AIN (Advanced Intelligent Network) allows for the implementation of carrier-grade,
signaling infrastructure targeted to the North American fixed telephony market.
AIN is a signaling protocol between a service switching point (SSP) and a centralized
network database called service control point (SCP). The SCP consists of operator
or 3rd party derived service logic programs and data. Through AIN, operators have
gained independence from the software features offered by switch vendors. AIN is
a telephone network architecture that separates service logic from switching equipment,
allowing new services to be added without having to redesign switches to support
new services. With AIN, operators are able to implement differentiating, value added
services giving them competitive advantages in the market since it makes it easier
for a provider to add services and it offers customers more service choices. AIN
is application independent, meaning that it provides generic, reusable functions
that can be integrated and recombined to offer a host of revenue generating services.
The SCP stores the service provider instructions and data that direct switch processing
and provide call control. At predefined points during processing an incoming or
outgoing call, the switch suspends what it is doing, packages up information it
has regarding the processing of the call, and queries the SCP for further instruction.
The SCP, executes user defined programs that analyze the current state of the call
and the information received from the switch. The programs can then modify or create
the call data that is sent back to the switch. The switch then analyzes the information
received from the SCP and follows the provided instruction to futher process the
call.
Developed by Bell Communications Research, now Telcordia, AIN is recognized as an
industry standard in North America. Its initial version, AIN Release 1, was a model
defining an all encompassing telecommunication service creation environment. Evolutionary
subsets of AIN Release 1 have been developed that build toward this model but define
in easily digestible segments additional capabilities. The first release was release
0, the most widely deployed and used version was AIN 0.1. AIN 0.2 was subsequently
defined before release of the current specification that defines a complete protocol
set along the lines of AIN 0.1. Within the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a similar concept was developed
called Capability Sets. The first version to be released was capability set 1 (CS-1).
Currently CS-2 is defined and available.
How does it work:
- A telephone caller dials a number that is received by a switch at the telephone
company central office.
- The switch - known as the Service Switching Point (SSP) - forwards the call over
a Signaling System 7 (SS7) network to a Service Control Point (SCP) where the service
logic is located.
- The Service Control Point identifies the service requested from part of the number
that was dialed and returns information about how to handle the call to the Service
Switching Point.
- In some cases, the call can be handled more quickly by an Intelligent Peripheral
(IP) that is attached to the Service Switching Point over a high-speed ISDN connection.
For example, a customized voice announcement can be delivered in response to the
dialed number or a voice call can be analyzed and recognized.
- In addition, an "adjunct" facility can be added directly to the Service
Switching Point for high-speed connection to additional, undefined services.
Services that can be defined with AIN include:
- Single number service: one number reaches a local number associated with the service
- Personal access service: provide end user management of incoming calls
- Disaster recovery service: define backup call destinations in case of disaster
- Do not disturb service: call forward
- Virtual private network short digit extension dialing service
The Signalware® AIN capability is an enabling component of the Signalware family. It is used
in Network elements such as:
- Service Switching Point (SSP)
- Service Control Point (SCP)
- Intelligent Peripheral
Signalware's AIN feature is utilized when an application sends a received message
to the AIN library for decoding. By utilizing Signalware's AIN capability, vendors
can significantly cut time to market and reduce support and maintenance costs.
Signalware AIN is provided as a library to be used with the SS7
Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP). The library may be accessed
via a traditional SS7 stack or may be utilized with
SIGTRAN. This flexibility allows the Signalware library to be used in implementing
any of the elements requiring AIN in North American and selected networks. Through
the use of SIGTRAN, applications developed in NexGen networks can be migrated to
a common packet network and be utilized in NexGen networks - protecting investments
and aiding network evolution.
Features:
- Implements AIN TR-NWT-001285
- Supports ASN.1 Encoding/Decoding of all the standard operations-related messages
exchanged in the AIN interfaces
- Runs over ANSI TCAP
For more information, please contact sales@ulticom.com