Systems and methods for providing visibility to SS7 integrated on-line networks

• US 7,027,809 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• 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: Smith, Thomas C., Morton, John W., Seymour, Jefferey T., Visser, Gregory S., Henseler, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US10/140,455
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/461, 455/411, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 455/412.1, 455/552.1, 455/435.1, 455/560, 455/422.1, 455/445, 455/423, 455/433, 379/144.03, 379/145, 379/156, 379/154, 379/230, 379/229, 380/247, 380/270
• 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 at least signaling information, the system for use in monitoring the signaling information and comprising:

a catcher for receiving messages and for storing the messages in a file with a database;

a plurality of message tables; and

a parser for receiving the messages from the catcher and for storing the messages in the 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 messages form part of the data signaling information in the communications network and being captured from the communications network, and

wherein the messages include initiating messages and return messages sent in response to the initiating messages, each initiating and its corresponding return message forming a message set; and

wherein the messages received by the parser are messages provided by the catcher.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications network comprises a wireless communications network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the catcher receives messages that comprise data signaling between switches in the communications network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the catcher is for receiving messages that comprise ANSI-41 messages and the communications network comprises an SS7 network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the catcher stores all registration messages in a first file, all reject messages in a second file, and all other messages in a third file.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a plurality of daily files and wherein the catcher stores the messages for each day in a separate one of the daily files.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an update statistics object for receiving the messages stored in the file and for maintaining statistics in a statistics file.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the update statistics object receives all registration related messages.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the update statistics object determines whether the message is valid or invalid.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the update statistics object determines whether the message is a reject.

11. The system of claim 1, further including a customer object for receiving the messages and for maintaining current information on each customer.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the customer object comprises a MIN object for maintaining current information on each MIN encountered in the data signaling.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the MIN object maintains current registration information on each MIN.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for querying the parser for roaming information on a particular individual.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for querying the parser for information on roamers within a serving market.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for querying the parser for information on messaging at one switch.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for querying the parser for information on messaging between two switches.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for querying the parser for information on customers roaming in a foreign network.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for querying the parser for information on all customers within a home network.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for querying the parser for information on statistics on the messages.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the statistics indicate whether a message is valid, invalid, unpaired, or a reject.

22. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data capture device for obtaining the messages from the communications network and for transmitting the messages to the catcher.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the data capture device receives the messages from at least one STP.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the data capture device comprises a link capture device for receiving the messages from an SS7 link.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the messages are stored by the catcher over a first interval of time.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the messages are stored by the catcher on a periodic basis.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the periodic basis is a daily basis.

28. A system for monitoring wireless telecommunications system messages traveling through a wireless telecommunications network, comprising:

a data capture device coupled to the wireless telecommunications network for receiving wireless telecommunications messages;

the wireless telecommunications messages forming pairs of messages with each pair of messages including an initiating message and a corresponding return message; and

a message processor for;

storing in a memory location, wireless telecommunications messages that comprise initiating messages;

collating each return message with its corresponding initiating message by searching the memory location for a previously stored initiating message within the wireless telecommunications messages which is related to the return message;

forming collated messages from each return message and previously stored initiating message; and

providing access to the collated messages to an end-user.

29. A method for generating wireless telecommunications system data for use by a wireless telecommunications service provider, comprising;

receiving wireless telecommunications messages traveling over a wireless telecommunications network;

the wireless telecommunications messages forming pairs of messages with each pair of messages including an initiating message and a corresponding return message;

storing initiating messages within the wireless telecommunications messages in a memory location;

for each received return message within the wireless telecommunications messages;

searching the memory location for a previously stored initiating message related to the received message; and

if any initiating message located in the search is related to the return message, collating the return message with the initiating message to form collated messages; and

providing the collated messages to an end-user.

30. A method of furnishing wireless telecommunications data, comprising:

obtaining telecommunications signals from a wireless telecommunications network, the signals containing messages pertaining to wireless telecommunications;

identifying messages pertaining to wireless telecommunications present in the signals;

selecting identified messages belonging to a preselected set of message types of interest;

parsing the identified messages into their constituent message parameters;

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

providing at least one of;

a) a stored message and b) a constituent message parameter to the administrative instrumentality.

31. A method of generating wireless telecommunications data, comprising:

monitoring a plurality of links within a wireless telecommunications network carrying wireless telecommunications messages;

capturing messages transmitted on each of the plurality of links within the wireless telecommunications network;

providing to a message processor captured messages belonging to a preselected set of message types; and

processing through the message processor the captured messages to create a database containing paired sets of messages, each paired set describing a particular wireless telecommunication transaction.

32. A method of generating wireless telecommunications data, comprising:

monitoring a plurality of links within a wireless telecommunications network carrying wireless telecommunications messages;

capturing messages transmitted on each of the plurality of links within the wireless telecommunications network;

providing to a message processor captured messages belonging to a preselected set of message types with each set containing an invoke message and a corresponding return message; and

processing through the message processor the captured messages to create a database containing expired invoke messages.

33. A system for capturing desired message data that passes, according to a preselected signaling system and protocol, through a wireless telecommunications system, the system comprising:

means for monitoring the wireless telecommunications system;

means for selecting, from the monitored system, messages corresponding to a preselected set of message types;

a processor coupled to the monitoring means and programmed to collate selected messages with one another to produce data records associated with the wireless telecommunications system; and

means for providing data records associated with the wireless telecommunications to an administrative instrumentality.