Screening of unfamiliar messages and parameters

• US 6,144,663 A
• Filed: 07/30/1997
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Hallenstal, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US08/903,091
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/242, 370/392, 370/400, 370/401, 370/402, 370/466, 370/467, 370/384, 370/385, 370/410, 379/220, 379/229, 379/230
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, a node (105) and a network (102) for screening out unfamiliar messages. The invention is preferably applied in a ISUP network. The screening takes place through when a message or a parameter is detected which is not recognized a function is called upon which looks up the message and destination in a table (401, 601). The table (401, 601) is built up and modified by the operator. If the parameter (603) or message (403) and destination (404, 604) are found in the table then the corresponding action (405, 605) which can be, for example, to not forward the message or parameter, is taken.

Claims

1. Method for preventing or allowing the conveyance of at least one message via a node in a network, the node comprising first and second screening functions, each at least one message comprising a first parameter with information on a type of the message, at least one of the at least one message further comprising a second parameter with information about a destination for the at least one message, wherein

when the at least one message arrives at the node and the first screening function does not recognize the type of message indicated by the first parameter, the first screening function calls upon a second screening function, which performs an action based on the destination indicated by the second parameter.

2. Method according to claim 1, the at least one message further comprising at least a third parameter, wherein when the first screening function fails to recognize all parameters in the message, the first screening function calls upon the second screening function, which performs an action based on the destination and the third parameter.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the third parameter comprises a parameter type and the second screening function comprises an action table including entries, each entry comprising a parameter type, a destination and an action corresponding to the parameter type and the destination, third parameter and said destination the corresponding action described in the table is the table being arranged so that an operator can add entries to the table.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the action in each entry is one of terminating the message, forwarding the message, and forwarding the message with the third parameter excluded.

5. Method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of calculating the number of unfamiliar parameters and messages, storing the number of unfamiliar parameters and messages and storing traffic information related to the parameters and messages.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein:

the protocol which is used for the messages is ISUP (Integrated Services User Part),

the information on the type of message is carried in the field for "Message Type Code",

the third parameter comprises a "Parameter Compatibility Parameter",

information on the destination is received through "Called Party Number" in the message IAM (Initial Address Message), and

the corresponding action described in the table is performed depending on whether the "Parameter Compatibility Parameter" has been received or on whether the Parameter Compatibility Parameter is set to "Pass On".

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

the second screening function comprises an action table having entries, each entry comprising a message type, a destination and an action,

new entries in the table are added by an operator, and

when the first parameter and the second parameter of the message match the message type and the destination of an entry in the action table, the action of the entry is performed.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the action in each entry is one of terminating the message, forwarding the message, and modifying the message.

9. Method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of counting the number of unfamiliar messages, storing the number of unfamiliar messages and storing traffic information related to the messages.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein:

the protocol which is used for the messages is ISUP (Integrated Services User Part),

the information on the type of messages is carried in the field for "Message Type Code",

the message comprises a "Message Compatibility Parameter",

the information on the destination is obtained through the "Called Party Number" in the message IAM (Initial Address Message), and

an action according to the table is performed depending on whether the "Message Compatibility Parameter" has been received or whether the "Message Compatibility Parameter" is set to "Pass On".

11. A node in a network arranged for preventing or allowing the conveyance of at least one message via the node, the node comprising first and second screening functions, each at least one message comprising a first parameter with information on a type of the message, and at least one of the at least one message further comprising a second parameter with information about a destination for the at least one message, wherein

when the at least one message arrives at the node and the first screening function does not recognize the type of message indicated by the first parameter, the first screening function calls upon a second screening function, which performs an action based on the destination indicated by the second parameter.

12. Node according to claim 11, wherein the at least one message further comprises at least a third parameter, and when the first screening function fails to recognize all parameters in the message, the first screening function calls upon the second screening function, which performs an action based on the destination and the third parameter.

13. Node according to claim 12, wherein the third parameter comprises a parameter type and the second screening function comprises an action table including entries, each entry comprising a parameter type, a destination and an action corresponding to the parameter type and the destination.

14. Node according to claim 13, wherein the action in each entry is one of terminating the message, forwarding the message, and forwarding the message with the third parameter excluded.