Intelligent Network (IN) Concept

The intelligent network concept: intelligence is taken out of exchanges and placed in computer nodes that are distributed throughout the network.

Intelligence => access to various databases

This provides the network operator with the means to develop and control services more efficiently. New capabilities can be rapidly introduced into the network. Once introduced, services are easily customized to meet individual customer's needs.

IN service subscriber and customer

In a typical IN service scenario, the network operator or a 3rd party service provider implements the service for one or several subscribers, after which customers can use the service.

Service subscriber = company offering the service (e.g. the 0800 number that anybody can call)

Customers = those who use the service (e.g. those who call the 0800 number)

Confusion possible:

IN service subscriber ¹ PSTN subscriber

IN services

A large number of IN services can be implemented by combining different “building blocks”:

• Called number translation (at SCP)
• Routing decision based on calling number, time, date, called user busy, called user alerting timeout, network load ...
• Announcements (from IP) or user notification (<= ISDN user signalling)
• DTMF number reception (at IP) and analysis (at SCP)
• Customised charging (at exchanges)