PDF of this tutorialFigure 5 shows the target AIN Release 1 architecture, as defined in Telcordia Technologies AIN Generic Requirements (GRs):
Figure 5. AIN Release 1
The service switching point (SSP) in this diagram is an AIN–capable switching system. In addition to providing end users with access to the network and performing any necessary switching functionality, the SSP allows access to the set of AIN capabilities. The SSP has the ability to detect requests for AIN–based services and establish communications with the AIN service logic located at the SCPs. The SSP is able to communicate with other network systems (e.g., intelligent peripherals) as defined by the individual services.
The service control point (SCP) provides the service control. There are two basic parts to an SCP. One part is the application functionality in which the service logic is installed after the services have been created. This application functionality sits on top of the second basic SCP part—a set of generic platform functionalities that are developed by SCP vendors. This platform functionality is shared among the service logic application programs in the application functionality. The platform functionality also provides the SS7 interface to switching systems. As shown in the diagram above, the SCP is connected to SSPs by the SS7 network.
The intelligent peripheral (IP) provides resources such as customized and concatenated voice announcements, voice recognition, and dual-tone multifrequencies (DTMF) digit collection. The IP contains a switching matrix to connect users to these resources. In addition, the IP supports flexible information interactions between an end user and the network. It has the resource management capabilities to search for idle resources, initiate those resources, and then return them to their idle state.
The interface between the SSP and the IP is an integrated services digital network (ISDN), primary rate interface (PRI), and/or basic rate interface (BRI). The IP has the switching functionality that provides the ISDN interface to the switching system.
The adjunct shown in the diagram above is functionally equivalent to an SCP, but it is connected directly to an SSP. A high-speed interface supports the communications between an adjunct and an SSP. The application-layer messages are identical in content to those carried by the SS7 network between the SSP and SCP.
