System and method for transporting IN/AIN signaling over an internet protocol (IP) network
First Claim
1. A telecommunications network element, comprising:
- a first structure operable to effectuate signaling communication over a signaling network using a signaling protocol;
a second structure operable to transport said signaling communication across a packet-switched network using an Internet Protocol (IP)-based transport protocol, said IP-based transport protocol including a plurality of IP-based messages; and
a peer-to-peer protocol adaptation (PPA) structure associated with said first and second structures, said PPA structure operating to convert said signaling communication between said signaling protocol and said IP-based messages, said PPA structure including functionality to facilitate said first structure to locally process said signaling protocol'"'"'s signaling messages.
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Abstract
A system and method for transporting IN/AIN signaling (e.g., SS7 signaling) over an IP-based network using Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), wherein a peer-to-peer protocol adaptation (PPA) structure is provided at a signaling node. The PPA structure includes an interworking functionality between an MTP3 layer and the SCTP messaging, and operates to provide a symmetrical MTP2 adaptation interface therebetween. The PPA interface functionality facilitates the implementation of network management capabilities included in the MTP3 layer such that the advantageous features of SS7 signaling are retained in the SCTP transport. The MTP2 adaptation interface functionality is processed locally with respect to the signaling node, rather than backhauling the associated signaling to an external node via an IP connection. The PPA structure may be provided at any signaling node operable to establish a virtual link across an IP connection such as, for example, a signaling gateway, an IP-compliant SCP or STP, et cetera.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A telecommunications network element, comprising:
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a first structure operable to effectuate signaling communication over a signaling network using a signaling protocol;
a second structure operable to transport said signaling communication across a packet-switched network using an Internet Protocol (IP)-based transport protocol, said IP-based transport protocol including a plurality of IP-based messages; and
a peer-to-peer protocol adaptation (PPA) structure associated with said first and second structures, said PPA structure operating to convert said signaling communication between said signaling protocol and said IP-based messages, said PPA structure including functionality to facilitate said first structure to locally process said signaling protocol'"'"'s signaling messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A telecommunications network, comprising:
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a first network portion operable to transport signaling messages using Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) protocol;
a second network portion based on Internet Protocol (IP), said second network portion being operable to transport said signaling messages using Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP); and
a signaling gateway disposed between said first and second network portions, said signaling gateway including a peer-to-peer protocol adaptation (PPA) structure operable to interwork between said SS7 protocol and SCTP messaging, wherein said PPA structure provides a Level 2 Message Transfer Part (MTP2) interface between a Level 3 MTP (MTP3) layer of said SS7 protocol and said SCTP protocol, said PPA structure including functionality to locally process functions associate with an MTP2 layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification