Products - SoftSwitch 2000
2. SoftSwitch 2000 (AMAS): <product description> Authentication, Least Cost Routing, Mapping, Billing and Accounting System ---
SoftSwitch 2000 is truly the cornerstone of the Tempest ® IP solution. Acting as the gatekeeper, SoftSwitch 2000 controls subscriber access, routes calls based on least cost routing (LCR), maintains customer accounting information, and manages the network of DVGs. The primary components of SoftSwitch 2000 are:
Windows NT Services
MSSQL Databases
Billing client software
Communication between SoftSwitch 2000 and deployed DVGs occurs in real-time mode. The SoftSwitch 2000 server monitors current status of each DVG and routes calls appropriately. The Authentication, Mapping and Accounting System (SoftSwitch 2000) is comprised of its databases, services and client components. The SoftSwitch 2000 databases maintain caller authentication and IP-route determination (mapping) information. The SoftSwitch 2000 databases also store Call Detail Records (CDRs), which the Tempest Billing application (an SoftSwitch 2000 client component) uses to generate customer bills. SoftSwitch 2000 services communicate directly with each DVG during port availability tracking, authentication, call-routing and CDR collection.
Functions of the SoftSwitch 2000 System include the following:
Directing the DVG as to where to request authentication from, and where to send Call Detail Records (CDRs) to.
Tracking cost and rate information corresponding to calls placed out of DVGs at each IP location; rates for each destination may vary by time of day, day of week, and subscriber rate group.
Determining IP-route by least-cost type of call, and least-cost route within a common call-type. These include:
“internal” calls such as UPX (FXS phones connected directly to a DVG) and PBX (DID lines)
LEC-required calls (local no-toll)
intra-LATA toll calls (local toll)
IEC-required calls
Authenticating subscriber Identification Numbers (ID+PIN)
Maintaining “current” status of subscriber account
Maintaining “current” status of port availability at each DVG – for optimal determination of route to use when a request is received.
Storing CDR information
Generating bills for calls made through the Tempest DVGs
For more information on authentication, installation and configuration of the Softswitch2000 (AMAS), please click here <link to AMAS Installation and Operations Manual>