Exploring intelligent peripheral configurations

The intelligent peripheral (IP) is one of the most important components of the advanced intelligent network (AIN) infrastructure for implementing new network based services that cannot be easily provided by the traditional switching elements. Bellcore has developed requirements for the IP interface in document TA-NWT-001129; this document recommends that all the IP-SCP communication be routed through the service switching point (SSP). This IP interface recommendation is unnecessarily expensive in terms of SSP central processing unit (CPU) resources as every message exchanged between the SCP and the IP is translated by the SSP. Furthermore, the Bellcore recommended interface will not be available for a few more years from the major switching vendors. This may delay the deployment of AIN services leading the customers to seek other competing technologies. In GTEs AIN testbed we have implemented direct control of the IP from the service control point (SCP) as an alternative to Bellcore IP interface, and in our experience, this interface definitely proves a worthy alternative. The paper gives an overview of alternative TP configurations and how they are used in services such as UPT registration and out-call. A brief qualitative comparison of the Bellcore recommended architecture and the direct IP-SCP interface and a hybrid interface is presented