METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR CENTRALIZED ROUTING AND CALL INSTANCE CODE MANAGEMENT FOR BEARER INDEPENDENT CALL CONTROL (BICC) SIGNALING MESSAGES

• US 20100202446A1
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec Global, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tekelec Global, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Craig, Jeffrey A., Bantukul, Apirux, Marsico, Peter J., McCann, Thomas M., Nas, Petrus Wilhelmus Adrianus Jacobus Maria
• Granted Patent: US 9,219,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/304 Route determination for signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems and computer readable media for centralized routing and call instance code management for bearer independent call control (BICC) signaling messages. One aspect of the subject matter described herein includes a system for routing BICC signaling messages and managing call instance code assignments. The system includes a BICC signaling router. The BICC signaling router includes a routing module for centralized routing of BICC signaling messages between a plurality of BICC signaling nodes. The BICC signaling router further includes a call instance code management module for centralized assignment of call instance codes for BICC signaling sessions routed through the BICC signaling router.

Claims

1. A system for routing bearer independent call control (BICC) signaling messages and managing call instance code assignments, the system comprising:

a BICC signaling router including;

a routing module for centralized routing BICC signaling messages between a plurality of BICC signaling nodes; and

a call instance code management module for centralized assignment of call instance codes for BICC signaling sessions routed through the BICC signaling router.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, in response to receiving a BICC signaling message from an originating BICC signaling node, the routing module and the call instance code management module are configured to:

determine a destination BICC signaling node for the BICC signaling message;

select an available call instance code associated with the destination;

insert the available call instance code in the BICC signaling message;

route the BICC signaling message to the destination;

maintain a mapping between the call instance code in the received BICC signaling message and the selected call instance code associated with the destination; and

use the mapping to process subsequent signaling messages associated with the signaling session.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each BICC signaling node associates a single call instance code with the BICC signaling router.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each BICC signaling node associates all call instance codes with the BICC signaling router.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the BICC signaling router is configured to store status information about the BICC signaling nodes and to use the status information in assigning the call instance codes for the signaling sessions.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the BICC signaling router is configured to query one of:

a number portability database, an advanced routing database, a short code database, voice mail service database, an IMS offload database, and atoll free database to obtain information usable to route messages associated with the signaling sessions.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the BICC signaling router is configured to query one of:

a prepaid services database and a prepaid zero balance screening database to determine whether to allow prepaid bearer communications associated with one of the signaling sessions to proceed.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the BICC signaling router includes an interworking unit (IWU) for BICC-SIP interworking.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the BICC signaling router is configured to generate and store call detail records (CDRs) associated with the signaling session.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the BICC signaling router is configured to query one of an HLR and an HSS using information in a received BICC signaling message to determine mobile subscription information for a called party associated with an associated signaling session.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the BICC signaling router is configured to generate presence update messages using information from the BICC signaling messages.

12. A method for centralized routing and call instance code management in a bearer independent call control (BICC) network, the method comprising:

at a BICC signaling router;

performing centralized routing of BICC signaling messages between BICC signaling nodes; and

performing centralized management of call instance codes for the BICC signaling sessions.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein performing the centralized routing of BICC signaling messages and centralized management of call instance codes comprises:

determining a destination signaling node for a received BICC signaling message;

selecting an available call instance code associated with the destination;

inserting the available call instance code in the BICC signaling message;

routing the BICC signaling message to the destination;

maintaining a mapping between the call instance code in the received BICC signaling message and the selected call instance code associated with the destination; and

using the mapping to process subsequent signaling messages associated with the signaling session.

14. The method of claim 12 comprising, from the BICC signaling router querying one of:

a number portability database, an advanced routing database, a short code database, voice mail service database, an IMS offload database, and a toll free database to obtain information usable to route messages associated with the signaling sessions.

15. The method of claim 12 comprising, from the BICC signaling router, querying one of:

a prepaid services database and a prepaid zero balance screening database to determine whether to allow prepaid bearer communications associated with one of the signaling sessions to proceed.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer perform steps comprising:

at a BICC signaling router;

performing centralized routing of BICC signaling messages between BICC signaling nodes; and

performing centralized management of call instance codes for the BICC signaling sessions.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein performing the centralized routing of BICC signaling messages and centralized management of call instance codes comprises:

determining a destination signaling node for a received BICC signaling message;

selecting an available call instance code associated with the destination;

inserting the available call instance code in the BICC signaling message;

routing the BICC signaling message to the destination;

maintaining a mapping between the call instance code in the received BICC signaling message and the selected call instance code associated with the destination; and

using the mapping to process subsequent signaling messages associated with the signaling session.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16 comprising, from the BICC signaling router querying one of:

a number portability database, an advanced routing database, a short code database, voice mail service database, an IMS offload database, and atoll free database to obtain information usable to route messages associated with the signaling sessions.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16 comprising, from the BICC signaling router, querying one of:

a prepaid services database and a prepaid zero balance screening database to determine whether to allow prepaid bearer communications associated with one of the signaling sessions to proceed.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16 comprising generating presence update messages using the information from the BICC signaling messages.