A practical approach to a usable IN feature interaction tool

The article promotes the development of a pragmatic approach to help deal with feature interactions (FIs). Two basic logical components working together make this pragmatic approach successful. The feature interaction “knowledge base” and the flexible graphical user interface (GUI). This approach is a business problem solution approach and not another state model tool. Many FIs do not follow the state model rules (i.e., non-call associated signaling messages). State models and tools all have limitations. This is a more pragmatic approach. We focus the approach on FIs between AIN/IN features and switch-based features. This is a significant area of concern as new AIN/IN services are introduced. Switch-to-switch FIs is a traditional area of concern prior to AIN/IN services being available. AIN-to-AIN FI concerns typically includes the management of interactions between features on one SCP and is internal to the SCP. Interaction management is a major technical issue when multiple SCPs can be simultaneously active on a call. Current implementations in the US do not allow this