Abstract: A service node is used in an intelligent communications network for providing services for customers.

Abstract: Service node for use in a communications network for providing access to services available to callers using the network. The service node includes a plurality of peripheral devices, a switch for connecting the peripheral devices to external communication links of the communications network for receiving calls made by callers to access a service provided by the service node; a control processor operable to generate a scan pattern representative of a plurality of individual patterns of characters corresponding to respective service commands relating to service options available to a caller, wherein the caller may originate any of the service commands during a call, and a distributed processing system.

Abstract: A service node is used in an intelligent communications network for providing services for customers.

Abstract: A service node provides a shared added value service within a telephony network, such as a public switch telephone network. Peripheral devices, such as speech applications platforms shared announcement platforms and message recording platforms, are connected to a switch which operates under the control of a central control computer. The switch includes distributed processors responsive to externally originating signals, such as DTMF signals, generated while calls are being processed. The distributed processing devices supply information derived form said signals to the central control computer. Thus, it is no longer necessary for a central control computer to examine ongoing calls in order to detect the presence of DTMF signalling. Detection of DTMF signalling is performed locally and information is returned back to the control computer only when relevant information has been detected.

Abstract: A service node is used in an intelligent communications network to provide services for customers. The node includes a service defining sub-system arranged to define a plurality of services. A first resource has a memory for storing speech segments, each segment having a corresponding identity, and a resource controller is arranged to convert a received command signal to a corresponding succession of speech segment identities for a speech announcement corresponding to the command signal. The first resource accesses the memory storing speech segments in accordance with the speech segment identities, to generate the corresponding speech segments for the speech announcement and provides an "announcement finished" signal when a last speech segment of the announcement has been generated. A switch is arranged to connect the first resource to an incoming call routed by the network to the service node.

Abstract: A service node for use in an intelligent communications network provides services for customers and includes service defining apparatus for defining a plurality of services. A plurality of resources are each arranged to generate speech announcements in response to receipt of respective command signals and to provide an announcement finished signal when each generated speech announcement has been finished. A switch is arranged to connect the resources to incoming calls routed by the network to the service node. Control apparatus within the service node responds to incoming calls to place details of the various signals from the service defining apparatus and to receive a reserved resource announcement finished signal. In response, the service node updates details of the corresponding call and passes the updated details from a memory to the bottom of a corresponding service queue.