Dynamic STP routing in response to triggering
First Claim
1. A signaling message routing method, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a signaling message at a transfer point from a first node of a signaling network, said signaling message relating to control of a communication network;
in response to receipt of the signaling message, determining if a parameter value relating to the signaling message meets a predetermined criteria, and in response thereto transmitting a query message for routing information from the transfer point to a database separate from the transfer point and receiving the routing information in the transfer point from the database; and
transmitting the signaling message from the transfer point to a second node of the signaling network in accord with the received routing information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An off-board or remote database controls routing of out-of-band signaling messages through signaling transfer points (STPs). The preferred embodiment relates to improvements in an SS7 common channel interoffice signaling system which transports routing control type signaling messages and the like between switching offices of a public switched telephone network. At least one STP is programmed to recognize certain aspects of a signaling message as a `point in routing` (PIR) which triggers a database query or `dip` to the remote database. The database provides an instruction to the STP as to how to translate and/or route the particular signaling message. The signaling message routing information in the database may be extremely dynamic, for example varying with time of day, point-of-origin, traffic congestion, etc.
147 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A signaling message routing method, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a signaling message at a transfer point from a first node of a signaling network, said signaling message relating to control of a communication network; in response to receipt of the signaling message, determining if a parameter value relating to the signaling message meets a predetermined criteria, and in response thereto transmitting a query message for routing information from the transfer point to a database separate from the transfer point and receiving the routing information in the transfer point from the database; and transmitting the signaling message from the transfer point to a second node of the signaling network in accord with the received routing information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of routing a signaling message through a transfer point, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a signaling message in the transfer point from a node of a signaling network, said signaling message relating to control of a communication network; analyzing a parameter value relating to the signaling message received in the transfer point; if the analysis of the parameter value indicates that the parameter value satisfies a first predetermined condition, accessing translation data stored in the transfer point to obtain first routing information, and transmitting the signaling message from the transfer point through the signaling network in accord with the first routing information; and if the analysis of the parameter value indicates that the parameter value satisfies a second predetermined condition, accessing translation data in a database separate from the transfer point to provide second routing information to the transfer point, and transmitting the signaling message from the transfer point through the signaling network in accord with the second routing information. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of routing signaling messages through a transfer point, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first signaling message at the transfer point from a node of a signaling network, said first signaling message relating to control of a communication network; accessing data stored in the transfer point to obtain first routing information; transmitting the first signaling message from the transfer point through the signaling network in accord with the first routing information; receiving a second signaling message at the transfer point from a node of a signaling network, said second signaling message relating to control of the communication network; in response to receipt of the second signaling message, accessing translation data in a database separate from the transfer point to provide second routing information to the transfer point; and transmitting the second signaling message from the transfer point through the signaling network in accord with the second routing information. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of routing a signaling message, comprising the steps of:
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receiving the signaling message at a transfer point from a node of a signaling network, said signaling message relating to control of a communication network; in response to receipt of the signaling message, accessing routing data in a database separate from the transfer point to supply routing information to the transfer point; and transmitting the signaling message from the transfer point through the signaling network in accord with the routing information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A communication processing method, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for a communication service at one of a plurality of switching offices of a communication network providing services through communication links; transmitting a first signaling message including information relating to the request for a communication service to a transfer point of a signaling network separate from the communication links; in response to receipt of the first signaling message at the transfer point accessing routing data in a database separate from the transfer point and the switching offices; transmitting the first signaling message from the transfer point through the signaling network in accord with the routing information to a node on the signaling network; in response to the first signaling message, transmitting a second signaling message including information needed to provide the requested service from the node through the signaling network to the one switching office; and providing the requested communication service over at least one of the communication links in response to the information included in the second signaling message. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A common channel interoffice signaling network for carrying signaling messages between switching offices of a communication network, said signaling network comprising:
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a signaling transfer point for routing signaling messages and for initiating queries for routing information in response to at least some signaling messages; signaling links coupling the signaling transfer point to the switching offices, said signaling links being separate from links carrying traffic of the communication network; and a database separate from the signaling transfer point providing routing information to the signaling transfer point in response to queries from the signaling transfer point, to control routing of the at least some of the signaling messages by the signaling transfer point. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A network comprising:
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local communication lines; a trunk circuit; at least two separately located central office switching systems interconnected via the trunk circuit for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the local communication lines; a signaling transfer point for routing signaling messages and for initiating queries for signaling message routing information in response to at least some signaling messages; signaling links coupling the signaling transfer point to the central office switching systems, said signaling links being separate from the local communication lines and the trunk circuit; and a database separate from the signaling transfer point and the central office switching systems providing the routing information to the signaling transfer point in response to queries from the signaling transfer point, to control routing of the at least some signaling messages by the signaling transfer point. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A signaling transfer point comprising:
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interface modules providing two-way data communications to a plurality of common channel interoffice signaling links; a data switch for switching messages between the interface modules; and a program controlled processor recognizing a predetermined event in the processing of a signaling message, in response thereto obtaining message routing information from a database separate from the signaling transfer point, and controlling operation of the data switch to route the signaling message in accord with the routing information.
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Specification