Abstract: A system includes an input, a character set mapping function and a character set compression function. The input receives binary data that includes a plurality of binary data bits that may be organized into a plurality of binary data bytes. The character set mapping function maps the binary data bits into a predetermined character set to produce a plurality of characters. The character set compression function compresses the plurality of characters using a character set compression algorithm to produce a plurality of compressed characters. After compression of the character set data, the plurality of compressed characters may be modulated via a modem and transmitted across a data link to a receiving location. At the receiving location, a demodulator receives the modulated data and demodulates the modulated data to produce the plurality of compressed characters. Then, a character set decompression function decompresses the plurality of compressed characters to produce a plurality of characters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a telephone operating company with the ability to rapidly deploy advanced services into a public switched telephone network includes a programmable service node interacting with a programmable switch matrix. The call processing of a call (associated with one or more ports on the programmable switch matrix) is controlled externally when particular triggering criteria is met (i.e., the call requires or desires external control). When the triggering criteria is met, the service node outputs a new call event notification message over a communications link to an external unit and receives one or more messages over the same link. Call control processing is achieved through this high-speed communications link between the programmable switch matrix and the external unit using a communications protocol defining a comprehensive set of primitives (instructions) for call manipulation and control at the programmable switch matrix which are received by the programmable service node.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a telephone operating company with the ability to rapidly deploy advanced services into a public switched telephone network includes a programmable switch matrix, a service control unit (SCU), and a media resource unit (MRU). The call processing of a call (associated with one or more ports on the programmable switch matrix) is controlled externally by the SCU when particular triggering criteria is met (i.e., the call requires or desires control by the SCU). Call control processing is achieved through a high-speed communications link between the programmable switch matrix and the SCU using a communications protocol defining a comprehensive set of primitives (instructions) for call manipulation and control at the programmable switch matrix. The SCU executes different service application software programs that operate within the SCU for different types of service calls that are under the control of the SCU.