This Recommendation defines a general intelligent network (IN)[JK1] distributed functional plane (DFP)[JK2] architecture within the overall framework of the IN conceptual model described in Recommendation I.312/Q.1201. As such, this Recommendation provides the basis for developing the Q.12x4 Recommendations to specify the IN DFP for a given capability set x (CS-x)[JK3].
This Recommendation provides the basis for Q.12x4 Recommendations by:
– defining the IN DFP architecture in terms of groupings of functionality, referred to as functional entities, and the information that flows between functional entities, referred to as relationships;
– identifying study subjects for the modelling of functional entities related to IN-supported call/service logic processing to determine the nature of the relationships between them; and
– providing tools for the modelling of functional entities in a manner consistent with IN objectives, as appropriate for a given CS.
While the IN DFP architecture and modelling tools in this Recommendation have proven extremely useful in processing IN standardization, they do not necessarily represent an ultimate view of IN evolution. As such, this Recommendation represents a current understanding that may require future enhancements as the ultimate view of IN is refined.
Within the Q.120x-Series Recommendations, this Recommendation describes the distribution of global functional plane functionality defined in Recommendation I.329/Q.1203 (i.e. service independent building blocks) in a service and vendor/implementation independent manner. This provides the flexibility to allocate distributed functionality into multiple physical network configurations, as described in Recommendation Q.1205, and to evolve IN from an initial CS (e.g. CS-1) to some future CS-n. It also provides a framework from which IN protocols are specified, as described in Recommendation Q.1208.