Method And Apparatus For Sharing TCAP Traffic Load

A method of routing a transaction capabilities application part (TCAP) message from a first node in a first subnet to a second node in a second subnet in a SS7 network with said first and second nodes having the same point code, comprising the steps of:

• a) preparing a first record for said first node and a second record for said second node in a structured database;
• b) at a node, receiving said TCAP message from said first node in said first subnet through a first interface;
• c) at the node, extracting originating point code (OPC), destination point code (DPC) and transaction identifier (TID) of said TCAP message;
• d) looking up and retrieving, from said structured database, said second record for a corresponding OPC, a corresponding DPC and a corresponding TID partially or combinedly based on said OPC, said DPC and said TID of said received TCAP message;
• e) replacing said OPC, said DPC and said TID of said received TCAP message with said corresponding OPC, said corresponding DPC, and said corresponding TID;
• and
• f) from the node, forwarding said TCAP message with said corresponding OPC, said corresponding DPC, and said corresponding TID to said second node in said second subnet through a second interface.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing executable computer program instructions which, when executed at a node, causes the node to perform a process of routing a transaction capabilities application part (TCAP) message from a first node in a first subnet to a second node in a second subnet, with said first and second nodes having the same point code, comprising the steps of

• a) preparing a first record for said first node and a second record for said second node in a structured database;
• b) at the node, receiving said TCAP message from said first node in said first subnet through a first interface;
• c) at the node, extracting originating point code (OPC), destination point code (DPC) and transaction identifier (TID) of said TCAP message;
• d) looking up and retrieving, from said structured database, said second record for a corresponding OPC, a corresponding DPC and a corresponding TID partially or combinedly based on said OPC, said DPC and said TID of said received TCAP message;
• e) replacing said OPC, said DPC and said TID of said received TCAP message with said corresponding OPC, said corresponding DPC, and said corresponding TID;
• and
• f) from the node, forwarding said TCAP message with said corresponding OPC, said corresponding DPC, and said corresponding TID to said second node in said second subnet through a second interface.