Methods and systems for communicating SS7 messages over packet-based network using transport adapter layer interface
AssigneeTekelec
InventorsRobby Darren Benedyk, David Michael Sprague, Dan Alan Brendes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transport adapter layer interface (TALI) includes messages, processes, and packet structures for sending and receiving SS7 information over a stream-oriented connection, such as a TCP/IP connection. For example, the TALI interface includes test messages for testing the status of a connection and allow and prohibit messages for enabling and disabling service data communications without invoking a TCP handshaking procedure. The TALI interface also includes SYNC and LENGTH fields for facilitating extraction of individual message packets over a stream-oriented connection.
Claims58
A method for encapsulating a signaling connection control part (SCCP) message in an Internet protocol (IP) datagram using a transport adapter layer interface (TALI), the method comprising:
- (a) receiving an SS7 message signal unit (MSU), the SS7 MSU including message transfer part (MTP) layers 1, 2, and 3 and an SCCP layer;
- (b) discarding MTP layer 1 and 2 information from the SS7 MSU;
- (c) placing the SCCP layer in a service portion of a TALI packet;
- (d) adding a TALI header to the TALI packet;
- and
- (e) adding transport and network layer headers to the TALI packet.
A method for encapsulating a message transfer part layer 3 (MTP3) packet in an Internet protocol (IP) datagram using a transport adapter layer interface (TALI), the method comprising:
- (a) receiving an MTP3 message signal unit (MSU), the MTP3 MSU including MTP layers 1, 2, and 3;
- (b) discarding MTP layers 1 and 2 from the MTP3 MSU;
- (c) placing MTP layer 3 information from the MTP3 MSU in a service portion of a TALI packet;
- (d) adding a TALI header to the TALI packet;
- and
- (e) adding transport and network layer headers to the TALI packet.
A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:
- (a) receiving an SS7 message signal unit (MSU), the SS7 MSU including message transfer part (MTP) layers 1, 2, and 3 and an SCCP layer;
- (b) discarding MTP layer 1 and 2 information from the SS7 MSU;
- (c) placing the SCCP layer in a service portion of a TALI packet;
- (d) adding a TALI header to the TALI packet;
- and
- (e) adding transport and network layer headers to the TALI packet.
A computer program product for comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:
- (a) receiving an MTP3 message signal unit (MSU), the SS7 MSU including MTP layers 1, 2, and 3;
- (b) discarding MTP layers 1 and 2 from the MTP3 MSU;
- (c) placing MTP layer 3 information from the MTP3 MSU in a service portion of a TALI packet;
- (d) adding a TALI header to the TALI packet;
- and
- (e) adding transport and network layer headers to the TALI packet.
A communications network element for implementing a transport adapter layer interface (TALI) protocol stack, the communications network element comprising:
- (a) a TALI process for receiving SS7 messages, discarding SS7 layer 1 and 2 information from the SS7 messages, and for adding a TALI header to each of the SS7 messages to form TALI messages;
- and
- (b) a stream oriented communications process for receiving the TALI messages from the TALI process, adding transport and network layer headers to the TALI messages, and forwarding the TALI messages to a receiving application over an IP network based on the TCP and IP headers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.