Ejder ORUÇ / Head of Telecommunication Authority Office of Research and Strategies on Sectors

Intelligent Networks (IN)

The supply of value added services in telecommunication networks is made possible by private software additions to the operators, the new functions that the operators acquire by means of these software create incongruent in those networks, which are formed by more than one operators during the transition between operators.
The increase of competition, rapid change of the demands of subscribers, the incapacity of operators to respond to the demands of subscribers in a sufficiently fast, elastic and cheap mode, emergence of a separate expertise in the realm of computer and software, and as a result of this the increase in the interest in telecommunication sector, the fact that establishments other than the operator wanted to provide additional service over the networks, and that the operators wanted to preserve existing subscribers, provide rapid integration of new services and additional specialties to networks, find new subscribers, and especially to increase income by means of enhancing traffic flow via finalising those calls, which were not finalised led the operators to orient towards intelligent network architecture.
Intelligent networks are telecommunication networks, which are independent from service. By the use of computer knots instead of connection points, whole of the network is taken under proper control. This characteristic gives to the operator the opportunity to develop and regulate the services more easily, provide for the rapid application of new characteristics to the network. The concept of intelligent network can be added to all telecommunication networks and connotes an architecture, which forms "intelligence". For that reason, IN is not a network in itself; it is a concept that symbolises the new structure, which was constituted as to include reason/intelligence that is added to the existing telecommunication networks (PSTN/ISDN/GSM). The method applied is to detach the service supply in the networks from existing operators and to carry it to a different layer (service creation, administration and control layers). In this way, IN architecture provides for the facilitation service entry to the network and efficient use of network resources.

There are two complimentary networks in intelligent networks:
The first one is Central-Intelligent Network (C-IN), is that part, which contains central databases and signal links (CCS7) that reach from existing network to these bases.
The second one is Distributed IN (D-IN), is that part, which produces services by providing opportunity for processing in sound channels without necessitating intensive database.

1. C-IN ARCHITECTURE:
This architecture fundamentally consists of
SSP (Service Switching Point), which provides for the reach of subscriber in any point of the network to IN service, gets into question-answer contact with the database that is located in service control points for taking information about directing by perceiving IN numbers dialled by the subscriber;
SCP (Service Control Point), which is the central database of the intelligent network, which possesses high performance and wide memory capacity, contains service reason that belong to provided IN services and the whole database that belongs to the subscribers and where active service reason is interrogated;

IP (Intelligent Peripheral), which can record sound message for hundreds of hours, which provides announce supplied in the services and/or user interactive dialogue service, and which can conduct processing in the sound channel during IN service supply;
SMS (Service Management System), which is the service administration system that keeps all kinds of user data, service data, pricing data, traffic measuring values together with the right of access of the users who reach the network;
SCE (Service Creation Environment), where services that are planned to be provided in intelligent network are formed, tested in real networks before activation by means of simulation software.

1.1 Services that Can Be Provided in C-IN Architecture;
* Tele Voting: Used in order to get informed about the public opinion about any issue.
* Number that Can Be Called without Charge: Provides for the payment of the charge of the communication realised by the subscriber who is called.
* Universal Access Number: By this service the user acquires the property of being reached by only one special number that is independent of the network, from any part of the network.
* Call by Virtual Card: This service gives its subscriber the authority to make calls from any point of the network, the price of the call to be paid from virtual card calling credit.
* Virtual Special Network: It generally provides opportunity to meet the demands of the companies to reduce the cost of communication, to control their personnel's habit of using telephones and to use easier communication packages.

2. D-IN ARCHITECTURE:
This architecture fundamentally consists of 3 different parts;
ESP (Enhanced Services Platform), which is developed with the aim of providing services like traditional sound response or sound recording in those networks where C-IN is not constructed;
IP (Intelligent Peripheral), which performs the privatised capability functions of C-IN;
SN (Service Noble), which is used in constituting the services of various characters demanded by the customers on just one service platform.

2.1 Services that Can Be Provided in D-In Architecture;

- Tele Voting: Used in order to get informed about the public opinion about any issue.
- Voiced Application: Performs the function of voiced filling and preservation of forms prepared for different goals in electronic environment.
- Call Sensitive to Sound: This property gives the subscriber the opportunity to make calls by the options of telling the name of the person whom s/he calls or calling out the digits, rather than dialling.
- Call with Card: This property gives the subscriber the opportunity to make calls by using credit card or account cards.
- Mail or Message Services:
- Call Receiving and voice mail service: It is a fundamental service and it provides the user with answering machine service.
- Fax mail: This service provides opportunity for automatic recording of the call especially to a fax where electricity is gone off, a fax which is out of order or which is busy into the IP tool and the finalisation of the call subsequent to the end of the concerned situation.
- Unified voice or fax message: Provides the characteristics, which are constituted by the unification of the two services noted above.
- Unified messaging: Provides the opportunity for the recording of voice, fax and electronic message.
- Combined messaging: A property that is developed for those who do not want to get into direct contact with the subscriber, rather who want to leave voice message.
- Virtual telephone: In cases when telephone cannot be allotted the subscribers are given mail box number that can be used over IP tool. The calls received are stored there. The subscriber listens the calls sent to him/her later on from anywhere and receives the message left.
- Information Services:
- Audiotext: Provides for giving voice information to any subscriber.
- Interactive response: Supply of access to a local or distant database in an interactive mode by the use of the telephone of calling subscriber.
- Single number services: Provides the users with the opportunity of access over just one telephone number. It has 3 types.
- Programmed call
- Ordered call
- Synchronised call

IN STANDARDS
International standard works for IN are started by ITU and ETSI in 1989. These standards develop intelligent network sets in parallel compliance. Ability sets define service structures and service sets that can be constructed by the use of construction blocks independent of service. First ability set standard was arranged as CS-1R and accepted by ITU and ETSI in 1995.
Fundamental CS-1 information flow examples contain the following.
- Connect
- Collect and show the user information
- Conduct information analysis
- Make announcement
- End the call
Physical Component
Allocated Function Component
Definition
Service Switching Point (SSP)
Call Control Function (CCF)
Control call processes and provides network connection services
Service Switching Function (SSF)
Supports AA triggering and access to AA tasks
Special Resource Function (SRF)
Supports the interaction between calling process software and service control function on the switch
Call Control Agent Function (CCAF)
Supports private network resources considered with caller interaction; provides the access of users to the network
Service Control Point (SCP)
Service Control Function (SCF)
Operates AA service logic and effects the calling process on the switch by using its interface with SSF
Service Data Function (SDF)
Manages customer and network data for real time access of SCF in the operation of an AA service
Intelligent Peripheral (IP)
Special Resource Function
In general supports special network resources together with caller interaction
Service Management Point
(SMP)
Service Management Function (SMF)
Provides location and supply of AA services and support to continuing processes
Service Management Access Function (SMAF)
Provides interaction between service managers and SMF
Service Creation Environment Point (SCEP)
Service Creation Environment Function (SCEF)
Provides the definition, development, testing and entry to SMF of the services supplied in AA
Service Data Point (SDP)
Service Data Function (SDF)
Manages customer and network data for real time access of SCF in the operation of an AA service
Table: Physical and Functional Units of IN

INTELLIGENT NETWORKS OF THE FUTURE
In the studies, which are continued to be conducted on the subject of IN services are considered in three separate groups. These groups are defined as telecommunication services, service management services and service creation services.
In addition to this, within the framework of constant mobile convergence, it is known that IN models, which are also used in mobile systems are being developed. Just as they present significant novelties in both constant network and mobile network today, IN services will also perform important functions in constant-mobile convergence services in the future. Apart from that, 3G architectures are also being developed with an IN architecture base.
Besides, IN, which has generally been used in telephone based practices up-to-day can also be used in data, broadband, video ad multi-media services. It is expected that in the coming years IN structure will experience an intensive demand in the concerned spheres and that a significant development would be achieved. Especially due to the structural change that will take place in telephone networks in the near future significant changes are expected in the service variety that will be provided in IN networks and in IN architecture.