It is expected that per-user customized services are widely used in next generation Personal Communication Network. To provide personalized services for each call, per-user service profiles are frequently referenced, so efficient service profile management is essentially required. To provide service profile based services, typically two schemes can be employed: One is Intelligent Network based Central scheme and the other is IMT-2000 based full replication scheme, we refer to as Follow-Me Replication Unconditional (FMRU). Since the Central scheme only depends on the service call rate and the FMRU is merely dependent on the movement rate, it is apparent that the FMRU scheme outperforms the Central scheme if the call-to-mobility ratio (CMR) is large, and vice versa. In this paper, we propose a new service profile replication schemes, Adaptive Follow-Me Replication Conditional (AFMRC) that determine replication automatically according to the user's varying CMR in real-time. We compared the performance of the AFMRC with the previous non-adaptive Follow-Me Replication Conditional (FMRC) scheme. Performance results indicate that as the CMR of a user changes, AFMRC adapts well compared to the existing schemes.

As the network speed becomes faster and requirements about various services are increased, a number of groups are currently developing technologies aimed at evolving and enhancing the capabilities of existing network. A Next-Generation Network (NGN) is defined as a hybrid telecommunications network that employs new distributed processing techniques to provide all types of services. By integrating the Intelligent Network (IN) technology and the Mobile Agent (MA) technology we can support service flexibility and service portability in NGN. In this paper, we propose a caching-based mobile agent model for NGN and analyze the performance of this model. The mobile agent technology increases the service portability and the caching strategy does the service reusability. Each Physical Entity (PE) has MAs within their repository through the caching strategy and processes service requests from users without the control of the central system such as Service Control Point (SCP). Therefore, we can decrease the total network load and the response time for user requests.

Focusing on a distributed control service-control-node (SCP) that houses a database (DB) distributed across multiple modules, this paper proposes an autonomous distributed SCP architecture using multicasting access to the distributed DB, and highlights its application areas. We assume as a basic condition that neither the network nor the other modules in the system are aware of the DB configuration. Based on this condition, we propose two basic methods: a unicast approach in which the DB management module that is selected at random by the network routes the DB access request to the module where the target data resides (Method A), and a multicast method in which DB access requests are broadcast to all modules (Method B). A quantitative evaluation is made of the number of required modules and required communications performance between modules which is determined by the capacity of the main memory and processing capacity of the processors. Based on the results, we conclude that Method B better exploits the advantages of module autonomous distribution technology within the limits that the economy of inter-module communication overhead is not impaired. Furthermore, in the event a module fails in Method B, a scheme is proposed in which the defective module is cut out of the multicast group, and multicasting continues. This could be implemented most effectively using a separate route under hardware control that is independent of the on-line communications route between modules.

Today's market share of Intelligent Network (IN) service is growing rapidly in wireless networks due to the rapid advances in wireless telecommunication and IN technology. To guarantee network independent IN services, mobility of IN service subscribers has to be taken into account. This paper proposes new designs of Global Service Logic for the IN service enhancement, which increase call completion rates in wired and wireless intelligent networks. In order to apply this logic to wireless service subscribers as well as wired service subscribers, we implement a Queue Manager applied to the call queuing service feature in the Service Control Point (SCP). In the case of wireless service subscribers, the Home Location Register (HLR) handles the service registration flags to notify the Queue Manager of the corresponding service subscribers' mobility. In addition, we present a dynamic queue management mechanism, which dynamically manages the queue size based on the parallel server queuing model as the wireless subscribers roam the service groups due to their mobility characteristics. In order to determine the queue size allocated by the dynamic queue manager, we simulate the relationship between the number of the subscriber's terminals and the drop rate by considering the service increment rate. Moreover, the appropriate waiting time in the queue as required is simulated according to the above relationship. We evaluate call completion rates of the proposed mechanism in the paper by comparing to that of the existing mechanism.

By integrating three networks, namely, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Personal Handy-Phone System (PHS) and Intelligent Network (IN) to work together as a Personal Communication Telephone (PCT) service to be offered in the Bangkok metropolis area, the PCT service enables the advent of three new concepts, first, using the same telephone number as that of the fixed line to become a "Personal Number," second, a cell coverage designed to cover larger areas than that of the PHS (by changing hand-out threshold level from 33 dBµV to 30 dBµV and hand-in threshold level from 30 dBµV to 25 dBµV) in order to reduce the muting time during the handover process and provide higher mobility at up to 60 kilometers per hour, and third, a technique of "2 carriers per area" to reduce "call drop." All these techniques will be described in this paper.

The world of mobile communications has undergone dramatic changes in recent years. Since the Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) system of digital mobile communications became commercially available in Japan in 1993, the number of subscribers has increased to the extent that almost 30% of the Japanese population are subscribed. Furthermore, the increasing sophistication of communications, such as the growing popularity of the Internet and expansion of our spheres of existence, have led to demand for new applications, such as use on a global scale. Many new technologies are also being introduced, such as the IMT-2000 system and the IN system which are slated to be introduced at the end of 2000. Based on the above and in view of the increasing scale and sophistication of mobile communications networks, the time has come to reexamine the configuration within networks of SCPs, which perform subscriber data management and service control. This paper focuses on the functions of subscriber data management and service control, classifies data necessary for mobile networks and using the signal number of common networks as a guide considers the optimum arrangement of data and control nodes. The paper also examines reliability measures for SCPs to ensure the reliability of increasingly large-scale networks.

This article clarifies the requirements of VHE (Virtual Home Environment), issues and resolution for realization of VHE, when the environment will use Intelligent Network (IN) within IMT-2000 networks that is targeted to start in the year 2000. The IN aims the applicability of it's architecture to any kind of network. However, the following subjects need to be considered when IN will be used in the IMT-2000 network; The approach of the service related capabilities' extraction and specification; security management; cooperation between the service switching function within a core network and the IN function(s); cooperation between the mobility management function and the IN function(s); and consideration of mobile and fixed network convergence/integration. This article mainly focuses on these subjects. Some open issues like service/feature interaction and their tentative solutions are identified. Main results are; expandability of current IN to supporting IMT-2000 requirements, identification of key issues in providing VHE in IMT-2000, identification of candidate relationships, and associated issues for VHE. The currently available scenarios for VHE are evaluated from these points, and it is proposed that the specification to be common both for mobile and fixed network.

A service control node in the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) allocates data for customers among multiple modules and performs distributed processing of multiple transactions. In such a node, load can vary among the modules due to dispersion in the amount of traffic for each customer. It is therefore important to balance out this load variation and raise the utilization of each module in order to achieve an efficient distributed processing system. We first propose a method for balancing the load among modules by dynamically transferring customer data in units of records from high-load modules to low-load modules. Then, based on this method, a method for selecting records to be transferred between modules is also proposed. And we clarify the processor overhead for transferring records. The effect of the reduction of number of modules by load balancing is also evaluated. Based on the these results, it is shown that dynamic transferring of records is an effective scheme for balancing load among modules in a service control node of the AIN.

The Advanced Intelligent Network (Advanced IN) is now commercialized and the Internet is becoming popular all over the world. If these two networks were connected, the potential would exist for new services. This paper surveys and analyzes the possibility of improving both the Internet and Advanced IN with an Advanced IN-the Internet connection. Service customization, which allows customers to define their own service specifications, is one of the most important service applications for the Advanced IN. However, some issues must be resolved before that service can be offered. This paper proposes a solution in which Internet technologies are applied to the IN. We review the system architecture of Service Logic Program (SLP) definition and execution in NTT's IN for service customization. Version management and cost for delivery are the major issue for service customization with the SLP(C) creation tool. We suggest an Internet version of the SLP(C) creation tool to solve these problems. Results of the prototype shows that connecting the IN and the Internet for service customization will benefit both customers and telecommunication operators.

An advanced intelligent network (IN) provides service management along with telecommunication services, and has a two-layer architecture, i.e., a transmission layer and an intelligent layer. An advanced IN's programmability is achieved by a service-independent platform of nodes in the intelligent layer, and service-dependent software called logic programs. In contrast to telecommunication services, models for service management have not yet been established. This paper presents both execution and specification models for service management. The execution model is composed of three hierarchies that apply to various kinds of management operation. The specification model has the capability to define the details of data items. The specification language for service management is also proposed. Simulation on dynamic SQL based DBMS solved that; (1) Logic programs for service management can be made small size on the model, and (2) To provide efficient database operation, programmability must be enhanced if service management includes table with variable number of field operation.

Intelligent Network (IN) is a distributed architecture allowing telecom companies to create and to customize services. Network and services have to be integrated in the management process provided by the IN. The integration of the Intelligent Network and the TMN (Telecommunications Management Networks) can be useful to achieve the management process. Our proposal is an evolution towards a more intelligent management structure provided through the Distributed Artificial Intelligence concepts.

This paper reports an overload control method for the Intelligent Network (IN). The IN, which is being investigated as a future communication network, facilitates both rapid introduction of new services and easy modification of existing services. In the IN, the call processing functions and data needed to achieve IN services are distributed over several nodes. Therefore, traffic demand for the various services may cause varying patterns of node overloads. It is therefore important to develop effective overload control methods and to evaluate their characteristics. We propose an overload control method and evaluate its characteristics in comparison with other methods under various overload traffic patterns with a network simulator that models all nodes and their relationships in the IN. In particular, we focus on three aspects of overload control: how can high throughput be maintained, how can an overloaded node be stabilized, and how can fair access be guaranteed.

This paper first proposes an object-oriented service network model, which is composed of application, server and resource object groups, from both viewpoints of rapid and smooth introduction and effective execution of the next generation IN services. The paper also, proposes a testbed system, which is referred to as "To-be-IN (Testbed on Object-oriented and B-ISDN Environment for IN)", for evaluating network architecture based on the proposed model. Using the testbed, several technical issues can be solved such as object-oriented realization of IN services, a provision of distribution transparent environment and a transition strategy from today's IN network. The testbed system is constructed on a currently available computing environment in which a distribution transparency mechanism is added. This system provides Service Creation Environment (SCE) for a purpose of achieving seamless software transfer from a development phase to an operation phase in the object-oriented service network model. The paper finally summarizes some results of an experimental implementation of the system.

Multimedia services based on broadband ISDN (B-ISDN) technology need a network architecture that satisfies the requirements of users, carriers, and vendors. This paper describes a new network architecture for B-ISDN service control and management based on INA. We list general requirements, and present implementation issues of INA. A network architecture and main components, which resolve implementation issues, is then proposed. We also describe a video-on-demand service based on our proposed architecture.

There has been an increasing demand for telecommunication services that satisfy individual users' requirements such as personal telecommunication services and intelligent network services. This demand for advanced telecommunications services is having a great impact on the control architecture and mechanism. In this paper, we propose a new representation of processing power for telecommunications services, using TPS (Transaction Per Second), instead of BHCA, which has been the most commonly used parameter for conventional telephone networks. In developing an IN benchmark, telecommunications services are compared with the TPC-A (Transaction Processing Performance Council-A) benchmark model based on TPS. This benchmark is then used to estimate the requirements for processing power, which, in turn, indicate the necessity for a distributed control. A layered architecture, compatible architecture, and control mechanism for user services are employed to adapt to the distributed network environment.

Telecommunication services are becoming more and more personalized, integrated, and refined. Advanced personal and mobile telecommunication services, intelligent networks, and network management operations require cooperative network-wide distributed processing on a very large scale. Telecommunication programs must support these services with great flexibility, efficiency, and reliability. This paper proposes a new call processing model that improves the availability and flexibility of telecommunication programs. It first points out requirements, outlines the distributed processing platform PLATINA, and discusses several approaches to the enhanced call processing model. Then it explains the call processing program structure, and gives illustrations of mobile and multi- party service control as typical examples. The Caller-Callee decomposition reduces the complexity of the call processing program and enhances the call model; the separation of call and bearer enhances service flexibility and integration; distributed object-oriented techniques meet software evolution requirements. A prototype program has been implemented and has proved the effectiveness of this approach.

Development of a large-scale mobile communications network (IMN: Intelligent Mobile communications Network), as an infrastructure integrating multimedia functions, is indispensable for the support of future mobile communication services aiming toward "personalization," "intelligence," and "multimedia services." This paper discusses the aims of mobile communications and the outline of network technology aspects of PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) network which is currently in service. In addition, the future prospect of mobile communication technologies is discussed with special focuses on the support of universal mobility, network architecture including mobile communications platform, and multimedia technologies in the transport and access systems.

From the viewpoint of customer's satisfaction, precise information and rapid action are very important when complaints about call connection failures or service quality deterioration come from customers. It is indispensable to the propose that operators are supported by an operation system which stores and processes each customer's information, their complaint's histories, network failure status and call connection detail data. This paper shows functions and Human Machine Interface (HMI) of Customer Complaint Handling System (CCHS). This system can handle a customer's complaint by an electric ticket and necessary information is automatically collected and shown on the ticket.

In order to make the implementation of network components flexible and cost effective, it is required to use widely available technologies as the implementation platform. The distributed operating systems can be adopted as such a platform, because they allow to implement a network component using multiple computers connected through a local area network. In this paper, we focus on the Intelligent Network (IN) whose network components are modelled as Functional Entities (FEs), and describe an implementation method of FEs using distributed operating systems. Our method is summarized as follows: The remote procedure call (RPC) is used for the access transparent inter-process communication. The lightweight process mechanism is used for handling concurrent requests. CCF/SSF (Call Control Function/Service Control Function) and SDF (Service Data Function) are implemented as an SSF server and an SDF server, respectively. SCF (Service Control Function) is composed of a Service Dispatcher and a set of Service Executors. The Service Dispatcher accepts all the requests for IN call processing and dispatches them to appropriate Service Executors. Service Executors are created for the individual IN services and execute the service logics. SDF server and Service Executor may be replicated for load partitioning.This paper has also described the implementation of experimental system supporting "Freephone" service based on our method, and showed the performance evaluation of the experimental system in terms of the real-time and concurrent call processing of IN services. We used Mach and SUN OS as a platform for implementing the servers for FEs. The experimental system using four workstations shows that it can handle up to 170IN calls in one second with the additional response time of less than 200msec, which is small enough compared with the response time for the basic connection control. Those results prove that our method is feasible for implementing practical FEs.

The globalization of business where single products and services are designed, developed, and manufactured in many different countries signals a significant need for cost-effective and reliable information movement and management capabilities. Similarly, consumers are seeking technologies which will allow them to visit the Smithsonian, scan a book in the Oxford Library, and interview a Japanese monk for a school report, all from the comfort of home. A necessary ingredient for realizing this global society is a strong telecommunications infrastructure. Our paper describes some of the customer needs and technology advances that are causing a revolution in planning global telecommunications networks. We present a new telecommunications paradigm and study its impact in two key areas: multi-country network routing at both the traffic and facility levels, and global network robustness.