Patent ID: 7139384

Claim:
In an advanced intelligent network comprising a first network element for communicating with an end user, a call processing network element for managing call processing resources associated with a telephone call, a first data path permitting communication between the first network element and the call processing network element through an intelligent switch, and a second data path between the first network element and the call processing network element bypassing the intelligent switch, a method of processing telephone calls comprising: detecting a call processing trigger; the intelligent switch sending a request for call processing instructions to the call processing network element; establishing direct communication between the call processing network element and first network element over the second data path, wherein establishing direct communication between the call processing network element and first network element further comprises: the call processing network element initiating communication with the first network element over the second data path; the call processing network element sending a resource request to the first network element; and the first network element sending an information message to the call processing network element over the second data path, wherein the first network element sends the call processing element at least one port ID and informs the call processing network element of any processing limitations; the call processing network element providing the first network element with a set of instructions over the second data path and sending a second set of instructions to the intelligent switch conveying the port ID received from the first network element, wherein the port ID indicates the destination for the telephone call; coordinating use of a first interface over the first data path with use of a second interface over the second data path, wherein the call processing network element exchanges information with the first network element over the first and second data paths; and the call processing network element maintaining communication with the intelligent switch to control disposition of the telephone call after first network element interaction with the telephone call.