Importance

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Abstract

Service node for use in a communications network for providing access to services available to callers using the network. The service node includes a plurality of peripheral devices, a switch for connecting the peripheral devices to external communication links of the communications network for receiving calls made by callers to access a service provided by the service node; a control processor operable to generate a scan pattern representative of a plurality of individual patterns of characters corresponding to respective service commands relating to service options available to a caller, wherein the caller may originate any of the service commands during a call, and a distributed processing system. The distributed processing system is operable to receive the scan pattern from the control processor, monitor signals received from the caller during a call for the presence of signaling information representative of characters; convert the signaling information into resulting characters; perform pattern matching of the resulting characters with the individual patterns; and upon the occurrence of a match with any of the individual patterns, to supply to the control processor with information identifying the corresponding service command.

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First Claim