Intelligent peripheral and network control

Claim 2

A communication network, comprising: local communication lines; a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the local communication lines; a services control point, separate from the central office switching systems, comprising a database storing call processing data associated with a plurality of the local communication lines for control of call processing through one or more of the central office switching systems; a first signaling communication system for two-way communications of data messages, said first signaling communication system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the services control point; a peripheral platform connected to at least one of the central office switching systems via a call connection channel, said peripheral platform comprising means for providing at least one auxiliary call processing capability via the call connection channel; a second signaling communication system, separate from the first signaling communication system and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages between the peripheral platform and the services control point to control provision of the at least one call processing capability by the peripheral platform; and a third signaling communication system, separate from the first and second signaling communication systems and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages between the peripheral platform and the central office switching system connected to the peripheral platform via a call connection channel to control the provision of the at least one call processing capability by the peripheral platform.

Claim 3

A network as in claim 1, wherein said local communication lines comprise telephone lines, and said central office switching systems comprise telephone switches.

Claim 4

A network as in claim 1, wherein said peripheral platform comprises means for recognizing voices, translating spoken words to directory numbers, and transmitting data messages containing said directory numbers to the central office switching system connected to the peripheral platform via the third signaling communication system.

Claim 5

A network as in claim 1, wherein said peripheral platform comprises means for recognizing voices, translating spoken words to directory numbers, and transmitting data messages containing said directory numbers to the central office switching system connected to the peripheral platform via the third signaling communication system to effect transfer of a call from said peripheral platform to a station identified by said directory numbers.

Claim 6

A network as in claim 1, wherein said first signaling communication system is a common channel interoffice signaling network.

Claim 7

A network as in claim 5, wherein said second signaling communication system is a generic data interface (GDI) network.

Claim 8

A network as in claim 5, wherein said local communication lines comprise telephone lines, and said central office switching systems comprise telephone switches interconnected to each other by voice telephone type trunk circuits separate from said common channel interoffice signaling system.

Claim 9

A network as in claim 1, wherein said third signaling communication system comprises at least one F link.

Claim 10

A network as in claim 1, wherein said peripheral platform is connected to a plurality of the central office switching systems via a plurality of links of said third signaling communication system for providing two-way communications of data messages between the peripheral platform and the plurality of central office switching systems.

Claim 11

A network as in claim 9, wherein said links of said third signaling communication system comprise F links.

Claim 12

A communication network, comprising: local communication lines; a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the local communication lines; a services control point, separate from the central office switching systems, comprising a database storing call processing data associated with a plurality of the local communication lines for control of call processing through one or more of the central office switching systems; a first signaling communication system for two-way communications of data messages, said first signaling communication system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the services control point; a peripheral platform connected to at least one of the central office switching systems via a call connection channel, said peripheral platform comprising means for providing at least one auxiliary call processing capability via the call connection channel; a second signaling communication system, separate from the first signaling communication system and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages between the peripheral platform and the services control point to control provision of at least one call processing capability by the peripheral platform; a third signaling communication system, separate from the first and second signaling communication systems and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages between the peripheral platform and the central office switching systems; and a fourth signaling communication system, separate from the first and second signaling communication systems and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages directly between the central office switching systems.

Claim 13

A communication network, comprising: local communication lines; a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the local communication lines; a services control point, separate from the central office switching systems, comprising a database storing call processing data associated with a plurality of the local communication lines for control of call processing through one or more of the central office switching systems; a first signaling communication system for two-way communications of data messages, said first signaling communication system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the services control point; a peripheral platform connected to at least one of the central office switching systems via a call connection channel, said peripheral platform comprising means for providing at least one auxiliary call processing capability via the call connection channel; a second signaling communication system, separate from the first signaling communication system and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages between the peripheral platform and the services control point to control provision of at least one call processing capability by the peripheral platform; a third signaling communication system, separate from the first and second signaling communication systems and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages between the peripheral platform and the central office switching systems; and a fourth signaling communication system, separate from the first and second signaling communication systems and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages directly between the central office switching systems.

Claim 14

A network as in claim 11, wherein said fourth signaling communication system comprises F links connecting central office switching systems directly to one another.

Claim 15

A network as in claim 12, wherein said fourth signaling communication system F links carry SS7 signals to establish a call connection without use of said first signaling communication system.

Claim 16

A network as in claim 13, wherein said call connection is established under the control of said peripheral platform without use of said first signaling communication system.

Claim 17

A network as in claim 11, wherein said third signaling communication system linking said peripheral platform to said central office switching systems carries SS7 signals to establish a call connection without use of said first signaling communication system.

Claim 18

In a communication system comprising: at least two switching offices, interconnected by trunk circuits, for selectively providing switched communication services over a plurality of communication lines connected thereto; a central control separate from the switching offices, said central control comprising a database storing call processing data associated with a plurality of said communication lines for control of call processing through one or more of said switching offices; and a first signaling communication system for two-way communication of messages, said first signaling communication system interconnecting the switching offices and connecting the switching offices to said central control; a call processing method comprising the steps of: receiving a request for service via a first one of the communication lines and a first of said switching offices; sending an inquiry signal from said first switching office to said central control via said first signaling communication system; substantially simultaneously sending from said central control (a) instructions to said first switching office for connection, and (b) instructions to a peripheral platform to identify an auxiliary call processing function to be executed by said peripheral platform responsive to said request for service; providing a data and a call connection from said one of the communication lines to said peripheral platform in response to said (a) instructions; executing the identified auxiliary call processing function via said call connection; and transferring the call connection from the peripheral platform to a destination communication line identified by information provided by the peripheral platform.

Claim 19

In a communication system comprising: at least two switching offices, interconnected by trunk circuits, for selectively providing switched communication services over a plurality of communication lines connected thereto; a central control separate from the switching offices, said central control comprising a database storing call processing data associated with a plurality of said communication lines for control of call processing through one or more of said switching offices; and a first signaling communication system for two-way communication of messages, said first signaling communication system interconnecting the switching offices and connecting the switching offices to said central control; a call processing method comprising the steps of: receiving a request for service via a first one of the communication lines and a first of said switching offices; sending an inquiry signal from said first switching office to said central control via said first signaling communication system; substantially simultaneously sending from said central control (a) instructions to said first switching office for connection, and (b) instructions to a peripheral platform to identify an auxiliary call processing function to be executed by said peripheral platform responsive to said request for service; providing a data and a call connection from said one of the communication lines to said peripheral platform in response to said (a) instructions; executing the identified auxiliary call processing function via said call connection; and transferring the call connection from the peripheral platform to a destination communication line identified by information provided by the peripheral platform.

Claim 20

A method as set forth in claim 16 including the step of completing the call over the destination communication line using F link signaling.

Claim 21

A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said F link signaling is carried out at least partially between the peripheral platform and the second of said switching offices to which said destination communication line is connected.

Claim 22

A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said F link signaling is carried out between the peripheral platform and the first and second of said switching offices.

Claim 23

A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein said F link signaling is carried out over F links connecting intermediate switching offices between said first and second switching offices.

Claim 24

A communication network, comprising: central office switching systems interconnected by trunks for selectively providing switched call connections; a services control point, separate from the central office switching systems for control of call processing through one or more of the central office switching systems; a first data signaling system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the services control point; a peripheral platform connected to at least one of the central office switching systems via a call connection channel for providing at least one auxiliary call processing capability via the call connection channel; a second data signaling system, separate from the first data signaling system and the central office switching systems connecting the peripheral platform and the services control point to control provision of the at least one call processing capability by the peripheral platform; and a third data signaling system, separate from the first and second data signaling systems and the central office switching systems, connecting the peripheral platform and the central office switching system connected to the peripheral platform via a call connection channel to control the provision of the at least one call processing capability by the peripheral platform.

Claim 25

A communication network, comprising: central office switching systems interconnected by trunks for selectively providing switched call connections; a services control point, separate from the central office switching systems for control of call processing through one or more of the central office switching systems; a first data signaling system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the services control point; a peripheral platform connected to at least one of the central office switching systems via a call connection channel for providing at least one auxiliary call processing capability via the call connection channel; a second data signaling system, separate from the first data signaling system and the central office switching systems connecting the peripheral platform and the services control point to control provision of the at least one call processing capability by the peripheral platform; and a third data signaling system, separate from the first and second data signaling systems and the central office switching systems, connecting the peripheral platform and the central office switching system connected to the peripheral platform via a call connection channel to control the provision of the at least one call processing capability by the peripheral platform.

Claim 26

A network as in claim 21, wherein said first data signaling system is a common channel interoffice signaling network.

Claim 27

A network as in claim 21, wherein said third data signaling system comprises at least one F link.