Patent ID: 6072857
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
In an intelligent switched telecommunications network, including a plurality of network elements for processing telephone communications, a method of monitoring the operational status of a network element prior to routing a call to that network element for custom service, comprising the steps of:receiving a call at a switch;causing said switch to route identification information corresponding to said call to a service control point;causing said service control point, in response to receipt of said identification information, to determine whether said call requires said custom service from a second network element;if said service control point determines that said call requires said custom service from said second network element, then causing said service control point to determine whether said second network element is operational by determining the status of a heartbeat message;if said service control point determines said second network element is operational, then causing said service control point to provide instructions to said switch to route said call to said second network element to receive said custom service; andif said service control point determines said second network element is not operational, then causing said service control point to provide instructions to said switch to route said call around said second network element to a default destination.