creation as equivalent to the specific information for the creation of the SLEE service, the command (instruction) of the general programming language, again, the mapping function generates specific information for the creation of service of the environment for the execution of the service logic and, in this way, it is possible to produce a general programming language command, different, through the mapping for another different environment for the execution of the service logic 12 from this same generic information for the creation of received service In relation to a third instrumentation, certain environments for the execution of logic are required of the service 12 do not use primitives 26 or independent building blocks of the service 28 or a general programming language (such as JAVA or C ++) to perform services, however, these environments for the execution of the logic of the service 12 can use the language of description of the specification (SDL) to define and perform its services. The agent for the execution of the service 14 receives the generic information for the creation of the service from the environment for the creation of the service 10, and interprets the defined primitives 22 operating selectively in the independent building blocks of the service 24 to identify the commands of the language of description of the environment-specific specification for the execution of the service logic, corresponding 32 for the certain service control point 18 in which the service is to be provided. The example of the service creation information generated by the environment is again considered for the creation of service 10 which consists of "Connect primitive 22" SIB 1, 2, 3 and 4 (service independent building blocks 24") connects (primitive 22 ) SIB 1, 2, 3 and 4 (building blocks independent of service 24). The mapping function performed by the agent for the execution of the service 14 operates in the second embodiment to recognize the generic information for the creation of service, generated, as equivalent to the specific information for the creation of the SLEE service, the command (instruction) of the description language of the specification. Again, the mapping function generates specific information for the creation of service of the environment for the execution of the logic of the service and, in this way it is possible to produce a different command of the specification description language through the mapping of another environment for the execution of the logic of service 12, different, from this same generic information for the creation of the service, received. To assist in carrying out the mapping function, the agent for executing the service 14 includes a shared SCE / SLEE 40 recognition module. Within the module 40 it is stored, in a suitable form as it may be through the use of a configuration of search table or searchable database, information that a certain defined primitives 22 operating selectively in the independent building blocks of the service 24 for the generic information for the creation of the service with the specific information for the creation of the SLEE service. This linking operation in the first embodiment refers to certain defined primitives 22 operating selectively in the independent building blocks of the service 24 with certain defined primitives 26 operating selectively in the independent building blocks of the service 28 for information for the creation of specific service for a certain environment for the execution of the logic of service 12, corresponding. With respect to the second embodiment, the linking operation refers to certain defined primitives 22 operating selectively in the independent building blocks of the service 24 to certain commands of the general programming language for specific service creation information for a certain environment for execution of the logic of service 12, corresponding. In addition, the linking operation for the third embodiment refers to certain defined primitives 22 operating selectively in the independent building blocks of the service 24 to certain commands of the specification description language for the service creation information specific to a certain environment for the execution of the logic of service 12, corresponding. Reference is now made to FIGURE 2 wherein a flowchart is shown illustrating the process of mapping functionality provided by the agent for the execution of the service according to the present invention. In step 100, the generic information for the creation of the service containing certain defined primitives, limited by operating selectively in certain building blocks independent of the service, is received from an environment for the creation of the service. This generic information for the creation of the service is then mapped into the specific information for the creation of the environment service for the execution of the service logic, in step 102. With respect to the first embodiment illustrated in steps 102a, the mapping is done for certain defined primitives operating selectively in certain building blocks independent of the service. These primitives and building blocks independent of the service are specific to the environment for the execution of the service logic, specific in which the defined service will be executed. In connection with the second embodiment, illustrated in step 102b, the mapping is done for certain general programming language commands. These commands of the general programming language are specific to the environment for the execution of the service logic, particular in which the defined service will be executed. For the third embodiment, which is illustrated in step 102c, the mapping is done for certain specification description language commands. These specification description language commands are specific to the environment for the execution of the particular service logic in which the defined service is to be executed. The specific information for the creation of the SLEE service is then sent in step 104 to the environment for execution of the service logic of a service control point (or simulator) designed to execute and provide the service. Although preferred embodiments of the method and apparatus of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the aforementioned detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the described modes, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions. without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as established and defined by the following claims.

Claims (14)

1. A system for the creation of a service for a communications network consists of: at least one environment for the creation of the service to define a service that will be carried out using generic information for the creation of the service of the environment for the execution of service logic; an agent for the execution of the service receiving the service defined in the generic information for the creation of the service, and operating to map the generic information for the creation of the service in the specific information for the creation of the service of the environment for the execution of the logic from service; and an environment for the execution of the service logic specifically for whom the information specified for the creation of the service is mapped, the environment for the execution of the service logic operating to convert the specific information for the creation of the service generated by the agent for the execution of the service in information related to the execution of the executable service to provide the service.

The system as in claim 1, wherein the environment for executing the service logic is based on a service control point of an intelligent network through which the service is provided.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein the generic information for the creation of the environment service for execution of the service logic comprises a limited number of primitives operating in a limited number of service-independent building blocks.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein the mapping operation maps the limited primitives and the independent service blocks limited to the generic information for the creation of the service in the primitives and the independent building blocks specific to the service. environment for the execution of the logic of the service through which the service is provided.

5. The system as in claim 3, wherein the mapping operation maps the limited primitives and the building blocks independent of the service, limited from the generic information for the creation of the service in the general programming language commands specific to the environment for the execution of the logic of the service through which the service is provided.

6. The system as in claim 3, wherein the mapping operation maps the limited primitives and the limited independent service building blocks of the generic information for the creation of the service in the language commands of the description of the specification specific to the environment for the execution of the logic of the service through which the service is provided.

The system as in claim 1, wherein the agent for service execution consists of an abstract service machine.

The system as in claim 1, wherein the agent for the execution of the service consists of a shared recognition module that links certain limited primitives operating selectively in the independent building blocks of the service, limited to the generic information for the creation of the service to the information for the creation of the specific service for certain environments for the execution of the logic of the service.

9. A method to create services for a telecommunications network comprises the steps of: generating in an environment for the creation of a service a definition of a service that will be carried out using generic information for the creation of the service of the environment for the execution of the logic of the service; map the generic information for the creation of the service in specific information for the creation of service of the environment for the execution of the logic of the service; and convert, in an environment for the execution of the logic of the service for which the specific information is created for the creation of the service, the information specified for the creation of the service in information related to the execution of the service executable by the environment for the execution of the logic of the service in order to provide the service,

10. The method as in claim 9, wherein the information generic for the creation of the service of the environment for the execution of the logic of the service comprises a certain limited number of primitives operating in a certain limited number of building blocks independent of the service. The method as in claim 10, wherein the mapping step comprises the mapping step of the limited primitives and the limited independent service building blocks of the generic information for the creation of the service in the primitives and the independent building blocks of the service specific to the environment for the execution of the logic of the service through which the service is provided. The method as in claim 10, wherein the mapping step comprises the step of mapping the limited primitives and the limited service-independent building blocks of the generic information for the creation of the service in the programming language commands specific to the environment for the execution of the logic of the service through which the service is provided. The method as in claim 10, wherein the mapping step comprises the step of mapping the limited primitives and the building blocks independent of the service, limited from the generic information for the creation of the service in the commands of the description language of specific specification for the environment for the execution of the logic of the service through which the service is provided. The system as in claim 9, wherein the mapping step comprises the step of linking certain limited primitives by operating selectively on building blocks independent of the service, limited to the generic information for the creation of the information service for the creation of the specific service for certain execution environments of the service logic.