SS7 network management primeship

• US 5,898,667 A
• Filed: 12/31/1996
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Patterson, Judson Jay, Longfield, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): QURESHI, AFSAR M
• Application Number:
  US08/775,564
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 370/218, 370/219, 370/220, 370/225, 370/228, 370/377, 370/385, 370/410, 370/522, 370/524, 379/229, 379/230, 379/220, 340/825.01
• US Class Current: 370/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2254 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A signaling transfer point (STP) includes a communications controller, node maintenance unit, and a plurality of link-interface units, and designates to the individual link-interface units primary responsibility for management of resources coupled to the STP. When one of the resources experiences a problem, a prime link-interface unit for that resource assumes management of the resource and controls communication by the STP with the resource. If a prime link-interface unit fails, either the node maintenance unit or look-up tables within the other link-interface units designate which other link-interface unit will become prime for the resource covered by the failed link-interface unit.

Claims

1. A signaling point for use in a common channel signaling (CCS) network, the signaling point comprising:

a communications controller; and

a plurality of link-interface units coupled to the communications controller for coupling the signaling point to resources in the CCS network, one of the link-interface units containing means for managing communication by the plurality of link-interface units with a selected CCS resource in accordance with a status of the selected CCS resource.

2. The signaling point of claim 1, wherein the means for managing manages communication by the plurality of link-interface units with a linkset.

3. The signaling point of claim 1, wherein the means for managing manages communication by the plurality of link-interface units with a routeset.

4. The signaling point of claim 1, wherein the means for managing manages communication by the plurality of link-interface units with a subsystem.

5. The signaling point of claim 1, wherein the link-interface units include

means for receiving a signal indicating that one of the link-interface units has failed;

and means for assuming managing the communication by the link-interface units with the selected CCS resource in accordance with the status of the selected CCS resource.

7. The signaling point of claim 5, wherein the means for assuming managing includes means for assessing a predetermined priority among the link-interface units.

8. The signaling point of claim 1, wherein the one link-interface unit manages communication by the link-interface units with the at least one resource after another of the link-interface units detects the status of the selected CCS resource and communicates the status to the link-interface units.

6. A signaling point for use in a common channel signaling (CCS) network, the signaling point comprising:

a communications controller;

a plurality of link-interface units coupled to the communications controller for coupling the signaling point to resources in the CCS network, one of the link-interface units containing means for managing communications by the plurality of link-interface units with a selected CCS resource in accordance with a status of the selected CCS resource, the link-interface units further including means for receiving a signal indicating that one of the link-interface units has failed and means for assuming managing the communication by the lin-interface units with the selected CCS resource in accordance with the status of the selected CCS resource; and

a node maintenance unit coupled to the link-interface units, the node maintenance unit including means for directing one of the link-interface units to begin assuming managing the communication by the link-interface units with the selected CCS resource.

9. A method for managing resources in a common channel signaling (CCS) network from a telecommunications switch, the telecommunications switch including a plurality of interface units coupling the switch to a plurality of resources in the CCS network, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting, at an interface unit, a problem condition of one of the resources;

communicating the problem condition of the resource directly from the detecting interface unit to the other interface units;

verifying, by a processor within one of the plurality of interface units, the problem condition; and

coordinating, at the processor within the one of the plurality of interface units, further communication by the plurality of interface units intended for the one resource until the problem condition of the one resource changes.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one of the interface units manages communication by the plurality of interface units with the one resource in response to all problem conditions of the one resource.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of managing the communication by the plurality of interface units with the one resource using Message Transfer Part protocol of Signaling System No. 7.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the detecting step detects the problem condition of a linkset connecting the telecommunications switch with a node in the CCS network.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the detecting step detects the problem condition of a routeset for communicating information between the telecommunications switch and a node in the CCS network.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of managing the communication by the plurality of interface units with the one resource using Signaling Connection Control Part protocol of Signaling System No. 7.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the detecting step detects the problem condition of a subsystem database within a service control point in the CCS network.

11. A method for managing resources in a common channel signaling (CCS) network from a telecommunications switch, the telecommunications switch including a plurality of interface units coupling the switch to a plurality of resources in the CCS network, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting, at an interface unit, a problem condition of one of the resources;

communicating the problem condition of the resource from the detecting interface unit to the other interface units;

verifying, by a processor within one of the plurality of interface units, the problem condition;

coordinating, at the processor within the one of the plurality of interface units, further communication by the plurality of interface units intended for the one resource until the problem condition of the one resource changes; and

assuming, by a backup one of the plurality of interface units, management of the communication by the plurality of interface units with the one resource when the one of the plurality of interface units fails.

17. A method for managing resources in a common channel signaling (CCS) network from a telecommunications switch, the telecommunications switch including a plurality of interface units coupling the switch to a plurality of resources in the CCS network, each of the plurality of resources having a status condition, and the method comprising the steps of:

detecting, at any of the interface units, a change in the status condition of multiple resources simultaneously;

communicating the changed status conditions directly from the detecting interface unit to the other ones of the interface units; and

managing, at ones of the interface units, communication by the plurality of interface units with the multiple resources.

18. A method for managing resources in a common channel signaling (CC S) network from a signaling point, the signaling point including a plurality of link-interface units communicatively coupling the signaling point to a plurality of resources in the CCS network, each of the plurality of link-interface units having a link processor, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, at one of the link-interface units, a status of one of the resources; and

managing, at the one link-interface unit, communication by the link-interface units with the resource in accordance with the status of the at least one resource.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of managing the communication by the link-interface units with the at least one resource using Message Transfer Part protocol of Signaling System No. 7.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the determining step determines the status of a linkset connecting the one of the link-interface units with a node in the CCS network.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the determining step determines the status of a routeset for communicating information between the signaling point and a node in the CCS network.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of managing the communication by the link-interface units with the at least one resource using Signaling Connection Control Part protocol of Signaling System No. 7.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the determining step determines the status of a subsystem database within a service control point in the CCS network.

19. A method for managing resources in a common channel signaling (CCS) network from a signaling point, the signaling point including a plurality of link-interface units communicatively coupling the signaling point to a plurality of resources in the CCS network, each of the plurality of link-interface units having a link processor, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, at one of the link-interface units, a status of one of the resources;

managing, at the one link-interface unit, communication by the link-interface units with the resource in accordance with the status of the at least one resource; and

commencing, by a backup one of the plurality of link-interface units, management of the communication by the link-interface units with the resource, when the one link-interface unit fails.

20. The method of claim 19, further including the step of directing the backup link-interface unit to commence managing the communication by the link-interface units with the resource.

21. The method of claim 19, further including the step of assuming managing the communication by the link-interface units with the resource by a backup one of the link interface units chosen according to a predetermined priority among the link-interface units.

22. The method of claim 21, further including the step of storing tables of the predetermined priority in the link interface units.