Abstract:
An intelligent peripheral system and a call processing method thereof are disclosed. The system includes an apparatus storing and maintaining a special resource information for providing an intelligent network system to a user in accordance with a request of the user, and an apparatus performing a protocol matching function and a call processing function between a service switching point (SSP) and a service control point (SCP) of the advanced intelligent network system, wherein said both apparatuses are separately installed for thereby implementing a direct connection to another intelligent network system through a common line signal network and easily expanding a resource channel, for thereby directly being connected with another IP system and implementing an easier expandability of a resource channel by separately connecting an apparatus processing a protocol matching function between a user and an IP network and an apparatus processing a call processing function.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an intelligent peripheral system and a call processing method thereof, and in particular to an improved IP(Intelligent Peripheral) system and a call processing method thereof which are capable of directly being connected with another IP system and implementing an easier expandability of a resource channel by separately connecting an apparatus processing a protocol matching function between a user and an IP network and an apparatus processing a call processing function. 
     2. Description of the Conventional Art 
     The IP(Intelligent Peripheral) system is directed to an independent intelligent network system which is capable of providing a user who requests an advanced intelligent network service through a SSP(Service Switching Point) with a special resource such as a guide broadcasting, a DTMF(Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) gathering, an audio recording, an audio mixing, an audio recognition, a FAX transmission/receiving function, etc. In particular, an IP(Intelligent Peripheral) system which is connected with another advanced intelligent network element through a NO.  7  signaling network in the IP system is called as a network IP(Network Intelligent Peripheral) system. 
     FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an advanced intelligent network including the above-described IP. In the advanced intelligent network, a SCP(Service Control Point)  10 , a SSP(Service Switching Point)  20  and an IP system  30  are connected with a common line signal network  50  through a plurality of STPs(Signaling Transfer Point)  51 . At this time, the IP  30  connects a bearer channel  40  and a SSP  20  based on an E1 trunk and communicates a signal message with the SCP  10  and the SSP  20  through a signaling link  60  connected with the STP  51 . 
     The IP  30  is formed of a resource sub-system which performs a call processing operation by allocating a resource to a bearer channel using an ISUP(ISDN user Part) and an INAP(Intelligent Network Application Protocol) which are connected in a common line signal network platform. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a procedure that an advanced intelligent network system provides a user with an intelligent network service. As shown therein, when a user transmits a request message for an intelligent network service in Step S 201 , the SCP  10  recognizes the intelligent network service request and allows the SSP  20  to connect the bearer channel with the IP  30  for providing a user with a special resource in accordance with a service logic in Step S 202 . The SSP  20  transmits an IAM(Initial Address Message) which set a called party address as an address of the IP  30  for connecting the bearer channel. At this time, the IAM is transferred through a signaling route of the common line signal network. The IP  30  which receives the IAM transmits an ACM(Address Complete Message) to the SSP  20  in accordance with an ISUP call processing procedure in Step  204  and requests a special resource to the SCP  10  for the user. 
     The SCP  10  received the request from the IP  30  drives the special resource in the IP  30  in accordance with the service logic, and the IP  30  transmits an AM(Answer Message) in accordance with an ISUP call processing procedure in Step S 207  and drives the special resource for therein implementing an interface with the user based on the special resource in Step S 208 . In addition, a result of the special resource is informed to the SCP  10 . At this time, the SCP  10  may continuously instructs a special resource driving and releases a bearer channel between the SSP  20  and the IP  30 . If the bearer channel between the SSP  20  and the IP  30  is released, it is performed based on the ISUP call processing procedure. 
     Namely, when a channel release request signal is transmitted from the SCP  10  to the SSP  20  in Step S 210 , the SSP  20  received the signal transmits a REL(Release) message to the IP  30  for releasing the bearer channel, and the IP  30  transmits a RLC(Release Complete) message in Step S 212 . 
     When the IP is formed of an independent network, the call processing is performed based on the ISUP and INAP signal processing method. In the conventional exchange, the call is processed based on the R 2  or ISUP signal method. An output repeater bearer channel is obtained by interpreting the called number of the input repeater bearer channel and IAM based on a number interpretation function of the exchange for thereby switching the bearer channel. 
     In the case of the conventional IP system formed of the resource sub-systems, if it is needed to expand the channel capacity of the special resource, the capacity of the resource sub-system should be expanded. In this case, since there is a limit in the capacity of the system for expanding the resource sub-system, other IP systems formed of the resource system should be added to the common line signal network. Therefore, the common line signal network platform is build for every IP system which is to be build for thereby increasing the fabrication cost of the system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an intelligent peripheral system and a call processing method thereof which overcome the aforementioned problems encountered in the conventional art. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an intelligent peripheral system and a call processing method thereof which are capable of directly being connected with another IP system and implementing an easier expandability of a resource channel by separately connecting an apparatus processing a protocol matching function between a user and an IP network and an apparatus processing a call processing function. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, there is provided an intelligent peripheral system which includes an apparatus storing and maintaining a special resource information for providing an intelligent network system to a user in accordance with a request of the user, and an apparatus performing a protocol matching function and a call processing function between a service switching point(SSP) and a service control point(SCP) of the advanced intelligent network system, wherein said both apparatuses are separately installed for thereby implementing a direct connection to another intelligent network system through a common line signal network and easily expanding a resource channel. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, there is provided a call processing method of an intelligent peripheral system which includes the steps of a first step in which the SSP receives a request message for an intelligent network service from a user and transmits an initial address message(IAM) to the resource exchange sub-system for a bearer channel connection between the SSP and the IP providing system, a second step in which the resource exchange sub-system which received the IAM checks the capacity of the resource sub-system to provide a user with a special resource, a third step for transmitting an address receiving completed message(ACM) to the SSP and then requesting a special resource to the SCP when the resource sub-system is available as a result of the check of the second step, a fourth step for selecting an available special channel among the special resource channels connected between the resource exchange sub-system and the resource sub-system in accordance with a special resource requested, requesting a connection to the time switch of the resource exchange sub-system for connecting the selected special resource channel and the bearer channel and transmitting an answer message(ANM) to the SSP, a fifth step in which the resource exchange sub-system drives the special resource of the resource sub-system connected by the special channel for receiving a special resource from the resource sub-system and transmits a result of the special resource providing operation to the SCP, and a sixth step for maintaining a communication state so that a special resource is transmitted to the user through a special channel set between the resource sub-system and the resource exchange sub-system and a bearer channel set between the resource exchange sub-system and the service exchange. 
     Additional advantages, objects and other features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly leveled out in the appended claims as a result of the experiment compared to the conventional arts. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an advanced intelligent network according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a procedure for providing a special resource of an IP(Intelligent Peripheral) system to a user according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a network IP system according to the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 4A through 4G are views illustrating a call processing procedure for a network IP system according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The IP(Intelligent Peripheral) system and a call processing method thereof according to the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a network IP system according to the present invention. As shown therein, the conventional IP system is formed of a resource sub-system. However, the network IP system according to the present invention includes a special resource information provided from an intelligent network system and is formed of a plurality of resource sub-systems  200  providing the special resource to a user, and a resource exchange sub-system  100  controlling a plurality of resource sub-systems  200  by connecting the IP system with a common line signal network, performing a protocol matching function between a service switching point (SSP) and a service control point(SCP), setting a bearer channel with respect to the SSP and setting a special resource channel with respect to the resource sub-system  200 . The resource exchange sub-system  100  is connected with an external intelligent network system by the bearer channel  70  and the signal link  80  and is connected with the resource sub-system  200  by a special resource channel  90 . 
     The resource sub-system  200  includes a LAN interface  201  forming the resource exchange sub-system  100  and a TCP/IP link  110 , a trunk interface  202  for matching with the resource exchange sub-system  100 , and a special resource  203  storing information for providing a user with the special resource service. The resource exchange sub-system  100  includes a common line signal network platform  105  for connecting the IP system with a common line signal network, two trunk interfaces  102  and  104  for matching the bearer channel  70  and the special resource channel  90 , a time switch  103  for connecting the bearer channel  70  from the trunk interface  102  with the special resource channel  90 , an apparatus controller  106  for controlling the trunk interfaces  102  and  104  and the time switch  103 , a LAN interface  101  for driving a special resource  203  in the resource sub-system  200 , protocol processors  108  and  109  for processing an IP-SSP protocol or an IP-SCP protocol which are the elements of the intelligent network system, and a call processor  107  for transmitting/receiving a signal message through the protocol processors  108  and  109  and controlling the apparatus controller  106  to recognizes the state of the related hardware and control the operation of the hardware. 
     The operation of the network IP system according to the present invention will be explained. 
     First, when a signal message is inputted through the signal link  80 , the thusly inputted signal message is transferred to the common line signal network platform  105  through a channel defined in the trunk interface  102  and a time slot defined in the time switch  103 , and the common line signal network platform  105  confirms that the thusly transferred message is outputted from which element, and inputs the same into the call processor  107  through the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in the case of the message is inputted from the SSP and is inputted into the call processor  107  through the IP-SCP protocol processor  109  in the case that the message is inputted from the SCP. 
     Therefore, the network IP system according to the present invention is directed to a system structure which is capable of easily expanding the capacity of the bearer channel  70  and the special resource channel  90 . In the case that the channel capacity of the system is expanded, the capacity of the time switch  103  is expanded, and then the resource sub-system  200  is added. 
     In addition, the above-described system requires an IP call processing function for switching through the bearer channel  70  and the special resource channel  90  using a parameter information an ISUP and IAP signal message. For this IP call processing function, the apparatuses of the system are controlled in accordance with a call processing logic in the call processor  107  of the resource exchange sub-system  100 , and the special resource  203  of the resource sub-system  200  is driven. 
     FIGS. 4A through 4G illustrate a call processing procedure of the network IP system according to the present invention. The method for processing calls using the ISUP and INAP in the call processing unit  107  of the resource exchange sub-system when the network IP according to the present invention receives an IAM from the SSP will be explained. 
     As shown in FIG. 4A, when the network IP system receives an IAM from the IP-SSP protocol processing unit  108  in Step S 402  while it is waiting for a signal message from a predetermined apparatus in Step S 401 , the call processor  107  stores a service control function identifier(SCF ID) contained in the IM and a correlation ID parameter into a call register in Step S 403  and maintains the call information and then judges whether a continuity test request parameter contained in the IAM is set in Step S 404 . 
     As a result of the judgement of Step S 404 , if the continuity test request parameter is not set, the special resource system capacity test is performed in Step S 405 . If the continuity test request parameter is set, a receiving and transmitting terminals of the bearer channel  70  corresponding to a CIC(Circuit Identification code) of the IAM are connected for thereby verifying the state of the bearer channel in the SSP. Namely, the call processor  107  requests the apparatus controller  106  in order for the bearer channel to be connected with a loopback based on a time switch  103  for connecting the transmitting/receiving terminals of the bearer channel in Step S 406 , and waits for a COT(Continuity Test) from the SSP in step S 407 . 
     In addition, in the state of the call input wait (S 401 ), if a REL(Release) message is inputted from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 408 , the connection is released, and a RLC(Release Complete) message is transmitted to the IP-SSP protocol processor  108 , and the routine becomes a call input wait stare (S 401 ). In addition, in the call input wait state (S 401 ), a RLC(Release Complete) message is received from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 410 , the REL message is transmitted to the IF-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 411 , and waits until the RLC message is transmitted from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 412 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4B, the special resource system capacity test (S 405 ) is directed to a step for checking whether an overload occurs in the special resource system. In Step S 413 , it is checked whether or not the special resource system is available. If there is a variable resource system, the ACM is transmitted to the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step  5415 , and the SCF ID and the correlation number are extracted from the call register in Step S 416 . The SCF ID among the extracted information is a SCP signal point code, and the correlation number is a value that the SCP identifies the call. When the call information is extracted in such a manner, the resource request is transmitted for providing to the IP-SCP protocol processor  109  in Step S 417 . The SCF ID among the thusly extracted information is used as a destination point code by the IP-SSP protocol processor  108 , and the correlation number is mapped based on the parameter of the resource request message and then is transferred to the SCP. In addition, after the above-described steps are proceeded, the special resource is requested in Step S 418 . 
     In addition, a result of the verification on whether the special resource system is available in Step S 413 , if there is not an available resource system, the REL message is transmitted to the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 414 , and the RLC message is waited from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 412 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4C, in the COT message waiting state (S 407 ), a predetermined message is received from the IP-SSP protocol processor. If the thusly received message is the COT message in Step S 4189 , the test result parameter contained in the COT message is checked in Step S 420 . If the continuity is succeeded, the connection with respect to the time switch  103  of the loopback channel is released in Step S 421  for a continuity test, and the capacity of the special resource system is tested in Step S 405 . 
     As a result of the test S 420 , if the continuity test is failed, the connection with respect to the time switch  103  of the loopback channel is released in Step S 422 , and the routine is moved to the call input wait state S 401 . 
     In addition, when the REL or RLC message is received from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Steps S 423  and S 426 , the time switch connection of the loopback channel is released in Step S 424  and S 427 , and then the REL or RLC message is transmitted to the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Steps S 425  and S 428 . At this time, if the received message is REL, the RLC message is transmitted, and if the received message is RLC, the REL message is transmitted. 
     If the RLC message is transmitted, the routine is moved to the call input wait state (S 401 ) . If the REL message is transmitted, the RLC message from the IP-SSP protocol processor is waited in Step S 412 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4D, in the state of the special resource providing request wait (S 418 ), when the special resource providing request message is received from the IP-SCP protocol processor  109  in Step S 429 , it is verified that whether the channel connected with the resource sub-system for storing the special resource is available in Step S 430 . As a result of the verification, if the channel connected with the resource sub-system is available, the time switch  103  is requested to be connected by instructing the apparatus controller  106  for connecting the available special resource channel and the bearer channel in Step S 431 , and the ANM is transmitted to the IP-SSP protocol processor  108 . 
     When the time switch  103  is connected and then the ANM is transmitted in such a manner, the bearer channel becomes a connected state for transferring the special resource to the SSP and SP. When the bearer channel is connected in such a manner, the resource driving is requested to the sub-system  200  through the LAN interface  101  in Step S 433 , so that a corresponding special resource is transferred to the user. Namely, the call-on state is implemented in Step S 434 . 
     However, as a result of the verification of Step S 430 , if there is not an available special resource channel connected with the resource system, the resource providing fail message is transmitted to the IP-SCP protocol processor  109  in Step S 435 , and the special resource providing request wait state (S 418 ) is maintained. 
     In addition, in the special resource providing request wait state (S 418 ), when the IP-SCP interface release request message is received from the IP-SCP protocol processor  109  in Step S 436 , the REL message is transmitted to the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 437 , and the routine is changed to the routine that the RLC from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  is waited in Step S 412 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4E, if the special resource request message is not received for a predetermined time in the special resource providing request wait state (S 418 ) in Step S 438 , an interface release request message is transmitted to the IP-SCP protocol processor  109  in Step S 439 , and the REL message is transmitted to the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 440 , and the RLC from the IP-SSP protocol is waited in Step S 412 . 
     In addition, when the REL message is received from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 441  during the waiting of the special resource providing request from the call processor  107 , the RLC is transmitted to the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 442 , and the input of the signal message is waited in Step S 401 . In addition, in the wait state in Step S 418 , when the RLC message is received from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108 , the REL message is transmitted to the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 444 , and the RLC message from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  is waited in Step S 412 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4F, while the call processor  107  is waiting the RLC message from the IP-SSP protocol processor in Step S 412 , when the REL message is received from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 445 , the RLC is transmitted to the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 446 , and it is judged that whether the time switch  103  is connected in Step S 447 . As a result of the judgement, if the RLC message is received from the IP-SSP protocol processor in Step S 448 , it is judged that whether the time switch  103  is connected in Step S 447 . 
     In addition, as a result of the judgement in Step S 447 , if the time switch  103  is connected, the connection is released in Step S 449 , and the routine is transited to the call input wait state in Step S 401 . In addition, if the time switch  103  is not connected, the routine is transited to the call input wait state in Step S 401 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4G, in the state of Step S 434 , in the case that the special resource providing result message is received from the resource system in Step S 450 , the special resource providing result is transmitted to the IP-SCP protocol processor  109  in Step S 451 , and the communication state is maintained in Step S 434 . In the communication state in Step S 434 , when the special resource providing request is received from the IP-SCP protocol processor  109  in Step S 452 , the special resource driving is requested to the resource system in Step S 452 , and the communication state is maintained in Step S 434 . 
     In the communication state S 434 , if the message is not received from the IP-SCP protocol processor  109  for a predetermine time after the message is transmitted to the SCP in Step S 454 , the operation is judged to be in an error state, so that the interface release request is transmitted to the IP-SCP protocol processor  109  in Step S 455 . After the REL message is transmitted to the IP-SSP protocol processor in Step S 456 , the RLC message from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  is waited in Step S 412 . 
     In the communication state in Step S 434 , if the call processor  107  receives an IP-SCP interface release request message transferred from the IP-SCP protocol processor  109  in step S 457 , the REL message is transmitted to the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in Step S 458 , and the RLC message from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  is waited in Step S 412 . 
     In addition, in the communication state in Step  434 , if the call processor  107  received the REL message transferred from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108 , the RLC message is transmitted from the IP-SSP protocol processor  108  in step S 460 , and the time switch connection release is requested in Step S 461 , and the routine is shifted to the call input state in Step S 401 . 
     As described above, since the resource exchange sub-system includes a common line signal network platform, it is not needed to build another common line signal network platform when expanding the capacity of the system to a larger capacity IP system. Namely, the capacity of the trunk interface is increased by adding a resource sub-system connected with the resource exchange sub-system, and expanding a time switch capacity in the resource exchange sub-system. In addition, since the resource exchange sub-system is built based on the exchange system, the trunk state management and system maintenance functions are more effectively implemented compared to the resource sub-system. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as recited in the accompanying claims.