Patent EP0211113A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6778491B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6778491B1
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US
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Method and system for providing redundancy for signaling link modules in a telecommunication system
Assignee: Alcatel Lucent SAS
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Filing: 2000-03-31
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Granted: 2004-08-17
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Expires: 2020-03-31
Abstract
Abstract In particular embodiments, the present invention provides a system for managing signaling messages in a telecommunication system. The system includes a first control module that is operable to receive signaling messages from a plurality of signaling links, process the signaling messages, and send the processed signaling messages through a communication network interface. The system also includes a second control module that is operable to receive the signaling messages from the plurality of signaling links, process the signaling messages, and send the processed signaling messages through a communication network interface. The system further includes a Matelink coupled to the first control module and the second control module. The Matelink is operable to communicate the status of the first control module to the second control module and the status of the second control module to the first control module. The first control module and the second control module are further operable to be in either an active mode or a standby mode, only one of the first control module and the second control module being in the active mode at one time, the control module in the active mode sending the processed signaling messages through the associated communication network interface and the status messages over the Matelink.
Inventors
- 👤 Serge F. Fourcand
- 👤 Robert S. Gammenthaler, Jr.
- 👤 Michael J. Hanlon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A system for managing signaling messages in a telecommunication system, comprising: a first control module operable to receive signaling messages from a plurality of signaling links, process the signaling messages, and send the processed signaling messages through a communication network interface; a second control module operable to receive the signaling messages from the plurality of signaling links, process the signaling messages, and send the processed signaling messages through a communication network interface; a matelink, that is a bi-directional link, coupled to the first control module and the second control module, the matelink operable to communicate the status of the first control module to the second control module and the status of the second control module to the first control module, and thereby to keep the first and second control modules in synchronization; and wherein the first control module and the second control module are further operable to be in either an active mode or a standby mode, only one of the first control module and the second control module being in the active mode at one time, the control module in the active mode sending the processed signaling messages through the associated communication network interface and the status messages over the matelink, said status messages including current state and sequence information from the module in the active mode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
218 words
A system for managing signaling messages in a telecommunication system, comprising: a first control module operable to receive signaling messages from a plurality of signaling links, process the signaling messages, and send the processed signaling messages through a communication network interface; a second control module operable to receive the signaling messages from the plurality of signaling links, process the signaling messages, and send the processed signaling messages through a communication network interface; a matelink, that is a bi-directional link, coupled to the first control module and the second control module, the matelink operable to communicate the status of the first control module to the second control module and the status of the second control module to the first control module, and thereby to keep the first and second control modules in synchronization; and wherein the first control module and the second control module are further operable to be in either an active mode or a standby mode, only one of the first control module and the second control module being in the active mode at one time, the control module in the active mode sending the processed signaling messages through the associated communication network interface and the status messages over the matelink, said status messages including current state and sequence information from the module in the active mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the status messages indicates that an error has occurred in the first control module.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein the status message indicates that a hardware error has occurred in the first control module.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein the second control module is further operable to determine whether to initiate a switchover between the first control module and the second control module based on the error.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 4 , wherein: the second control module is further operable to generate a command to initiate a switchover between the first control module and the second control module; and the matelink is further operable to communicate the command to the first control module.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the first control module is further operable to determine whether to initiate a switchover between the first control module and the second control module based on an error occurring in the first control module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein: the first control module is further operable to generate a signal that indicates switchover should occur; and the matelink is further operable to communicate the signal to the second control module.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a first interface module coupled to the first control module, the first interface module operable to receive the signaling messages from the plurality of signaling links and to send them to the first control module; and a second interface module coupled to the second control module, the second interface module operable to receive the signaling messages from the plurality of signaling links and to send them to the second control module.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein: the first interface module is further coupled to a second plurality of signaling links and is further operable to receive signaling messages from the first control module and to send the signaling messages over the second signaling links; and the second interface module is further coupled to the second plurality of signaling links and is further operable to receive the signaling messages from the second control messages and to send the signaling messages over the second signaling links; only one of the first interface module and the second interface module sending the signaling messages over the second signaling links at one time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein the first control module is further operable to command the first interface module to stop sending signaling messages over the second signaling links.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein the second control module is further operable to command the first interface module to stop sending signaling messages over the second signaling links.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the signaling messages are Signaling System Number 7 (SS 7 ) signaling messages.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the first control module and the second control module perform Message Transfer Part (MTP) processing on the signaling messages received from the plurality of signaling links.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
104 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein: the first control module performs MTP Level 2 and Level 3 processing on the signaling messages received from the signaling links when in the active mode and MTP Level 2 processing on the signaling messages in the standby mode; and the second control module performs MTP Level 2 and Level 3 processing on the signaling messages received from the signaling links when in the active mode and MTP Level 2 processing on the signaling messages in the standby mode; the matelink communicating MTP Level 2 status signals from the active control module to the standby control module.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the status message indicates the status of one of the signaling links.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the matelink can convey the status message to the second control module before the first control module can complete a transmission of an associated signaling message.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for managing signaling messages in a telecommunication system, comprising: receiving signaling messages from a plurality of signaling links at a first control module; processing the signaling messages at the first control module; sending the processed signaling messages from the first control module through a communication network interface; receiving the signaling messages from the plurality of signaling links at a second control module; processing the signaling messages at the second control module; and sending status messages including current state and sequence information for the first control module to the second control module second control module by a bi-directional matelink, which is operable to keep the first and second control modules in synchronization; wherein the first control module is in an active mode and the second control module is in a standby mode.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for managing signaling messages in a telecommunication system, comprising: receiving signaling messages from a plurality of signaling links at a first control module; processing the signaling messages at the first control module; sending the processed signaling messages from the first control module through a communication network interface; receiving the signaling messages from the plurality of signaling links at a second control module; processing the signaling messages at the second control module; and sending status messages including current state and sequence information for the first control module to the second control module second control module by a bi-directional matelink, which is operable to keep the first and second control modules in synchronization; wherein the first control module is in an active mode and the second control module is in a standby mode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the status message indicates that an error has occurred on the first control module.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the status message indicates that a hardware error has occurred in the first control module.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising determining at the second control module whether to switch the modes of the first control module and the second control module based on the status message indicating an error has occurred.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 20 , further comprising; generating a signal at the second control module to switch the mode of the first control module; and communicating the signal to the first control module.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining at the first control module whether to initiate a switch in the mode of the first control module and the second control module based on an error occurring in the first control module.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 22 , further comprising: generating a signal at the first control module that indicates a mode switch should occur, and communicating the signal to the second control module.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising: receiving the signaling messages from the plurality of signaling links at a first interface module; sending the signaling messages to the first control module; receiving the signaling messages from the plurality of signaling links at a second interface module; and sending the signaling messages to the second control module.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 24 , further comprising: receiving signaling messages from the first control module at the first interface module; sending the signaling messages over a plurality of second signaling links; receiving the signaling messages from the second control messages at the second interface module.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 25 , further comprising commanding the first interface module to stop sending signaling messages over the second signaling links.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 26 , the command is generated by the second control module.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the signaling messages are Signaling System Number 7 (SS 7 ) signaling messages.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising performing Message Transfer Part (MTP) processing at the first control module and the second control module on the signaling messages received from the plurality of signaling links.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 29 , further comprising: performing MTP Level 2 and Level 3 processing at the first control module on the signaling messages received from the signaling links; and performing MTP Level 2 processing at the second control module on the signaling messages received from the signaling links; communicating MTP Level 2 status signals from the first control module to the second control module.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the status message indicates the status of a signal link.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 31 , further comprising conveying the status message to the second control module before the first control module can complete transmission of an associated signaling message.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising preventing control signals from reaching a plurality of drivers coupled to the signaling messages, to discontinue sending signaling messages from the first control module over the plurality of second signaling links.
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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) | 2007-08-17 | 2008-02-16 | 2008-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-08-17 | 2012-02-16 | 2012-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-08-17 | 2016-02-16 | 2016-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |