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

• US 7,269,410 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (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:
  US11/294,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20060099932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 455/423, 455/412.1, 455/514, 455/445, 455/566, 455/410, 455/411, 379/230, 380/247
• US Class Current: 455/411
• 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 method of monitoring a communications network carrying at least signaling information, the method comprising:

receiving messages forming part of the signaling information in the communications network;

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

storing the messages in a file;

parsing the messages into their constituent message parameters;

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

receiving a query on the messages;

performing the query to locate a set of records satisfying the query; and

displaying the set of records.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the messages over an SS7 network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the messages from at least one STP.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the messages from an SS7 link.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing the messages from the communications network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising pairing messages received from an STP.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the messages comprise TCAP messages and the method further comprises parsing MTP and SCCP layers of the messages.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing all reject records in a reject file.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing all registration messages in a registration file.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining statistics on the messages.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the maintaining comprises maintaining statistics on whether each message is valid or invalid.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the maintaining comprises maintaining statistics on whether each message is a reject.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the maintaining comprises looking up network information and storing the network information along with the statistics in a statistics file.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing current registration on each customer in a customer table.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein storing comprises storing registration information on each MIN in a MIN table.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a query on activity of a customer.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising searching all messages satisfying the query and displaying results of the query.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a query on all roamers within a serving market.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising searching all messages satisfying the query and displaying results of the query.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a query on data signaling at one switch.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising searching all messages satisfying the query and displaying results of the query.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a query on data signaling between two switches.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising searching all messages satisfying the query and displaying results of the query.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a query on registration messages between at least two service providers.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising searching all messages satisfying the query and displaying results of the query.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving a second query further limiting search parameters on the registration messages between the at least two service providers.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a command to cancel the query and canceling the query prior to locating all records in the daily file satisfying the query.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying records of a first statistic differently than records of a second statistic.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing comprises storing a plurality of days of messages into a plurality of daily files.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising customizing the displaying for a user so that only user-selected messages are displayed.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising customizing the displaying for a user so that only user-selected parameters are displayed.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising

customizing the displaying for a user so that only user-selected codes are displayed.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising customizing the displaying to prevent at least one parameter from being displayed.

34. A computer-readable medium for storing software for use in performing a method of monitoring a communications network carrying at least signaling information, the method comprising:

receiving messages forming part of the signaling information in the communications network;

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

storing the messages in a file;

parsing the messages into their constituent message parameters;

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

receiving a query on the messages;

performing the query to locate a set of records satisfying the query; and

displaying the set of records.

35. 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 plurality of message tables;

a parser for receiving messages 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 tables;

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

the messages forming part of the data signaling information in the communications network and being captured from the communications network;

the messages including 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.