Intelligent network platforms in the U.S.

To the local-exchange carriers (LECs), the intelligent-network concept is a strategic goal for building new services and becoming more responsive to their customers. To meet the LECs' objectives, AT&T has introduced its A-I-Net™ advanced-services-platform (ASP) products. AT&T's offering for the ASP supports the intelligent-network concept while still interworking with existing switch-based features. Thus, the LECs can maximize use of their previous investment in network-switching hardware and software while still offering new services through the ASP's distributed network intelligence. AT&T has also been working with the Regional Holding Companies and Bellcore to plan their Advanced Intelligent Network Release 1 architecture, which has been proposed as the next-generation, intelligent-network platform. Advanced Intelligent Network Release 1 makes possible an even wider variety of services than the ASP by defining a more flexible switch interface with a corresponding expansion of the communications interface between the switches and external-service-logic nodes. This paper describes the architecture, features, and services provided by AT&T's ASP as well as the new capabilities planned with Advanced Intelligent Network Release 1. We focus primarily on AT&T's 5ESS® switch features.