US 6,137,806 AGranted

Intelligent network with alternate routing of signalling messages, and method of operating such network

AssigneeNorthern Telecom Limited

InventorEdgar Martinez

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Abstract

In an intelligent network comprising a plurality of Service Signalling Points (SSP) and a Service Control Point (SCP), improved handling of overload conditions at the Service Control Point is provided by means of a Network Signalling Point interposed between the SSPs and the SCP. The Network Signalling Point (NSP) has a store for storing a copy of each message the NSP sends to various Point Codes, including that of the SCP; and service software for monitoring its links based upon associated Point Codes. If the NSP does not receive, within a preset time period, a response to a message sent to a particular destination Point Code via a particular link that is intact, the service software module will retrieve the stored copy of the message, replace the original destination Point Code with an alternative Point Code, and route the modified message to the alternative Point Code. The NSP may also filter Automatic Code Gapping messages sent from the Service Control Point to Service Switching Points in dependence upon messaging network conditions. The NSP may also generate its own Automatic Code gapping messages and send them to selected Service Switching Points.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A telecommunications network comprising a plurality of switching units equipped with SS7 messaging capabilities, at least one Service Processor, and a Network Signalling Point interposed between the switching units and the Service Processor and interconnected thereto by SS7 messaging links, the Network Signalling Point (NSP) having:

(i) message transfer means for routing signalling messages between the switching units and the service processor according to point codes in such messages, storing a copy of each signalling message transmitted to said service processor, each copy message with an identifier specific to an originating call, and receiving from said service processor response signalling messages having corresponding identifiers;
(ii) means for monitoring the message transfer means and timing, a predetermined time interval commencing when a signalling message with a particular identifier is transmitted thereby and, if a response signalling message having an identifier corresponding to said particular identifier is detected within said predetermined time interval, causing said message transfer means to delete the stored copy message, but
if no corresponding response signalling message with an identifier corresponding to said particular identifier is received within said predetermined time interval, causing said message transfer means to retrieve the stored copy of the message, change the destination point code to that of an alternative service processor, and route the changed message to that alternative service processor.

A method of alternate routing of signalling messages in a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of switching units equipped with SS7 messaging capabilities, at least one Service Processor, and a Network Signalling Point interposed between the switching units and the Service Processor and interconnected thereto by SS7 messaging links, the method comprising the steps of, at the Network Signalling Point (NSP):

(i) routing signalling messages between the switching units and the service processor according to point codes in such messages;
(ii) setting a timer means, upon transmission of a message to the service processor, for timing a predetermined time interval following transmission of each signalling message to the service processor;
(iii) storing a copy of each signalling message transmitted to said service processor, each copy message with an identifier specific to the originating call;
(iv) monitoring response signalling messages received from said service processor that include corresponding identifiers and detecting said corresponding identifiers and;
if a said corresponding identifier corresponding to the identifier of a particular stored message is detected in a response signalling message within said predetermined time interval, deleting the stored copy message, but
if a said corresponding identifier corresponding to the identifier of said particular stored message is not detected within said predetermined time interval, retrieving the stored copy of the message, changing the destination point code to that of an alternative service processor, and routing the changed message to that alternative service processor.

3 more elements

A network signalling point for a network comprising a plurality of switching units equipped with SS7 messaging capabilities and at least one Service Processor, the network signalling point for connection by SS7 messaging links between the switching units and the Service Processor, the network signalling point comprising message transfer means for performing Signal Transfer Point functionality with respect to SS7 messages communicated via its SS7 links, and monitoring means for monitoring the message transfer means, detecting failure of a signalling message to reach a particular service processor within a predetermined time interval and causing the message transfer means to route a corresponding signalling message to an alternative service processor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.