Arrangement for providing network protocol data independence in an expandable telecommunications system

Abstract

A network protocol data intelligence (NPDI) software in the switching node that enables the call processing components in the L and L applications to interpret and manipulate different network signaling data protocols. The call processing applications are expanded to understand different network signaling protocols and to extract the required information from each protocol's data stream. The NPDI provides the means for the L application to convert from one network signaling data format to another either, by itself or in conjunction with the L application. Thus, the system operator may configure the switch to perform all call processing functions or by-pass the NPDI and have the L application perform these functions. The L application may also perform data translation from host applications written against the underlying network protocol to the different signaling protocols from other networks. Thus, a host application written against one network signaling protocol may communicate with an application using another signaling protocol without modification to the host application. The NPDI service further enables. the L application to convert protocol-specific data from other applications in the system to protocol independent data that can be 'understood' by the L and L applications. In addition, the L application may route calls in the switching node based on network signaling information from the L application.