Interface between an SS7 gateway and an IP network
First Claim
1. A method for communicating a mobile application message over an IP network between a first node in an SS7 network that uses SCCP for message transport and a second node in an IP network that uses TCP/IP for message transport comprising:
- (a) encapsulating said mobile application message in an IP message without intervening SS7 protocol layers; and
(b) transmitting said IP protocol message containing said mobile application message from said first node to said second node via a gateway; and
(c) periodically sending a link supervision message from said gateway to one of said first and second nodes to monitor the status of the communication link, said link supervision message comprising an Unacknowledged Periods information element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interface between an SS7 gateway and an IP network allows application layer data, such as MAP and TCAP messages, to be transported unchanged through the interface. The invention also provides a protocol for transporting MAP and TCAP messages that eliminates the need for SS7 protocols, and in particular, eliminates the need to implement the Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP). The interface is particularly useful for connecting a private wireless office system to an SS7 network to allow roaming between the private wireless office telephone system and the PLMN.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for communicating a mobile application message over an IP network between a first node in an SS7 network that uses SCCP for message transport and a second node in an IP network that uses TCP/IP for message transport comprising:
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(a) encapsulating said mobile application message in an IP message without intervening SS7 protocol layers; and
(b) transmitting said IP protocol message containing said mobile application message from said first node to said second node via a gateway; and
(c) periodically sending a link supervision message from said gateway to one of said first and second nodes to monitor the status of the communication link, said link supervision message comprising an Unacknowledged Periods information element. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for communicating a mobile application message between a first node in an SS7 network that uses SCCP for message transport and a second node in an IP network that uses TCP/IP for message transport, wherein said IP network and said SS7 network are connected by a gateway, said communicating method comprising:
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(a) receiving, at said gateway, an SS7 message containing said mobile application message and a SCCP transport layer from said first node in said SS7 network;
(b) extracting said mobile application message from said SS7 message at said gateway;
(c) encapsulating said mobile application message in an IP message without an intervening SCCP layer; and
(d) routing said IP message containing said mobile application message toward said second node in said IP network; and
(e) periodically sending a link supervision message from said gateway to said second node to monitor the status of the communication link, said link supervision message comprising an Unacknowledged Periods information element. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for communicating a mobile application message between a first node in an IP network that uses TCP for message transport and a second node in an SS7 network that uses SCCP for message transport, wherein said IP network and said SS7 network are connected by a gateway, said communicating method comprising:
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(a) receiving, at said gateway, an IP message containing said mobile application message encapsulated in said IP message without an intervening SS7 protocol layer;
(b) extracting said mobile application message from said IP protocol message at said gateway;
(c) encapsulating said mobile application message in an SS7 message including a SCCP layer; and
(d) routing said SS7 message containing said mobile application message toward said second node in said SS7 network; and
(e) periodically sending a link supervision message from said gateway to said first node to monitor the status of the communication link, said link supervision message comprising an Unacknowledged Periods information element. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for communicating a mobile application message between a first node in an SS7 network that uses SCCP for message transport and a second node in an IP network that uses TCP/IP for message transport, wherein said IP network and said SS7 network are connected by a gateway, said communicating method comprising:
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(a) receiving, at said gateway, a signaling message from said first node, said signaling message including an application layer containing said mobile application message and a SCCP layer containing a called party information element containing the address of said second node;
(b) converting said signaling message into an IP protocol message suitable for transmission over said IP network, said converting step including removing said SCCP layer;
(c) routing said converted signaling message towards said second node in said IP network; and
(d) periodically sending a link supervision message from said gateway to said second node to monitor the status of the communication link, said link supervision message comprising an Unacknowledged Periods information element. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for communicating a mobile application messages between a first node in an IP network that uses TCP for message transport and a second node in an SS7 network that uses SCCP for message transport, wherein said IP network and said SS7 network are connected by a gateway, said communicating method comprising:
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(a) receiving, at said gateway, a signaling message containing said mobile application message from said first node, said signaling message including a called party address information element containing the address of said second node in said SS7 network, wherein said signaling message includes said mobile application message encapsulated in an IP protocol message without an intervening SCCP layer;
(b) converting said signaling message into an SS7 message suitable for transmission over said SS7 network, said converting step including the step of adding a SCCP layer to said signaling message;
(c) routing said converted signaling message towards said second node in said SS7 network; and
(d) periodically sending a link supervision message from said gateway to said first node to monitor the status of the communication link, said link supervision message comprising an Unacknowledged Periods information element. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A gateway for communicating a signaling message between a first node in an IP network comprising:
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a) a TCP interface module for transmitting IP protocol messages to and receiving TCP/IP protocol messages from said TCP/IP network using a first message format;
b) an SCCP interface module for transmitting signaling messages to and receiving signaling messages from said SS7 network using a second message format; and
c) a protocol converter interfaced with both said TCP interface module and said SCCP interface module for converting messages received from either said IP network into SS7 messages and for converting messages from said SS7 network into the IP messages; and
d) said gateway operable to periodically send a link supervision message to said first node to monitor the status of the communication link, said link supervision message comprising an Unacknowledged Periods information element. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for communicating a mobile application message an interface between a gateway to an SS7 network that uses SCCP for message transport and a host in an IP network that uses TCP/IP for message transport, said communicating method comprising:
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a) establishing a communication session between said gateway and said host;
b) receiving, at said gateway, a mobile application message originating from said SS7 network, said mobile application message including a SCCP layer;
c) extracting said mobile application message from said SS7 message at said gateway;
d) encapsulating said mobile application message in an IP message without an intervening SCCP layer; and
e) routing said IP message containing said mobile application message toward said IP network; and
f) periodically sending a link supervision message from said gateway to said IP host to monitor the status of the communication link. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for communicating a mobile application message an interface between a gateway to an SS7 network that uses SCCP for message transport and a host in an IP network that uses TCP/IP for message transport, said communicating method comprising:
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a) establishing a communication session between said gateway and said host;
b) receiving, at said gateway, an IP message including a mobile application message originating from said IP network;
c) extracting said mobile application message from said IP message at said gateway;
d) encapsulating said mobile application message in an SS7 message including an SCCP layer; and
e) routing said SS7 message containing said mobile application message toward said SS7 network; and
f) periodically sending a link supervision message from said gateway to said IP host to monitor the status of the communication link. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A gateway for communicating a signaling message between a first node in an IP network and a second node in an SS7 network, comprising:
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a) a TCP interface module for transmitting IP protocol messages to and receiving TCP/IP protocol messages from said IP network using a first message format;
b) an SCCP interface module for transmitting signaling messages to and receiving signaling messages from said SS7 network using a second message format;
c) a protocol converter interfaced with both said TCP interface module and said SCCP interface module for converting messages received from said IP network into SS7 messages and for converting messages received from said SS7 network into IP messages;
d) an adaptation module between said TCP interface module and said protocol converter, said adaptation module performing link supervision functions comprising a link supervision procedure to monitor communications links between said gateway and said first node; and
said link supervision procedure comprising an Unacknowledged Periods information element. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification