Patent ID: 6888828

Claim:
A method of providing at least one service obtained from a service network for a user in a packet switched communication network comprising: originating at an originating network entity in the packet switched communication network a service request which is transmitted to a controlling entity in the service network, the service request triggering at least one service to be provided to the user by the service network; the controlling entity formulating a service route through the service network comprising a plurality of service providing servers within the service network with each service providing server processing the service request on the service route and an allocation of how each service providing server is to provide the at least one service; and transmitting the service request, the allocation and any service instructions along the service route from the controlling entity through each service providing server and then the request for service and the at least one service from a last service providing server or the controlling entity on the service route to the packet switched communication network and thereafter to a network entity in the packet switched communication network; and wherein each of the plurality of service providing servers attempts to perform the service allocated thereto and passes at least the service request, the allocation and any service instructions to any next service providing server remaining on the service route.