Abstract-The next generation of scripting languages for creating value-added services in converged networks will be based upon XML. Industry fora like Parlay, JAIN and OSA have developed open standard Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to enable service creation in converged Next Generation Networks (NGN). While services can be developed in traditional programming languages (e.g. Java or C++) using these APIs, XML-based scripting languages offer some advantages. While not as flexible or powerful as a programming language, scripting languages are typically easier to learn, and are language and platform independent.In this paper we describe the architecture and framework (creation, deployment and execution) of XML-based service scripts in NGN. We focus on the Service Control Markup Language (SCML) being developed by the JAIN forum for call control scripts that is closely tied to the JAIN Java Call Control (JCC) API. SCML is intended to be part of a family of NGN service scripting languages that include facilities for user interaction, mobility, and other open NGN API functions. We compare SCML to the Call Processing Language (CPL) defined by the IETF and note that SCML offers several advantages. We also briefly compare it to the requirements that are being developed by the W3C Voice Browser working group.

No abstract

Industry acceptance of TINA (Telecommunications Information Networking Architecture) will depend heavily on both the evaluation of working systems that implement this architecture, and on the experiences obtained during the design and implementation of these systems. During the MESH' (Multimedia services on the Electronic Super Highway) project, a TINA based platform for networked multimedia services has been developed and evaluated. This platform, referred to as the MESH platform, implements major parts of the TINA Service Architecture version 5.0 and the TINA Network Architecture version 3.0. In addition, several demonstration services such as multiparty highquality audio and video conferencing, shared database access and subscription management services have been created. To support the design and implementation of the MESH platform a DSC (Distributed Software Component) framework has been developed. This framework is a generalization and implementation of the TINA computational object model and can also be applied outside the TINA domain. The DSC framework acts as a middleware layer, which shields component designers from many communication level details. A DSC can be mapped to a computational object or object group. DSCs can be grouped to form compound components from sub-components that also can consist of multiple components, etc. In addition, the DSC framework addresses flexible configuration, dynamic component construction from (downloadable) sub-components, and dynamic interface instantiation. The MESH platform not only demonstrates the potential of TINA, but also reveals several weak areas. This paper describes the DSC approach, which we used to design and implement major parts of TINA, and our experiences with TINA.

No abstract

No abstract