Message buffering for prioritized message transmission and congestion management

In a data communications system where messages are transmitted from a first data communications point to a second data communications point in accordance with a multi-level signaling protocol, a method for managing message congestion and prioritizing message transmission at one of the signaling protocol at the first data communications point, comprising the steps of:

• assigning a priority to the messages at a signaling protocol level higher than the one signaling protocol level;
• configuring one or more buffers having corresponding message priorities;
• establishing for each of the one or more buffers a congestion level, a full level, and a recovery level;
• processing the messages to determine the priority assigned to each message;
• monitoring congestion levels of the one or more buffers;
• storing the messages in the buffer corresponding to the determined priority for each message;
• and
• transmitting messages from a highest priority buffer followed by transmitting messages from a next higher priority buffer,
• wherein when an accumulated number of messages in one of the buffers exceeds the established congestion level, a congestion message requesting that no new messages of a corresponding or lower priority is presented for transmission over the link, and if the accumulated number of messages exceeds the full level, storage of further messages in the one buffer is prevented, the method further comprising generating a resume message when the accumulated number of messages in the buffer reaches or is less than the recovery level, and thereafter accepting new messages having the corresponding or higher priority at the buffer.

A system for managing messages at a first signaling point and prioritizing the transmission of messages from the first signaling point to a second signaling, comprising:

• a plurality of buffers some of which correspond to different priorities;
• a message controller processing messages to be transmitted to the first signaling point, determining the priority of each message, and selectively storing each message in one of the buffers corresponding to the determined priority of each message;
• and
• a transmitter transmitting messages from one of the buffers having a highest priority followed by transmitting messages from another of the buffers having a next highest priority,
• wherein each buffer includes a congestion level such that when an accumulated number of messages in one of the buffers exceeds the established congestion level, the message controller generates a congestion message requesting that no new messages of this or lower priority be presented for transmission,
• wherein each buffer includes a full level, and the message controller determines if a number of messages in one of the buffers exceeds the full level, and if so, prevents storage of further messages in the one buffer, and wherein each buffer includes a recovery level, and
• wherein the message controller determines when the accumulated number of messages in one of the buffers reaches or is less than the recovery level, generates a resume message, and thereafter stores in the one buffer new messages for transmission having a priority corresponding to the one buffer priority.