Intelligent Networks: Principles and Applications
This book explains how intelligence can be introduced into digital telephone networks.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Intelligent Networks: Principles and Applications
Chapter 1: Introduction to intelligent networks
The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.
Hartley, L.P.: The Go-Between (Penguin Classics, 1953)
1.1 The basics of intelligent networks
The world of telecommunications has changed dramatically since the intelligent network was defined, around 20 years ago. However, the early principles, which were established at that time, have now become embodied in most public telephone networks and are the driving force behind many advanced telecommunications services.
1.1.1 Origins
Like many things, intelligence in telephone networks is not new. In many ways, public networks were at their most intelligent perhaps 70 years ago, when every subscriber had a local telephone operator, perhaps at the local shop, who knew all her customers by name and probably in person as well. Calling by name was a natural service you would ask to be connected to a particular person and the operator would endeavour to track that person down and connect you to them. If you asked her for the florist shop or the taxi service, she probably wouldn't have had to trouble you for the number. A service such as calling name delivery was naturally included for local calls the operator would announce who the caller was when she put the call through to you.
Call diversion (e.g. to the doctor currently on duty) was easy the operator would have the doctor's current whereabouts on a piece of paper in front of her, if she didn't know it already, and she would put you through to...
Copyright The Institution of Electrical Engineers 2002 under license agreement with Books24x7
