Showing papers on "Differentiated service published in 1997"

Analysis and validation system for provisioning network related facilities

Abstract: An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) includes a service order processing system receiving a service request from a customer requesting service for a customer location, and determining whether the service request is provisionable responsive to the service request and predetermined criteria. When the service order processing system determines that the service request is provisionable, automatically provisioning customer facilities including at least one of a domain name, a user name, a customer network address, and an electronic mail address, to execute the service request based upon information stored by the service order processing system. The information includes customer identification data and customer facility data, and the information is maintained by the service order processing system without substantially altering the customer facility data.

Programming telecommunication networks

Abstract: The move toward market deregulation and open competition has sparked a wave of serious introspection in the telecommunications service industry. Telecom providers and operators are now required to open up their primary revenue channels to competing industries. The competition for product differentiation increasingly depends on the level of sophistication, degree of flexibility, and speed of deployment of services that a future provider can offer. These factors in turn depend heavily on the flexibility of the software architecture in place in a provider's operational infrastructure. Within this context, we examine the service architecture of two major global communication networks-the telephone network and the Internet and explore their weaknesses and strengths. We discuss the realization of an open programmable networking environment based on a new service architecture for advanced telecommunication services that overcomes the limitations of the existing networks. Our approach to network programmability stems from two angles-one conceptual, the other implementational. In the first, we attempt to develop a service model that is open and reflects the economic market structure of the future telecommunications service industry. Furthermore, we introduce an extended reference model for realizing the service marketplace and present it as a vehicle for creating multimedia services with QoS guarantees. In the second, we investigate the feasibility of engineering the reference model from an implementation standpoint. We describe a realization of the open programmable networking environment as a broadband kernel. Called xbind, the broadband kernel incorporates IP and CORBA technologies for signaling, management, and service creation, and ATM for transport. We also address some of the important QoS, performance, scalability, and implementation issues.

Service Accelerator (SEA) system for supplying demand oriented information services

Abstract: An information service system is proposed to satisfy the requirements for use, provision and guarantee of service, from the standpoints of end users, service providers and network providers. The service is defined according to three views: customization (who is requesting information service), situation (where and when they request it) and quality (how important the request is). These requirements are achieved by three basic techniques: (i) discernment of the service from the three views, (ii) broad action to access the related service providers or end users on the basis of the discernment, and (iii) synchronization to integrate the multiple information provided from the broad action. This information service system, called SEA (SErvice Accelerator), is realized as a service platform in an open environment so as to coexist with conventional systems and attain flexible services.

Method and apparatus for implementing a service in a wireless communication system

Abstract: In a wireless communication system (100, 200), at least one service building block (605-610 and 622) is used in a service creation environment (301) to create logic program rules (303) that include identification of an authorized service execution environment. The logic program rules, which may require further configuration, are provided to a service execution environment (302) having an identification that matches the identification of the authorized service execution environment. Configurable software modules within the service execution environment are executed in accordance with the logic program rules when at least one predetermined stimulus is detected, thereby providing the service within the system. The service creation environment and the service execution environment may be implemented within a single console or separately implemented within different consoles, or the service creation environment can be embodied within a stand-alone computer (201). In this manner, rapid service creation is provided.

Supporting highly manageable Web services

Abstract: This paper focuses on the management aspects of Web service provision. We argue that support for manageability has to be considered at the design stage if services are to be capable of delivering high levels of quality of service for their users. Examples of the problems caused by lack of manageability include maintenance operations that necessitate service downtime, or difficulties in ensuring consistency of information. We categorise management issues into those concerning a site as a whole and those pertaining to individual services. Our approach to site management supports the arbitrary distribution of services to machines, allowing the optimum cost/performance configuration to be selected. Services can be easily migrated between machines, resulting in sites that scale, both in terms of the number of services and the number of users. Service management issues may be generalised as supporting evolution, for example, supporting changes to the functionality, the presentation logic, and the overall look and feel of a service. Our approach, based on the separation of functionality and presentation, allows such changes to be performed on-line and ensures that updates are reflected consistency across the various pages of a service, or across services. This approach also facilitates the development of services that utilise dynamic content for service customisations, such as tailoring a service to match the profile of users. Furthermore, all management operations are available through Web-based interfaces, making them accessible to a broad range of users, not only specialist system administrators.

Cooperative call processing across public and private intelligent networks

Abstract: A wide range of advanced call processing services are optimally provided through a cooperative effort between public and private intelligent networks Service control logic in the public network interacts with service control logic in the private network The cooperative call processing exploits the best service features from both environments More specifically, a logical relationship is established over an end-to-end, service logic communication path between the service control elements of both networks using a very small set of operation procedures Using that set of operational procedures, either network's service control logic requests and receives a service feature orchestrated entirely by the other network's service logic In this way, specific service features making up a requested service may be provided by the network best suited to perform a particular service feature Since neither network needs to control or even know how the other network performs its assigned service feature, the integrity and simplicity of each network's control logic and protocols are preserved

A hierarchical network storage architecture for video-on-demand services

Abstract: The advances in cable TV networks and multimedia technologies have open the possibilities for network/service/content providers to offer residential customers with video-on-demand services. However, the mass storage system used in supporting such services demands proper organization and management. We present a three-level hierarchical network storage architecture for the video-on-demand storage system. At the first-level (local service center, LSC) a limited number of programs with high viewing probabilities are stored; while at the second-level (local central service center, LCSC) a few programs with the second highest viewing probabilities are stored. The third-level (central service center, CSC) contains all programs provided in the system. Based on this architecture and the program viewing probability distribution function, we use a minimum-cost function to find out the number of programs stored in the two service centers (LSC and LCSC) and the number of links among these three service centers. We also describe two program reallocation algorithms which swap programs between service centers according to the change in user request patterns.

Service control and management system

Abstract: Service control and management systems, and particularly a system for managing service provision on an hourly basis, are disclosed. The system includes smart cards issued to service recipients and/or individual service providers, smart card readers provided at the locations where services are provided for use at that time, and a host capable of communicating with said readers. Each reader comprises means for initiating a service provision transaction when a recipient card and/or provider card is inserted, means for resetting the service timer for the time between initiation of the transaction and the completion of the service, means for periodically recording service provision data in a non-volatile memory, and means for transmitting said data to the host. The system is useful for service provision management.

Safe service customization

Abstract: We present a new technique for Safe Service Customization, which flexibly supports subscribers in their desire to change the Service logic in a controlled fashion, while guaranteeing that the modified services can immediately be activated, without previous intervention of specialists like service designers or testers. This flexibilization and simplification of the service customization process reduces the costs for tailored intelligent network services and therefore provides a key to a service-on-demand market.

Method for accessing customer service from telephony devices and internet applications

Abstract: A method for accessing customer service from telephony devices and internet applications is provided in which the telephony devices and internet applications have interfaces specifically designated for accessing the customer service. Upon detection of a customer service request from these interfaces, the telephony devices and internet applications establish a connection to a customer service system either via a telecommunication network or web. Thereafter, the customer service system reads status information and executes a diagnostic script to detect and resolve problems that users are experiencing. The customer service system may utilize either an automated customer service server or a customer service agent in the process of addressing users' problems.

Contracting and Moving Agents in Distributed Applications Based on a Service-Oriented Architecture

Abstract: This paper presents a service-oriented platform for development and execution of distributed applications based on contracting stationary and migrating services. Services are seen as active objects build on top of a middleware using OMG/CORBA and added features. Customized services add to the middleware the ability to handle transparently application start-up and distribution according to load-balancing and inverse caching application demand. Services can be considered of any kind ranging from scientific specialized processing to data archiving juke-boxes. An application on system management in scientific experimental environment drives the work on some aspects of the architecture.

An agent-based approach to service management—towards service independent network architecture

Abstract: With deregulation of the telecom industry the intense competition for customers is driving service providers to offer new and sophisticated services at an increasing rate. Simultaneously, the Internet is attracting vendor creativity and putting a fatal pressure on the traditional telecom pricing structure. Whereas the telecom industry still leads in service quality, there is growing need for a cost effective architecture for network and service management comparable in responsiveness and flexibility to the Internet, yet capable of maintaining high service quality for increasingly complex services.

Apparatus and method for automatically determining whether a telephone service user speaks the language of the service

Abstract: This invention is characterized by providing an apparatus for automatically discriminating service users which can prevent troubles from occurring between the service provider and users because of difference in language. When the service provider has a call from a user, the service provider makes an announcement to the user to request the voicing of a specific keyword. If an answer by the keyword is made from the user, it is determined whether or not it is an answer by the correct keyword. If correct, the call is connected to the service provider. If not correct, how to use the service is announced in another language. Then, the line is disconnected. As a result, a user who is weak in the language used by the service provider can be prevented from being connected to the service provider.

Evolution transparency for distributed service types

Abstract: Name: Twittie Senivongse Degree: PhD in Computer Science Evolution Transparency for Distributed Service Types Abstract Large software systems are never static as they exist in an environment that is subject to constant changes in both functionality and technology. Managing this evolution is one of the major challenges in the engineering of large-scale software systems. When a distributed service evolves its interface, other parties in its environment who need to continue using the service will themselves have to evolve correspondingly if the evolved service, although functionally compatible, is not type-compatible with the original one. The autonomous and decentralised nature of distributed components makes such an assumption impractical since the service provider and client systems may not agree on the evolution. It may not even be possible to track down and alter all client programs which are distributed over the network. The best way to tackle this problem is to provide 'evolution transparency' to give the affected components the illusion that the service does not change. This thesis presents an RM-ODP-based model that hides from clients details of changes occuring to distributed service types over time. By allowing type versioning , the model supports program compatibility by enabling a client program of one type version to access a service instance of another functionally compatible type version, even though the versions are not considered compatible by the supporting type system. The model manages a cross-version binding and maintains semantic information which is used to transform the client's invocation to the format recognised by the accessed service object. With a prototype implementation on ANSAware together with an analysis of its mechanism, the evolution transparency support proves useful; clients are given the flexibility to defer their own evolution, and type substitutability is also extended from syntactic to functional compatibility.

Application of TINA-C computing and service architecture concepts to the development of an advanced information brokerage service in the context of EC

Abstract: The concept of electronic brokerage is based on the use of new information technologies so as to provide a service capable of facilitating and organising the relationship between the supply and the demand in an "electronic marketplace" environment. This new service supported by the so-called "electronic brokers", will allow service providers to publish and advertise their offers and, at the same time, will help end users to access the offered services and information in an easy and efficient way. The paper presents an architecture for this electronic brokerage service that is currently being developed within the scope of the ABS (Architecture for Information Brokerage Service) ACTS European project. This architecture is based on concepts and principles contained in the TINA-C computing and service architecture and in the OMG EC-DTF Reference Model.

Method for providing a service for users of a telecommunication network

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for providing a service for users of a telecommunication network. Service calls requesting the execution of the service for an respective one of the users are routed to a service switching exchange of the telecommunication network or are respectively routed to one of several service switching exchanges of the telecommunication network. A corespondent service request is sent by the respective service switching exchange, that has received the respective service call, to a service control facility or to one of several possible service control facilities. For each such service request received from the or each service switching exchange a service session object, which is able to interact and communicate via an object infrastructure with other objects in a object oriented computing environment, is created within the or each service control facility and the respective service session object controls the execution of the service for the respective service call.

Method for providing at least one service to users of a telecommunication network

Abstract: A method for providing a service for users of a telecommunication network. Service calls requesting the execution of the service for an respective one of the users are routed to a service switching exchange of the telecommunication network or are respectively routed to one of several service switching exchanges of the telecommunication network. A corespondent service request is sent by the respective service switching exchange, that has received the respective service call, to a service control facility or to one of several possible service control facilities. The service request is routed to a particular one of a plurality of servers of the service control facility, which are formed on top of an object infrastructure within an object oriented computing environment The particular server acts as service repository server and determines another one of the plurality of servers that is available and able to execute the control of the service for the respective service call.

The EMMA multimedia conference service

Abstract: The complexity and diversity of novel telecommunication services require experimental systems for the exploration of research areas such as resource allocation and management. The aim of the paper is to introduce a multimedia conferencing service and to summarize its main benefits. This service is based on an experimental system, which deals with research issues both on the network and terminal side and which is adequate for quantitative and subjective evaluation of teleservices. An object-oriented model describes the parties involved in the session, the allocated network and terminal resources and the media used for communication. The objects of this model are created and updated by a high level service management protocol. The centralized resource management scheme ensures QoS for any kind of multimedia service. Another benefit of this system is that the control of the service can be done by naive users.

Provision of integrated services-the service node approach

Abstract: Today we see an obvious trend towards the provision of integrated services. The paper considers the Service Node providing a powerful approach for such service integration tasks because it forms a flexible platform for a wide range of different architectures and applications. After discussing the motivation for a complementation of the classical IN architecture the paper elaborates on the Service Node as the basic element for the further evolution of the IN concept towards more distributed network intelligence. In particular the paper presents: a description of the Service Node concept (e.g. the classical SCP as a special case of a Service Node); Services which are typically provided by Service Nodes; Service Node architecture; The integration of PSTN/ISDN services with mobile services based on a Service Node approach (a practical example); and discussion of future directions for Intelligent Networks taking the Internet challenge into account.

IN service creation elements: variations on the meaning of a SIB

Abstract: The major thrust of the intelligent network is to move the intelligence behind call processing out of network switches and to empower network operators with tools that enable them to create this intelligence. In present day intelligent networks, call processing intelligence is typically placed on general purpose computing platforms, called service control points (SCP). Service creation environments (SCE) support the creation of IN call processing intelligence, service logic programs (SLP), that run on these computing platforms. Intelligent network solutions include an SCP component and an SCE component, as well as other network elements and operations systems. The service creation environment is a critical part of an IN solution. Today, telecommunications and information technology vendors offer a large variety of SCEs. This variety is largely characterized by the pre-defined service programming elements or commands, often called Service Independent Building Blocks (SIBs), that are provided by the SCE's service creation toolkit. These SIBs operate at various levels of granularity. A SCE may support the use of a general purpose programming language with a built-in API for access to INAP services. Or, an SCE may support a graphical service programming toolkit where the programming elements are represented by icons which again may operate at various levels from GNAP information flows to pre-defined service features. This paper describes three types or categories of IN service creation environments, where the categorization is based on the service programming elements and model supported by the SCE.

A survey and new results in renegotiated service

Abstract: 197 Abstract. To use a network service class, an application must determine which service is suitable and provide a concise description of traffic characteristics required by the service class. Applications may find it difficult to do this if accurate a priori knowledge of traffic is not available or if the traffic characteristics will change over time. Both of these difficulties can be addressed by a renegotiated service that supports changes in the traffic contract over time. We focus in this paper on applications that have known, but changing, service requirements, thus they can use off-line processing. We survey existing work and present new algolithms for determining when to renegotiate the service and what new traffic contract to supply. We evaluate the performance of our work and the work of others using a common set of application streams.

Service trading in mobile environments

Abstract: One of the most important considerations for applications operating in a mobile environment is the ability to dynamically adjust to changing resource availability. With a dynamic resource location service as part of the infrastructure, mobile applications are able to re-bind to service providers as they move within the mobile environment and as available services change. As part of the ISO/IEC and ITU-T standardisation of the Reference Model for Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP), a trading function has been identified. It is an important infrastructure service that allows clients to locate services using service types and associated parameters as selection criteria. In order to engineer reliable open object-based distributed systems, it is important to perform modelling and analysis as part of the design process. This paper introduces the reader to the concept of service trading and indicates how it may be utilised by applications in a mobile environment. In addition, coloured Petri nets are shown to be useful for the modelling and verification of distributed mobile applications.

Generic service coordination mechanism for solving supplementary service interaction problems in communication system

Abstract: A generic service coordination mechanism solves feasible service interaction problems taking into account real-time processing constraints within telecommunication networks. The coordination mechanism limits service interaction complexity within an active basic call by preventing interactive service accessibility as early as possible following the request of a new service. Data defined on the basis of a general allocation, an individual subscriber allocation, and a service allocation is manipulated during provision and withdrawal, activation and deactivation, and invocation and operation of service procedures. Requests to initiate, read, change, or erase subscription and interaction data are processed internally according to a coordinator state machine. Requests are terminated by a response which includes a decision to continue basic call processing and service processing based on allocated services and encountered service interaction criteria such as restriction or dependency criteria.

Engineering for quality of service

Abstract: Important factors that will determine the success of the players in the competitive communications market of the future are efficient service creation and deployment, and quality of service (QoS). We present an approach to service creation and QoS handling that is followed by the ACTS project (AC227) SCREEN. In particular we identify two general problem classes that should be tackled by the service developer, in the context of QoS handling. The first problem class is concerned with the derivation of the adequate service logic that will capture and negotiate the required QoS levels, during service execution. The second problem class is concerned with the translation of QoS requirements into performance requirements of service components, and subsequently, with the deployment of the service components on the DPE. We go on to specify promising solutions related to the first problem class, that are based on the definition of component contract offers and negotiation.

A Generic Architecture Multimedia Service andManagement

Abstract: A multimedia service architecture is constructed by using a generic component model. In order to derive specific components, a generic service agent and generic service component architectures are developed. Using generic agent and the service components, a TINA-C conformant object-oriented hierarchical generic service component is developed and presented. As an example, a multimedia QoS service and management architecture is presented.

Personalised News on demand : The HyNoDe Service

Abstract: This paper presents the approach of the ESPRIT project HyNoDe (EP 22160 - Hypermedia News on Demand) towards a novel Personalised News-On-Demand (PNoD) Service. The HyNoDe Service Personalised feature refers to customisation of the service to suit individual needs and preferences of the clients based on the information filtering concept. The service addresses all the involved phases in the news publishing industry, from News Capturing up to end-user News Presentation. The paper compares the HyNoDe service with existing ones, and presents the architecture of the service, and the HyNoDe modules and tools related with each of the news publishing phases.

Adaptive Behavior of Quality of Service in Distributed Multimedia Systems

Abstract: Current distributed multimedia applications demand Quality of Service from the system to facilitate effective services to the end users. However, within the range of QoS demands appropriately specified by the application, lower level transport facilities may not be able to constantly provide Quality of Service without perturbations. We introduce facilities in the middleware level to perform Quality of Service adaptations on a specific Quality of Service metric that is measured from the raw Quality of Service provided by the underlying layers, and refer to the component performing the task as adaptors. We are able to approach Quality of Service adaptations from a different perspective with a simplified but precise model for Quality of Service metrics, adaptations, and the adaptation behavior. Utilizing theories and techniques from the digital control theories and digital signal processing, we are able to model adaptation stability and agility of the performed adaptation behavior, and to introduce methods to analyze and configure the transformations according to the demands specified by the distributed multimedia applications.

A study on a common service-providing architecture for future telecommunications

Abstract: The new trends in the service area cause a change on the service providing architecture and scheme. The most obvious differences are multimedia services and multiparty communications. The existing service providing schemes can hardly catch up with these new trends. A few years ago, multimedia service was not applicable to the public networks, because of the shortage of transmission bandwidth. Nowadays, the transmission capabilities of the public networks have been continuously changing. Moreover, developing ATM technology is the most powerful driving force towards a B-ISDN era. The essential components which constitute the traditional schemes have been defined in the characteristic categories of transmission, terminal and switching. We define an additional component for the new B-ISDN services on public networks. We proposed a service-providing architecture to be implemented on an ATM-based switching system as a uniform service platform called service node system (SNS) for public telecommunication networks. The SNS will provide a high degree of efficiency for providing a variety of new services on ATM based telecommunication networks. We define various functions of the architecture and describe interaction schemes among its function modules. Also, some performance issues, such as network grade of service, and signalling transfer delay are considered in an attempt to verify the usefulness and the adequacy of the proposed architecture.