Signalling gateway

• US 20080186986A1
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bouckaert, Philippe, Cavalier, Laurent, Rigault, Anne
• Granted Patent: US 7,969,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A signalling gateway for transmitting messages between a first network and a second network, where the first network comprises an SS7 network and the second network comprises an IP network, the second network comprising a plurality of application servers, the signalling gateway being operable to store SS7 characteristic information corresponding to the application servers, the signalling gateway being operable to receive a message via the first network, the message comprising destination information and origin information identifying a calling entity, read the destination information and identify an application server in accordance with the destination information, transmit the message to the application server, the message comprising the destination information and origin information, receive a response from the application server, the response comprising a destination identifier corresponding to the origin information and an origin identifier corresponding to the destination information, substitute the SS7 characteristic information in the response for the origin identifier, and forward the response via the first network to the calling entity.

Claims

1. A signalling gateway (10) for transmitting messages between a first network (12) and a second network (13), where the first network (12) comprises an SS7 network and the second network comprises an IP network, the second network (13) comprising a plurality of application servers (17, 18, 19),

the signalling gateway (10) being operable to store SS7 characteristic information corresponding to the applications servers (17, 18, 19),

the signalling gateway (10) being operable to receive a message via the first network (12), the message comprising destination information and origin information identifying a calling entity (14, 15, 16),

read the destination information and identify an application server (17, 18, 19) in accordance with the destination information,

transmit the message to the application server (17, 18, 19), the message comprising the destination information and origin information,

receive a response from the application server (17, 18, 19), the response comprising a destination identifier corresponding to the origin information and an origin identifier corresponding to the destination information,

substitute the SS7 characteristic information in the response for the origin identifier, and

forward the response via the first network (12) to the calling entity.

2. A signalling gateway according to claim 1 wherein the destination information comprises a global title.

3. A signalling gateway according to claim 1 wherein the destination information corresponds to a virtual destination and wherein the step of identifying an application server (17, 18, 19) in accordance with the destination information comprises selecting an application server (17, 18, 19) to receive the message.

4. A signalling gateway according to claim 1 wherein the application server (17, 18. 19) does not provide the SS7 characteristic information to the signalling gateway (10).

5. A signalling gateway according to claim 4 wherein the SS7 characteristic information is statically configured at the signalling gateway (10).

6. A system comprising a signalling gateway (10) according to claim 1 and an application server provided on the second network (12), the application server (17, 18, 19) being operable to receive the message from the signalling gateway (10), read the destination information and the origin destination, generate a response, the response comprising a destination identifier corresponding to the origin information and an origin identifier corresponding to the destination information, and send the response to the signalling gateway (10).

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein the application server does not modify the destination information or the origin information when generating the response.