CALL SETUP AND SERVICE INVOCATION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

摘要

A telecommunications network has switching means (12) configured such that a request from a first network termination (10) to establish a communications link with a second network termination is directed to the service processing means (13) which directs the switching means (12) to establish the link. This enables the user terminal (10) to direct service and call setup requests directly to the service processing means (13), the switch (12) not being involved with the call or service request until the service processing means (13) instructs it to participate, thereby minimising the establishment and allocation of resources until it is clear that such resources are required. A call can therefore be validated before any communications links are established, thus potentially offering economies in the operation of the system.