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The Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) overlays computer intelligence on traditional telephone switching equipment, enabling advanced services without major network upgrades. Bellcore developed AIN technology, which relies on huge computer databases to manage and route calls to the appropriate service. Telecom providers can offer value-added services such as conference calling or call screening. AIN can be established or upgraded without investing in large amounts of new network equipment. The intelligence comes from large computer databases known as service control points (SCPs). Telecom providers have great latitude in determining what features their advanced intelligent network offers. A potential disadvantage is that AIN was designed at a time when traditional voice-only analog telephone networks were dominant.
The Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) is a type of telecommunications system that overlays computer intelligence on traditional telephone switching equipment, thereby enabling advanced services without major network upgrades. It can be used on both wired and wireless networks and relies on huge computer databases to manage and route calls to the appropriate service. Telecommunication providers can use the technology to provide a value-added service such as conference calling or call screening.
The development of the Advanced Intelligent Network was primarily carried out by Bell Communications Research (Bellcore), a research and development company founded following the breakup of American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) in 1982. Bellcore supported the “BaBells” founded after the divestment of AT&T, and as a result its AIN technology has emerged as a North American standard for advanced telecommunications networks. Similar, somewhat compatible technologies have been developed outside of North America.
Advanced Intelligent Network technology is implemented on the “level of service,” which means that all advanced functions and intelligence operate in a realm above the electrical switches and other equipment in a telecommunications network. This is important because it means that an AIN can be established or upgraded without investing in large amounts of new network equipment. It also means that the technology will work on many different types of networks, for example from traditional wired telephone networks to wireless mobile phone networks.
Most of the so-called intelligence in an advanced intelligence network comes from large computer databases known as service control points (SCPs). When a customer places a call that requires advanced services, a special type of switch called a Service Switching Point (SSP) transmits information to an SCP using a family of telecommunications protocols called Signaling System 7 (SS7). The SCP consults its database and then replies to the SSP with instructions on how and where to place the call. Special tools allow SCP databases to be updated with new services, thus enabling telecom providers to introduce new features without costly hardware upgrades.
Since adding a new service is as simple as updating a computer database, telecom providers have great latitude in determining what features their advanced intelligent network offers. Common services include advanced billing or toll-free calling, conference calling, caller ID, or advanced routing features. More advanced possibilities include televoting, Abbreviated Number Dialing and Local Number Portability (LNP), which allows consumers to move their phone numbers to different homes or service providers.
A potential disadvantage of Advanced Intelligent Network technology is that it was designed at a time when traditional voice-only analog telephone networks were dominant. As communications networks have grown to include cellular, digital, and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, telecommunications companies have expressed increasing interest in network architectures designed for voice, data, and multimedia. New technologies such as the Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) are expected to form the Next Generation Intelligent Network (NGIN), a paradigm that will blur the distinction between telecommunications and computer networks.
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