Methods, systems, and computer readable media for managing the flow of signaling traffic entering a signaling system 7 (SS7) based network

• US 9,043,451 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tekelec, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Bantukul, Apirux, Marsico, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz, Asad
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARLEY, JASON A
• Application Number:
  US12/183,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20090034512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,490 Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/123 where the packet-switched network is an Internet Protocol Multimedia System-type network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1285 Details of finding and selecting a gateway for a particular call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13353 Routing table, map memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for managing the flow of signaling traffic entering a signaling system 7 (SS7) based network having a plurality of gateways for connecting the SS7 network to a non-SS7 network are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for managing the flow of signaling traffic entering the SS7 based network includes generating, at a signaling node within the SS7 network, a route management message including information for identifying one of the plurality of gateways as the preferred gateway for traffic into the SS7 network. The message is sent to a node in the non-SS7 network for directing traffic into the SS7 network via the identified gateway.

Claims

1. A method for managing the flow of signaling traffic entering a signaling system 7 (SS7) network, the method comprising:

at a signaling device within the SS7 network, the SS7 network having a plurality of signaling gateways for connecting the SS7 network to a non-SS7 network;

storing route management proxy information associating a range of subscriber directory numbers with a preferred signaling gateway and an alternate signaling gateway, different from the preferred signaling gateway, for accessing the SS7 network;

detecting a network management event, wherein the network management event is a change in status of a signaling link in the SS7 network, and, in response;

generating a route management proxy message, the message including information associating the range of directory numbers with the alternate signaling gateway; and

sending the message to a breakout gateway control function device in the non-SS7 network, the breakout gateway control function directing signaling traffic from the non-SS7 network to the SS7 network, the message for directing the breakout gateway control function device to change its entry point for signaling traffic associated with the range of directory numbers into the SS7 network from the preferred signaling gateway to the alternate signaling gateway.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling device within the SS7network comprises one of a signal transfer point (STP), a service switching point (SSP), a mobile switching center (MSC), and a media gateway controller (MGC).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the route management proxy message comprises a non-SS7 protocol message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in status of the signaling link comprises congestion, failure, or recovery of the signaling link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the route management proxy message includes information identifying which signaling traffic is to be directed through the alternate signaling gateway.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the information identifying which signaling traffic is to be directed through the alternate signaling gateway includes at least one of a routing number of an SS7 device, a directory number of a subscriber, the range of subscriber directory numbers, and a transaction type.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the route management proxy message includes information indicating a status of a route within the SS7 network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information indicating a status of a route comprises information indicating at least one of:

a removal of the route from service;

a failure of the route;

a level of congestion of the route;

an amount of traffic throttling for the route;

a recovery of the route; and

a placement of the route into service.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the message to the breakout gateway control function device in the non-SS7 network for directing the signaling traffic into the SS7 network includes sending the message to the breakout gateway control function device in a session initiation protocol (SIP) network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the message to the breakout gateway control function node in the non-SS7 network for directing the signaling traffic into the SS7 network includes sending the message to an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) breakout gateway control function device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the route management proxy information comprises information identifying one of the plurality of signaling gateways as a disfavored signaling gateway for the signaling traffic into the SS7 network.

12. A method for managing the flow of signaling traffic entering a signaling system 7(SS7) network, the method comprising:

storing, at a signaling node within the SS7 network, route management proxy information associating a range of subscriber directory numbers with a preferred signaling gateway and an alternate signaling gateway different from the preferred signaling gateway for accessing the SS7 network;

detecting, at the signaling device, a network management event, wherein the network management event is a change in status of a signaling link in the SS7 network;

generating, at the signaling device and in response to the network management event, route management proxy information for associating the range of subscriber directory numbers with the alternate signaling gateway; and

communicating, in response to the network management event, the generated route management proxy information to a breakout gateway control function device in the non-SS7 network, the breakout gateway control function device for directing signaling traffic from the non-SS7 network to the SS7 network, the message for directing the breakout gateway control function device to change its entry point for signaling traffic associated with the range of directory numbers into the SS7 network from the preferred signaling gateway to the alternate signaling gateway.

13. A signaling message processing device for managing the flow of signaling traffic entering a signaling system 7 (SS7) based network, the signaling message processing device comprising:

a route management proxy module executable by a processor for storing route management proxy information associating a range of subscriber directory numbers with a preferred signaling gateway and an alternate signaling gateway different from the preferred signaling gateway for accessing the SS7 network, detecting a network management event, wherein the network management event is a change in status of a signaling link in the SS7 network, and, in response, generating a route management proxy message, the message including information associating the range of directory numbers with the alternate signaling gateway; and

a communications module executable by a processor for sending the message to a breakout gateway control function device in the non-SS7 network, the breakout gateway control function device for directing signaling traffic from the non-SS7 network to the SS7 network, the message for directing the breakout gateway control function device to change its entry point for signaling traffic associated with the range of directory numbers into the SS7 network from the preferred signaling gateway to the alternate signaling gateway.

14. The signaling message processing device of claim 13, wherein the signaling message processing device comprises one of a signal transfer point (STP), a service switching point (SSP), a mobile switching center (MSC), and a media gateway controller (MGC).

15. The signaling message processing device of claim 13, wherein the route management proxy message comprises a non-SS7 protocol message.

16. The signaling message processing device of claim 13, wherein the change in status of the signaling link comprises congestion, failure, or recovery of the signaling link.

17. The signaling message processing device of claim 13, wherein the route management proxy message includes information identifying which of the signaling traffic is to be directed through the identified signaling gateway.

18. The signaling message processing device of claim 17, wherein the information identifying which of the signaling traffic is to be directed through the identified signaling gateway includes at least one of a routing number of an SS7 device, a directory number of a subscriber, the range of subscriber directory numbers, and a transaction type.

19. The signaling message processing device of claim 13, wherein the route management proxy message includes information indicating a status of a route within the SS7 network.

20. The signaling message processing device of claim 19, wherein the information indicating a status of a route comprises information indicating at least one of:

a removal of the route from service;

a failure of the route;

a level of congestion of the route;

an amount of traffic throttling for the route;

a recovery of the route; and

a placement of the route into service.

21. The signaling message processing device of claim 13, wherein the communications module is configured to send the message to the breakout gateway control function node in a session initiation protocol (SIP) network.

22. The signaling message processing device of claim 13, wherein the communications module is configured to send the message to an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network breakout gateway control function node.

23. The signaling message processing device of claim 13, wherein information identifying one of a plurality of signaling gateways for connecting the SS7 network to a non-SS7 network as a preferred signaling gateway for traffic into the SS7 network comprises information identifying one of the plurality of signaling gateways as a disfavored signaling gateway for traffic into the SS7 network.

24. A system for managing the flow of signaling traffic entering a signaling system 7 (SS7) network, the system comprising:

an SS7 network signaling device for storing route management proxy information associating a range of subscriber directory numbers with a preferred signaling gateway and an alternate signaling gateway for accessing the SS7 network, detecting a network management event, wherein the network management event is a change in status of a signaling link in the SS7 network, and, in response to the network management event, generating and sending a route management proxy message, the message including route management proxy information associating the range of subscriber directory numbers with the alternate signaling gateway; and

a breakout gateway control function device for residing in the non-SS7 network, directing signaling traffic from the non-SS7 network to the SS7 network, receiving the route management proxy message associating the range of subscriber identifiers with the alternate signaling gateway and directing the breakout gateway control function device to change its entry point for signaling traffic associated with the range of directory numbers into the SS7 network from the preferred signaling gateway to the alternate signaling gateway.

25. A breakout gateway control function device for managing the flow of signaling traffic entering a signaling system 7 (SS7) network, the breakout gateway control function device comprising:

a communications module executable by a processor for receiving, an originating node and in response to a network management event detected by the originating device, a route management proxy message, the message including route management proxy information a range of subscriber directory numbers with a preferred signaling gateway and an alternate signaling gateway, wherein the network management event is a change in status of a signaling link in the SS7 network; and

a message processing module executable by a processor for identifying, based on the information included in the route management message, changing an entry point for signaling traffic associated with the range of directory numbers into the SS7 network from the preferred signaling gateway to the alternate signaling gateway.

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

at a signaling device within a signaling system 7 (SS7) network, the SS7 network having a plurality of signaling gateways for connecting the SS7 network to a non-SS7 network;

storing route management proxy information associating a range of subscriber directory numbers with a preferred signaling gateway and an alternate signaling gateway, different from the preferred signaling gateway, for accessing the SS7 network;

detecting a network management event, wherein the network management event is a change in status of a signaling link in the SS7 network, and, in response;

generating a route management proxy message, the message including route management proxy information for identifying associating the range of subscriber directory numbers with the alternate signaling gateway; and

sending the message to a breakout gateway control function device in the non-SS7 network, the breakout gateway control function device for directing signaling traffic from the non-SS7 network to the SS7 network, the message for directing the breakout gateway control function device to change its entry point for signaling traffic associated with the range of directory numbers into the SS7 network from the signaling preferred signaling gateway to the alternate signaling gateway.