Abstract: The present invention provides an abstract, object-oriented encapsulation of the communications interface between intermediary, lower-level protocol handlers, such as TCAP server programs, and service providers, such as service application programs, that run on transaction server computers within an enhanced services platform, such as a network intelligent platform of a telecommunications carrier. The TCAP server programs exchange INAP messages with network switches through the SS7 protocol interface, forwarding the INAP messages received from network switches to service application programs, and receiving response messages from service application programs to be sent back to the network switches. The specialized INAP protocol handling software previously developed specifically for each different service application program is abstracted by the object-oriented communications interface into a set of library routines that can be shared in common by all service application programs and TCAP servers.