Methods and systems for providing database node access control functionality in a communications network routing node

• US 7,564,870 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tekelec Global, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Miller, Paul A., Glenn, Dean D., Benedyk, Robby D., Ravishankar, Venkataramaiah, Marsico, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Jr.; Michael J
• Application Number:
  US11/224,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20060034329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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

A network element provides service control point or database node front end processing functionality, as well as routing functionality for routing data packets through a network. The network element includes a first communication module for receiving data packets from a first communication network. A second communication module transmits data packets over a second communications network. A database access control (DAC) process queries a DAC database and modifies received packets to include information returned by the database lookup.

Claims

1. A network element for providing service control point (SCP) or database node front end processing (FEP) service and routing data packets through a communications network, the network element comprising:

(a) a first communication module for transmitting data packets to and receiving data packets from a first communications network;

(b) a second communication module for transmitting data packets to and receiving data packets from a second communications network;

(c) a packet discrimination module for determining whether a data packet received from one of the first and second communications networks is intended for an SCP or database node that is provisioned to receive front end processing (FEP) service;

(d) a database access control (DAC) database containing information related to SCP or database nodes that are provisioned to receive FEP service;

(e) a DAC module for querying the DAC database and modifying the received packet to include information returned by the DAC database; and

(f) a routing module for forwarding the modified packet to one of the SCP or database nodes.

2. The network element of claim 1 wherein the received data packet comprises a query message.

3. The network element of claim 1 wherein the DAC database is provisioned with information for providing FEP service for plural SCP or database nodes.