ip

In the advanced intelligent network (AIN) architecture, a separate computing device that enhances the delivery of certain services by offloading processing demands from a service control point (SCP) and providing a basic set of services to the SCP. The role of the IP typically includes collection of digits, collection and playing of voice prompts, collection of voice responses and their conversion to digits, menu services, and database lookups. As examples, voice processing and voice recognition can be implemented on an IP in support of the processing of collect calls. Because the abbreviation IP is used so extensively to identify the Internet Protocol, the term special resource function (SRF) often is used to describe these peripherals and the functions they perform. See also AIN and SCP.

In the context of the OSI Reference Model, a Network Layer (Layer 3) connectionless protocol for the routing of datagrams through gateways connecting networks and subnetworks, IPv4, the first version to be deployed, is defined in IETF RFC 791 and is the basic block of the Internet. IP can be characterized as datagram-oriented because each IP packet works its way through the network independently, with no thought of an individual packet belonging to a larger stream of packets. IP also can be characterized as a best effort protocol, as it offers no guarantees of delivery, no sequencing, and no error detection and correction mechanism. IP provides for packet segmentation and reassembly and provides specific addressing conventions in the form of dotted decimal notation. IP supports routing control, as well as status translation and communications.Although IP has no concept of the specific content of the packet or of its service requirements, it supports multiple service types, including low-delay, high-bandwidth, and high-reliability paths. Dial-up IP access protocols include Ethernet over Point-to-Point Protocol (Enet over PPP) Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP), and Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP).There are two versions of IP. The legacy version is IPv4, which is widely deployed. The most current version is IPv6, which is deployed sparingly, largely due to the fact that it is not compatible with older routers. Although IP can be used on a standalone basis, it more typically is used in conjunction with higher layer protocols in the TCP/IP protocol suite. See also bandwidth, best effort, connectionless, datagram, dial-up access, dotted decimal notation, IETF, IPv4, IPv6, gateway, Internet, network, Network Layer, OSI Reference Model, packet, PPP, protocol, router, segmentation, SLIP, and TCP/IP protocol suite.