EP0792074A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A method of providing a service in a switched telecommunications system and a message interceptor suitable for use in such method
Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1997-02-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A method of providing a service, such as local number portability (LNP), in a switched telecommunications system, in which a message interceptor is disposed in a signalling link of an SS7 signalling network of the system. The message interceptor detects calls for which service implementation is required, by comparing the content of intercepted circuit-related SS7 messages with service trigger conditions, such as message type (checked directly by the interceptor) and message content (e.g. called number, which the interceptor checks by reference to a database). When service implementation is detected as being required, the message interceptor may implement at least part of the required service by modifying parameters of the intercepted message; alternatively, the interceptor may re-direct the message to a service control function for service implementation. The invention enables services to be implemented without incurring inefficient use of core network resources, and without expensive and time-consuming modification of switch and SCP control software.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas John Carson
- 👤 Salih Kabay
- 👤 James Robertson Galloway
- 👤 Peter John Mottishaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/09; H04L61/10; H04L61/45; H04L63/00; H04L63/30; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/2281; H04M3/42; H04M3/4228; H04M7/00; H04M7/12; H04M7/1205; H04M7/126; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0025; H04Q3/0029; H04Q3/005; H04L69/00; H04L69/16; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/10; H04M2203/1041; H04M3/42136; H04M3/42153; H04M3/42161; H04M3/42297; H04M3/428; H04M3/50; H04M3/51; H04M3/523; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/1305; H04Q2213/13097; H04Q2213/13102; H04Q2213/13176; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13213; H04Q2213/13216; H04Q2213/13345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of providing a service in respect of a call in a switched telecommunications system that comprises a bearer network (12) with a plurality of switching points (SSP) for setting up calls through the bearer network, and a signalling system with a plurality of links (18) by means of which circuit-related control messages can be passed between the switching points for regulating call setup and release; said method comprising the steps of: (a) - intercepting (60) said circuit-related control messages, (b) - for each intercepted control message, accessing service trigger data to ascertain whether service implementation action is required in respect of the call associated with the control message, (c) - where step (b) indicates that service implementation action is required, modifying the corresponding control message, and (d) - forwarding on the intercepted control messages over the signalling network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said control messages comprise control-message destination data and call-related parameters, step (c) involving modifying at least one said parameter of said control message whereby to effect at least part of the required service implementation action, the said destination data of the control message being left unmodified.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said control messages comprise control-message source and destination data and call-related parameters, step (c) involving: -- modifying at least one said parameter of said control message whereby to effect at least part of the required service implementation action, and -- replacing said destination data of the control message with said source data; the originating switching point taking further service implementation action based on the modified said at least one parameter upon receipt back of said control message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein each said control message further comprise a message type indicator, step (c) further involving modifying said message type indicator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said control messages comprise control-message destination data and call-related parameters, step (c) involving modifying the said destination data of the control message to route it to a service control function, the said call-related parameters of the control message being left unmodified.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein step (c) further involves storing at least a part of the control message for lookup by said service control function, the stored said at least a part of the control message including the unmodified destination data whereby to enable said service control function to ascertain the original destination of the control message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said control messages are of various types and comprise a message-type indicator, control-message source and destination data, and call-related parameters; said service trigger data indicating for which control-message types and parameter values service implementation action is required.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein one said message type is an Initial Address message including a called-number parameter holding called number data, said service trigger data indicating that service implementation action is required for control messages of said Initial Address type that have particular values of said called-number parameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the service to be provided is local number portability, step (b) involving comparing the type and called number data of each intercepted control message with the service trigger data to ascertain whether said local number portability service is to be implemented.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein where step (b) indicates that said local number portability service is to be provided in respect of a called number, said accessing of said service trigger data in step (b) returns a location routing number indicative of the switching point from which the called party currently depends, step (c) involving: -- setting the called number data in the control message to said location routing number, -- storing the original called number in the control message, and -- setting a flag in the control message to indicate that the called number data is a location routing number.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
171 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein where step (b) indicates that said local number portability service is to be provided in respect of a called number, said accessing of said service trigger data in step (b) returns a location routing number indicative of the switching point from which the called party currently depends, step (c) involving: -- storing the location routing number in the control message; -- setting the message type indicator to a release message type; and -- swapping the source and destination data; said method further involving, for each control message received back at the originating switching point as a release message following modification in step (c), sending out a new control message of the Initial Address Message type with its said destination data set in dependence on said location routing number, said new control message having its called number data set to said location routing number and including both the original called number and a flag indicating that the called number data is a location routing number.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
191 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein where (b) indicates that said local number portability service is to be provided, step (c) involves: -- modifying the said destination data of the said corresponding control message to route it to a service control function, and -- storing at least a part of the control message including the unmodified destination data; said method including the following further steps for each control message received at said service control function following modification of its destination data in step (c): -- looking up from said service control function the stored said at least a part of the control message whereby to enable said service control function to ascertain said unmodified destination data of the control message; -- changing the control message by: -- setting the called number data in the control message to said location routing number, -- storing the original called number in the control message, -- setting a flag in the control message to indicate that the called number data is a location routing number, and -- setting the destination data to said unmodified destination data, and -- sending on the changed control message.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein one said message type is an Initial Address message including party-number data comprising at least called number data, and wherein the service to be provided is call interception; said service trigger data indicating that service implementation action is required for control messages of said Initial Address type that have particular values for at least part of said party-number data, and step (b) involving comparing the type and party-number data of each intercepted control message with the service trigger data to ascertain whether said call interception service is to be implemented.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein where step (b) indicates that said call interception service is to be provided, step (c) involves setting the called number data in the control message to an IP number indicative of an intelligent peripheral to which the call is to be routed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
171 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein where step (b) indicates that said call interception service is to be provided, step (c) involves: -- modifying the said destination data of the said corresponding control message to route it to a service control function, and -- storing at least a part of the control message including the unmodified destination data; said method including the following further steps for each control message received at said service control function following modification of its destination data in step (c): -- looking up from said service control function the stored said at least a part of the control message whereby to enable said service control function to ascertain said unmodified destination data of the control message; -- changing the control message by setting the called number data in the control message to an IP number indicative of an intelligent peripheral to which the call is to be routed, and setting the destination data to said unmodified destination data, and -- sending on the changed control message.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said service trigger data indicates that service implementation action is required for control messages of said Initial Address type that have particular values of said called party number.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said party-number data of said Initial Address messages include calling number data, said service trigger data indicating that service implementation action is required for control messages of said Initial Address type that have particular values of said calling party number.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said call interception service further involves providing for the tapping of the corresponding call at said intelligent peripheral and seeking to complete the call from the intelligent peripheral to the called party.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein said call interception service further involves playing a voice message to the calling party from said intelligent peripheral without completing the call to the called party.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control message interception in step (a) is effected in a said link.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein the passing of said control messages over each said link is effected in accordance with a link-level protocol having state, steps (a) and (d) being effected without affecting the current state of the link-level protocol on the link concerned.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
98 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein the passing of said control messages over each said link is effected in accordance with a link-level protocol having state, steps (a) and (d) being effected by setting up independent link-level protocol exchanges with each end of the link concerned whereby in step (a) said control messages are intercepted by reception from one end of the link in accordance with the link-level protocol operated therewith, and in step (d) the control messages are forwarded by transmission to the other end of the link in accordance with the link-level protocol operated therewith.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
26 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the control message interception in step (a) is effected at a signalling transfer point.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A message interceptor for intercepting and modifying messages passing over a signalling link according to a link-level protocol operated between the link end points, said message interceptor effecting its operation without providing a link-level termination.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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