Patent US5862334A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5862334A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mediated access to an intelligent network
Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP
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Filing: 1997-11-26
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Granted: 1999-01-19
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Expires: 2017-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A network service access system and method for intelligent networks uses a network element called a mediation point between network service switching points (SSP) and third party service provider service control points (SCP). The mediation point acts as a gateway to the AIN network for the service provider SCPs. The mediation point at the boundary of the intelligent network has ports for connection to service providers SCPs and a list of SSPs within the intelligent network to which each respective service provider is allowed access.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Schwartz
- 👤 Douglas Gordon Turner
- 👤 Sylvain Archambault
- 👤 Sohale Aziz Mufti
- 👤 Gordon Lester Rainey
- 👤 Marianne Jo Stanke
- 👤 Wayne Robert Heinmiller
- 👤 LaVerne Bentley Shook
- 👤 Robert Curtis Schoenstedt
- 👤 Marie-Ellen Hull
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0029; H04Q3/0045; H04M; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for interconnecting service providers to an intelligent network comprising: at least one service provider having a service control point, said at least one service provider located outside of the intelligent network; at least one service switching point located inside the intelligent network, said at least one service switching point being programmed to perform a first set of mediation functions, including screening, billing, error handling, and routing; and a mediation point located at the boundary of said intelligent network and interconnecting said at least one service provider and said at least one service switching point, said mediation point being programmed to perform a second set of mediation functions, including screening, billing, error handling, and routing; wherein messages transmitted from said service control point to said at least one service switching point and messages transmitted from said at least one service switching point to said service control point all contain an address to, and pass through, said mediation point.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for interconnecting service providers to an intelligent network comprising: at least one service provider having a service control point, said at least one service provider located outside of the intelligent network; at least one service switching point located inside the intelligent network, said at least one service switching point being programmed to perform a first set of mediation functions, including screening, billing, error handling, and routing; and a mediation point located at the boundary of said intelligent network and interconnecting said at least one service provider and said at least one service switching point, said mediation point being programmed to perform a second set of mediation functions, including screening, billing, error handling, and routing; wherein messages transmitted from said service control point to said at least one service switching point and messages transmitted from said at least one service switching point to said service control point all contain an address to, and pass through, said mediation point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: a signal transfer point interconnected to said mediation point and said at least one service switching point; and an intelligent peripheral interconnected to said service switching point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said screening functions of said second set of mediation functions includes message transfer part screening, service switching point screening, parameter screening to and from said signal control point, radio port control unit identification screening, and recording received message errors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said billing functions of said second set of mediation functions includes trigger query billing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said error handling functions of said second set of mediation functions includes babbling service control point detection/control.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said routing functions of said second set of mediation functions includes mediation point signal connection and control part procedures and routing messages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said screening functions of said first set of mediation functions includes enabling automatic call gapping to allowed users.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said billing functions of said first set of mediation functions includes automatic call gapping usage billing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said error handling functions of said first set of mediation functions includes setting a custom timer value, selecting default routing upon expiration of the custom timer value, and selecting default routing upon detection of an automatic call gapping request.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said routing functions of said first set of mediation functions includes service provider selection per trigger, signal connection and control point procedures at said service switching point, routing messages to said mediation point, and emergency service routing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mediation point comprises a network interface, a plurality of query processors, and a service provider interface all interconnected by a bus, said network interface being connected to said at least one service switching point and said service provider interface being connected to said at least one service provider.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of providing service providers with mediated access to an intelligent network comprising: providing at least one service provider with a service control point, at least one service switching point in an intelligent network, and a mediation point interconnecting the service control point with the at least one service switching point; selecting a service provider at the service switching point; performing signal connection and control point procedures at the service switching point; setting a timer at the service switching point; routing a query to the mediation point at the service switching point; performing parameter screening at the mediation point; initiating trigger query billing at the mediation point; performing signal connection and control point procedures at the mediation point; routing the query to the service control point; processing the query at the service control point; generating a return message to the service switching point at the service control point; screening the return message at the mediation point; performing signal connection and control point procedures at the mediation point; routing the return message to the service switching point; and processing the return message at the service switching point.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of providing service providers with mediated access to an intelligent network comprising: providing at least one service provider with a service control point, at least one service switching point in an intelligent network, and a mediation point interconnecting the service control point with the at least one service switching point; selecting a service provider at the service switching point; performing signal connection and control point procedures at the service switching point; setting a timer at the service switching point; routing a query to the mediation point at the service switching point; performing parameter screening at the mediation point; initiating trigger query billing at the mediation point; performing signal connection and control point procedures at the mediation point; routing the query to the service control point; processing the query at the service control point; generating a return message to the service switching point at the service control point; screening the return message at the mediation point; performing signal connection and control point procedures at the mediation point; routing the return message to the service switching point; and processing the return message at the service switching point.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of screening the return message at the mediation point includes at least one of message transfer part screening, signal connection and control point screening, service switching screening, and parameter screening.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of providing mediated access to an intelligent network for transmission of an unsolicited message from a service provider to the intelligent network comprising: providing at least one service provider with a service control point, at least one service switching point in an intelligent network, and a mediation point interconnecting the service control point with the at least one service switching point; transmitting the unsolicited message to the mediation point from the service control point; screening the unsolicited message at the mediation point; performing signal connection and control point procedures at the mediation point; routing the unsolicited message to the service switching point; and processing the unsolicited message at the service switching point.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of providing mediated access to an intelligent network for transmission of an unsolicited message from a service provider to the intelligent network comprising: providing at least one service provider with a service control point, at least one service switching point in an intelligent network, and a mediation point interconnecting the service control point with the at least one service switching point; transmitting the unsolicited message to the mediation point from the service control point; screening the unsolicited message at the mediation point; performing signal connection and control point procedures at the mediation point; routing the unsolicited message to the service switching point; and processing the unsolicited message at the service switching point.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method claimed in claim 14 further comprising: screening the unsolicited message at the service switching point to determine if the unsolicited message comprises a trigger arm/disarm message.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method claimed in claim 15 further comprising: screening the unsolicited message at the service switching point to determine if the unsolicited message comprises an automatic call gapping message; and generating a billing record at the service switching point for the automatic call gapping message.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method claimed in claim 14 further comprising: generating a billing record at the mediation point for the unsolicited message.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method claimed in claim 14 wherein the step of screening the unsolicited message at the mediation point includes at least one of message transfer part screening, signal connection and control point screening, service switching screening, and radio port control unit screening.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method claimed in claim 14 and further comprising: detecting a babbling service control point at the mediation point.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
168 words
A system for transmitting messages between a plurality of service providers and an intelligent network comprising: a plurality of service control points located outside said intelligent network, each of said plurality of service control points associated with a particular one of said plurality of service providers; a service switching point located within said intelligent network; and a mediation point at the boundary of said intelligent network programmed to screen and route queries transmitted from said service switching point to a selected one of said plurality of service control points and programmed to screen and route messages transmitted from said plurality of service control points to said service switching point, said service switching point addressing both said selected one of said plurality of service control points and said mediation point when transmitting a query to said selected one of said plurality of service control points, said service control points each addressing both said mediation point and said service switching point when transmitting a message to said service switching point.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
168 words
A system for transmitting messages between a plurality of service providers and an intelligent network comprising: a plurality of service control points located outside said intelligent network, each of said plurality of service control points associated with a particular one of said plurality of service providers; a service switching point located within said intelligent network; and a mediation point at the boundary of said intelligent network programmed to screen and route queries transmitted from said service switching point to a selected one of said plurality of service control points and programmed to screen and route messages transmitted from said plurality of service control points to said service switching point, said service switching point addressing both said selected one of said plurality of service control points and said mediation point when transmitting a query to said selected one of said plurality of service control points, said service control points each addressing both said mediation point and said service switching point when transmitting a message to said service switching point.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-18 | 2002-07-20 | 2003-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-18 | 2006-07-20 | 2007-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-18 | 2010-07-20 | 2011-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |