Patent ID: 6430276
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
In a telecommunications system comprising a bearer network with at least one switch operative to detect when a service is to be provided to a call routed to it, and a service control subsystem for controlling service provision to the call, a method of accessing different network access services through the telecommunications system, said method involving executing a generic access service under the control of the service control subsystem to route a call placed by a user, to a network access server selected to provide a desired network access service to the user, the generic access service utilising stored user profile data indicative, for a given user, of the network access services available to that user; the generic access service involving the steps of:(a)â€”initiating a user-identification procedure for identifying the calling user; (b) accessing the stored user profile data corresponding to the identified user to determine the network access services available to that user, (c) if more than one service is available to the user, selecting a particular network access service from those available to that user; (d) using information held in the user profile data about the selected network access service, to derive the number of a network access server for providing the selected network access service; and (e) directing the call to this number.