IN controls for broadband networks

Reviews the role of IN in broadband networks. It discusses the emerging ITU IN standards and a possible interim interface to an external intelligence platform based on the ATM Forum´s UNI 4.0 proxy signalling scheme. The immediate early need for external intelligence for broadband networks is for assistance with basic call SVC connections with name-to-address translations in order to support of a variety of number plans, including those needed for virtual private networks. External intelligence could also be used for a variety of other supplementary functions. Examples might be found in the area of network charging functions, perhaps to collate or enhance billing records before they are despatched to an off-line billing centre for sending to customers. Also, IN functions could be used to supplement the switch call control functions by providing call-control parameter information such as quality of service, or per-call bandwidth needs, perhaps providing assistance by dynamic off-load of traffic in busy periods