Patent US5535200A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5535200A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Signaling system for a telecommunications network
Assignee: SPRING COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LP
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Filing: 1994-05-05
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Granted: 1996-07-09
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Expires: 2014-05-05
Abstract
Abstract In a telecommunications network using data packets for signaling, network components, such as signal transfer points, service control points, and switches, transfer a signaling packet to the network for transmission to a destination component only if that signaling packet is different from the previous packet sent to the same destination. The signaling packets are transferred over respective virtual channels assigned to respective pairs of network components.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Gardner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0025; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/02; H04J3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of signaling in a telecommunications network wherein the telecommunications network is comprised of a plurality of network components that set-up connections for calls to the telecommunications network, and wherein the signaling transfers information between the network components to facilitate the set-up of the connections, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) receiving signaling information from a first network component into a first processor connected to the first network component; (b) generating packets in the first processor from the signaling information received from the first network component; (c) assigning the generated packets to a virtual channel for packet transmission to a second network component; (d) transmitting the packets over the assigned virtual channel to a second processor connected to the second network component, the transmission occurring unless the transmission is suppressed; (e) suppressing the transmission of packets when the packets to be transmitted over the assigned virtual channel are duplicates of the previous packet transmitted over the assigned virtual channel; (f) receiving packets transmitted from the first processor over the assigned virtual channel into the second processor, and replicating the previous packet received in the second processor over the assigned virtual channel during time intervals in which packet transmission is suppressed on the assigned virtual channel and until another packet is received over the assigned virtual channel; and (g) deriving signaling information from the received and replicated packets in the second processor and delivering the signaling information to the second network component.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of signaling in a telecommunications network wherein the telecommunications network is comprised of a plurality of network components that set-up connections for calls to the telecommunications network, and wherein the signaling transfers information between the network components to facilitate the set-up of the connections, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) receiving signaling information from a first network component into a first processor connected to the first network component; (b) generating packets in the first processor from the signaling information received from the first network component; (c) assigning the generated packets to a virtual channel for packet transmission to a second network component; (d) transmitting the packets over the assigned virtual channel to a second processor connected to the second network component, the transmission occurring unless the transmission is suppressed; (e) suppressing the transmission of packets when the packets to be transmitted over the assigned virtual channel are duplicates of the previous packet transmitted over the assigned virtual channel; (f) receiving packets transmitted from the first processor over the assigned virtual channel into the second processor, and replicating the previous packet received in the second processor over the assigned virtual channel during time intervals in which packet transmission is suppressed on the assigned virtual channel and until another packet is received over the assigned virtual channel; and (g) deriving signaling information from the received and replicated packets in the second processor and delivering the signaling information to the second network component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of repeating steps (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) at a plurality of pairs of network components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the network components are telecommunications network switches and signal transfer points.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the network components are telecommunications network switches and adjunct processors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the network components are telecommunications network switches and service control points.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the signaling information is based on Signaling System #7.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the packet transmission is frame relay.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the packet transmission is asynchronous transfer mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting at least one packet within a specified time interval over the assigned virtual channel to the second network component regardless of packet redundancy in order to verify uninterrupted data transmission at the second network component.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
195 words
A signaling system for a telecommunications network wherein the telecommunications network is comprised of a plurality of network components that set-up connections for calls to the telecommunications network, and wherein the signaling system transfers information between the network components to facilitate the set-up of the connections, wherein the signaling system comprises: (a) a plurality of processors wherein a processor is connected to each network component that uses the signaling system; (b) a plurality of virtual channels operable for packet transmission wherein there is a virtual channel from each processor to each processor; (c) a signaling platform means in the processors for generating packets from signaling information received from the network components and assigning the packets to a virtual channel, the generation of packets for transmission over the assigned virtual channel occurring only when the packets are not duplicates of the previous packet generated for transmission over the assigned virtual channel, and for removing signaling information from packet transmissions and delivering the signaling information to the network components; and (d) a packet transmission means in the processors for transmitting the packets over the assigned virtual channels, and receiving the packets transmitted over the assigned virtual channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
195 words
A signaling system for a telecommunications network wherein the telecommunications network is comprised of a plurality of network components that set-up connections for calls to the telecommunications network, and wherein the signaling system transfers information between the network components to facilitate the set-up of the connections, wherein the signaling system comprises: (a) a plurality of processors wherein a processor is connected to each network component that uses the signaling system; (b) a plurality of virtual channels operable for packet transmission wherein there is a virtual channel from each processor to each processor; (c) a signaling platform means in the processors for generating packets from signaling information received from the network components and assigning the packets to a virtual channel, the generation of packets for transmission over the assigned virtual channel occurring only when the packets are not duplicates of the previous packet generated for transmission over the assigned virtual channel, and for removing signaling information from packet transmissions and delivering the signaling information to the network components; and (d) a packet transmission means in the processors for transmitting the packets over the assigned virtual channels, and receiving the packets transmitted over the assigned virtual channels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the packet transmission means uses frame relay.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the packet transmission means uses Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM).
Claim 15
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of signaling in a telecommunications network wherein the telecommunications network is comprised of a plurality of network components that set-up connections for calls to the telecommunications network, and wherein the signaling transfers information between the network components to facilitate the set=up of the connections, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) receiving signaling information from a first network component into a first processor connected to the first network component; (b) generating packets in the first processor from the signaling information received from the first network component and assigning the generated packets to a virtual channel for packet transmission to a second network component, the generation of packets for transmission over the assigned virtual channel occurring only when the packets are not duplicates of the previous packet generated for transmission over the assigned virtual channel; (c) transmitting the packets over the assigned virtual channel to a second processor connected to the second network component; (d) receiving packets transmitted from the first processor over the assigned virtual channel into the second processor; and (e) deriving signaling information from the packets received packets in the second processor and delivering the signaling information to the second network component.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of signaling in a telecommunications network wherein the telecommunications network is comprised of a plurality of network components that set-up connections for calls to the telecommunications network, and wherein the signaling transfers information between the network components to facilitate the set=up of the connections, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) receiving signaling information from a first network component into a first processor connected to the first network component; (b) generating packets in the first processor from the signaling information received from the first network component and assigning the generated packets to a virtual channel for packet transmission to a second network component, the generation of packets for transmission over the assigned virtual channel occurring only when the packets are not duplicates of the previous packet generated for transmission over the assigned virtual channel; (c) transmitting the packets over the assigned virtual channel to a second processor connected to the second network component; (d) receiving packets transmitted from the first processor over the assigned virtual channel into the second processor; and (e) deriving signaling information from the packets received packets in the second processor and delivering the signaling information to the second network component.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of signaling in a telecommunications network wherein the telecommunications network is comprised of a plurality of network components that set-up connections for calls to the telecommunications network, wherein the signaling is in Signaling System #7 (SS7) format and transfers information between the network components to facilitate the set-up of the connections, and wherein a first signaling processor transmits SS7 signaling messages for a first network component to a second signaling processor for a second network component, wherein the SS7 signaling messages are transmitted over a virtual connection, the method comprises: (a) transmitting a first SS7 signaling message over the virtual connection from the first signaling processor to the second signaling processor; (b) transmitting a second SS7 signaling message over the virtual connection from the first signaling processor to the second signaling processor only if the second SS7 signaling message is different from the first SS7 signaling message; and (c) replicating the first SS7 signaling message at the second signaling processor only if the second signaling processor does not receive the second SS7 signaling message over the virtual connection from the first signaling processor.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of signaling in a telecommunications network wherein the telecommunications network is comprised of a plurality of network components that set-up connections for calls to the telecommunications network, wherein the signaling is in Signaling System #7 (SS7) format and transfers information between the network components to facilitate the set-up of the connections, and wherein a first signaling processor transmits SS7 signaling messages for a first network component to a second signaling processor for a second network component, wherein the SS7 signaling messages are transmitted over a virtual connection, the method comprises: (a) transmitting a first SS7 signaling message over the virtual connection from the first signaling processor to the second signaling processor; (b) transmitting a second SS7 signaling message over the virtual connection from the first signaling processor to the second signaling processor only if the second SS7 signaling message is different from the first SS7 signaling message; and (c) replicating the first SS7 signaling message at the second signaling processor only if the second signaling processor does not receive the second SS7 signaling message over the virtual connection from the first signaling processor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
146 words
A telecommunications signaling network comprising: (a) a plurality of network components that are operable to set=up connections for calls to the telecommunications network and that are operable to produce signaling information; (b) a plurality of signaling processors coupled to the network components, the signaling processors being operable to generate signaling messages in Signaling System #7 (SS7) format from the signaling information to facilitate the set-up of the connections, and wherein the signaling processors are operable to transmit the SS7 signaling messages and receive transmitted SS7 signaling messages; (c) a plurality of virtual channels interconnecting the signaling processors operable to transfer the SS7 signaling messages transmitted by the signaling processors; and (d) a suppression means residing in each signaling processor for suppressing any SS7 signaling message to be transmitted over a particular virtual channel which duplicates the previous SS7 signaling message transmitted over the particular virtual channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
146 words
A telecommunications signaling network comprising: (a) a plurality of network components that are operable to set=up connections for calls to the telecommunications network and that are operable to produce signaling information; (b) a plurality of signaling processors coupled to the network components, the signaling processors being operable to generate signaling messages in Signaling System #7 (SS7) format from the signaling information to facilitate the set-up of the connections, and wherein the signaling processors are operable to transmit the SS7 signaling messages and receive transmitted SS7 signaling messages; (c) a plurality of virtual channels interconnecting the signaling processors operable to transfer the SS7 signaling messages transmitted by the signaling processors; and (d) a suppression means residing in each signaling processor for suppressing any SS7 signaling message to be transmitted over a particular virtual channel which duplicates the previous SS7 signaling message transmitted over the particular virtual channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
215 words
A signaling system for a telecommunications network wherein the telecommunications network is comprised of a plurality of network components that set-up connections for calls to the telecommunications network, and wherein the signaling in Signaling System #7 (SS7) format and transfers information between the network components to facilitate the set-up of the connections, wherein the signaling system comprises: (a) a first signaling processor operable to transmit SS7 signaling messages for a first network component; (b) a second signaling processor operable to receive SS7 signaling messages for a second network component; (c) a virtual connection operable to transfer SS7 signaling messages from the first signaling processor to the second signaling processor; (d) a transmission means in the first signaling processor for transmitting a first SS7 signaling message over the virtual connection from the first signaling processor to the second signaling processor, and for transmitting a second SS7 signaling message over the virtual connection from the first signaling processor to the second signaling processor only if the second SS7 signaling message is different from the first SS7 signaling message; (e) a replication means in the second signaling processor for replicating the first SS7 signaling message only if the second signaling processor does not receive the second SS7 signaling message over the virtual connection from the first signaling processor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
215 words
A signaling system for a telecommunications network wherein the telecommunications network is comprised of a plurality of network components that set-up connections for calls to the telecommunications network, and wherein the signaling in Signaling System #7 (SS7) format and transfers information between the network components to facilitate the set-up of the connections, wherein the signaling system comprises: (a) a first signaling processor operable to transmit SS7 signaling messages for a first network component; (b) a second signaling processor operable to receive SS7 signaling messages for a second network component; (c) a virtual connection operable to transfer SS7 signaling messages from the first signaling processor to the second signaling processor; (d) a transmission means in the first signaling processor for transmitting a first SS7 signaling message over the virtual connection from the first signaling processor to the second signaling processor, and for transmitting a second SS7 signaling message over the virtual connection from the first signaling processor to the second signaling processor only if the second SS7 signaling message is different from the first SS7 signaling message; (e) a replication means in the second signaling processor for replicating the first SS7 signaling message only if the second signaling processor does not receive the second SS7 signaling message over the virtual connection from the first signaling processor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the first signaling processor is coupled to the first network component and the second signaling processor is coupled to the second network component, wherein the first network component provides signaling information to the first signaling processor for transmission to the second network component, wherein the first signaling processor has a generating means for generating SS7 signaling messages from the signaling information, and wherein the second signaling processor has a derivation means for deriving signaling information from the SS7 signaling messages.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the first network component and the second network component are telecommunications switches.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the first network component is telecommunications switch and the second network component is a signal transfer point (STP).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the first network component is a telecommunications switch and the second network component is a service control point (SCP).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-09 | 2000-01-08 | 2000-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-09 | 2004-01-08 | 2004-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-09 | 2008-01-08 | 2008-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |