United States Patent [19J
`Shah et al.
`
`I IIIII IIIIIIII Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US006041325A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,041,325
`Mar.21,2000
`
`[54] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR
`CONTROLLING ACCESS TO A TELEPHONY
`DATABASE
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Tasvir Shah, Irving; Mark A.
`Harrison, Fort Worth; Matthew Bilbo,
`Bedford, all of Tex.
`
`[73] Assignee: Alcatel USA Sourcing, L.P., Plano,
`Tex.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/948,161
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 9, 1997
`
`[51]
`[52]
`[58]
`
`Int. Cl.7 ............................... G06F 17/30; G06F 3/14
`U.S. Cl. ............................. 707/10; 707/102; 345/333
`Field of Search ......................... 707/1-10, 100-104,
`707/200---206; 345/326-334, 339, 357; 709/203,
`213, 219, 223; 379/16, 211, 212, 230, 219,
`220, 305, 201, 265
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,455,853
`5,495,567
`5,628,004
`5,727,057
`5,737,533
`5,806,057
`5,859,972
`5,878,418
`5,913,029
`
`........................ 379/201
`10/1995 Cebulka et al.
`2/1996 Iizawa et al. ........................... 345/334
`5/1997 Gormley et al. ........................ 707/104
`3/1998 Emery et al. ........................... 379/211
`4/1998 De Hond ................................ 709/219
`9/1998 Gormley et al. ............................ 707/1
`1/1999 Subramaniam et al. ................ 709/203
`3/1999 Polcyn et al. ............................. 707/10
`6/1999 Shostak .............................. 395/200.33
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/1994 WIPO ........................... H04M 11/00
`9405111
`9744943 11/1997 WIPO ............................. H04M 3/42
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`M. Genette, et al., "Intelligent Network: the Service Cre(cid:173)
`ation Environment", Commutation & Transmission, vol. 17,
`No. 2, Jan. 1, 1995, pp. 13-20.
`P. Fregelius, "Neue Dienste und Anwendungen dank Intel(cid:173)
`ligentem Netz", Tee. Das Technische Magazin Von Ascom,
`No. 2, Jan. 1, 1992, pp. 16-20.
`PCT Search Report, dated Feb. 15, 1999.
`Primary Examiner-Ruay Lian Ho
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Baker Botts L.L.P.
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`
`A flexible service management system creates, provisions,
`customizes, and restricts service offerings available on an
`intelligent network. A service creation environment has a
`schema query, service screen builder, and logic analyzer that
`cooperate to create a service screen definition. The service
`screen definition supports graphical user interfaces that
`interface with a telephony database. The service screen
`definition is deployed to a service management system
`within a service definition package, the service management
`system interfacing with a telephony database storing tele(cid:173)
`phony data for supporting a service. The service screen
`definition enables a screen interpreter that can reside on a
`service management access point to communicate and trans(cid:173)
`act data with the telephony database. The screen interpreter
`interprets the service screen definition to allow and control
`access to telephony data and to direct provisioning of
`services to network elements, such as a service control point,
`that perform service functions according to customized
`subscription data in the telephony database. The graphical
`user interface can communicate through the world wide web
`to allow customer or other data entry operator access to data
`on a filtered or restricted basis.
`
`33 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`Sample SMP fl
`~ day we route by area code to aur service centers in Plano, Dallas ond fort Worth.
`During off hours, we subcontract service calls ta a centn:Jlly located site in Irving.
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`IIIIBI
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2059 - 1
`U.S. Patent No. 6,041,325
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`INTELLIGENT NETWORK
`10
`\
`
`NETWORK I
`
`OPERATOR
`
`I
`
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`12
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`SERVICE
`CREATION
`ENVIRONMENT
`
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`MANAGEMENT
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`26
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`28
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`SERVICE I
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`DATA ENTRY OPERATORS
`(SO,SP,SS)
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2059 - 2
`U.S. Patent No. 6,041,325
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`40
`~
`PREDEFINED DATABASE SCHEMA
`,---------------,,------------------,
`YY TABLE
`XX TABLE
`
`1
`1
`1 1
`I
`I I
`I
`COLUMN 1 X COLUMN 2X I I COLUMN 1Y COLUMN 2Y COLUMN 3Y I
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`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2059 - 3
`U.S. Patent No. 6,041,325
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`database: emp
`emp
`1 Tobie
`-------r-----------
`emp
`char
`11 0
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`50" I
`I lostnome
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`:
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`emp: first name
`52 -1 emp: last name
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`
`FIG. 4
`
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`
`54
`
`56
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`
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`
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2059 - 4
`U.S. Patent No. 6,041,325
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`6,041,325
`U.S. Patent
`Mar.21,2000
`Sheet 4 of 8
`r---------------------------------,
`"
`48
`14
`~
`SERVICES TABLE
`CALL
`CALL
`WAITING FORWARD
`
`NAME
`
`IDENTIFICATION TABLE
`CREDIT
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`
`PSN
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`PSN
`
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`
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`
`0000
`
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`
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`
`N
`
`L---------------------------------~
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`
`48
`
`SERVICE INFORMATION
`
`NAME
`MARK
`PHONE NUMBER
`96517
`1:8'.1
`CALL WAITING
`CALL FORWARD D
`FIG. 5A
`
`60
`\
`
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`
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`
`30
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`ACCESS POINT
`(WEB SERVER)
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`BASE
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`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2059 - 5
`U.S. Patent No. 6,041,325
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.21,2000
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`6,041,325
`
`SECURITY
`
`(
`64
`
`70
`
`66
`
`TRAFFIC METERING AND METRICS
`
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`
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2059 - 6
`U.S. Patent No. 6,041,325
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.21,2000
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`6,041,325
`
`-]
`Netscape: servicel.html {Untitled)
`[ile ;dit ~ew ~o ~okmorks Qptions Oirectory Window
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`~~[!] ['1 ~~~[m[!J [g]
`Location: I http://sun1070.spd.dsccc.com:8080/sms/servicel.html
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`During off hours, we subcontract service coils to a centrally located site in Irving.
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2059 - 7
`U.S. Patent No. 6,041,325
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.21,2000
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`6,041,325
`
`E1
`Netscape: TOR demo
`file [dit ~ew ~o Bookmarks Qptions ~irectory Window
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`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2059 - 8
`U.S. Patent No. 6,041,325
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.21,2000
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`6,041,325
`
`START
`
`100
`
`READ
`SUBSCRIPTION
`
`VALIDATE
`SUBSCRIPTION
`
`102
`
`104
`
`START
`
`RESPONSE SIB
`126
`
`124
`
`FIG. 10
`
`FIG. 9
`
`IF SUCCESS
`128
`
`CHECK
`TRIGGER DATA
`
`SEND PROV.
`MESSAGE TO SCP
`
`108
`
`UPDATE STATUS
`TO SENDING
`
`DISPLAY STATUS
`TO USER
`
`112
`
`114
`
`WAIT
`
`YES
`
`132
`
`SEND TRIGGER
`DATA TO SCP
`
`WAIT
`
`134
`
`UPDATE STATUS
`TO ACTIVE
`
`DISPLAY STATUS
`TO USER
`
`136
`
`END
`
`START
`
`116
`
`RESPONSE SIB
`118
`
`FIG. 1 1
`
`UPDATE STATUS
`TO ACTIVE
`
`DISPLAY STATUS
`TO USER
`
`120
`
`122
`
`END
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2059 - 9
`U.S. Patent No. 6,041,325
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`6,041,325
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR
`CONTROLLING ACCESS TO A TELEPHONY
`DATABASE
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 08/948,160 entitled "System and Method for Supporting
`Flexible Telephony Service Management" filed on Oct. 9,
`1997; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/947,693
`entitled "Service Management Access Point" filed on Oct. 9,
`1997.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates in general to the field of telephony
`communications, and more particularly to a system and
`method for flexibly managing telephony services on a tele(cid:173)
`phony network.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`2
`to third parties such as service operators and service sub(cid:173)
`scribers. Accordingly, these databases may be arranged in
`non-user friendly formats which require extensive training
`to understand and use.
`For instance, in a typical database, one table can contain
`a customer's name, telephone number and billing informa(cid:173)
`tion in separate entry fields in which each field is identified
`by a unique acronym label. A separate table can contain
`telephone numbers with each telephone number having
`10 associated data identifying particular options associated
`with the telephone number, such as call waiting or call
`forwarding, again with each field identified by a unique
`acronym label. A data entry operator would have to know
`how to access and understand each table and each acronym
`15 in a database to provide assistance to a service subscriber
`seeking, for instance, to have a call waiting service enabled
`for his telephone number. Further, the data entry operator
`would have complete access to the database, including
`access to sensitive data, such as credit information, even
`20 though the data entry operator has no need for access to this
`sensitive information to enable the service.
`
`Telecommunication companies frequently sell access to
`physical network telephony communication infrastructure
`and to telephony services related to the efficient use of such
`infrastructure. In offering services, the telecommunication
`companies have increasingly allowed individuals outside
`their corporate boundaries with options for customizing,
`restricting, and provisioning the services. An increasing
`number of companies are entering the telephony service
`bureau market to sell services by leasing "space" on network
`infrastructures from network operators. This service market
`treats physical telephony networks as a commodity which
`the service bureaus lease from network providers. Service
`bureaus acquire service technology to solve business tele(cid:173)
`phony needs and then resell access to the technology solu-
`tion to other telecommunication providers.
`One example of a service typically sold by a service
`bureau is a toll free "800" number such as, for instance, the
`toll free number frequently used by mail order businesses
`that sell consumer goods. A consumer can order goods from 40
`a mail order company by dialing one toll free number. The
`consumer's call is routed to a central processor, such as a
`service control point. The central processor associates the
`800 number dialed by the consumer with the physical
`location of the mail order company on the network and 45
`provides a number for that location to a switch, which routes
`the consumer's call to that physical location.
`Presently, a service subscriber like the mail order com(cid:173)
`pany described above, must rely on a service operator to set
`up and provide the toll free service. The service operator
`must coordinate with the network operator to provision the
`service to the central processors on the network. However,
`creating and provisioning a service on a network can involve
`complicated software programming and development. Small
`changes to the service can require extensive programming to
`enable service logic features and rules on the central pro(cid:173)
`cessor. This programming is generally accomplished in
`object oriented C++ software language, and can take six to
`nine months from the beginning of development until
`deployment is accomplished on a given network.
`Another difficulty related to the creation and provisioning
`of a service is the service's interaction with the telephony
`database of the network operator. A single service may have
`to extract and use data fields from as many as fifteen to
`twenty separate tables of the telephony database. Network
`operators have accumulated these databases over time with(cid:173)
`out necessarily intending to make these databases available
`
`35
`
`25
`
`30
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Therefore, a need has arisen for a flexible service man(cid:173)
`agement system to create customize, restrict and provision
`telephony services onto a telephony network with minimal
`software programming and with maximized direct interac(cid:173)
`tion by service operators, service providers, or service
`subscribers.
`A further need has arisen for a service management access
`point that can provide direct access to selected telephony
`database fields for service customization by a service
`operator, service provider, or service subscriber, without
`requiring alterations to the service by the network operator.
`A further need has arisen for a system and method to
`generate graphical user interfaces with logic to support
`interactions with a telephony database for supporting cus(cid:173)
`tomization and provisioning of a telephony service on a
`telephony network.
`A further need has arisen for a system and method for
`controlling access to a telephony database to allow user(cid:173)
`friendly interaction to portions of the telephony database
`having sensitive data while restricting access to the sensitive
`data itself.
`In accordance with the present invention, a system and
`method for flexibly managing services on a telephony net(cid:173)
`work is provided that substantially eliminates or reduces
`disadvantages and problems associated with previously
`developed means of providing services on a telephony
`50 network. A service management system interfaces with a
`telephony network to support a telephony service defined in
`an associated service definition package. The service man(cid:173)
`agement system accepts telephony data for supporting the
`telephony service. The service management system then
`55 validates the telephony data for consistency with the service
`and the telephony database, including validation of the
`data's consistency with service exclusions and interactions,
`and the data's consistency on a field level and a record level,
`such as the data's referential integrity. The service manage-
`60 ment system next stores the telephony data, thus acting as a
`master database for the telephony network. The telephony
`data can include different versions of services and the status
`of data for a service, such as active, sending, pending or
`saved status. The service management system then down-
`65 loads the telephony data to, for instance, provision the
`service or activate the service on network elements such as
`the service control point.
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2059 - 10
`U.S. Patent No. 6,041,325
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`6,041,325
`
`10
`
`3
`Also in accordance with the present invention, a service
`management access point is provided that substantially
`eliminates or reduces disadvantages and problems associ(cid:173)
`ated with previously developed means of interacting with a
`telephony network to manipulate a telephony service. The
`service management access point allows a physical interface
`with a network by a service operator, service provider or
`service subscriber that permits customizing, restricting, and
`provisioning services on a telephony network. A data entry
`device interfaces with a telephony database through graphi(cid:173)
`cal user interfaces generated with a screen interpreter
`located on the service management access point. The screen
`interpreter interacts with a service screen definition located
`in the service definition package on the service management
`system to create service view screens that map telephony
`data from a table-based schema to a user-friendly service
`view. A data entry user can customize a service by building
`a service profile having predetermined service features, or
`by building a service script with service features from the
`service definition package or the service profile. The user 20
`can input service specific subscription data to enable service
`features. The service management access point can filter
`telephony data to restrict viewing, or to restrict changes to
`viewed data. The user can provision a customized service,
`including a new service or changes to an existing service, 25
`through the service management access point's interaction
`with the service management system.
`Also in accordance with the present invention, an inter(cid:173)
`face is provided for controlling access to a telephony data(cid:173)
`base that substantially eliminates or reduces disadvantages 30
`and problems associated with previously developed tele(cid:173)
`phony database interfaces. A service creation environment
`allows engineering of graphical user interface through a
`service screen definition included in a service definition
`package that is deployed to a telephony network. A screen 35
`builder builds the service screen definition according to
`directions from a schema query, which identifies telephony
`data for supporting a telephony service according to a
`predefined telephony database schema. A logic analyzer
`creates executable code to support interaction between a 40
`screen interpreter and the telephony database according to
`the schema query and the predefined schema, and cooperates
`with the schema query and screen builder to insert the
`executable code into the service screen definition. The
`service screen definition can be deployed to a service
`management system to cooperate with a screen interpreter
`for supporting interaction with a service on a network.
`More specifically, the present invention allows creation of
`a service in a service creation environment by a service
`designer. The service creation environment passes a service
`definition package to a service management system. The
`service definition package can include a service manage(cid:173)
`ment program for administering the service, a service logic
`program for executing the service, a description of the GUI
`screens used to provision the service, a database schema to
`support the service, the service global rules, parameters, and
`variables, a profile containing the constraints for the service,
`and the service feature descriptions. The elements of the
`service definition package can be arranged as system build(cid:173)
`ing blocks which can interact to customize, provision and
`restrict service offerings.
`The service management system acts as a master database
`for intelligent network elements which can interact with
`network infrastructure. The service management system
`accepts the service definition package from the service
`creation environment and coordinates provisioning of the
`service to the network elements. The service management
`
`4
`system provides access to telephony databases for service
`providers, service operators, and service subscribers. In one
`embodiment, the service management system allows service
`engineering after deployment of the service definition pack-
`s age to create a secondary service definition package com(cid:173)
`prised of elements of the deployed service definition pack(cid:173)
`age. The service management system accepts, validates and
`stores data input by the service operator, provider or sub(cid:173)
`scriber and then provisions the data to network elements,
`such as a service control point, for implementation of the
`service by the network. The service management system can
`also track and log errors generated by data or otherwise.
`A service management access point can interface with the
`service management system and plural data input devices,
`thus acting as a server to enhance interaction of service
`15 operators, providers and subscribers with the service man(cid:173)
`agement system. A display manager has a service profile
`manager for managing user access to service features with
`the service definition interface that coordinates with the
`service screen definition for building a service script, and a
`screen interpreter cooperating with service screen defini(cid:173)
`tions to interpret service screen definitions for supporting
`graphical user interface displays for telephony data transac(cid:173)
`tions. The service management access point can provide a
`world wide web or native screen interpreter to collect data
`from compatible data entry devices for creating, modifying
`and deleting service providers, provisioning services, medi-
`ating data access according to a user's service rule and
`generating and provisioning specific scripts for subscribers
`to detail service features that are commissioned by that
`subscriber. The service management system can support the
`screen interpreter's production of graphical user interfaces
`with a security subsystem for monitoring telephony data
`access according to a user's access level; a traffic metering
`and metrics subsystem and a statistics and reporting sub(cid:173)
`system for monitoring and reporting access activity through
`the service management access point; a database subsystem
`for supporting telephony database transactions; and a system
`building block subsystem for contributing generic functions
`to service management access point subsystems.
`The service creation environment allows a service
`designer to input a schema query which identifies data from
`a predefined database schema, the data corresponding to data
`needed to create and execute a service. The schema query
`interacts with a screen builder to direct the screen builder to
`45 assemble a screen display having a desired arrangement of
`data for display on an interface. A logic analyzer generates
`and combines executable code with the output of the screen
`builder to create a service screen definition. The logic
`analyzer creates executable code based on the schema query
`50 so that the service screen definition supports a screen
`interpreter to interact with the service management system
`and the telephony database after the service screen definition
`is deployed with the service definition package.
`The present invention provides important technical
`ss advantages by allowing flexible service programming to
`take advantage of network element capabilities through
`efficient logic-driven provisioning of data to optimize tele(cid:173)
`phony resources and speed.
`Another important technical advantage of the present
`60 invention is allowing customization of a service by a service
`operator, service provider, or service subscriber through a
`user-friendly interface. The customization can be accom(cid:173)
`plished without the generation of additional software code
`since the service operator, provider, or user can customize a
`65 service by enabling particular arrangements of system build(cid:173)
`ing blocks located on the service management system or
`associated with the service management access point.
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2059 - 11
`U.S. Patent No. 6,041,325
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`6,041,325
`
`6
`FIGS. 5, SA and SB depict the functional steps performed
`by the present invention to present a service view of filtered
`telephony data;
`FIG. 6 depicts a schematic block diagram of one embodi(cid:173)
`ment of a service management access point interfacing with
`a telephony database associated with a service management
`system;
`FIG. 7 depicts a schematic block diagram of one embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the service management access point;
`FIGS. SA and SB depict Web browser screens for creating
`and provisioning a service script through a service manage(cid:173)
`ment access point;
`FIG. SC depicts a Web browser screen for supplying
`15 subscription data through a service management access
`point;
`FIG. 9 depicts a flow diagram for the service management
`system to communicate telephony data to a telephony net(cid:173)
`work;
`FIG. 10 depicts a flow diagram for the service manage(cid:173)
`ment system for activating a service; and
`FIG. 11 depicts a flow diagram for the service manage(cid:173)
`ment system for processing a service.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illus(cid:173)
`trated in the figures, like numerals being used to refer to like
`and corresponding parts of the various drawings.
`
`I. Intelligent Network Services
`
`5
`Another important technical advantage of the present
`invention relates to the speed and simplicity of provisioning
`a service on a network. A service operator can create service
`profiles with predetermined features selected from a service
`definition package, and can resell the features to a service 5
`provider. The service provider can assign profiles to sub(cid:173)
`scribers. The service subscribers can develop a service script
`and provision subscription data without having to rely on
`technical assistance. In this way, a service subscriber can
`initiate and operate a service in a timely manner, and a 10
`service operator and provider can collect revenues on the
`service as soon as the subscriber initiates the service.
`Further, a subscriber can add, change or delete a service
`through a direct interface with the service management
`access point by, for instance, using a world wide web
`interface.
`Another important technical advantage of the present
`invention is that access to the telephony database can be
`restricted based upon a user's predefined access level. For
`instance, the service management access point may accept 20
`user identity data indicating an access level to allow a
`service operator to change features associated with a service;
`allow a service provider to restrict available features for
`particular service subscribers only; or allow service sub(cid:173)
`scribers to select particular features without allowing access 25
`to other services.
`A further technical advantage of the present invention is
`that it can present a service view, as opposed to the table
`view associated with the telephony databases. The service
`view can include data spanning more than one table of a 30
`telephony database. The service view can prevent data
`operators from accessing and viewing certain sensitive data
`such as credit data. Alternatively, the service view can allow
`viewing of telephony data but prevent changes to the data for
`predetermined access levels.
`A further technical advantage of the present invention is
`the creation of a user-friendly service view that reformats
`data and labels to allow easy access by data input operators
`without specific training in telephony. For instance, a tele- 40
`phony database can be presented in a service view with
`instructions to eliminate confusion and to present selected
`data from a variety of tables.
`Another advantage of the present invention is that a single
`program in the service creation environment can generate a
`large number of operator screens with independent service
`screen definitions. The inclusion of executable code in the
`service screen definition increases the flexibility of the
`service creation environment for creating graphical user
`interfaces for use by service providers, operators and sub(cid:173)
`scribers interacting with the service management system.
`
`35
`
`Advanced intelligent network telephony systems, such as
`the AINFusion system sold by DSC Communications, have
`enhanced and simplified the services available to telephony
`customers. Intelligent network systems use intelligent net(cid:173)
`work elements distributed across the intelligent network to
`create, provision and operate services in an efficient and
`timely manner.
`A Network Elements
`Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of an
`intelligent network 10 having network elements to perform
`flexible service management provides an overview of the
`operation of the present invention within a telephony net-
`45 work. A service management system 12 having an associ(cid:173)
`ated data storage device 14 acts as the master database for
`the network elements of the intelligent network 10 and
`coordinates provisioning of services to the network ele(cid:173)
`ments. Service management system 12 can be any processor
`50 with interfaces and associated peripherals to support com(cid:173)
`munication along intelligent network 10. For instance, ser(cid:173)
`vice management system 12 can be a SPARC workstation
`produced by Sun and adapted to operate with common
`object request broker architecture ("COREA").
`Service management system 12 interfaces through intel-
`ligent network 10 with one or more service control points
`16. Each service control point 16 has an associated data
`storage device 18 for storing intelligent network telephony
`data to operate predetermined services. Service control point
`60 16 can also be a Sun SPARC workstation having interfaces
`and adequate processing capabilities to manage a predeter(cid:173)
`mined level of network activity.
`Each service control point 16 interfaces through intelli(cid:173)
`gent network 10 with one or more signal transfer points 20.
`65 Each signal transfer point 20 interfaces with one or more
`switches 22, which in turn interface with one or more
`telephony devices such as telephones 24. When a telephone
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE