Introducing transparencies by modelling intelligent network data

The intelligent network architecture is aimed at introducing flexibility in service provisioning. A particular aspect of flexibility is described as the transparency requirement. It refers to the capability of service to be designed independently of the underlying network configuration. Obviously, production methodology and tools are required to meet such a challenge. The author describes an external data model which allows the IN service designer to: comprehensively describe data; write programs independently of data distribution; migrate data or programs separately; and respect performance constraints. The gains of such an approach are to: provide requested transparencies; increase the flexibility of the intelligent network architecture; allow for migration activities; alleviate maintenance by increasing the service creation capabilities and by improving documentation; and ease the tuning of services and performances