Network node and method of routing messages in an IP-based signaling network

A method of routing messages in an IP based signaling network using a network node comprising at least two interfaces each towards a remote network node of the IP based signaling network, each remote network node implementing a remote signaling process, the method comprising:

• routing an incoming message received at a first of the at least two interfaces to a second interface of the at least two interfaces, the routing comprising translating the incoming message into a corresponding outgoing message in dependence on a type of the remote signaling process of the remote network node at the first interface and a type of the remote signaling process of the remote network node at the second interface;
• running locally at least two local signaling processes on the network node, each local signaling process providing at least one of the at least two interfaces, wherein a type of the local signaling process is determined by the type of the remote signaling process of the remote network node at the interface provided by the local signaling process;
• and
• performing at least one of:
• storing a state of a remote network node associated with one of said at least two interfaces and updating, by the local signaling process providing the respective interface, the stored state in accordance with an availability status of that remote network node;
• and
• storing a state of a remote SS7 network node available via a signaling gateway associated with one of said at least two interfaces, and updating, by the local signaling process providing the respective interface, the stored state in accordance with an availability status of that remote SS7 network node.

A relay network using an IP based user adaptation protocol for relaying signaling messages comprising plural network nodes as relay nodes, each network node being configured to route messages in an IP based signaling network and comprising:

• at least two interfaces each towards a remote network node of the IP based signaling network, each remote network node implementing a remote signaling process;
• and
• a processing unit configured to route an incoming message received at a first of the at least two interfaces to a second interface of the at least two interfaces, the routing comprising a translating of the incoming message into a corresponding outgoing message in dependence on a type of the remote signaling process of the remote network node at the first interface and a type of the remote signaling process of the remote network node at the second interface, wherein each of the at least two interfaces is provided by a local signaling process running locally on said processing unit, and wherein a type of the local signaling process is determined by the type of the remote signaling process of the remote network node at the interface provided by the local signaling process;
• and
• a memory unit configured to store a state of at least one remote network node at one of the at least two interfaces, and wherein the local signaling process providing the respective interface is configured to update the stored state in accordance with an availability status of the remote network node.

A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising electronically readable control information configured such that, when the control information is executed on a network node that comprises at least two interfaces each towards a remote network node of an IP base signaling network implementing a remote signaling process, the control information causes the network node to route messages in the IP based signaling network by:

• routing an incoming message received at a first of the at least two interfaces to a second interface of the at least two interfaces, the routing comprising translating the incoming message into a corresponding outgoing message in dependence on a type of the remote signaling process of the remote network node at the first interface and a type of the remote signaling process of the remote network node at the second interface;
• running locally at least two local signaling processes on the network node, each local signaling process providing at least one of the at least two interfaces, wherein a type of the local signaling process is determined by the type of the remote signaling process of the remote network node at the interface provided by the local signaling process;
• and
• storing a state of a remote network node associated with one of said at least two interfaces and updating, by the local signaling process providing the respective interface, the stored state in accordance with an availability status of that remote network node.