System access modules for use with a telecommunications switch, a telephony server system and a method of enabling a communications session.

1. A system access module for use with at least one telecommunications switch employed to establish a communications path associated with a call, comprising:

a call manager configured to establish said communications path through said system access module from said at least one telecommunications switch and maintain said communications path therethrough for a duration of said call; and

a call coordinator, coupled to said call manager, configured to extend a portion of said communications path from said system access module to at least one intelligent peripheral and release said portion before said duration of said call.

2. The system access module as recited in claim 1 wherein digital signaling is employed to control said communications path through said call manager and said digital signaling originates from a device selected from the group consisting of:

said system access module,

said at least one intelligent peripheral, and

said telecommunications switch.

3. The system access module as recited in claim 1 wherein digital signaling is employed to control said communications path through said call coordinator and said digital signaling originates from a device selected from the group consisting of:

said system access module,

said at least one intelligent peripheral, and said telecommunications switch.

4. The system access module as recited in claim 2 wherein said digital signaling employs a system selected from the group consisting of:

a Signaling System 7 (SS7),

a ISDN User Part (ISUP), and

Internet Protocol (IP).

5. The system access module as recited in claim 3 wherein said digital signaling employs a system selected from the group consisting of:

a Signaling System 7 (SS7),

a ISDN User Part (ISUP), and

Internet Protocol (IP).

6. The system access module as recited in claim 1 wherein said portion is coupled between said intelligent peripheral and said call coordinator over a connection employing a methodology selected from the group consisting of:

release-link technology (RLT),

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) Primary Rate Interface (PR 1 ),

Internet Protocol (IP),

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and

packet-based communications.

7. The system access module as recited in claim 1 wherein said communications path is coupled between said call manager and said telecommunications switch over a connection employing a methodology selected from the group consisting of:

tromboning,

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) Primary Rate Interface (PRI),

Internet Protocol (IP),

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and

packet-based communications.

8. The system access module as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one said intelligent peripheral is selected from the group consisting of:

a content provider system,

a prepaid calling system,

a unified messaging system,

a voice messaging system,

a Short Message Service (SMS) gateway,

an Operator Service Provider (OSP) station,

a location determination system,

an emergency services system, and

an e-mail reader device.

9. The system access module as recited in claim 1 further comprising an enhanced service subsystem.

10. The system access module as recited in claim 8 further comprising an enhanced service subsystem employed to provide functionality in conjunction with said at least one said intelligent peripheral.

11. The system access module as recited in claim 10 wherein said functionality is selected from the group consisting of:

speech recognition,

telecommunications network tone detection,

telecommunications network tone generation,

playing messages,

playing audio over a digital path,

recording messages, and

recording audio over a digital path.

12. The system access module as recited in claim 1 further comprising a time slot interchange.

13. A method of enabling a communications session, comprising:

establishing a communications path associated with a call through at least one telecommunications switch;

establishing said communications path through a system access module from said at least one telecommunications switch;

maintaining said communications path through said system access module for a duration of said call;

extending a portion of said communications path from said system access module to at least one intelligent peripheral; and

releasing said portion before said duration of said call.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said method employs digital signaling for said enabling and said digital signaling employs a system selected from the group consisting of:

Signaling System 7 (SS7),

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) Primary Rate Interface (PRI), and

Internet Protocol (IP).

15. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said method is performed by a system access module located proximate said telecommunications switch.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising protecting said system access module with an alarm system integrated into a network alarm system associated with said telecommunications switch.

17. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said intelligent peripheral provides a service or data selected from the group consisting of:

a speech conversion,

an audio file, and

telecommunications network tones.

18. A telephony server system for use with a telecommunications switch employed to establish a communications path associated with a call, comprising:

an intelligent peripheral coupled to said telecommunications switch through digital signaling; and

a system access module, including:

a call manager configured to establish said communications path through said system access module from said telecommunications switch and maintain said communications path therethrough for a duration of said call; and

a call coordinator, coupled to said call manager, configured to extend a portion of said communications path from said system access module to said intelligent peripheral and release said portion before said duration of said call.

19. The telephony server system as recited in claim 18 further comprising an enhanced service subsystem configured to deliver a call parameter associated with said communications path to said intelligent peripheral.

20. The telephony server system as recited in claim 18 wherein digital signaling is employed to control said communications path and said digital signaling originates from a device selected from the group consisting of:

said system access module,

said intelligent peripheral, and

said telecommunications switch.

21. The telephony server system as recited in claim 18 wherein said system access module provides an alarm notification to a monitoring system of a network associated with said telecommunications switch.

22. The telephony server system as recited in claim 18 wherein said system access module further comprises a time slot interchange.

23. A system access module for use with at least one telecommunications switch employed to establish a communications path associated with a call, comprising:

a first interface and a second interface, said first interface configured to provide an interface for said communications path between said system access module and said telecommunications switch for a duration of said call and said second interface configured to provide an interface for a portion of said communications path between said system access module and an intelligent peripheral; and

a time slot interchange, coupled to said first and second interfaces, configured to establish said portion through said second interface to said intelligent peripheral for less than said duration.

24. The system access module as recited in claim 23 further configured to receive commands to direct said time slot interchange via a digital control channel coupled to said telecommunications switch and said intelligent peripheral.

25. The system access module as recited in claim 23 further configured to receive digital signaling via a digital signaling channel.

26. The system access module as recited in claim 25 wherein the digital signaling channel is over a connection employing a system selected from the group consisting of:

Signaling System 7 (SS7),

ISDN User Part (ISUP), and

Internet Protocol (IP).

27. The system access module as recited in claim 24 wherein said digital signaling controls progression of said call through said call coordinator and said digital signaling originates from a device selected from the group consisting of:

said system access module,

said intelligent peripheral, and

said telecommunications switch.

28. The system access module as recited in claim 23 wherein said intelligent peripheral is selected from the group consisting of:

a content provider system,

a prepaid calling system,

a unified messaging system,

a voice messaging system,

a Short Message Service (SMS) gateway,

an Operator Service Provider (OSP) station,

a location determination system,

an emergency services system, and

an e-mail reader device.

29. The system access module as recited in claim 23 further comprising an enhanced service subsystem.

30. The system access module as recited in claim 28 wherein said enhanced services subsystem is employed to provide functionality in conjunction with said intelligent peripheral.

31. The system access module as recited in claim 29 wherein said enhanced service subsystem performs a function selected from the group consisting of:

speech recognition,

telecommunications network tone detection,

telecommunications network tone generation,

playing messages,

playing audio over a digital path,

recording messages, and

recording audio over a digital path.

32. The system access module as recited in claim 23 further comprising an alarm system integrated into a network alarm system associated with said telecommunications switch and configured to protect said system access module.