Access controls for open architecture in intelligent networks

The author investigates the security issues and implications in implementing an open network architecture (ONA) in intelligent networks (INs). A view of technical limitations to ONA in IN is developed from the security standpoint. Specifically, access controls for ONA in IN are investigated. The author describes a multi-level functional component (FC) approach to ONA in an IN. With multi-level FCs, an IN gains flexible and finer grain control of access to network resources. The author advocates using high-level FCs as basic service elements (BSE) offerings in IN. The advantage is that high-level FCs gain a higher degree of security and integrity control