SS7 access architecture

Claim 2

A common channel signaling network and, comprising: a first network formed by a first plurality of mated signal transfer point (STP) pairs, said first plurality of mated (STP) pairs being connected by a first plurality of links, said first network operating to transport messages for internal traffic that terminates on internal switches that are connected to said first network; a second network formed by a second plurality of mated (STP) pairs, said second plurality of mated (STP) pairs being connected by a second plurality of links, said second network operating to transport messages for external traffic that terminates on external switches that are connected to said second network; wherein said internal switches are dual-homed to both said first network and said second network, wherein said mated (STP) pairs of said first network are connected to said mated (STP) pairs of said second network by a third plurality of links, wherein said first plurality of mated (STP) pairs are optimized to process said internal traffic messages, and said second plurality of mated (STP) pairs arc optimized to process said external traffic messages.

Claim 3

The network of claim 1, wherein foreign mated (STP) pairs are dual-homed to two of said mated signal transfer point pairs of said second network.

Claim 4

The network of claim 1, wherein foreign switches are dual-homed to two of said mated (STP) pairs of said second network.

Claim 5

The network of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of mated (STP) pairs are controlled by a first software system and said second plurality of mated (STP) pairs are controlled by a second software system, said first software system and said second software system being distinct.

Claim 6

The common channel signaling network of claim 1, wherein the number of said first plurality of mated (STP) pairs is based on the volume of said internal traffic without considering the volume of said external traffic.

Claim 7

The common channel signaling network of claim 1, wherein the number of said second plurality of mated (STP) pairs is based on the volume of said external traffic without considering the volume of said internal traffic.

Claim 8

The common channel signal network of claim 1, wherein said optimization of said first plurality of mated (STP) pairs comprises limiting the functionality in each of said first plurality of mated (STP) pairs to a plurality of basic functions associated with said internal traffic.

Claim 9

The common channel signal network of claim 1, wherein said optimization of said second plurality of mated (STP) pairs comprises loading each of said second plurality of mated (STP) pairs with a plurality of enhanced functions associated with said external traffic.

Claim 10

The common channel signaling network of claim 8 wherein said plurality of enhanced functions comprises one of billing capability, gateway screening capability, and global title translation capability.

Claim 11

The common channel signaling network of claim 1 wherein said first and second plurality of mated STP pairs comprise all the mated STP pairs in each of said respective first and second networks.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11 wherein said first and second plurality of mated STP pairs comprise all the mated STP pairs in each of said respective first and second networks.

Claim 15

A common channel signaling method, comprising the steps of: (1) routing messages for internal traffic on a first network formed by a first plurality of mated signal transfer point (STP) pairs, said first plurality of mated (STP) pairs being connected by a first plurality of links, wherein said internal traffic terminates on internal switches that are connected to said first network; and (2) routing messages for external traffic on a second network formed by a second plurality of mated (STP) pairs, said second plurality of mated (STP) pairs being connected by a second plurality of links, wherein said external traffic terminates on external switches that are connected to said second network, wherein said mated (STP) pairs of said first network are connected to said mated (STP) pairs of said second network by a third plurality of links, wherein said first plurality of mated (STP) pairs are optimized to process said internal traffic messages, and said second plurality of mated (STP) pairs are optimized to process said external traffic messages, and wherein said internal switches are dual-homed to both said first network and said second network.

Claim 16

A common channel signaling method, comprising the steps of: (1) routing messages for internal traffic on a first network formed by a first plurality of mated signal transfer point (STP) pairs, said first plurality of mated (STP) pairs being connected by a first plurality of links, wherein said internal traffic terminates on internal switches that are connected to said first network; and (2) routing messages for external traffic on a second network formed by a second plurality of mated (STP) pairs, said second plurality of mated (STP) pairs being connected by a second plurality of links, wherein said external traffic terminates on external switches that are connected to said second network, wherein said mated (STP) pairs of said first network are connected to said mated (STP) pairs of said second network by a third plurality of links, wherein said first plurality of mated (STP) pairs are optimized to process said internal traffic messages, and said second plurality of mated (STP) pairs are optimized to process said external traffic messages, and wherein said internal switches are dual-homed to both said first network and said second network.

Claim 17

The common channel signaling method of claim 13, further comprising the step of sizing the first network based on the volume of said internal traffic without considering the volume of said external traffic.

Claim 18

The common channel signaling method of claim 13, further comprising the step of sizing the second network based on the volume of said external traffic without considering the volume of said internal traffic.

Claim 19

The common channel signaling method of claim 13, wherein said optimization of said first plurality of mated (STP) pairs comprises the step of limiting the functionality in each of said first plurality of mated (STP) pairs to a plurality of basic functions associated with said internal traffic.

Claim 20

The common channel signaling method of claim 13, wherein said optimization of said second plurality of mated (STP) pairs comprises the step of performing enhanced functions at said second plurality of mated (STP) pairs associated with said external traffic.

Claim 21

The common channel signaling method of claim 17, wherein said step of performing enhanced functions comprises the step of performing one of billing, gateway screening, and title translation for said external traffic.

Claim 22

The method of claim 13 wherein said first and second plurality of mated STP pairs comprise all the mated STP pairs in each of said respective first and second networks.

Claim 23

A common channel signaling network, comprising: a first network formed by a first plurality of mated signal transfer point (STP) pairs optimized to process internal traffic messages, said first plurality of mated STP pairs being connected by a first plurality of links, said first network operating to transport messages for internal traffic that terminates on internal dual-homed switches comprising a part of said first network and said first plurality comprising all the mated STP pairs in said first network; a second network formed by a second plurality of mated STP pairs optimized to process external traffic messages, said second plurality of mated STP pairs being connected by a second plurality of links, said second network operating to transport messages for external traffic that terminates on dual-horned external switches that are connected to said second network and said second plurality comprising all the mated STP pairs in said second network, wherein said internal dual-homed switches are dual-homed to both said first network and said second network; and a third plurality of links interconnecting said mated STP pairs of said first network to said mated STP pairs of said second network.

Claim 24

A common channel signaling network, comprising: a first network formed by a first plurality of mated signal transfer point (STP) pairs optimized to process internal traffic messages, said first plurality of mated STP pairs being connected by a first plurality of links, said first network operating to transport messages for internal traffic that terminates on internal dual-homed switches comprising a part of said first network and said first plurality comprising all the mated STP pairs in said first network; a second network formed by a second plurality of mated STP pairs optimized to process external traffic messages, said second plurality of mated STP pairs being connected by a second plurality of links, said second network operating to transport messages for external traffic that terminates on dual-horned external switches that are connected to said second network and said second plurality comprising all the mated STP pairs in said second network, wherein said internal dual-homed switches are dual-homed to both said first network and said second network; and a third plurality of links interconnecting said mated STP pairs of said first network to said mated STP pairs of said second network.

Claim 25

A common channel signaling method, comprising: routing messages for internal traffic on a first network formed by a first plurality of mated signal transfer point (STP) pairs optimized to process internal traffic messages, said first plurality of mated STP pairs being connected by a first plurality of links, said first network operating to transport messages for internal traffic that terminates on internal dual-homed switches comprising a part of said first network and said first plurality comprising all the mated STP pairs in said first network; and routing messages for external traffic on a second network formed by a second plurality of mated STP pairs optimized to process external traffic messages, said second plurality of mated STP pairs being connected by a second plurality of links, said second network operating to transport messages for external traffic that terminates on dual-homed external switches that are connected to said second network and said second plurality comprising all the mated STP pairs in said second network, wherein a third plurality of links interconnects said mated STP pairs of said first network to said mated STP pairs of said second network and wherein said internal dual-homed switches are dual-honed to both said first network and said second network.

Claim 26

A common channel signaling method, comprising: routing messages for internal traffic on a first network formed by a first plurality of mated signal transfer point (STP) pairs optimized to process internal traffic messages, said first plurality of mated STP pairs being connected by a first plurality of links, said first network operating to transport messages for internal traffic that terminates on internal dual-homed switches comprising a part of said first network and said first plurality comprising all the mated STP pairs in said first network; and routing messages for external traffic on a second network formed by a second plurality of mated STP pairs optimized to process external traffic messages, said second plurality of mated STP pairs being connected by a second plurality of links, said second network operating to transport messages for external traffic that terminates on dual-homed external switches that are connected to said second network and said second plurality comprising all the mated STP pairs in said second network, wherein a third plurality of links interconnects said mated STP pairs of said first network to said mated STP pairs of said second network and wherein said internal dual-homed switches are dual-honed to both said first network and said second network.