Abstract: A method of processing a phone call from a caller in a telephone network, the telephone network including a plurality of switches and an intelligent peripheral (IP) for interfacing the plurality of switches to a service control point (SCP). When a phone call is received at one of the plurality of switches, the call is sent to the IP. The IP then requests that the SCP perform a call processing request. Service logic within the SCP is accessed in order to process the phone call according to the call processing request. The service logic then requests and receives account information from one or more external systems. The phone call is routed to a selected telephone based on the account information received from the one or more external systems. The received account information is routed to the selected telephone.

Abstract: A method and system for providing interactive capabilities in a network-based telephone system 100 a service control point (SCP) 102 for accessing a call processing record (CPR) and having an intelligent peripheral (IP) 104 for providing an intelligent interface between a caller 112 and the SCP 102. The IP 104 communicates with the SCP 102 through a peripheral interface (PI) 128. External systems 106 are accessed by SCP 102 through a generic data interface (GDI) 124 to obtain customer data. The GDI 124 keeps track of the data stored in the various external systems 106. Upon receiving a request for data, GDI 124 forms sub-requests, routes the sub-requests to the appropriate external systems 106, and returns a message containing the requested data.