Methods and systems for communicating signaling system 7 (SS7) user part messages among SS7 signaling points (SPs) and internet protocol (IP) nodes using signal transfer points (STPs)
AssigneeTekelec
InventorsDavid Sprague, Dan Brendes, Venkatarmaiah Ravishankar, Paul Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems for transmitting user part messages between signaling system seven (SS7) signaling points over an internet protocol (IP) network include receiving, at a signal transfer point, a first SS7 user part message. The first SS7 user part message can be received from a first SS7 signaling point, such as a service switching point (SSP). The first SS7 signaling point is encapsulated in a first IP packet. The first IP packet is transmitted to a second SS7 signaling point over an IP network.
Claims24
A method for processing an internet protocol (IP) encapsulated signaling system seven (SS7) user part message utilizing a signal transfer point (STP), the method comprising:
- at a first STP:
- (a) receiving an IP-encapsulated SS7 user part message transmitted from a first SS7 signaling point over a bi-directional IP signaling link;
- (b) removing an IP header from the message;
- (c) reading at least message transfer part (MTP) layer 3 information from the message;
- and
- (d) routing the message from the bi-directional IP signaling link to a bi-directional SS7 signaling link based on at least the MTP layer 3 information.
A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:
- (a) at a first STP:
- (a) receiving an internet protocol (IP) encapsulated signaling system seven (SS7) user part message transmitted from a first SS7 signaling point over a bi-directional IP signaling link;
- (b) removing an IP header from the message;
- (c) reading at least message transfer part (MTP) layer 3 information from the message;
- and
- (d) routing the message from the bi-directional IP signaling link to a bi-directional SS7 signaling link based on at least the MTP layer 3 information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.