Signaling network gateway device and method for use in a signaling network
First Claim
1. A signaling network gateway device for use in a signaling network comprising:
- a protocol interface unit operable to convert signaling information between a first format and a second format, the protocol interface unit operable to exchange signaling information in the second format with an access element providing communications with a telecommunication user;
a signaling transport unit operable to perform link speed conversion on the signaling information in the first format, the signaling transport unit operable to exchange signaling information in the first format with a transport signaling link of the signaling network at a desired rate; and
a signaling gateway control unit operable to control an exchange of signaling information in the first format between the signaling transport unit and the protocol interface unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A signaling network gateway device (12) is provided for use in a signaling network (10), such as a Signaling System 7 signaling network. The signaling network gateway device (12) includes a protocol interface unit, a signaling transport unit, and a signaling gateway control unit (58). The protocol interface unit converts signaling information between a first format and a second format and exchanges signaling information in the second format with a user access element, such as a digital loop carrier (26), of the signaling network (10). The protocol interface unit may include any number of individual protocol interface units such as an ISDN protocol interface unit (50), a future protocol interface unit (52), a TAPI/TSAPI protocol interface unit (54), and an SS7 protocol interface unit (56). The signaling transport unit performs link speed conversion on the signaling information in the first format so that the signaling information may be exchanged with a transport signaling link, such as a link (15), of the signaling network (10) at a desired rate. The signaling transport unit may include any number of individual signaling transport units such as an SS7 signaling transport unit (68) and an SS7/ATM signaling transport unit (70). The signaling gateway control unit (58) controls an exchange of signaling information in the first format between the signaling transport unit and the protocol interface unit.
333 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A signaling network gateway device for use in a signaling network comprising:
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a protocol interface unit operable to convert signaling information between a first format and a second format, the protocol interface unit operable to exchange signaling information in the second format with an access element providing communications with a telecommunication user; a signaling transport unit operable to perform link speed conversion on the signaling information in the first format, the signaling transport unit operable to exchange signaling information in the first format with a transport signaling link of the signaling network at a desired rate; and a signaling gateway control unit operable to control an exchange of signaling information in the first format between the signaling transport unit and the protocol interface unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A signaling network comprising:
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a local digital switch operable to exchange signaling information in a first format; a signaling network gateway device operable to exchange signaling information in the first format and a second format; a signaling transfer point operable to exchange signaling information in the first format, the signaling transfer point operable to exchange signaling information with the local digital switch and the signaling network gateway device in the first format; a service control point in communication with the signaling transfer point and operable to provide translation and routing type signaling information in the first format in response to receiving signaling information from the signaling transfer point; a network element operable to exchange signaling information with the signaling transfer point in the first format; and an access element operable to exchange signaling information with the signaling network gateway device in the second format, the access element operable to provide communications with a telecommunications user. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A signaling network comprising:
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a local digital switch operable to exchange signaling information in a first format; a signaling network gateway device operable to exchange signaling information in the first format and a second format, the signaling network gateway device operable to exchange signaling information with the local digital switch in the first format; a signaling transfer point operable to exchange signaling information in the first format, the signaling transfer point operable to exchange signaling information with the network gateway device in the first format; a service control point in communication with the signaling transfer point and operable to provide translation and routing type signaling information in the first format in response to receiving signaling information from the signaling transfer point; a network element operable to exchange signaling information with the signaling transfer point in the first format; and an access element operable to exchange signaling information with the signaling network gateway device in the second format, the access element operable to provide communications with a telecommunications user. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A method for using a signaling network gateway device in a signaling network comprising the steps of:
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communicating signaling information from an access element to a local digital switch, the access element operable to provide communications with a telecommunications user; communicating the signaling information from the local digital switch to a signaling transfer point in a first format; communicating the signaling information from the signaling transfer point to a service control point in the first format; generating translation and routing type signaling information in the first format; communicating the translation and routing type signaling information from the service control point to the signaling transfer point in the first format; communicating the translation and routing type signaling information from the signaling transfer point to a signaling network gateway device and a network element in the first format; converting the translation and routing type signaling information from the first format to a second format in the signaling network gateway device; and communicating the translation and routing type signaling information from the signaling network gateway device to an access element in the second format. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for using a signaling network gateway device in a signaling network comprising the steps of:
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communicating signaling information from an access element to a local digital switch, the access element operable to provide communications with a telecommunications user; communicating the signaling information from the local digital switch to a signaling network gateway device in a first format; communicating the signaling information from the signaling network gateway device to a signaling transfer point in the first format; communicating the signaling information from the signaling transfer point to a service control point in the first format; generating translation and routing type signaling information in the first format; communicating the translation and routing type signaling information from the service control point to the signaling transfer point in the first format; communicating the translation and routing type signaling information from the signaling transfer point to the signaling network gateway device and a network element in the first format; converting the translation and routing type signaling information from the first format to a second format in the signaling network gateway device; and communicating the translation and routing type signaling information from the signaling network gateway device to an access element in the second format.
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42. A method for using a signaling network gateway device in a signaling network comprising the steps of:
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communicating signaling information from an access element to a signaling network gateway device in a second format, the access element operable to provide communications with a telecommunications user; converting the signaling information from the second format to a first format in the signaling network gateway device; communicating the signaling information from the signaling network gateway device to a service control point in the first format; and generating signaling information in the first format at the service control point. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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Specification