US5867558A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for remote collection of signaling messages for routing analysis and trouble detection
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1997-09-04
•
Granted: 1999-02-02
•
Expires: 2017-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A method for monitoring the signaling network in a telecommunication system comprises extending a copy of each signaling message processed by a particular signal transfer point to an interface unit. The interface unit relays "of interest" messages to a signal monitoring system (SMS) in accordance with a pre-determined filtering protocol. In the SMS, messages are correlated in accordance with a pre-defined correlating protocol. The correlated signaling messages are subsequently retrieved by an OSS technician for analysis and updates.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Allen Swanson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:01
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/2254; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0025; H04Q3/0062; H04Q3/0075; H04Q3/0087; H04M7/00; H04M7/06; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13092; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/13106; H04Q2213/13141; H04Q2213/13166; H04Q2213/13176; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13349
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
In a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of switches, and a signaling network including at least one signal transfer point (STP) which serves at least one switch, a method for monitoring signaling messages relayed in the network comprises the steps of: initializing the STP to duplicate and transmit a copy of each processed signaling message to an interface unit; filtering signaling messages received in the interface unit in accordance with a pre-established filtering protocol to separate signaling messages "of interest"; extending filtered signaling messages from the interface unit to a signal monitoring system (SMS) for organizing the filtered signaling messages in accordance with a pre-established protocol; and extending the organized signaling messages to a maintenance operation support system (OSS) for signaling analysis, whereby events and conditions are reconstructed for use by the OSS in its analysis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of switches, and a signaling network including at least one signal transfer point (STP) which serves at least one switch, a method for monitoring signaling messages relayed in the network comprises the steps of: initializing the STP to duplicate and transmit a copy of each processed signaling message to an interface unit; filtering signaling messages received in the interface unit in accordance with a pre-established filtering protocol to separate signaling messages "of interest"; extending filtered signaling messages from the interface unit to a signal monitoring system (SMS) for organizing the filtered signaling messages in accordance with a pre-established protocol; and extending the organized signaling messages to a maintenance operation support system (OSS) for signaling analysis, whereby events and conditions are reconstructed for use by the OSS in its analysis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of: initializing the SMS with the filtering and correlation protocols via the maintenance OSS.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising updating a switch in accordance with analysis performed on signaling messages received in the OSS from the SMS.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of investigating signaling message errors for use in a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of switches served by a plurality of signal transfer points (STPs), wherein a plurality of switches are served by a maintenance operation support system (OSS), comprises the steps of: interconnecting an interface unit of a signaling monitoring system (SMS) to each STP in the telecommunications network; receiving in the interface unit a copy of each signaling message processed by the STP to which the interface unit is attached; utilizing a filtering protocol to extend "of interest" signaling messages received in the interface unit to the signal monitoring system; the SMS utilizing a correlation protocol to organize of interest signaling messages received from the interface unit in accordance with pre-established correlation parameters; and the SMS extending the organized of interest signaling messages to the maintenance OSS for analysis, whereby events and conditions are reconstructed for use by the OSS in its analysis.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of investigating signaling message errors for use in a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of switches served by a plurality of signal transfer points (STPs), wherein a plurality of switches are served by a maintenance operation support system (OSS), comprises the steps of: interconnecting an interface unit of a signaling monitoring system (SMS) to each STP in the telecommunications network; receiving in the interface unit a copy of each signaling message processed by the STP to which the interface unit is attached; utilizing a filtering protocol to extend "of interest" signaling messages received in the interface unit to the signal monitoring system; the SMS utilizing a correlation protocol to organize of interest signaling messages received from the interface unit in accordance with pre-established correlation parameters; and the SMS extending the organized of interest signaling messages to the maintenance OSS for analysis, whereby events and conditions are reconstructed for use by the OSS in its analysis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4464543A
Cited
US5008929A
Cited
US5297193A
Cited
US5426688A
Cited
US5440626A
Cited
US5579371A
Cited
US5757895A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-01 | 2002-08-03 | 2003-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-01 | 2006-08-03 | 2007-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-01 | 2010-08-03 | 2011-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |