Charging of intelligent network controlled multiparty calls

Abstract

Current IN service calls can be established at most between two parties. E.g. IN controlled three party conference calls cannot be established with current IN functions. New recommendations and standards for IN enable establishing IN controlled multiparty calls, i.e. more than two parties are involved in a call and controlled by the service logic simultaneously. With the new functions of the standards e.g. IN controlled three party conference calls may be established. New features for call party handling are implemented in phases to all components of the IN architecture, also to the Service Switching Point. This Master's Thesis focuses on the charging of Intelligent Network controlled calls with several parties. The new configuration and the software of the Service Switching Point required for the implementation of multiparty services have been studied. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of the changed configuration and software on the implementation of the IN charging features in the Service Switching Point. Call party handling according to new standards is complex and brings challenges in the implementation of IN charging features in the Service Switching Point. The problems in the Service Switching Point can be resolved, and all currently used charging functions may be used in multiparty calls, too. Some restrictions in using of charging features are not avoided. These restrictions have to be taken into consideration when designing the logic for new services in the Service Control Point. /Kir10