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

• US 6,327,270 B1
• Filed: 07/16/1998
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Christie, Jospeh Michael, Wiley, William Lyle, Duree, Albert Daniel, Gardner, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US09/116,868
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/392, 370/401, 370/410, 370/466, 370/467, 370/469, 370/522, 370/524, 379/229, 379/230
• 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) comprising:

a first means for processing signaling messages containing point codes to apply a message transfer part (MTP) signaling data link function;

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

a third means for processing the signaling messages to apply an MTP signaling network function wherein the MTP signaling network function includes generating signaling management messages; and

a converting means for converting at least some point codes into different point codes in the signaling messages and the signaling management messages, wherein the signaling messages converted by the converting means are received by the STP.

2. The STP of claim 1 wherein the signaling messages are SS7 messages.

3. The STP of claim 1 wherein the signaling messages are C7 messages.

4. A signal transfer point (STP) comprising;

a first means for processing signaling messages containing destination codes to apply a message transfer part. (MTP) signaling data link function;

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

a third means for processing the signaling messages to apply an MTP signaling network function wherein the MTP signaling network function includes generating signaling management messages; and

a converting means for converting at least some of the destination codes into different destination codes in the signaling messages and the signaling management messages, wherein the converting means selects the different destination codes for the signaling messages using information related to origins of the signaling messages, wherein there are a plurality of different origins and each selected destination code corresponds to one of the different origins and wherein the signaling messages converted by the converting means are received by the STP.

5. The STP of claim 4 wherein the messages are transferred on a plurality of signaling links which are grouped into linksets and the origin information is particular linksets on which the messages are transferred to the STP.

6. The STP of claim 4 wherein the messages from a particular linkset are flagged.

7. The STP of claim 4 wherein the origin information is originating codes.

8. A signal transfer point (STP) comprising;

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

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

a third means for processing the signaling messages to apply an MTP signaling network function and for transferring integrated services user part (ISUP) messages to the User Part wherein the MTP signaling network function includes generating signaling management messages; and

a converting means for converting at least some of the point codes into different point codes in the signaling messages and the signaling management messages wherein the signaling messages converted by the converting means are received by the STP.

9. The STP of claim 8 wherein the ISUP messages are transferred to the User Part in based on origination point codes in the messages.

10. The STP of claim 8 wherein the ISUP messages are transferred to the User Part in based on destination point codes in the messages.

11. The STP of claim 8 wherein the ISUP messages are transferred to the User Part in based on circuit identification codes in the messages.

12. A signal transfer point (STP) comprising;

a first means for processing signaling messages containing destination codes to apply a message transfer part (MTP) signaling data link function;

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

a third means for processing the signaling messages to apply an MTP signaling network function wherein the MTP signaling network function includes generating signaling management messages; and

a converting means for converting at least some of the destination codes into new destination codes in the signaling messages and the signaling management messages by using the destination codes from the signaling messages to enter a table and obtain the new destination codes wherein the signaling messages converted by the converting means are received by the STP.

13. The STP of claim 12 wherein the table is used to obtain the new destination codes only for signaling messages from a particular linkset.

14. The STP of claim 12 wherein the converting means is further for converting at least some circuit identification codes in the signaling messages into new circuit identification codes.

15. The STP of claim 12 wherein the signaling messages are SS7 messages.

16. The STP of claim 12 wherein the signaling messages are C7 messages.

17. A signal transfer point (STP) comprising;

a first means for processing signaling messages containing destination codes to apply a message transfer part (MTP) signaling data link function;

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

a third means for processing the signaling messages to apply an MTP signaling network function wherein the MTP signaling network function includes generating signaling management messages; and

a converting means for converting at least some of the destination codes in the signaling messages into new destination codes by using origination codes from the signaling messages to enter a table and obtain the new destination codes wherein the signaling messages converted by the converting means are received by the STP.

18. The STP of claim 17 wherein the converting means is further for converting at least some of the origination codes in the signaling messages into new origination codes by using the origination codes from the signaling messages to enter the table and obtain the new origination codes.

19. The STP of claim 17 wherein the converting means is further for converting at least some circuit identification codes in the signaling messages into new circuit identification codes.

20. The STP of claim 17 wherein the signaling messages are SS7 messages.

21. The STP of claim 17 wherein the signaling messages are C7 messages.

22. A signal transfer point (STP) comprising;

a first means for processing signaling messages containing point codes to apply an MTP signaling data link function;

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

a third means for processing the signaling messages to apply an MTP signaling network function wherein the MTP signaling network function includes generating signaling management messages; and

a converting means for converting at least some circuit identification codes into new circuit identification codes in the signaling messages and the signaling management messages-based on the point codes in the signaling messages wherein the signaling messages converted by the converting means are received by the STP.

23. The STP of claim 22 wherein the signaling messages are SS7 messages.

24. The STP of claim 22 wherein the signaling messages are C7 messages.

25. A method for operating a Signal Transfer Point (STP), the method comprising:

applying a message transfer part (MTP) signaling data link function to signaling messages containing point codes;

applying an MTP signaling link function to the signaling messages;

applying an MTP signaling network function to the signaling messages wherein the MTP signaling network function includes generating signaling management messages; and

converting at least some of the point codes into different point codes in the signaling messages and the signaling management messages, wherein the signaling messages are received by the STP.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the signaling messages are SS7 messages.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the signaling messages are C7 messages.

28. A method for operating a Signal Transfer Point (STP), the method comprising;

applying a message transfer part (MTP) signaling data link function to the signaling messages;

applying an MTP signaling link function to the signaling messages;

applying an MTP signaling network function to the signaling messages wherein the MTP signaling network function includes generating signaling management messages; and

converting at least some of the destination codes into different destination codes in the signaling messages and the signaling management messages by selecting the different destination point codes for the signaling messages using information related to origins of the signaling messages, wherein there are a plurality of different origins and each selected destination point code corresponds to one of the different origins and wherein the signaling messages are received by the STP.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the messages are transferred on a plurality of signaling links which are grouped into linksets and the origin information is particular linksets on which the messages are transferred to the STP.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising flagging the messages from a particular linkset.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the origin information is originating point codes.

32. A method for operating an Signal Transfer Point (STP), the method comprising;

applying a message transfer part (MTP) signaling data link function to signaling messages containing point codes;

applying an MTP signaling link function to the signaling messages;

applying an MTP signaling network function to the signaling messages and transferring integrated services user part (ISUP) messages to a User Part wherein the MTP signaling network function includes generating signaling management messages; and

converting at least some of the point codes into different point codes in the signaling messages and the signaling management messages and wherein the signaling messages are received by the STP.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the ISUP messages are transferred to the User Part in based on origination point codes in the messages.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the ISUP messages are transferred to the User Part in based on destination point codes in the messages.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein the ISUP messages are transferred to the User Part in based on circuit identification codes in the messages.

36. A method for operating a Signal Transfer Point (STP), the method comprising;

applying a message transfer part (MTP) signaling data link function to signaling messages containing destination codes;

applying an MTP signaling link function to the signaling messages;

applying an MTP signaling network function to the signaling messages wherein the MTP signaling network function includes generating signaling management messages; and

converting at least some of the destination codes into different destination codes in the signaling messages and the signaling management messages by using the destination codes from the signaling messages to enter a table and obtain the new destination codes and wherein the signaling messages are received by the STP.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the table is used to obtain the new destination codes only for signaling messages from a particular linkset.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising converting at least some circuit identification codes in the signaling messages into new circuit identification codes.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the signaling messages are SS7 messages.

40. The method of claim 36 wherein the signaling messages are C7 messages.

41. A method for operating an Signal Transfer Point (STP), method comprising;

applying a message transfer part (MTP) signaling data link function to signaling messages containing destination codes;

applying an MTP signaling link function to the signaling messages;

applying an MTP signaling network functiion includes generating signaling management messages; and

converting at least some of the destination codes into different destination codes in the signaling messages and the signaling management messages by using origination codes from the signaling messages to enter a table and obtain the new destination codes and wherein the signaling messages are recieved by the STP.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising converting at least some of the origination codes in the signaling messages into new origination codes by using the origination codes from the signaling messages to enter the table and obtain the new origination codes.

43. The method of claim 41 further comprising converting at least some circuit identification codes in the signaling messages into new circuit identification codes.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the signaling messages are SS7 messages.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein the signaling messages are C7 messages.

46. A method for operating an Signal Transfer Point (STP), the method comprising;

applying a message transfer part (MTP) signaling data link function to signaling messages containing point codes;

applying an MTP signaling link function to the signaling messages;

applying an MTP signaling network function to the signaling messages wherein the MTP signaling network function includes generating signaling management messages; and

converting at least some circuit identification codes into new circuit identification codes in the signaling messages and the signaling management messages based on the point codes in the signaling messages and wherein the signaling messages are received by the STP.

47. A method for operating a telecommunications system, the method comprising:

receiving signaling messages containing destination codes into a signal transfer point (STP);

converting the destination codes to identify a signaling processor; and

routing the signaling messages through a message transfer part level 3 distribution function to the signaling processor based on the converted destination codes, wherein the signaling processor operates as a user part to the STP.

48. The method of claim 47 further comprising receiving the signaling messages into the signaling processor.

49. The method of claim 47 further comprising generating the signaling messages in a plurality of switches and transmitting the signaling messages to the STP.

50. The method of claim 47 wherein the signaling messages are C7 messages.