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

• US 6,577,626 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• 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: Christie, Joseph Michael, Wiley, William Lyle, Duree, Albert Daniel, Gardner, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US09/946,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20020031145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 370/392, 370/393, 370/401, 370/410, 370/465, 370/474, 370/522, 370/524, 370/384, 370/385, 379/229, 379/230, 379/258
• US Class Current: 370/384
• 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 method of operating a network routing system to handle a telecommunication signaling message, the method comprising:

receiving the telecommunication signaling message into the network routing system wherein the telecommunication signaling message includes information for setting-up telecommunications, wherein the telecommunication signaling message has a first origination code representing a first originating device that originated the telecommunication signaling message, and wherein the telecommunication signaling message has a first destination code representing a first destination device and that can be used to route the telecommunication signaling message to the first destination device;

using the first origination code in a software table to obtain a second destination code representing a second destination device and that can be used to route the telecommunication signaling message to the second destination device;

converting the first destination code in the telecommunication signaling message to the second destination code; and

transferring the telecommunication signaling message having the second destination code from the network routing system wherein the second destination code is used by a network to route the telecommunication signaling message to the second destination device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising converting the first origination code in the telecommunication signaling message to a second origination code.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the information for setting-up the telecommunications comprises a telephone number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second destination device comprises a database that provides telecommunication routing information.

5. A method of operating a network routing system to handle a telecommunication signaling message, the method comprising:

receiving the telecommunication signaling message into the network routing system from one of a plurality of data links wherein the telecommunication signaling message includes information for setting-up telecommunications, wherein the telecommunication signaling message has a first origination code representing a first originating device, and wherein the telecommunication signaling message has a first destination code representing a first destination device and that can be used to route the telecommunication signaling message to the first destination device;

selecting a second destination code based on the one data link used to receive the telecommunication signaling message wherein the second destination code represents a second destination device and can be used to route the telecommunication signaling message to the second destination device;

converting the first destination code in the telecommunication signaling message to the second destination code; and

transferring the telecommunication signaling message having the second destination code from the network routing system wherein the second destination code is used by a network to route the telecommunication signaling message to the second destination device.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising converting the first origination code in the telecommunication signaling message to a second origination code.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the information for setting-up the telecommunications comprises a telephone number.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the second destination device comprises a database that provides telecommunication routing information.

9. A method of operating a network routing system to handle a telecommunication signaling message, the method comprising:

receiving the telecommunication signaling message into the network routing system wherein the telecommunication signaling message includes information for setting-up telecommunications, wherein the telecommunication signaling message has a first origination code representing a first originating device that originated the telecommunication signaling message, and wherein the telecommunication signaling message has a first destination code representing a first destination device and that can be used to route the telecommunication signaling message to the first destination device;

using the first origination code in a software table to obtain a second origination code representing a second origination device;

converting the first origination code in the telecommunication signaling message to the second origination code; and

transferring the telecommunication signaling message having the second origination code from the network routing system.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising converting the first destination code in the telecommunication signaling message to a second destination code representing a second destination device wherein the second destination code is used by a network to route the telecommunication signaling message to the second destination device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the second destination device comprises a database that provides telecommunication routing information.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the information for setting-up the telecommunications comprises a telephone number.

13. A software product for use in a network routing system to handle a telecommunication signaling message received into the network routing system, wherein the telecommunication signaling message includes information for setting-up telecommunications, wherein the telecommunication signaling message has a first origination code representing a first originating device that originated the telecommunication signaling message, and wherein the telecommunication signaling message has a first destination code representing a first destination device and that can be used to route the telecommunication signaling message to the first destination device, the software product comprising:

software configured to direct the network routing system to use the first origination code in a software table to obtain a second destination code representing a second destination device and that can be used to route the telecommunication signaling message to the second destination device, and to convert the first destination code in the telecommunication signaling message to the second destination code, wherein the network routing system transfers the telecommunication signaling message having the second destination code; and

a storage media that stores the software.

14. The software product of claim 13 wherein the software directs the network routing system to convert the first origination code in the telecommunication signaling message to a second origination code.

15. The software product of claim 13 wherein the information for setting-up the telecommunications comprises a telephone number.

16. The software product of claim 13 wherein the second destination device comprises a database that provides telecommunication routing information.

17. A software product for use in a network routing system to handle a telecommunication signaling message received into the network routing system from one of a plurality of data links wherein the telecommunication signaling message includes information for setting-up telecommunications, wherein the telecommunication signaling message has a first origination code representing a first originating device, and wherein the telecommunication signaling message has a first destination code representing a first destination device and that can be used to route the telecommunication signaling message to the first destination device, the software product comprising:

software configured to direct the network routing system to select a second destination code based on the one data link used to receive the telecommunication signaling message wherein the second destination code represents a second destination device and can be used to route the telecommunication signaling message to the second destination device, and to convert the first destination code in the telecommunication signaling message to the second destination code, wherein the network routing system transfers the telecommunication signaling message having the second destination code; and

a storage media that stores the software.

18. The software product of claim 17 wherein the software directs the network routing system to convert the first origination code in the telecommunication signaling message to a second origination code.

19. The software product of claim 17 wherein the information for setting-up the telecommunications comprises a telephone number.

20. The software product of claim 17 wherein the second destination device comprises a database that provides telecommunication routing information.

21. A software product for use in a network routing system to handle a telecommunication signaling message received into the network routing system, wherein the telecommunication signaling message includes information for setting-up telecommunications, wherein the telecommunication signaling message has a first origination code representing a first originating device that originated the telecommunication signaling message, and wherein the telecommunication signaling message has a first destination code representing a first destination device and that can be used to route the telecommunication signaling message to the first destination device, the software product comprising:

software configured to direct the network routing system to use the first origination code in a software table to obtain a second origination code representing a second origination device, and to convert the first origination code in the telecommunication signaling message to the second origination code, wherein the network routing system transfers the telecommunication signaling message having the second origination code; and

a storage media that stores the software.

22. The software product of claim 21 wherein the software directs the network routing system to convert the first destination code in the telecommunication signaling message to a second destination code representing a second destination device wherein the second destination code is used by a network to route the telecommunication signaling message to the second destination device.

23. The software product of claim 22 wherein the second destination device comprises a database that provides telecommunication routing information.

24. The software product of claim 21 wherein the information for setting-up the telecommunications comprises a telephone number.