Method and apparatus for graphically displaying call signaling flows in a network

• US 7,447,159 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Croak, Marian, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Duc T
• Application Number:
  US11/018,239
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/242, 370/244, 370248-250, 370/252, 709223-225, 711/25, 711/39, 711/47, 711/48, 379/32.01, 379/32.02, 379/32.05, 379/112.01, 379/133, 379/134, 379/136, 714/47, 714/48
• US Class Current: 370/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5087 wherein the managed service relates to voice services management of VoIP services H04M7/0081
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0093 signalling arrangements in networks

Abstract

A method and system for graphically displaying call signaling flows for a communications network is described. In one example, a call flow alarm indicating an improper call signaling flow for a call is received. A respective projected call signaling flow associated with the call is then obtained. Lastly, the improper call signaling flow and the respective projected call signaling flow are graphically displayed.

Claims

1. A method for graphically displaying call signaling flows in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a call flow alarm indicating at least one improper call signaling flow for a call;

obtaining at least one projected call signaling flow associated with said call; and

displaying said at least one improper call signaling flow and said at least one projected call signaling flow.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein data representing said at least one improper call signaling flow is collected by a signaling tracer server (STS) that collects said at least one improper call signaling flow from a plurality of network components in said network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said data representing said at least one improper call signaling flow is graphically mapped to a visual display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one projected call signaling flow is derived from a plurality of permissible call signaling flows.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein data representing said at least one projected call signaling flow is graphically mapped to a visual display.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

highlighting at least one difference between said at least one improper call signaling flow and said at least one projected call signaling flow on a visual display.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said highlighting step comprises:

causing said at least one difference to visually flash.

8. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for graphically displaying call signaling flows in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a call flow alarm indicating at least one improper call signaling flow for a call;

obtaining at least one projected call signaling flow associated with said call; and

displaying said at least one improper call signaling flow and said at least one projected call signaling flow.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein data representing said at least one improper call signaling flow is collected by a signaling tracer server (STS) that collects said at least one improper call signaling flow from a plurality of network components in said network.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said data representing said at least one improper call signaling flow is graphically mapped to a visual display.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said at least one projected call signaling flow is derived from a plurality of permissible call signaling flows.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein data representing said at least one projected call signaling flow is graphically mapped to a visual display.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising:

highlighting at least one difference between said at least one improper call signaling flow and said at least one projected call signaling flow on a visual display.

14. A system for graphically displaying call signaling flows in a communication network, comprising:

means for receiving a call flow alarm indicating at least one improper call signaling flow for a call;

means for obtaining at least one projected call signaling flow associated with said call; and

means for displaying said at least one improper call signaling flow and said at least one projected call signaling flow.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein data representing said at least one improper call signaling flow is collected by a signaling tracer server (STS) that collects said at least one improper call signaling flow from a plurality of network components in said network.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said data representing said at least one improper call signaling flow is graphically mapped to a visual display.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said at least one projected call signaling flow is derived from a plurality of permissible call signaling flows.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein data representing said at least one projected call signaling flow is graphically mapped to a visual display.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for highlighting at least one difference between said at least one improper call signaling flow and said at least one projected call signaling flow on a visual display.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said means for highlighting comprises:

means for causing said at least one difference to visually flash.