Mechanism and method for distributing ISUP stacks over multiple loosely coupled processors
AssigneeEricsson Inc.
InventorLars A. Tovander
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thin ISUP layer (100) for internetworking an SS7 gateway and distributed ISUPs (90) residing on separate processors suitable for use in an SS7 network (50). The thin-ISUP layer (100) defines an operations/management module that controls circuit signaling functions between an SS7 gateway and the distributed ISUPs (90). A set of ISUP messaging functions are provided to control the sequencing of messages for distribution among the processors. Connection supervision is provided to maintain the connections between the processors. The thin ISUP layer (100) can be implemented between the MPT layer (84, 86, 88) and an ISUP layer (90) of distributed processors in the network (50).
Claims24
In a common channel signaling system, a mechanism for distributing end-to-end call routing functions among multiple processors comprising:
- an array of loosely coupled processors that communicate with each other over signaling links supporting signaling system number 7 (SS7) using an Internet Protocol (IP);
- and
- a task distribution module comprising a layer between the MTP layer and the ISUP layer of said SS7 signaling links, said layer operably coupled to said array and configured to administer a plurality of operations/management functions over any one or a set of said array of loosely coupled processors.
In an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony signaling network utilizing common channel signaling system number 7 (SS7), a mechanism for internetworking an SS7 Gateway and distributed ISDN User Parts (ISUPs) residing on separate processors comprising:
- an operations/management module that controls circuit signaling functions between said SS7 gateway and said distributed ISUPs;
- a plurality of ISUP messaging functions that control the format of both single circuit and group messages distributed between said separate processors;
- a connection supervision module that maintains connections between any of said separate processors;
- and
- wherein said operations/management module, plurality of ISUP messaging functions and connection supervision module form a protocol stack layer interspersed between the Message Transfer Part (MTP) layer and the ISUP layer implemented on said distributed processors.
A method of distributing an ISDN user part (ISUP) over multiple loosely coupled processors of an SS7 network comprising the steps of:
- implementing a thin ISUP layer in between the Message Transfer Part (MTP) layer and ISUP layer of an SS7 protocol stack;
- and
- distributing messages from a first SS7 node to a second SS7 node of said SS7 network through said thin ISUP layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.