Methods and systems for providing converged network management functionality in a gateway routing node

• US 20080075068A1
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Keller, Joseph, Brendes, Dan, Khadri, Seetharaman
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

Disclosed is a communications network element that is capable of routing signaling messages and also performing inter-network management functions in a converged telephony-data network environment. A signaling gateway routing node is adapted to facilitate signaling communication between nodes in a signaling system 7 network and nodes in an Internet protocol (IP) type network. In addition to basic message routing functionality, the signaling gateway routing node is adapted to notify nodes in the IP network when a node in the SS7 network becomes congested or unavailable. In certain cases, the signaling gateway selectively notifies only IP nodes that are concerned with the status of the troubled SS7 node, while in other cases, notification messages are broadcast to all relevant IP nodes. The signaling gateway also serves to filter redundant congestion status queries or polling type messages that are conveyed from IP nodes through to the distressed SS7 node.

Claims

1. A method for use at a gateway node in a converged telephony/data network for distributing operating status information associated with a node in a signaling system 7 (SS7) network of the converged network to nodes in a data network of the converged network, the method comprising:

(a) receiving an SS7 network management message including operating status information associated with an SS7 node;

(b) performing a routing key database lookup using information contained in the SS7 network management message and identifying a node in the data network capable of communicating with the SS7 node; and

(c) communicating the operating status information to the identified node in the data network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating the operating status information to the identified node in the data network includes communicating the operating status information to an IP node in an Internet protocol (IP) network.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein communicating the operating status information to an IP node in an IP network includes communicating the operating status information in a transport adapter layer interface (TALI) message.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein communicating the operating status information to an IP node in the IP network includes communicating the operating status information in a stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) message.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein communicating the operating status information to an IP node in the IP network includes communicating a point code unavailable (PCUA) message.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein communicating the operating status information to an IP node in an IP network includes communicating a point code available (PCAV) message.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising receiving a point code status audit message for requesting point code status information for the SS7 node from a node in the data network, and, in response to the request, communicating the point code status information to the requesting node.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising receiving a point code congestion audit message from a node in the data network, the point code congestion audit message requesting point code congestion for the SS7 node and, in response to the congestion audit message, sending the point code congestion information to the requesting node.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating the operating status information includes communicating a session initiation protocol (SIP) message.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an SS7 network management message includes receiving a transfer prohibited (TFP) message.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an SS7 network management message includes receiving a transfer allowed (TFA) message.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an SS7 network management message includes receiving a transfer restricted (TFR) message.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an SS7 network management message includes receiving a transfer controlled (TFC) message.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein performing a routing key database lookup using information contained in the SS7 network management message includes performing a routing key database lookup using an SS7 destination point code (DPC) value extracted from the SS7 network management message.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein performing a routing key database lookup using information contained in the SS7 network management message includes performing a routing key database lookup using an SS7 origination point code (OPC) value extracted from the SS7 network management message.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein performing a routing key database lookup using information contained in the SS7 network management message includes performing a routing key database lookup using an SS7 service indicator (SI) value extracted from the SS7 network management message.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein performing a routing key database lookup using information contained in the SS7 network management message includes performing a routing key database lookup using an SS7 circuit identification code (CIC) value extracted from the SS7 network management message.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein performing a routing key database lookup using information contained in the SS7 network management message includes performing a routing key database lookup using an SS7 subsystem (SSN) value extracted from the SS7 network management message.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a node in the data network capable of communicating with the SS7 node includes identifying a socket associated with the node in the data network.

20. A signaling gateway comprising:

(a) a routing key table for storing routing key information for identifying IP nodes in an IP network that are configured to communicate with an SS7 node in an SS7 network;

(b) a status manager process for determining or receiving status information relating to the SS7 node; and

(c) a communications module operatively associated with the routing key table and the status manager process for communicating the status information to IP nodes configured to communicate with the SS7 node using the routing key information.