Method and apparatus for processing call signaling messages

A method for processing call signaling messages, the method comprises the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of call signaling messages;
• comparing a queue occupancy level of a call processing queue with a first queue occupancy threshold;
• and
• when queue occupancy level compares unfavorably with the first queue occupancy threshold, enqueuing the plurality of call signaling messages into the call processing queue based on types of call signaling messages;
• comparing the queue occupancy level with a second queue occupancy threshold;
• when the queue occupancy level compares unfavorably with the second queue occupancy threshold:
• when a call signaling message of the plurality of call signaling messages is a dispensable message or an indispensable message, deleting from the call processing queue a previously queued dispensable message when the previously dispensable message exists;
• enqueuing the call signaling message into the call processing queue when the previously queued dispensable message is deleted;
• and
• when the previously queued dispensable message does not exist and when the call signaling message is a dispensable message, dropping the call signaling message.

A method for processing call signaling messages, the method comprises the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of call signaling messages;
• comparing a queue occupancy level of a call processing queue with a first queue occupancy threshold;
• and
• when queue occupancy level compares unfavorably with the first queue occupancy threshold, enqueuing the plurality of call signaling messages into the call processing queue based on types of call signaling messages;
• comparing the queue occupancy level with a second queue occupancy threshold;
• when the queue occupancy level compares unfavorably with the second queue occupancy threshold:
• when a call signaling message of the plurality of call signaling messages is a dispensable message or an indispensable message, deleting from the call processing queue a previously queued dispensable message when the previously dispensable message exists and enqueuing the call signaling message into the call processing queue when the previously queued dispensable message is deleted;
• when the previously queued dispensable message does not exist and when the call signaling message is an indispensable message, deleting from the call processing queue a previously queued indispensable message when the previously indispensable message exists and enqueuing the call signaling message into the call processing queue when the previously queued indispensable message is deleted;
• and
• when the previously queued dispensable message does not exist, when the previously queued indispensable message does not exist and when the call signaling message is an indispensable message, dropping the call signaling message.

A method for processing call signaling messages, the method comprises the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of call signaling messages;
• enqueuing the plurality of call signaling messages into a call processing queue based on type of call signaling messages and queue occupancy level of the call processing queue;
• when in a sustained overload condition, dequeuing a first type of call signaling message from the call processing queue in a first dequeuing manner;
• and
• maintaining a plurality of dequeuing lists, wherein the plurality of dequeuing lists track available locations in the call processing queue, an ordered list of types of call signaling messages, an ordered list of dispensable messages, and an ordered list of indispensable messages.

A call signal processing module comprises:

• a call processing queue;
• a processing module;
• and
• memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:
• receive a plurality of call signaling messages;
• compare a queue occupancy level of the call processing queue with a first queue occupancy threshold;
• enqueue, when queue occupancy level compares unfavorably with the first queue occupancy threshold, the plurality of call signaling messages into the call processing queue based on types of call signaling messages;
• compare the queue occupancy level with a second queue occupancy threshold;
• when the queue occupancy level compares unfavorably with the second queue occupancy threshold:
• delete a previously queued dispensable message from the call processing queue when a call signaling message of the plurality of call signaling messages is a dispensable message or an indispensable message and when the previously dispensable message exists;
• enqueue the call signaling message into the call processing queue when the previously queued dispensable message is deleted;
• and drop the call signaling message when the previously queued dispensable message does not exist and when the call signaling message is a dispensible message.

A call signal processing module comprises:

• a call processing queue;
• a processing module;
• and
• memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:
• receive a plurality of call signaling messages;
• enqueue the plurality of call signaling messages into the call processing queue based on type of call signal messages and queue occupancy level of the call processing queue;
• dequeue a first type of call signal message from the call processing queue in a first dequeuing manner when in a sustained overload condition;
• and maintain a plurality of dequeuing lists, wherein the plurality of dequeuing lists track available locations in the call processing queue, an ordered list of types of call messages, an ordered list of dispensable messages, and an ordered list of indispensable messages, wherein the types of call signaling messages include dispensable messages and indispensable messages.