Systems and methods for monitoring data signals on a communications network

• US 6,501,950 B1
• Filed: 08/17/1998
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morton, John W., Seymour, Jefferey T., Visser, Gregory S., Henseler, David L., Smith, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/135,519
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432, 455/433, 455/445, 455/566, 455/414, 455/411, 455/410, 455/412, 455/514, 455/422, 455/424, 455/560, 455/423, 380/247, 380/270, 379/230, 379/229
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0087 Network testing or monitoring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A system and method capture data from an SS7 network and pair each invoke message with its corresponding response message. Each message is stored in a daily file as well as in a table dedicated for that particular message type. A separate file is also maintained on each MIN and holds the most current registration information for each MIN. The system and method support four different types of queries: a MIN/ESN query, an active roamer query, a switch-to-switch query, and a transaction statistics query. The MIN/ESN query provides roaming activity on a specific MIN or ESN while the active roamer query provides information on all roamers in a serving market. The switch-to-switch query reveals messaging at one switch or between two switches. The statistics query provides data to a provider on all of its subscribers roaming in foreign networks or on all phones within its own network. The system has a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for displaying information on each message in an easy and convenient manner. The details of a record are displayed in a tabular format with each tab holding data for a group of parameters.

Claims

1. A system for use with a communications network carrying data signaling and communications traffic, the system for use in monitoring the data signaling and comprising:

a catcher for receiving messages and for storing the messages in a daily file within a database, the messages forming part of the data signaling in the communications network and being captured from the communications network; and

a parser for receiving the messages from the catcher and for storing the messages in one of a plurality of message tables with messages of different types being stored in different message tables;

wherein the parser additionally separates each message into its constituent parameters and stores the parameters into fields in its respective message table;

wherein the parser pairs each invoke message with its corresponding response message and stores a pair of the invoke and response messages in the daily file.

2. A system for use with a communications network carrying data signaling and communications traffic, the system for use in monitoring the data signaling and comprising:

a catcher for receiving messages and for storing the messages in a daily file within a database, the messages forming part of the data signaling in the communications network and being captured from the communications network;

a parser for receiving the messages from the catcher and for storing the messages in one of a plurality of message tables with messages of different types being stored in different message tables; and

a update statistics object for receiving the messages stored in the daily file and for maintaining statistics in a statistics file,

wherein the parser additionally separates each message into its constituent parameters and stores the parameters into fields in its respective message table,

wherein the update statistics object derives company network information from a SID table and stores the company network information in the statistics file.

3. A system for use with a communications network carrying data signaling and communications traffic, the system for use in monitoring the data signaling and comprising:

a catcher for receiving messages and for storing the messages in a daily file within a database, the messages forming part of the data signaling in the communications network and being captured from the communications network;

a parser for receiving the messages from the catcher and for storing the messages in one of a plurality of message tables with messages of different types being stored in different message tables; and

a update statistics object for receiving the messages stored in the daily file and for maintaining statistics in a statistics file,

wherein the parser additionally separates each message into its constituent parameters and stores the parameters into fields in its respective message table,

wherein the update statistics object derives company network information from a SID table and stores the company network information in the statistics file,

wherein the update statistics object stores the company network information and the messages in a customer file for use by a customer object in maintaining current information on each customer.

4. A method of monitoring a communications network carrying data signaling and communications traffic, comprising:

receiving messages transported over the communications network, the messages forming part of the data signaling in the communications network;

storing the messages in a daily file;

parsing the messages into their constituent message parameters;

storing the messages along with their constituent message parameters into message tables;

receiving a query on the messages;

performing the query to locate a set of records satisfying the query; and

displaying the set of records;

receiving a user-selection of a single record from the set of records;

retrieving details of a selected message corresponding to the single record from the message tables; and

displaying the details of the selected message.

5. A method of monitoring a communications network carrying data signaling and communications traffic, comprising:

receiving messages transported over the communications network, the messages forming part of the data signaling in the communications network;

storing the messages in a daily file;

parsing the messages into their constituent message parameters;

storing the messages along with their constituent message parameters into message tables;

receiving a query on the messages;

performing the query to locate a set of records satisfying the query;

displaying the set of records;

receiving a user-selection of a single record from the set of records;

retrieving details of a selected message corresponding to the single record from the message tables; and

displaying the details of the selected message,

wherein the displaying of the details of the selected message comprises displaying parameters of the message in a tabular format.

6. A method of monitoring a communications network carrying data signaling and communications traffic, comprising:

receiving messages transported over the communications network, the messages forming part of the data signaling in the communications network;

storing the messages in a daily file;

parsing the messages into their constituent message parameters;

storing the messages along with their constituent message parameters into message tables;

receiving a query on the messages;

performing the query to locate a set of records satisfying the query;

displaying the set of records;

receiving a user-selection of a single record from the set of records;

retrieving details of a selected message corresponding to the single record from the message tables; and

displaying the details of the selected message,

wherein the displaying of the details of the selected message comprises grouping message parameters into tabs of information.