System for managing telecommunications

Abstract

The invention includes a system for processing telecommunications signaling. Signaling for a call is received into a signaling processor. The signaling processor processes the call and generates new signaling incorporating the processing. The new signaling is transferred to network elements as appropriate. The signaling processor is not coupled to a switch matrix and only communicates with the network elements over signaling links.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A telecommunication processing system comprising: 
 a first signaling interface configured to receive a first signaling message from a narrowband network element;    a message handler configured process the first signaling message to recognize a trigger, identify a communication service responsive to the trigger, obtain data to implement the communication service, and process the data to generate a route instruction;    a second signaling interface configured to transfer the second signaling message indicating the route instruction to a packet network element, wherein the packet network element receives the second signaling message, receives user communications transferred from the narrowband network element, and transfers the user communications over a packet network responsive to the second signaling message; and    wherein the first signaling interface, the second signaling interface, and the message handler are external to the narrowband network element, the packet network element, and other network elements that transfer the user communications.    
     
     
         2 . The telecommunication processing system of  claim 1  wherein the first signaling interface comprises a signaling system interface.  
     
     
         3 . The telecommunication processing system of  claim 1  further comprising a third signaling interface configured to transfer a third signaling message to a database and receive a fourth signaling message from the database, wherein the fourth signaling message indicates the data to implement the communication service.  
     
     
         4 . The telecommunication processing system of  claim 3  wherein the third signaling interface comprises a signaling system seven transaction capability application part interface.  
     
     
         5 . The telecommunication processing system of  claim 1  wherein the second signaling interface comprises an internet protocol interface.  
     
     
         6 . The telecommunication processing system of  claim 1  wherein the second signaling interface comprises an Ethernet interface.  
     
     
         7 . The telecommunication processing system of  claim 1  wherein the data to implement the communication service comprises N00 service data.  
     
     
         8 . The telecommunication processing system of  claim 1  wherein the data to implement the communication service comprises Virtual Private Network (VPN) service data.  
     
     
         9 . The telecommunication processing system of  claim 1  wherein the data to implement the communication service comprises dialed number mobility service data.  
     
     
         10 . The telecommunication processing system of  claim 1  wherein the route instruction is for a voice message platform.  
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a telecommunication processing system, the method comprising: 
 receiving a first signaling message from a narrowband network element;    processing the first signaling message to recognize a trigger;    identifying a communication service responsive to the trigger;    obtaining data to implement the communication service;    processing the data to generate a route instruction;    transferring a second signaling message indicating the route instruction to a packet network element, wherein the packet network element receives the second signaling message, receives user communications transferred from the narrowband network element, and transfers the user communications over a packet network responsive to the second signaling message; and    wherein the telecommunication processing system is external to the narrowband network element, the packet network element, and other network elements that transfer the user communications.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first signaling message comprises a signaling system seven initial address message.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising transferring a third signaling message to a database and receiving a fourth signaling message from the database, wherein the fourth signaling message indicates the data to implement the communication service.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the third signaling message and the fourth signaling message comprise signaling system seven transaction capability application part messages.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the second signaling message comprises an internet protocol message.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the second signaling message comprises an Ethernet message.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the data to implement the communication service comprises N00 service data.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the data to implement the communication service comprises Virtual Private Network (VPN) service data.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the data to implement the communication service comprises dialed number mobility service data.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the route instruction is for a voice message platform.