Data management in the intelligent network

The Intelligent Network offers a flexible architecture based on a generic set of components upon which new services can be built. The distribution of functions over IN nodes (SSP, SCP and SMS) leads to concentrating call processing logic along with service-related data into the SCP and/or SMS. As such, a set of tools is necessary within IN nodes to define and manipulate data and to ensure data consistency. This paper recalls the facilities expected by IN data users, then presents the different data management tools implemented in Alcatel's Intelligent Network. How such tools are used to enable an IN service is illustrated through the example of Free phone.