Switching and Intelligent
Networks
Intelligent Networks Introduction
AAU, AAiT
27 April, 2020
Addis Ababa University
Semister 1, 2016/17
5th year, Communication Stream
Semester II, 2016/17 1
Introduction to Intelligent Network
Continuous desire to:
share data
distribute application processing among network elements
use more sophisticated telecommunications services.
e.g. VAS
Evolution of new networking architecture
Intelligent Networks – an evolved architecture which
separates the software that controls basic switch functionality, such as setting up
switch paths, from the software that controls call progression to allow more
advanced features to be rapidly introduced.
enables introduction of advanced customer orientated services rapidly and cost
effectively. Addis Ababa University
Semister 1, 2016/17
5th year, Communication Stream
Semester II, 2016/17 2
Basic Switching
In the traditional Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), the switching systems:
perform the basic call processing
consists of a hierarchy of switches, e.g. a local exchange level, an intermediate
exchange level and a transit exchange level, as shown in figure below
Addis Ababa University
Semister 1, 2016/17
5th year, Communication Stream
Semester II, 2016/17 3
Basic Switching
If the switch based services are situated at the transient (top) level:
a large overhead for their use because of the number of switches and related trunks
that need to be accessed in order to use a service.
services have been 'migrating' to lower levels of the hierarchy, reducing
the overhead for service use.
Addis Ababa University
Semister 1, 2016/17
5th year, Communication Stream
Semester II, 2016/17 4
Basic Switching -- Issues
Having the services located in the switches complicates service maintenance
and addition, especially as the number of services contained in each switch
increases.
the addition of new services occurs very rarely.
not feasible for customers to request specific services to suit their
business needs
Traditionally, a single company runs an exchange and all of the services it
offers.
No competitive market for service provision
Lack of competition leads to lack of innovation
A new telecom architecture which solves these problems needed
Addis Ababa University
Semister 1, 2016/17
Intelligent Networks
5th year, Communication Stream
Semester II, 2016/17 5
Intelligent Network Basics
Changes needed:
Increase Service Velocity: enable the rapid introduction of new services with direct
responsiveness to customer needs.
Broaden The Range of Services: go beyond traditional voice and data bearer
services to include information services, broadband and multimedia.
Enable a Multivendor Competitive Environment: ensure services will work
correctly and consistently on any vendor's equipment.
Evolve from Existing Networks: must interwork with and evolve from existing
networks since completely replacing existing networks would be far to disruptive and
time consuming..
First Step: remove the service data from the switching network
locate it in a centralized database accessible to all the switching nodes
Next Step: separate the service logic from the switch
Addis Ababa University
Semister 1, 2016/17
put it into an independent node, called an 'intelligent node'.
5th year, Communication Stream
Semester II, 2016/17 6
Intelligent Network Basics
Real time connection is needed between:
the network nodes, known as 'service switching points' (SSPs) and
the intelligent node, known as the 'service control points' (SCPs) as shown below
Addis Ababa University
Semister 1, 2016/17
5th year, Communication Stream
Semester II, 2016/17 7
Intelligent Network Benefits
provides a complete framework for the uniform creation, provision and
management of advanced telecommunication services
enables the set of services to be extended, giving users a wider choice i.e. it
defines an open set of services
extensive use of information processing techniques
efficient use of network resources
integrated service creation and implementation by means of reusable
standard network functions
flexible allocation of network functions to physical entities
portability of network functions among physical entities
standardized communication between network functions via service
independent interfaces
customer control over their specific service attributes
Addis Ababa University
standardized management of service logic
Semister 1, 2016/17
5th year, Communication Stream
Semester II, 2016/17 8
