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US5926482A
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Telecommunications apparatus, system, and method with an enhanced signal transfer point
Assignee: Sprint Communications Co LP
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Filing: 1995-09-08
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Granted: 1999-07-20
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Expires: 2015-09-08
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is an apparatus, system, and method for converting point codes in a signal transfer point in a telecommunications signaling system. The STP converts point codes which designate the origination and destination signaling points for the message. The conversion is based on information defined by the messages, such as origination or destination information. The present invention creates a virtual signaling system which can be reconfigured at the STP by converting point codes, and thus, altering the identities of the signaling points. The present invention is also operable to convert circuit identification codes and transfer integrated services user part messages to a user part.
Inventors
- 👤 Jospeh Michael Christie
- 👤 Albert Daniel Duree
- 👤 Michael Joseph Gardner
- 👤 William Lyle Wiley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/02; H04J3/12; H04J3/125; H04J3/24; H04J3/247; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/25; H04L49/253; H04L49/255; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0025; H04Q3/0029; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5603; H04L2012/5609; H04L2012/561; H04L2012/5629; H04L2012/563; H04L2012/5672; H04L49/50; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13102; H04Q2213/13104; H04Q2213/13141; H04Q2213/13167; H04Q2213/13176; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13209; H04Q2213/1329; H04Q2213/13296; H04Q2213/13349; H04Q2213/1338; H04Q2213/13389; H04Q2213/13399; H04Q2213/13527
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A signal transfer point (STP) operable to apply message transfer part (MTP) functions to a plurality of signaling messages containing point codes wherein the functions are a signaling data link function, a signaling link function, and a signaling network function, the STP comprising; a first means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling data link function; a second means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling link function; a third means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling network function, wherein the signaling network function includes a routing function; and a converting means for converting at least some of the point codes in the signaling messages into different point codes, wherein the converting means is located between the second means and the routing function of the third means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A signal transfer point (STP) operable to apply message transfer part (MTP) functions to a plurality of signaling messages containing point codes wherein the functions are a signaling data link function, a signaling link function, and a signaling network function, the STP comprising; a first means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling data link function; a second means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling link function; a third means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling network function, wherein the signaling network function includes a routing function; and a converting means for converting at least some of the point codes in the signaling messages into different point codes, wherein the converting means is located between the second means and the routing function of the third means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The STP of claim 1 wherein the converting means is located after the second means and before the third means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The STP of claim 1 wherein the third means further includes a discrimination function and the converting means is located in the discrimination function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The STP of claim 1 wherein the conversion is based in part on the point codes originally contained in the messages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The STP of claim 1 wherein the signaling messages further include Circuit Identification Codes (CICs) and wherein the converting means is also for converting the CICs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
286 words
A Signal Transfer Point (STP) operable to apply Message Transfer Part (MTP) functions to a plurality of signaling messages containing point codes wherein the functions are a signaling data link function, a signaling link function, and a signaling network function, wherein the signaling messages are of the same protocol before and after conversion and no gateway functionality is required by the STP, the STP comprising: a first means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling data link function; a second means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling link function; a third means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling network function wherein the third means comprises a discrimination function, a distribution function, a management function, and a route function; a first converting means for converting at least some of the point codes in the signaling messages into different point codes, wherein the signaling messages converted by the first converting means include messages received by the STP; a second converting means for converting at least some of the point codes in the signaling messages into different point codes, wherein the signaling messages converted by the second converting means include messages generated by the third means, and wherein the third means further comprises the second converting means; and wherein the second means is coupled to the first converting means, the first converting means is coupled to the discrimination function, the discrimination function is coupled to the distribution function and the route function, the distribution function is coupled to the management function, the management function is coupled to the second converting means, the second converting means is coupled to the route function, and the route function is coupled to the second means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
286 words
A Signal Transfer Point (STP) operable to apply Message Transfer Part (MTP) functions to a plurality of signaling messages containing point codes wherein the functions are a signaling data link function, a signaling link function, and a signaling network function, wherein the signaling messages are of the same protocol before and after conversion and no gateway functionality is required by the STP, the STP comprising: a first means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling data link function; a second means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling link function; a third means for processing the signaling messages to apply the signaling network function wherein the third means comprises a discrimination function, a distribution function, a management function, and a route function; a first converting means for converting at least some of the point codes in the signaling messages into different point codes, wherein the signaling messages converted by the first converting means include messages received by the STP; a second converting means for converting at least some of the point codes in the signaling messages into different point codes, wherein the signaling messages converted by the second converting means include messages generated by the third means, and wherein the third means further comprises the second converting means; and wherein the second means is coupled to the first converting means, the first converting means is coupled to the discrimination function, the discrimination function is coupled to the distribution function and the route function, the distribution function is coupled to the management function, the management function is coupled to the second converting means, the second converting means is coupled to the route function, and the route function is coupled to the second means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The STP of claim 6 wherein the STP is coupled to a user part that exchanges a portion of the signaling messages with the STP, wherein the distribution function is coupled to the user part, and wherein the user part is coupled to the second converting means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of telecommunications signaling comprising: receiving a signaling message into a Signal Transfer Point (STP) from a first signaling point wherein the signaling message contains codes which identify the first signaling point and a second signaling point, wherein the first signaling point resides in a first switch and the second signaling point resides in a second switch; and converting at least a portion of the codes to different codes before the signaling message has been designated by the STP for a particular destination signaling point, and wherein the converted portion of the codes identify a signaling point residing in a third switch.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of telecommunications signaling comprising: receiving a signaling message into a Signal Transfer Point (STP) from a first signaling point wherein the signaling message contains codes which identify the first signaling point and a second signaling point, wherein the first signaling point resides in a first switch and the second signaling point resides in a second switch; and converting at least a portion of the codes to different codes before the signaling message has been designated by the STP for a particular destination signaling point, and wherein the converted portion of the codes identify a signaling point residing in a third switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-07-19 | 2003-01-18 | 2003-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-19 | 2007-01-18 | 2007-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-19 | 2011-01-18 | 2011-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |