Method for processing an internet protocol (IP) encapsulated signaling system seven (SS7) user part message utilizing a signal transfer point (STP)

• US 7,031,340 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tekelec Global, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Brendes, Dan Alan, Sprague, David Michael, Ravishankar, Venkatarmaiah, Miller, Paul Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsegaye, Saba
• Application Number:
  US10/403,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20030161301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 370353-354, 370/386, 370/401, 370/410, 370/426, 370/467, 370/469, 370/522, 370/524, 370465-466, 379228-230
• US Class Current: 370/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/066 where the auxiliary connection is via an Internet Protocol network interworking of signalling system number 7 (SS7) with Internet Protocol-based session control protocols H04M7/1265, H04M7/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

Methods and systems for transmitting user part messages between signaling system seven (SS7) signaling points over an internet protocol (IP) network include receiving, at a signal transfer point, a first SS7 user part message. The first SS7 user part message can be received from a first SS7 signaling point, such as a service switching point (SSP). The first SS7 signaling point is encapsulated in a first IP packet. The first IP packet is transmitted to a second SS7 signaling point over an IP network.

Claims

1. A method for processing an Internet protocol (IP) encapsulated signaling system seven (SS7) user part message utilizing a signal transfer point (STP), the method comprising:

at a first module within an STP having a distributed internal processing architecture Including a plurality of modules being connected together via a bus, the first module being associated with a bi-directional IP signaling link;

(a) receiving an IP-encapsulated SS7 user part message transmitted from a first SS7 signaling point over the bi-directional IP signaling link;

(b) removing an IP header from the message;

(c) reading, using a message transfer part (MTP) layer 3 routing function associated with the first module, at least message transfer part (MTP) layer 3 information from the message and, based on the MTP layer 3 routing information, selecting a second module associated with a bi-directional SS7 signaling link to with the message should be forwarded; and

(d) forwarding the message from the first module to the second module via the bus.

2. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:

at a first module within an STP having a distributed internal processing architecture including a plurality of modules being connected together via a bus, the first module being associated with a bi-directional IP signaling link;

(a) receiving an IP-encapsulated SS7 user part message transmitted from a first SS7 signaling point over the bi-directional IP signaling link;

(b) removing an IP header from the message;

(c) reading, using a message transfer part (MTP) layer 3 muting function associated with the first module, at least message transfer part (MTP) layer 3 information from the message and, based on the MTP layer 3 routing information, selecting a second module associated with a bi-directional SS7 signaling link to with the message should be forwarded; and

(d) forwarding the message from the first module to the second module via the bus.