Message modification apparatus for use in a telecommunication signalling network
First Claim
1. Apparatus insertable in a signalling link between two signalling points for modifying selected messages that are passing over the link in accordance with a link-level protocol, said protocol having state-based procedures that use link-level data carried by the messages;
- said apparatus comprising;
an input and an output to which respective portions of said link can be connected;
message path means extending between said input and output and comprising;
receive means connected to said input for receiving said messages from the link and decoding them to form corresponding decoded messages including the link-level data of the messages,queue means connected to said receive means for queuing said decoded messages in FIFO order, andtransmit means for taking decoded messages from said queue means, re-coding them and passing them to said output,selection means for selecting particular said messages passing along said message path means according to at least one predetermined criterion, said selection means generating a modification signal in respect of each said particular message concerning a modification to be effected thereto; and
modification means responsive to said modification signal for effecting the desired modifications to said particular messages in passage through said message path means;
any differences introduced into said messages as they pass through the apparatus between said input and output being such that said state-based procedures of said link-level protocol are undisrupted thereby.
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Abstract
A programmable message substitution unit PMSU (60) is provided for modifying signalling messages passing across a link (61) of a telecommunications signalling network without disrupting the link-level procedures operating over the link. In the event of a power failure or upon the detection of an operational anomaly, a bypass relay arrangement (65) is used to bypass the PMSU (60). The PMSU (60) comprises a substitution block for modifying selected messages, a database block for doing database lookups to ascertain new message parameter values to be substituted for existing ones, and a supervision block for checking the operation of the substitution block. The PMSU may be used to implement local number portability or other services.
48 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus insertable in a signalling link between two signalling points for modifying selected messages that are passing over the link in accordance with a link-level protocol, said protocol having state-based procedures that use link-level data carried by the messages;
- said apparatus comprising;
an input and an output to which respective portions of said link can be connected; message path means extending between said input and output and comprising; receive means connected to said input for receiving said messages from the link and decoding them to form corresponding decoded messages including the link-level data of the messages, queue means connected to said receive means for queuing said decoded messages in FIFO order, and transmit means for taking decoded messages from said queue means, re-coding them and passing them to said output, selection means for selecting particular said messages passing along said message path means according to at least one predetermined criterion, said selection means generating a modification signal in respect of each said particular message concerning a modification to be effected thereto; and modification means responsive to said modification signal for effecting the desired modifications to said particular messages in passage through said message path means; any differences introduced into said messages as they pass through the apparatus between said input and output being such that said state-based procedures of said link-level protocol are undisrupted thereby. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- said apparatus comprising;
Specification