Overview of Intelligent Network Concepts
Motivation
offer new services quickly thus more revenue facilitates service differentiation
Distinction between Basic & Intelligent call processing
Basic call processing
caller dials number the switching system decides how to process the call
Intelligent call processing
caller dials number the switching system decides whether to process the call or request assistance from external service logic if external service logic assistance is required then i. switching system sends a message to external service logic ii. external service logic processes message and informs switching system how to process the call
Enabling the switching system to access external service logic is principle of intelligent networks
Development of Intelligent Network Concept
Stage 1
Logic and data needed to implement a service separated from switching system Very service dependent, however better service management, maintenance and control resulted
Stage 2
Interface between the switching system and 'intelligent' service processing was standardised Based on SS7 Still service dependent
Stage 3
Open call processing environment Flexible service-independent systems
Physical Elements Service Switching Point (SSP)
Switch with intelligence to recognise when call processing at external service control point (SCP) is required Implemented using 'triggers' Switching system can be equipped with i. originating triggers - operate at the originating switching system during call set-up ii. mid-call triggers - operate during speech phase of a call iii. terminating triggers - operate at the terminating switching system during call setup
SSP Continued
On recognition of a trigger a message is sent to a Service Control Point (SCP) The response to message will inform the switching system how to proceed e.g. terminate the call collect more information
Note the triggers are defined by the Intelligent Network Call Model
Service Control Point (SCP)
The Service Control Point invokes Service Logic Programs (SLPs) in response to messages from switching system Multiple Service Logic programs (SLPs)
Adjunct Processor (AP)
Similar to Service Control Point (SCP) but local to switching system and connected by a high-speed link.
Intelligent Peripheral (IP)
Handles specialised interactions between the user and the intelligent network. Intelligent processor has resources such as tones, announcements, voice recognition e.g. Service Control Point may instruct switching system to route a call to an Intelligent Peripheral. The IP will interact with the user to obtain more information. This information is forwarded to the Service Control Point
Service Node (SN)
Essentially a combined Service Control Point (SCP) and Intelligent Peripheral (IP)
Service control point Service data point(SDP) SCF SDF SDF
T o other SCPs and/or SDPs in this or another network. Adjunct (AD) Intelligent peripheral (IP) SRF CCITT No. 7 signalling network SCF
SDF Service Switching Point (SSP) Service node (SN) SCF SCF SSF CCF SDF CCAF SRF SDF CCAF CCF SSF CCF SRF
Network Access Point (NAP)
optional functional entity
transport
signalling
Functional entities (FEs) CCF call control function CCAF call control agent function SCF service control function SDF service data function SAF special resource function SRF specialised resource function SSF service switching function
Physical entities (PEs) AD adjunct IP intelligent peripheral NAP network access point SCP service control point SDP service data point SN service node SSCP service switching and control point SSP service switching point
Interfaces SCP - SSP AD - SSP IP - SSP SN - SSP SCP - IP AD - IP SCP - SDP
Figure 2 Possible physical architecture
Intelligent Network Concepts Applied to Mobile Cellular networks
Service Control Point (SCP)
Service Data Point (SDP)
Intelligent Peripheral (IP) Signalling System 7 (SS7)
Adjunct
Service Node (SN)
Service Switching Point (SSP)
Terminal Equipment (TE)
Figure 6.1 Intelligent Network Model
Service Switching Point (SSP)
To Base Station Controller
Mobile Switching Centre
VLR
Signalling Control Point (SCP)
HLR SS7 * STP EIR AC
To Base Station Controller
Mobile Switching Centre
VLR
* Signalling Transfer Point
Intelligent Network View of a Mobile Cellular Network