Common channeling signaling network maintenance and testing

• US 5,892,812 A
• Filed: 06/05/1997
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: C & P of Virginia
• Inventors: Pester, III, Eugene M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/869,977
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1, 379/9-17, 379/32, 379/34, 370/241, 370/242, 370/245, 370/250, 370/258, 370/252
• US Class Current: 379/32.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2273 Test methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2736 using a dedicated service processor for test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/327 Alarm or error message display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2254 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/06 using auxiliary connections for control or supervision , e.g. where the auxiliary connection is a signalling system number 7 link
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1316 Service observation, testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

An SS7 Network Preventative Maintenance System for detecting potential SS7 and switched network troubles, automatically analyzing the troubles, providing alarm and corrective action to avoid major network events. Real time monitors on SS7 links at the STP provide information on exceeded link load, exceeded Message Signaling Unit (MSU) frequency and network management status/error conditions in a Stage 1 Process. The Stage 1 Process provides alarm information to a Stage 2 Process which controls all Stage 1 associated monitors for an STP pair. Stage 2 reacts to Stage 1 signals to generate alarm and corrective action information which is passed on to a Stage 3 Process. The Stage 3 Process controls all Stage 2 Processes in the operating company. Stage 3 reacts to Stage 2 output to detect potential or real accompanying network trouble and generates alarm and corrective action information and displays in response thereto. Stage 3 also alerts a Stage 4 process which is connected to all Stage 3 Processes in a region. Stage 4 analyzes data from Stage 3 to determine if similar trouble could happen in another network where upon Stage 4 informs affected Stage 3 Processes regarding the same. Corrective action/trouble verification information is generated and passed on. An Interface to the network'"'"'s surveillant system is provided.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a pair of signal transfer points operating in mated relationship to one another in a common channel signaling network controlling a separate telephone network which includes a pair of signaling points wherein each of the signaling points in said pair is connected by signaling links to each of said signal transfer points in said pair of signal transfer points, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing link signals relating to a signaling session from said signaling links;

storing the link signals captured from links to a first of said signal transfer points in a first memory associated with said first signal transfer point;

storing the link signals captured from links to a second of said signal transfer points in a second memory associated with said second signal transfer point;

establishing one of said first and second memories as a primary memory and the other memory as a secondary memory;

transferring information from the secondary memory to the primary memory to create a unified record of said signaling session.

2. A monitoring system for a common channel signaling network controlling a telephone network and having first paired signal transfer points connected to signaling points in said telephone network and to second paired signal transfer points via signal links, a first monitor processor and controller associated with a first signal transfer point in said first paired signal transfer points and a second monitor processor and controller associated with a second signal transfer point in said first paired signal transfer points, said first monitor processor and controller controlling interfaces with a first set of said signal links connected to said first signal transfer point and said second monitor processor and controller controlling interfaces with a second set of said signal links connected to said second signal transfer point, each of said monitor processors and controllers having a storage associated therewith, wherein said first monitor processor and controller programs at least a first interface controlled by said first monitor processor and controller and at least a second interface controlled by said second monitor processor and controller to capture designated link signals, and wherein designated link signals captured by said first interface are stored in the storage associated with said first monitor processor and controller and designated link signals captured by said second interface are stored in the storage associated with said second monitor processor and controller, and wherein information from said designated link signals stored in said storage associated with said second monitor processor and controllers is transferred to said storage associated with said first monitor processor and controller.

3. A monitoring system according to claim 2 including a signal link between said first and second monitor processors and controllers over which said information is transferred.

4. In a common channel signaling network controlling a telephone network and having first paired signal transfer points connected to signaling points in said telephone network and to second paired signal transfer points via signal links, a method comprising:

a) programming a first interface to a first signal link connected to a first signal transfer point in said first pair of signal transfer points to capture a designated link signal,

b) programming a second interface to a second signal link connected to a second signal transfer point in said second pair of signal transfer points to capture a designated link signal,

c) storing a first designated link signal captured by said first interface in a first storage,

d) storing a second designated link signal captured by said second interface in a second storage, and

e) transferring from said second storage to said first storage information from said second designated link signal stored in said second storage.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said programming is initiated from a single node.

6. In a communication system comprising a switched network controlled by a common channel signaling network (CCSN) including signal transfer points (STPs) connected to said switched network at signaling points (SPs) via links transporting signal streams between said SPs and STPs, a monitoring system comprising:

a) monitor interfaces interfacing selected streams of said signals to a first processor providing real time monitoring of said signal streams for conditions established by said first processor and outputting signals indicative of monitored conditions; and

b) a second processor object receiving and analyzing said output signals and providing second output signals.

8. A monitoring system according to claim 6 including an input device inputting control signals to at least one of said processor objects to establish the conditions monitored.

9. A monitoring system according to claim 8 including an input terminal receiving manual input determining at least in part said control signals to at least one of said processor objects to establish the conditions monitored.

10. A monitoring system according to claim 8 wherein said input device includes an input terminal receiving manual input.

7. In a communication system comprising a switched network controlled by a common channel signaling network (CCSN) including signal transfer points (STPs) connected to said switched network at signaling points (SPs) via links transporting signals between said SPs and STPs, a monitoring system comprising:

a) monitors coupled to provide an interface to said signals to a first processor object providing real time monitoring of the signals including monitoring for conditions established by said first processor object and outputting signals indicative of monitored conditions; and

b) a second processor object receiving and analyzing said output signals and providing a second set of output signals.

11. A monitor system for a switched communication network including program controlled switches (PCSs) controlled by a data switched common channel signaling network (CCSN) having a plurality of signal transfer points (STPs) connected to one another and to said PCSs at signaling points (SPs) via links transporting signal streams between STPs and between SPs and STPs, comprising:

a) first link interfaces coupling the signal streams to one of said STPs to first processor means to provide real time monitoring of said signal streams and output signals indicative of predetermined criteria;

b) second link interfaces coupling the signal streams to another of said STPs to second processor means to provide real time monitoring of the second signal streams and output signals indicative of predetermined criteria;

c) third and fourth processor means connected respectively to said first and second processor means and generating additional output signals;

said third and fourth processor means being connected to one another.