Methods and systems for communicating SS7 messages over packet-based network using transport adapter layer interface

• US 20060013204A1
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Brendes, Dan Alan, Sprague, David Michael, Benedyk, Robby Darren
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• 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: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

A transport adapter layer interface (TALI) includes messages, processes, and packet structures for sending and receiving SS7 information over a stream-oriented connection, such as a TCP/IP connection. For example, the TALI interface includes test messages for testing the status of a connection and allow and prohibit messages for enabling and disabling service data communications without invoking a TCP handshaking procedure. The TALI interface also includes SYNC and LENGTH fields for facilitating extraction of individual message packets over a stream-oriented connection.

Claims

1. A method for suspending and resuming SS7 message communications over a stream-oriented connection, the method comprising:

(a) establishing a first stream-oriented connection between a first signaling node and a second signaling node;

(b) sending and receiving IP-encapsulated SS7 messages over the first stream-oriented connection; and

(c) receiving a first control message over the first stream-oriented connection and, in response, stopping the sending of SS7 messages over the first stream-oriented connection.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising, after receiving the first control message, resuming the sending of SS7 messages over the first stream-oriented connection in response to receiving a second control message over the first stream-oriented connection.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising, in response to receiving the first control message, switching SS7 communications between the first and second signaling nodes to a second stream-oriented connection established between the first and second signaling nodes.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a first control message includes receiving the first control message signed using a predetermined encryption algorithm and verifying that the first control message originating from an authorized node using the first encryption algorithm.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing a first stream-oriented connection between first and second signaling nodes includes establishing the first stream-oriented connection between a signaling gateway and a media gateway controller.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing a first stream-oriented connection between first and second signaling nodes includes establishing a connection between a first SS7 signaling node and an IP node.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing a first stream-oriented connection between first and second signaling nodes includes establishing a connection between a first IP-capable SS7 signaling node and a second IP-capable SS7 node.

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

(a) establishing a first stream-oriented connection between a first signaling node and a second signaling node;

(b) sending and receiving IP-encapsulated SS7 messages over the first stream-oriented connection; and

(c) receiving a first control message over the first stream-oriented connection and, in response, stopping the sending of SS7 messages over the first stream-oriented connection.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 comprising, after receiving the first control message, resuming the sending of SS7 messages over the first stream-oriented connection in response to receiving a second control message over the first stream-oriented connection.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 comprising, in response to receiving the first control message, switching SS7 communications between the first and second signaling nodes to a second stream-oriented connection established between the first and second signaling nodes.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein receiving a first control message includes receiving the first control message signed using a predetermined encryption algorithm and verifying that the first control message originated from an authorized node using the first encryption algorithm.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein establishing a first stream-oriented connection between first and second signaling nodes includes establishing the first stream-oriented connection between a signaling gateway and a media gateway controller.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein establishing a first stream-oriented connection between first and second signaling nodes includes establishing a connection between a first SS7 signaling node and an IP node.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein establishing a first stream-oriented connection between first and second signaling nodes includes establishing a connection between a first IP-capable SS7 signaling node and a second IP-capable SS7 node.