Method, apparatus and system for interworking between signaling networks

A signaling interworking point between a first signaling network and a second signaling network, wherein the signaling interworking point comprises:

• a receiving unit configured to receive a message sent from the first signaling network, wherein the first signaling network comprises a first signaling point and a signaling transfer point, and the second signaling network comprises a second signaling point, the first signaling network is connected with the second signaling network via the signaling interworking point;
• wherein there are two paths from the signaling interworking point to the first signaling point, one of which is a route to the first signaling point via the signaling transfer point, and the other is a direct route to the first signaling point;
• an analyzing and detecting unit configured to analyze the received message, and detect links between affected signaling point in the received message and the signaling interworking point when the received message is a TransFer Prohibited message;
• a transmitting unit configured to transmit a Signaling Unavailable message to the second signaling point of the second signaling network if the analyzing and detecting unit detects that all the links between the affected signaling point and the signaling interworking point are interrupted, and drop the received message if the analyzing and detecting unit detects that not all the links between the affected signaling point and the signaling interworking point are interrupted.

A communication system, comprising a first signaling network and a second signaling network, the first signaling network is connected with the second signaling network via an interworking point;

• the first signaling network comprises a first signaling point and a signaling transfer point, and the second signaling network comprises a second signaling point;
• wherein there are two paths from the interworking point to the first signaling point, one of which is a route to the first signaling point via the signaling transfer point, and the other is a direct route to the first signaling point, wherein:
• the interworking point is adapted to receive messages from the first signaling network;
• on receiving a first signaling point TransFer Prohibited message, the interworking point detects all the links between itself and the first signaling point, and according to the detection result, drops the TransFer Prohibited message or transmit a Signaling Unavailable message to the second signaling point.

A communication device between a first signaling network and a second signaling network, wherein the communication device is configured to implement a method comprising:

• receiving a message sent from the first signaling network, wherein the first signaling network comprises a first signaling point and a signaling transfer point, and the second signaling network comprises a second signaling point, the first signaling network is connected with the second signaling network via the communication device;
• wherein there are two paths from the communication device to the first signaling point, one of which is a route to the first signaling point via the signaling transfer point, and the other is a direct route to the first signaling point;
• analyzing the received message, and detecting links between an affected signaling point in the received message and the communication device when the received message is a TransFer Prohibited message;
• and
• transmitting a Signaling Unavailable message to the second signaling point of the second signaling network if it is detected that all the links between the affected signaling point and the communication device are interrupted, and dropping the received message if it is detected that not all the links between the affected signaling point and the communication device are interrupted.