Telecommunications apparatus, system, and method with an enhanced signal transfer point

• US 5,926,482 A
• Filed: 09/08/1995
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Wiley, William Lyle, Duree, Albert Daniel, Gardner, Michael Joseph, Christie, Jospeh Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US08/525,868
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/392, 370/469, 370/522, 370/524, 370/467, 379/230, 379/229
• US Class Current: 370/469
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/125 One of the channel pulses or the synchronisation pulse is also used for transmitting monitoring or supervisory signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/247 ATM or packet multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/25 Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/253 using establishment or release of connections between ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/255 Control mechanisms for ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/50 Overload detection or protection within a single switching element
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13104 Central control, computer control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1338 : Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 : Virtual channel/circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13527 : protocols - X.25, TCAP etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 : Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus, system, and method for converting point codes in a signal transfer point in a telecommunications signaling system. The STP converts point codes which designate the origination and destination signaling points for the message. The conversion is based on information defined by the messages, such as origination or destination information. The present invention creates a virtual signaling system which can be reconfigured at the STP by converting point codes, and thus, altering the identities of the signaling points. The present invention is also operable to convert circuit identification codes and transfer integrated services user part messages to a user part.

Claims

1. A signal transfer point (STP) operable to apply message transfer part (MTP) functions to a plurality of signaling messages containing point codes wherein the functions are a signaling data link function, a signaling link function, and a signaling network function, the STP comprising;

a first means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling data link function;

a second means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling link function;

a third means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling network function, wherein the signaling network function includes a routing function; and

a converting means for converting at least some of the point codes in the signaling messages into different point codes, wherein the converting means is located between the second means and the routing function of the third means.

2. The STP of claim 1 wherein the converting means is located after the second means and before the third means.

3. The STP of claim 1 wherein the third means further includes a discrimination function and the converting means is located in the discrimination function.

4. The STP of claim 1 wherein the conversion is based in part on the point codes originally contained in the messages.

5. The STP of claim 1 wherein the signaling messages further include Circuit Identification Codes (CICs) and wherein the converting means is also for converting the CICs.

6. A Signal Transfer Point (STP) operable to apply Message Transfer Part (MTP) functions to a plurality of signaling messages containing point codes wherein the functions are a signaling data link function, a signaling link function, and a signaling network function, wherein the signaling messages are of the same protocol before and after conversion and no gateway functionality is required by the STP, the STP comprising:

a first means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling data link function;

a second means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling link function;

a third means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling network function wherein the third means comprises a discrimination function, a distribution function, a management function, and a route function;

a first converting means for converting at least some of the point codes in the signaling messages into different point codes, wherein the signaling messages converted by the first converting means include messages received by the STP;

a second converting means for converting at least some of the point codes in the signaling messages into different point codes, wherein the signaling messages converted by the second converting means include messages generated by the third means, and wherein the third means further comprises the second converting means; and

wherein the second means is coupled to the first converting means, the first converting means is coupled to the discrimination function, the discrimination function is coupled to the distribution function and the route function, the distribution function is coupled to the management function, the management function is coupled to the second converting means, the second converting means is coupled to the route function, and the route function is coupled to the second means.

7. The STP of claim 6 wherein the STP is coupled to a user part that exchanges a portion of the signaling messages with the STP, wherein the distribution function is coupled to the user part, and wherein the user part is coupled to the second converting means.

8. A method of telecommunications signaling comprising:

receiving a signaling message into a Signal Transfer Point (STP) from a first signaling point wherein the signaling message contains codes which identify the first signaling point and a second signaling point, wherein the first signaling point resides in a first switch and the second signaling point resides in a second switch; and

converting at least a portion of the codes to different codes before the signaling message has been designated by the STP for a particular destination signaling point, and wherein the converted portion of the codes identify a signaling point residing in a third switch.