System and method for configuring a local service control point with a call processor in an architecture

• US 6,597,701 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Howell, Royal Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): VANDERPUYE, KENNETH N
• Application Number:
  US09/219,095
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/357, 370/360, 370/384, 370/385, 370/386, 370/395.1, 370/396, 370/400, 370/401, 370/410, 370/352
• US Class Current: 370/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5618 Bridges, gateways [GW] or interworking units [IWU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5626 Network management, e.g. Intelligent nets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

A system and method for processing a call comprises a signaling interface to receive and process call signaling and transmit call signaling between a call processor and communication devices such as a local number portability service control point. A call processor processes call signaling to determine call connections. A local service control point (local SCP) provides information such as, for example, for N00 routing and virtual private network (VPN) routing. The local SCP resides with the call processor on a single platform so that they are connected, for example, through a backplane or bus architecture. In this configuration, transaction capabilities application part messages do not have to be transmitted between the signaling interface and the local SCP. Instead, direct communication can occur through control messages transmitted between the local SCP and the call processor thereby realizing increased speed and processing efficiency. Because the local SCP resides with the call processor, two remote dips to an SCP is not necessary.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a Signaling System 7 (SS7) interface configured to receive an SS7 initial address message for a call indicating a called number and a first connection, transfer an SS7 query message indicating a translation of the called number, and receive an SS7 response message indicating call routing information;

a call processor coupled to the SS7 interface and configured to process the called number from the initial address message to transfer a first message indicating the called number, process a second message indicating the translation of the called number to initiate the transfer of the SS7 query message from the SS7 interface, and process the call routing information from the SS7 response message to transfer a third message indicating the first connection and a second connection;

a first service control point configured to process the first message indicating the called number to transfer the second message indicating the translation of the called number;

a means for connecting the call processor to the first service control point to locate the call processor and the first service control point on a same platform and for transferring the first message and the second message between the call processor and the first service control point without using SS7 formatted messages; and

an interworking unit configured to receive communications for the call from the first connection in a time division multiplex communication format, receive the third message, and in response to the third message, convert the communications from the time division multiplex communication format to an asynchronous communication format and transfer the communications in the asynchronous communication format over the second connection.

2. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a second service control point configured to process the SS7 query message indicating the translation of the called number to transfer the SS7 response message indicating the call routing information.

3. The communication system of claim 2 wherein the second service control point comprises a local number portability database.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the first connection comprises a DS0 connection and the second connection comprises an asynchronous transfer mode connection.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the means comprises a bus structure.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the means comprises a backplane.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the means comprises a motherboard.

8. A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

in a Signaling System 7 (SS7) interface, receiving an SS7 initial address message for a call indicating a called number and a first connection;

in a call processor coupled to the SS7 interface, processing the called number from the initial address message to transfer a first message indicating the called number;

in a means for connecting the call processor to a first service control point to locate the call processor and the first service control point on a same platform, transferring the first message from the call processor to the first service control point without using SS7 formatted messages;

in the first service control point, processing the first message indicating the called number to transfer a second message indicating a translation of the called number;

in the means for connecting the call processor to the first service control point, transferring the second message from the first service control point to the call processor without using the SS7 formatted messages;

in the call processor, processing the second message indicating the translation of the called number to initiate a transfer of an SS7 query message from the SS7 interface;

in the SS7 interface, transferring an SS7 query message indicating the translation of the called number and receiving an SS7 response message indicating call routing information;

in the call processor, processing the call routing information from the SS7 response message to transfer a third message indicating the first connection and a second connection; and

in an interworking unit, receiving communications for the call from the first connection in a time division multiplex communication format, receiving the third message, and in response to the third message, converting the communications from the time division multiplex communication format to an asynchronous communication format and transferring the communications in the asynchronous communication format over the second connection.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising, in a second service control point, processing the SS7 query message indicating the translation of the called number to transfer the SS7 response message indicating the call routing information.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second service control point comprises a local number portability database.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the first connection comprises a DS0 connection and the second connection comprises an asynchronous transfer mode connection.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the means comprises a bus structure.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the means comprises a backplane.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the means comprises a motherboard.