Scalable call processing node

• US 7,227,927 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2000
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tekelec
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Benedyk, Robby Darren, Grant, Cory Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Creighton
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAHEE, MD S
• Application Number:
  US09/658,522
• Time in Patent Office: 2,461 Days
• Field of Search: 379/229, 379/230, 379/279, 379/212.01, 379/9, 37911201-11202, 379/215.01, 379/9.05, 714/4, 455/436, 370/352, 370/237
• US Class Current: 379/9.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

A scalable call processing node includes link interface modules capable of processing n calls per second and call server modules capable of processing m calls per second, n is variable relative to m by changing the relative numbers of call server and link interface modules. In addition, call server modules can perform subsecond switchover when a call server fails without requiring inter-call server transfer of call state information.

Claims

1. A scalable call processing node comprising:

(a) a link interface module (LIM) interfacing with SS7 signaling links, receiving SS7 call signaling messages and identifying an SS7 call signaling message relating to establishment of a call as requiring processing by a call server and selecting a call server for processing the SS7 call signaling message based on at least one parameter in the SS7 call signaling message;

(b) a first call server module separate from the LIM, the first call server module receiving the SS7 call signaling message from the LIM, the first call server module storing connection status and call state information regarding calls in progress in a media gateway and performing media gateway call management functions for establishing the call in the media gateway, thereby functioning as a primary call server; and

(c) a second call server module separate from the LIM, the second call server module storing the connection status and call state information regarding calls in progress through the media gateway and functioning as a backup call server, wherein the second call server module switches operation to become the primary call server for the call in response to failure of the first call server module.

2. The scalable call processing node of claim 1 wherein the switching from backup to primary call server module occurs in less than one second.

3. The scalable call processing node of claim 1 wherein the switching occurs without transfer of the call state information from the first call server module to the second call server module.

4. The scalable call processing node of claim 1 wherein the call state and connection status information includes at least one call table storing call-related information.

5. The scalable call processing node of claim 4 wherein the at least one call table includes an endpoint table storing endpoint information for the media gateway.

6. The scalable call processing node of claim 5 wherein the at least one call table includes a connection table storing connection information for connections in the media gateway.

7. The scalable call processing node of claim 5 wherein the at least one call table includes a state table storing call signaling state information for endpoints in the media gateway.

8. The scalable call processing node of claim 1 wherein the link interface module and the first and second call server modules each comprise printed circuit boards having an application processor and a communication processor mounted thereon, the printed circuit boards being connected to a common bus and communicating with each other via the bus, thereby allowing subsecond switchover between the first and second call server modules.

9. The scalable call processing node of claim 1 comprising a transporter module operatively associated with the primary call server module, the transporter module generating a media gateway control command and forwarding the media gateway control command to the media gateway for setting up the call in the media gateway.

10. The scalable call processing node of claim 1 wherein performing media gateway call management functions includes selecting endpoints in the media gateway for the call.

11. A method for performing call server module switchover in a scalable call processing node in response to call server module failure, the method comprising:

(a) providing a link interface module (LIM) interfacing with SS7 signaling links, receiving SS7 call signaling messages and identifying an SS7 call signaling message relating to establishment of a call as requiring processing by a call server and selecting a call server for processing the SS7 call signaling message based on at least one parameter in the SS7 call signaling message

(b) operating a first call server module separate from the link interface module in a primary call server mode and operating a second call server module separate from the link interface module in a backup call server mode, wherein operating the first call server in the primary call server mode includes storing call state and connection status information regarding calls in progress in a media gateway and performing media gateway call management functions for establishing a call in the media gateway;

(c) replicating the media gateway call state and connection status information regarding calls in progress through the media gateway to the second call server module;

(d) detecting failure of the first call server module; and

(e) in response to failure of the first call server module, switching the second call server module to operate in the primary call server mode.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein storing call state information includes storing parameters extracted from a sequence of ISUP messages required to set up or tear down a call.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein operating in the primary call server mode includes formulating instructions for setting up or tearing down the call and forwarding the instructions to a transporter module for translation and transport to the media gateway.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein operating in the backup call server mode includes storing the media gateway call state and connection status information without forwarding call processing messages to intended destinations.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein switching operation of the second call server module to the primary call server mode includes switching the operation within a fraction of one second.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein replicating the media gateway call state and connection status information to the second call server module includes sending the media gateway call state and connection status information from the first call server module to the second call server module via a common bus interconnecting the first and second call server modules.

17. The method of claim 11 comprising generating media gateway control commands based on the information selected by the first call server module and forwarding the media gateway control commands to the media gateway.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein performing media gateway call management functions includes selecting endpoints in the media gateway for the call.