Service brokering system for intelligent telecommunications network

Abstract

An intelligent telecommunications network includes a plurality of switching nodes and service control points containing one or more service programs (SPs) responsive to connection query messages from the switching nodes. Each SP provides connection control messages that allow the switching nodes to make connections that implement a selected intelligent network service. A service brokering system is incorporated in the network for managing the SPs to provide individual intelligent network services, or combinations thereof, to network users in association with individual call trigger events. The service brokering system includes a service combination manager service control point (SCM_SCP) containing a service combination manager (SCM) that acts as a gateway for incoming connection query messages from the switching nodes. The SCM preferably, but not necessarily, includes at least one feature combination manager (FCM) configured to manage the invocation of at least two of the SPs and, as necessary, to format the connection control messages generated thereby into appropriate multi-service connection control messages for use by the switching nodes. The SCM returns the multi-service connection control messages to the switching nodes, and the switching nodes make appropriate connections based on the combination of intelligent network services associated with the SPs managed by the FCM.