Wireless Service Requirements

Some service requirements that are unique or essential to wireless networks call for IN concepts, as exemplified below:

Roaming. Mobility, a feature inherent to a wireless network, creates situations in which subscribers may roam out of their local calling area or out of their service provider’s area. To enable subscribers to still make use of their wireless services while in a roaming condition, a seamless network must be conceived. This can be accomplished with the IN concept by exchanging information between the various devices involved in the communication. In particular, the use of SS7 makes it possible for message validations and billing reciprocation of wireless calls.

Carrier Select. Carrier-select services allow providers to select the network to be used to handle a call. In the same way, they allow subscribers to route their calls selectively through their network of preference. The exchange of messages in these cases requires IN technology.

Hands-Free Operation. Hands-free services require that special features be implemented within the network. For voice-activated dialing and feature activation, voice recognition technology must be available. In such a case, messages or voice signals must be collected, translated into data, and routed to the required device, the so-called intelligent peripheral (IP). In such a case, special routing features or intelligent networking are necessary. The IP is then activated to implement the required task.

Fee Structure. The interaction among the various networks involved in a call, both wired and wireless, renders billing a difficult task. IN flags can be used to facilitate the billing. They can be included into the call record so that billing reflects the specific call handling and fees can be processed more easily.

Data-Service Capability. Short Message Service (SMS) is a very popular wireless feature.Wireless phones are allowed to send and receive messages in addition to making or taking telephone calls. SMS works like a pager, and requires SS7 messages for the several tasks involved in its implementation: access to database, authentication, message encapsulation, paging, routing, etc. IN procedures are certainly required to implement SMS.