Methods and systems for providing database node access control functionality in a communications network routing node

• US 20060034329A1
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec Global, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Ravishankar, Venkataramaiah, Marsico, Peter Joseph, Miller, Paul Andrew, Benedyk, Robby Darren
• Granted Patent: US 7,564,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/066 where the auxiliary connection is via an Internet Protocol network interworking of signalling system number 7 (SS7) with Internet Protocol-based session control protocols H04M7/1265, H04M7/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A network element provides service control point or database node front end processing functionality, as well as routing functionality for routing data packets through a network. The network element includes a first communication module for receiving data packets from a first communication network. A second communication module transmits data packets over a second communications network. A database access control (DAC) process queries a DAC database and modifies received packets to include information returned by the database lookup.

Claims

1. A network element for providing service control point (SCP) or database node front end processing (FEP) service and routing data packets through a communications network, the network element comprising:

a) a first communication module capable of transmitting data packets to and receiving data packets from a first communications network;

b) a second communication module capable of transmitting data packets to and receiving data packets from a second communications network;

c) a packet discrimination process for determining whether a data packet received from one of the first and second communications networks is intended for an SCP or database node that is provisioned to receive front end processing (FEP) service;

d) a database access control (DAC) database containing information related to SCP or database nodes that are provisioned to receive FEP service; and

e) a DAC process for querying the DAC database and modifying the received packet to include information returned by the DAC database.