Merging voice communications and information processing: using a platform for voice information services

Summary form only given. The voice informations services platform eliminates the need for specialized hardware and software and allows businesses to link computers, telephone networks, and the telephone to provide a comprehensive set of telephony-based data access applications. The platform serves as a communications controller. It handles the disposition of all inbound and outbound traffic under a computer host´s control. It gives to the switch the intelligence of a mainframe. It merges the functions of the switching system and the computer. The platform creates a link between the switch and the host computer. The switching system is the interpreter of the call signaling information. It translates call information into protocols understood by the host computer. It takes its commands from the host and interprets them as call actions, and executes them to switch, route, and complete calls. It gives the host computer access to private and public network services, such as DNIS, DID, SMSI, FGD, 950, 900, and 800 services. It gives the switch the power of the host computer to make routing decisions, handle database transactions, perform complex calculations, and execute voice features. The platform requires reliability and flexibility. It must be easy to program. The desirable characteristics of the platform are discussed