US 5,517,563 A · Network structure and a signalling protocol for a telecommunication network

Abstract

A network structure and a signalling protocol for a telecommunication network. The nodes of the communication network are interconnected by a connection network as well as a signalling network. Computer software controlling the communication equipment of each node is divided into two types of software, connection related software and service related software. Connection related software groups of different nodes communicate with each other via a first protocol while service related software groups of different nodes communicate via a second protocol different from the first protocol. Between an originating node of a call and the terminating node of the same call a direct signalling path is established in the signalling network allowing for the addition of new service features in the originating and terminating nodes without the need to implement the new service features in the inbetween nodes via which the same call is routed in the connection network. A general signalling protocol supports the addition of new service features to existing nodes as well as the execution and management of the new services and the services already existing in the telecommunication network. The signalling protocol is divided into a basic protocol and one or more service specific protocols called dialogues. The basic protocol is used to establish a signalling path between service related software groups in the originating and terminating nodes and to establish dialogues along the signalling path. This allows for a modular addition/removal of dialogues to the basic protocol which remains unchanged.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A signalling method for establishing a signal path between a first service related software part, resident in a first node of a telecommunication network, and a second service related software part, resident in a second node of said network, a signalling network to which the first and second nodes have access, and a basic signalling protocol used for signalling between the first and second nodes, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

the first service related software part requesting a sequence of operations to be interchanged with the second service related software part, said sequence below referred to as a dialogue,
said first service related software part directing said request to a first signalling service handler,
said first signalling service handler in response to this request preparing an initiation message in the basic signalling protocol and includes therein, in a specific part thereof, an identity of the requested dialogue,
said basic signalling protocol comprising a general part that establishes a signal path to the second node,
transferring said message to said second node using a basic protocol on which the dialogue is carried,
receiving said message by a second signalling service handler resident in said second node,
said second signalling service handler:
analyzing said initiation message to examine the requested dialogue,
using the result of this examination to identify the second service related software part, and initiating execution of the requested dialogue, or
redirecting said signal path from said second node to a third service related software part in a third node having access to the signalling network,
said executing dialogue taking place over the established signal path.

8 more elements

A method of signalling in a telecommunication network comprising nodes, trunk means connecting said nodes in such a manner that certain, but not all, of said nodes have direct trunks therebetween, and program controlled switch means provided in said nodes to switch connections in said telecommunication network, said signalling method using, for set up and for release of said connections, a basic protocol which is signalled in a signal network that optionally may use said trunk means wherein program software in each of said nodes is divided into a connection-related software part for handling connections and a service-related software part for handling services, said service-related software part resident in a node, referred to as an originating end node, to which a user that desires to establish a connection is connected,

signalling directly to said service-related software part in a node, referred to as a terminating end node, at which said desired connection is to be terminated, by using a signalling process, so as to establish a first signal path that allows for direct signalling between said service-related software parts resident in said originating and terminating end nodes respectively, while said connection-related software part resident in said originating end node with the aid of said basic protocol in a second signalling process, different from said first, signals in said signal network to said connection related software part resident in an adjacent node to which there is a trunk means so as to establish a second signal path to said connection-related software part in said adjacent node, the object of said signalling taking place in said second signal path being to establish a connection between said originating node and said adjacent node, said second signalling process being repeated until said terminating end node is reached and said desired connection thereby is completed, said signalling method thus allowing for the control of service handling equipment resident in said end nodes without requiring nodes, if any, between said originating and terminating end nodes to have service-related program software.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Network structure and a signalling protocol for a telecommunication network

Life of this patent

Network structure and a signalling protocol for a telecommunication network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17