Abstract: A distributed and scaleable Intelligent Service Network (ISN) architecture provides a global card mobility platform for enabling global card services. An ISN point of presence (POP) or node that comprises a scaleable matrix switching platform and voice call processing systems, is deployed to each country. These are referred to as Local Nodes. Extensive and generally expensive data and support systems are deployed in Regional Hubs, with multiple Local Nodes being connected to a single Regional Hub. This allows an inexpensive and minimized ISN node to be deployed in each country or shared by several countries. The other expensive components of a full-scale ISN are deployed and maintained by a large central company, and are shared by the multiple ISN Local Nodes in the region.

Abstract: The present invention telecommunications system provides validation of authorization codes input by a user for placing a call from a service area of a first telecommunications service provider with a calling card issued by another telecommunications service provider. The present invention allows the subscriber to place a special service call irrespective of whether the signaling protocol of the first service provider is different from the service provider to which the subscriber is a customer of. If the protocol of one telecommunications service provider is indeed different from the other service provider, a gateway residing in an intelligent service network node would convert the signaling protocol of the first service provider into a signaling protocol that is compatible with the other service provider.