JPH10164242A - Common line signal system and its routing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a common line signal system by which quantity of routing information possessed by each signal station is reduced and maintenance of a database is facilitated. SOLUTION: In the common line signal system consisting of a plurality of signal networks managed hierarchically and provided with a signal transfer section to transfer a signal to signal stations of each signal network, the signal transfer section 4 is provided with a database 41 that stores routing information and host signal station data to identify a host signal station managing its own station, a routing information reference means 42 that references the database 41 to discriminate whether or not the database 41 has routing information to a transfer destination, a usual routing means 43 conducts routing according to the routing information when the database 41 has the routing information to the transfer destination, and a host signal station routing request means 44 that makes a routing request to a host signal station managing its own station when the database 41 has no routing information to the transfer destination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a common channel signaling system for transferring signals between exchanges, and more particularly to a common channel signaling system for specifying a signal transfer route to a transfer destination and a routing method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A common line signaling system in which a dedicated line for exchanging signals such as billing information and monitoring signals is provided separately from a telephone line, and the line is commonly used by a large number of telephone lines, is a higher-level signal network. And a plurality of lower signal networks connected to the upper signal network, and the lower signal networks are hierarchically managed by the upper signal network.

[0003] Each signal station constituting the upper signal network and the lower signal network has a signal transfer section for specifying a signal transfer path (hereinafter referred to as routing) and transmitting a signal to a transfer destination signal station. Each has it.

In the conventional common channel signaling system, when a signal is transferred from any signal station of the lower signal network to another signal station of the lower signal network, the two signal stations belong to the same lower signal network. At that time, signals were transferred within the lower signal network. When the two signaling stations belong to different lower signaling networks, one signaling station that sends out signals routes to the other signaling station to which the signal is transferred, and an upper signaling signal that manages each signaling station. The signal was transferred to the other signaling point via the network.

[0005] Here, the signal transfer section of each signal station holds routing information indicating transfer paths to all signal stations constituting a network of the common channel signaling system as databases, respectively, and performs signal transfer. , Routing to a signal transfer destination signal station is performed with reference to the routing information in the database.

[0006]

However, in the conventional common channel signaling system as described above, when a signal is transferred between signal stations of a lower-level signaling network such as an end-to-end service, any one of the above methods is used. Since the signal must be able to be transferred to the signaling point, as described above, the signaling section of each signaling point has routing information for all signaling points that make up the common channel signaling network. I needed to. Therefore, there is a problem that the storage capacity of the database of the signal transfer unit increases as the number of signal stations increases.

In addition, when there is a change in the configuration of the common channel signaling network, such as a change, addition, or deletion of a code of a signaling station, each signaling station must update its own routing information. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to maintain a database that is separately held by each signal station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has been made to simplify and reduce the amount of routing information held by each signal station, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a common channel signaling system and a routing method thereof which facilitate maintenance of a database having the same.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a common channel signaling system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of hierarchically managed signaling networks, and is provided to an arbitrary number of signaling stations constituting the signaling network. In a common channel signaling system including a signal transfer unit for transferring a signal, the signal transfer unit includes routing information for specifying a signal transfer path to another signal station of a signal network to which the own signal station belongs, And a database holding upper signal station data for identifying an upper signal station that manages the own signal station, and referring to the database, whether or not the routing information for the signal station transferring the signal is stored. Routing information referencing means for determining the routing information, and when the routing information for the signaling point to which the signal is to be transferred is held, the routing information is referred to in accordance with the routing information. Normal routing means for performing routing, and routing to a higher-level signal station that manages its own signal station with reference to the higher-level signal station data when the routing information for the signal station that transfers the signal is not held. Requesting upper signaling point routing request means;
It is characterized by having.

[0010] The routing method of the common channel signaling system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of hierarchically managed signaling networks, each of which transfers a signal to an arbitrary number of signaling stations constituting the signaling network. In a routing method of a common channel signaling method provided with a signal transfer unit, the signal transfer unit includes, in advance, routing information for specifying a signal transfer path to another signal station to which a signal station to which the own signal station belongs belongs; The upper signal station data for identifying the upper signal station that manages the signal station is stored as a database, and by referring to the database, whether or not the routing information for the signal station that transfers signals is stored. And if the routing information for the signaling point to which the signal is to be transferred is held, the routing is performed according to the routing information. In the case where the routing information for the signal station to which the signal is to be transferred is not held, a routing request is issued to an upper signal station that manages its own signal station with reference to the upper signal station data. I do.

[0011] In the common channel signaling method and the routing method configured as described above, the signal transfer unit transmits routing information for specifying a signal transfer route to another signal station to which the own signal station belongs to. If the routing information for the signaling point to which the signal is to be transferred is stored, the routing is performed in accordance with the routing information. , And requests a routing to an upper signal station that manages the own signal station.

Therefore, when a signal is transferred via an upper-level signal network, it is not necessary to hold routing information in each signal station of the lower-level signal network.

Further, when the network configuration of the common channel signaling system is changed, it is not necessary for each signaling station of the lower level signaling network to change the routing information for all signal stations constituting the network of the common channel signaling system. It is only necessary to change the routing information for the signaling point in the own signaling network.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a common channel signaling network according to the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a signal transfer unit included in each signal station illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the signal transfer unit illustrated in FIG.

In FIG. 1, the common channel signaling system comprises an upper signal network composed of a plurality of signal relay stations and a lower signal network composed of a plurality of signal transmission stations managed by each of the signal relay stations. .

In FIG. 1, the upper signal network 1 includes four signal relay stations 11, 12, 13, and 14. A first lower signaling network 2 is composed of a first signaling station 21, a second signaling station 22, a third signaling station 23,
And the fourth signal transmitting station 24, and the second lower signal network 3 is composed of a fifth signal transmitting station 31, a sixth signal transmitting station 32, a seventh signal transmitting station 33, And an eighth signal transmitting station 34, which is composed of four signal transmitting stations.

The number of signal relay stations constituting the upper level signal network 1,
The number of signal transmitting stations constituting the first lower-order signaling network 2 and the second lower-order signaling network 3 does not need to be limited to this, and each is constituted by an arbitrary number of signaling stations.

Although no signal transmitting station is connected to the second signal relay station 12 and the third signal relay station 13 shown in FIG. 1, actually, the second signal relay station 12 and the third signal relay station 13 are not connected to each other. An arbitrary number of signal transmission stations are also connected to the three signal relay stations 13 respectively.

In FIG. 2, a signal transfer section 4 of each of a signal relay station and a signal transmission station (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a signal station) has routing information and an upper signal station for managing its own station. A database 41 holding upper-level signaling point data; routing information reference means 42 for referring to routing information stored in the database 41 to determine whether routing information for a signaling point to which a signal is to be transferred is stored; When the routing information for the destination signaling point is held, the normal routing means 43 that performs routing according to the routing information, and when the routing information for the destination signaling point is not held, Request routing to upper signal station that manages own station by referring to data Position signal station routing request means 44
And is constituted by.

Here, the signal transfer units 4 of the first to fourth signal relay stations 11 to 14 constituting the upper signal network 1
Holds the routing information for the signal transmitting station belonging to its own station and the routing information for the other signal relay station provided with the information of the signal transmitting station to which it belongs in each database 41. Nothing is retained as the upper signal station data.

The signal transfer section 4 of each signal transmitting station of the first lower signal network 2 and the second lower signal network 3 performs routing information for each signal transmitting station of the lower signal network to which the own station belongs, A code for identifying a signal relay station that manages the own station is stored in each database 41 as signal station data.

In such a configuration, the routing method of the common channel signaling system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

It is to be noted that the following description will be given from the first signal transmission station 21 of the first lower signal network 2 shown in FIG.
The case where a signal is transmitted to the sixth signal transmission station 32 is described as an example.

First, the signal transfer section 4 of the first signal transmitting station 21 refers to the contents of its own database 41 by the routing information reference means 42 (step S1), and performs routing to the sixth signal transmitting station 32. It is determined whether information is held (step S2).

If the routing information for the sixth signal transmitting station 32 is stored, the normal routing means 43 is activated, and the first signal transmitting station 21 transmits the sixth signal based on the stored routing information. A signal is transmitted to the signal transmitting station 32 (step S3).

However, here, since the sixth signaling station 32 belongs to the second lower signaling network 3, the routing information for the sixth signaling station 32 is stored in the database 41 of the first signaling station 21. I do not have it. Therefore, the signal transfer unit 4 of the first signal transmission station 21 activates the upper signal station routing request means 44 and sends the signal to the first signal relay station 11 based on the upper signal station data held in the database 41. Send a signal (step S
4).

The signal transfer section 4 of the first signal relay station 11 having received the signal from the first signal transmission station 21 first refers to the contents of its own database 41 by the routing information reference means 42 (step S1). S1) It is determined whether routing information for the sixth signal transmitting station 32 is held (step S2).

Here, since the sixth signal transmitting station 32 belongs to the fourth signal relay station 14, the first signal relay station 11
Includes the fourth signal relay station 1
4 is instructed to transfer a signal. Therefore,
The signal transfer section 4 of the first signal relay station 11 activates the normal routing means 43 and transfers the signal from the first signal transmission station 21 to the fourth signal relay station 14 (step S).
3).

If the routing information for the sixth signal transmission station 32 is not held, the signal transfer section 4 of the first signal relay station 11 activates the upper signal station routing request means 44. At this time, the upper signal station routing requesting means 44 discards the signal from the first signal transmitting station 21 because there is no signal station held as upper signal station data (step S4).

When the fourth signal relay station 14 receives the signal from the first signal relay station 11, the routing information reference means 42 refers to the contents of its own database 41 (step S1), and the sixth signal relay station 14 receives the sixth signal. It is determined whether routing information for the calling station 32 is held (step S2).

Here, in the signal transfer section 4 of the fourth signal relay station 14, since the sixth signal transmission station 32 belongs to its own station, the routing information for the sixth signal transmission station 32 is stored in the database 41. I have. Therefore, the signal transfer section 4 of the fourth signal relay station 14 normally activates the routing means 43 and sends the first signal relay station 11 to the sixth signal transmission station 32 based on the routing information held therein.
(Step S3).

If the routing information for the sixth signal transmitting station 32 is not stored, the signal transfer unit 4 of the fourth signal relay station 14 activates the upper signal station routing request means 44. At this time, the upper signal station routing requesting means 44 discards the signal from the first signal relay station 11 because there is no signal station held as upper signal station data (step S4).

Therefore, when a signal is transferred via a higher-level signal network, the routing information does not need to be stored in each signal station of the lower-level signal network. It is possible to reduce the number of pieces of routing information data.

Further, when changing the network configuration of the common channel signaling system, it is not necessary to change the routing information for all signal stations constituting the network of the common channel signaling system in the lower level signaling network. Only the information needs to be changed. Therefore, the maintenance of other lower signal networks is not affected, and the maintenance is facilitated.

[0036]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

When a signal is transferred via an upper signal network, the routing information need not be held by each signal station of the lower signal network, and the routing information held by each signal station of the lower signal network is eliminated. The number of information data can be reduced.

Further, when the network configuration of the common channel signaling system is changed, it is not necessary to change the routing information for all signal stations constituting the network of the common channel signaling system in the lower signaling network. It is only necessary to change the routing information for signaling stations in the network. Therefore, the maintenance of other lower signal networks is not affected, and the maintenance is facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a common channel signaling network according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a signal transfer unit included in each signal station illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of a signal transfer unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper signal network 2 1st lower signal network 3 2nd lower signal network 4 Signal transfer part 11 1st signal relay station 12 2nd signal relay station 13 3rd signal relay station 14 4th signal relay station DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 1st signal transmission station 22 2nd signal transmission station 23 3rd signal transmission station 24 4th signal transmission station 31 5th signal transmission station 32 6th signal transmission station 33 7th signal transmission station 34 Eighth signaling station 41 Database 42 Routing information reference means 43 Normal routing means 44 Higher signal station routing request means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A common line signaling system comprising a plurality of hierarchically managed signal networks, and comprising a signal transfer unit for transferring a signal to an arbitrary number of signal stations constituting the signal network, The signal transfer unit includes: routing information for specifying a transfer route of a signal to another signal station to which the own signal station belongs; and an upper signal station for identifying an upper signal station that manages the own signal station. A database holding data; routing information reference means for referring to the database to determine whether or not the routing information for the signaling point to which the signal is to be transferred; and the routing information to the signaling point for transferring the signal. And the normal routing means for performing routing according to the routing information, and the signal station for transferring signals. And an upper signaling point routing requesting means for requesting a routing to an upper signaling point that manages its own signaling station with reference to the upper signaling point data when the routing information is not held. Characteristic common line signaling. 2. A common channel signaling routing system comprising a plurality of hierarchically managed signal networks, and a signal transfer unit for transferring signals to an arbitrary number of signal stations constituting the signal network. In the method, the signal transfer unit includes, in advance, routing information for specifying a transfer route of a signal to another signal station to which the own signal station belongs, and a higher-level signal station that manages the own signal station. The upper signaling point data for a signal station for transferring a signal is stored in a database, and it is determined whether or not the routing information for the signaling point for transferring a signal is retained by referring to the database. If it has routing information, it performs routing according to the routing information, If you do not have a grayed information, routing method of the common channel signaling system, characterized in that to request the routing for signal station upper managing confidence No. station by referring to the upper signal point data.