A simple and standard IN architecture is described in Figure 1.
SCP is responsible for the control and implementation of IN services. In SSP, CCF performs the traditional function of switches, but with information report through SSF to SCF. CCF also controls the call processing procedure according to commands from SCF. SRF provides functions such as voice announcement, digital collection, etc. SSF acts as an interface between SCF and CCF. Through CCS7 network, SCP connects to local SSPs. All the IN services are switched to SCP by the local SSP.
INAP (Intelligent Network Application Protocol) defines the application protocol between SCF and SSF, SCF and SRF, SCF and SDF. CINAP (Chinese Intelligent Network Application Protocol) is the standard in Chinese Public Network. Our IN research team have contributed a lot to CINAP.
The research of Intelligent Network as an 863 project started in 1993 in NKL of BUPT. New 863 projects, National Science Foundation Projects and projects from MPT support our advanced research and development in IN and related areas.
Our institution Beijing Telestar Telecom Technology Institute (BTTTI) built up in 1996 is aimed at carrying on research in IN and putting it into run on Chinese public telecommunication network. The MTP in China considers it one of its key development projects as well. We have implemented two IN products: CIN01 (Chinese Intelligent Network No. 1) and CIN02, which have been put in test run respectively on a private network in Beijing and on the public network in Shanghai.
The soul idea of IN concept is that the network functionality is modeled
into a series of SIBs (Service Independent Building Blocks). Based on these
SIBs, Service developers can design and implement services promptly and
effectively, caring little about the detail of networks. SCE is the environment
in which service developers can develop services based on these SIBs. SCE
is the key component of Intelligent Network.
SCE developed by my group is an environment in which people can
develop, validate, debug and test their IN services based on SIBs. It includes:
Figure 2 describes the current software structure of our SCE system. SCE System is implemented on Solaris environment. Specification Description Tool (SDT), an integrated SDL environment, is employed in the design of SSF/CCF. TCL/TK and Erlang language are employed in graphic user interface and SMS designing. SCP is implemented in C++ by another group.
The object-oriented design of real-time distributed system, design of open software architecture including Open Distributed Processing (ODP) , as well as Communicating Extended Finite State Machines and Message Sequence Charts are applied in implementation. Theory and practice of formal methods for software design and testing as well as service feature interaction are studied academically and would be applied in implementation.
The control and management mechanism of the 2nd-generation digital mobile communication networks, such as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) , is very similar to that of IN. It has an apparent trend to integrate with IN. The integration of IN techniques into mobile network makes up one significant feature in the network structure of the 3rd-generation of digital mobile network like FPLMTS and UMTS. This would ultimately head to the attainment of the Universal Personal Telecommunications (UPT) .
Considering the current situation in Chinese mobile network, we adopted a simple scheme in the first phase. The MSC (Mobile Switching Center) of present mobile network (e.g. GSM) is modified to SSP (SSF/CCF) in order to support DP (Detection Point) mechanism, which reports events to the SCP in detection of IN services and controls the call processing procedure. Database originally in the mobile network is remained in the same place. SCP communicates with HLR in the mobile network so that mobile-related data, such as IMSI, MSISDN can be available by IN. Therefore, IN services can be provided by small alteration to the present mobile network.
Figure 3 Structure of Interconnection of IN and Mobile Network
In Figure 3, GSM is responsible for the administration related to mobility, such as location updating, terminal authentication, execution of supplementary services, etc. IN is responsible for the processing of IN services.
I am a main participant in the high level design of the interconnection architecture, responsible for the study of new SIBs and their implementation in SCE. Research of feature interaction between IN services and supplementary services of mobile network is another task of mine.
For the purpose of interconnection of IN and mobile network, INAP should be extended to fulfill the new functions. In the Global Function Plane for service designing, these functions are modeled into a group of SIBs (Service Independent Building Blocks). Three new SIBs, MSLocation, ConnectMS and Register are added to accomplish the interaction with mobile network. MSLocation performs the functionality of getting the location information of mobile stations; ConnectMS performs the functionality of establishing the route to the mobile stations; Register provides the function of modifying the service dada of service users.
My research about FPLMTS includes the research of the new SF (Service Feature) , SIB (Service Independent Building Block) and FE (Function Entity), as well as the research of INAP that supports FPLMTS.ntegration of IN and B-ISDN
B-ISDN, with the Asynchronous Transfer Mode, is the fundamental communication platform of “Information Highway”. With the integration of IN and B-ISDN, operators can develop new broadband multimedia services more flexibly and sufficiently. New generations of value-added services, which integrate audio, video, text and data on the basis of high-speed broadband network, can become the main body of IN services.
I am researching on the integration of IN structure with B-ISDN into a unified and harmonized functional architecture, expansion of B-ISDN function model using IN method, support of mobile function and separation of BC (Bearer Control) and CC (Call Control) .
My tasks:
As one of my initial tasks after I joined BUPT, I developed the functionality
in SSF (Service Switching Function) , designed and implemented the INAP
(Intelligent Network Application Protocol) on the SSP side. C++ Language
and object-oriented methods were applied in programming.
Acting as the leader of the SCE (Service Creation Environment) group,
I am in charge of the research and development of SCE.
My tasks:
Problems in research include theory and practice of formal methods
for software designing and test as well as service feature interaction.
I am in charge of the whole project.
My tasks:
Service validation and test are considered the advanced functions of
Service Creation Environment. I am in charge of the project.
My tasks:
I am responsible for the research and development of the advanced SCE
on CS-2.
I participated in the high level design of the architecture of interconnection of IN and the wireless networks. I am also responsible for the new SIB (Service Independent Building Blocks) design.
My tasks:
I am currently researching on the integration of IN structure with
B-ISDN into a unified and harmonized functional architecture, expansion
of B-ISDN function model using IN method, support of mobile function and
separation of BC (Bearer Control) and CC (Call Control) .
My tasks:
Study of new SIB design for IN services in mobile network.
My tasks:
Research of new added SF (Service Feature) , SIB (Service Independent
Building Block) and FE (Function Entity) as well as the research of INAP
that supports FPLMTS.
My tasks in project 8, 9, 10
Acting as the manager of the SCE department in Beijing Telestar Telecom
Technology Institute (BTTTI) , I am responsible for the implementation
of Service Creation Environment, and I am playing an important role in
the decision-making about the entire IN system.