WO2005051035A1

WO2005051035A1 - Method and device for multiple use of a signalling network node

Info

Publication number: WO2005051035A1
Application number: PCT/EP2003/012493
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Nilsson; Mikael Lindh
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2003-11-10
Filing date: 2003-11-10
Publication date: 2005-06-02
Also published as: AU2003304682A1

Abstract

According to the present invention a method is provided for multiple use of a signalling network node (PN) connected to further signalling network nodes using at least two means for connecting (L1-111; L1-112; L1-121; L1-122; L1-231; LI-232; 341; 342) the signalling network node (PN). At least two different modes for processing messages by the network (PN) node are defined. The method comprises the steps of determining for a received message an identification of one of the means for connecting (L1-111; L1-112; L1-121; L1-122; LI-231; L1-232; 341; 342) via which the message was received, selecting one of the modes for processing the received message according to the determined identification, and processing the message according to the selected mode.

Description

Method and device for multiple use of a signalling network node

Field of invention

The invention relates to a method a signalling network node for providing multiple use of the signalling network node.

Description of prior art

Telecommunication networks comprise signalling networks for transmitting signalling messages that are e.g. sent during call setup or during a terminating of a call. Signalling networks can comprise different domains such as sub-networks that are owned, operated, or maintained by different network operators. A network node in a signalling network that is connected to different sub-networks is termed a signalling gateway. Connecting of a signalling gateway to different domains can comprise a receiving of a signalling message from one domain and a sending of the signalling message to another domain.

Network nodes in signalling networks are addressable by network node addresses. An example for a network node address is an SPC (signalling point code), which is used for addressing a network node in an SS7 (signalling system number 7) network. Each node in a sub-network must have an address that is unique within that network. A gateway node needs to support MPC (multiple point codes) to have a unique identity in each subnetwork. To enable routing of messages addressed by SPC between sub-networks according to the state of the art this is achieved either by synchronizing address spaces of the different sub-networks a gateway node is connected to or by providing a mapping between network addresses used in the respective domains. Both these solutions require a costly maintaining and configuring of addresses for the sub-networks. Object of the invention

Therefore it is object of the invention to provide a flexible and cost efficient method for multiple use of a signalling network node connected to different sub-networks.

Summary of the invention

This object is solved by the method of claim 1. The invention is also embodied in a signalling network node according to claim 7. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims

According to the present invention a method is provided for controlling a signalling network node that is connected to a first domain of a signalling network by a first means for connecting and to a second domain of the signalling network by a second means for connecting. For the first domain a first mode of processing signalling messages complying with a signalling protocol is defined and for the second domain a second mode of processing signalling messages complying with said signalling protocol is defined. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a signalling message on one of the means for connecting, determining on which of the means for connecting the signalling message was received, selecting a mode of processing the received signalling message according to the determined means for connecting, and processing the signalling message according to the selected mode.

By this a method for multiple use of a signalling network node is provided, that is not limited to a specific protocol layer.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method the means for connecting operate complying with the same communication protocol. By this a method for multiple use of a signalling network node is provided in which different versions of a standard or different standards of a protocol can be used towards the different sub-networks.

According to another embodiment of the method, the means for connecting the signalling network node are signalling links.

According to a further embodiment of the method the means for connecting the signalling network node are connections according to a connection-oriented protocol.

According to yet another embodiment of the method the modes of processing messages by the signalling network node comprise a routing of messages.

According to a further embodiment of the method the modes for processing messages comprise a policing function.

According to a further embodiment of the method the modes for processing messages comprise an accounting function.

According to a further embodiment of the invention a signalling network node is provided comprising a first means for connecting the signalling network node to a first domain of a signalling network and a second means for connecting the signalling network node to a second domain of the signalling network. The signalling network node further comprises a processing system providing for the first domain a first mode of processing signalling messages complying with a signalling protocol and for the second domain a second mode of processing signalling messages complying with said signalling protocol. The first and the second means for connecting are adapted to receive signalling messages. The processing system is adapted to determine for a signalling message on which of the means for connecting the signalling message was received, to select a mode of processing the received signalling message according to the determined means for connecting, and to process the signalling message according to the selected mode. By this a signalling network node for multiple use is provided, the use of which is not limited to a specific protocol layer.

In an advantageous embodiment of the signalling network node the means for connecting operate complying with the same communication protocol.

By this a signalling network node for multiple use is provided in which different versions of a standard or different standards of a protocol can be used towards the different subnetworks.

According to a further embodiment of the signalling network node the means for connecting the signalling network node are signalling links.

According to another embodiment of the signalling network node the means for connecting the signalling network node are connections according to a connection- oriented protocol.

According to yet another embodiment of the signalling network node the modes of processing messages by the signalling network node comprise a routing of messages.

According to a further embodiment of the signalling network node the modes for processing messages comprise a policing function.

According to a further embodiment of the signalling network node the modes for processing messages comprise an accounting function.

Brief description of the drawings

The following figures show:

Fig. 1 depicts a network topology and gateway node connected to domains of a signalling network. Fig. 2 depicts a software architecture of a gateway node.

Detailed description of embodiments

In the following the invention is described in more detail by means of embodiments and figures. Equal reference signs indicate equal elements.

Figure 1 depicts a gateway node PN in a signalling network comprising a first subnetwork NW1, a second sub-network NW2, and a third sub-network NW3. In an embodiment of the invention signalling messages compliant to the SS7 (signalling system number 7) protocol stack are transmitted in the signalling network. In a further embodiment of the invention signalling messages compliant to a M3UA (message transfer part 3 user agent) protocol above the IP (internet protocol) are transmitted in the signalling network. The first, the second, and the third sub-network N Wl, NW2, and N W3 respectively can by operated, maintained or owned by different network operators.

A gateway node PN is connected to the first, the second, and the third sub-network N Wl, NW2, and NW3. The gateway node PN comprises a first logical node LN1, a second logical node LN2, a third logical node LN3, and a fourth logical node LN4. The first logical node LN1 is connected to the first sub-network NW1 via a first and a second logical link LN-111 and LN-112. The second logical node LN2 is connected to the first sub-network NW1 via a third and a fourth logical link LN-121 and LN-122. The third logical node LN3 is connected to the second sub-network NW2 via a fifth and a sixth logical link LN-231 and LN-232. The fourth logical node LN4 is connected to the third sub-network N W3 via a seventh and an eighth logical link LN-341 and LN-342. The logical links can be any kind of means for connecting e.g. SS7 links or connections according to a connection oriented transmission protocol.

In a transmission of a signalling message originating in one sub-network and destined for another sub-network, a processing of the signalling message can comprise a relaying of the signalling message from one logical node to another logical node in the gateway node PN. For example a processing of a signalling message originating from the second subnetwork NW2 and destined to the third sub-network NW3 can comprise a relaying of the signalling message from the third logical node LN3 to the fourth logical node LN4. Said relaying can comprise a determining of an identification of a logical node as a result of an address resolution, e.g. a global title translation.

The implementation of the different logical nodes on the gateway node will be described related to Figure 2.

Figure 2 depicts the gateway node PN, comprising the first, the second, the third, and the fourth logical node LN1, LN2, LN3, and LN4 respectively, that have been described in relation to figure 1. Figure 2 further depicts the first logical link LI-111, the second logical link LI-112, the third logical link LI- 121, the fourth logical link LI- 122, the fifth logical link Ll-231, the sixth logical link LI-232, the seventh logical link LI-341, the eighth logical link LI-342, the which have been described related to figure 1.

Figure 2 further depicts a first, a second, a third, and a fourth MTP3 (Message Transfer Part 3) protocol instance MTP3_1, MTP3_2, MTP3_3, and MTP3_4 respectively. Said protocol instances are implemented as different modes of operation of an MTP3 software instance implemented on a processing system PS of the gateway node PN. Accordingly a first, a second, a third, and a fourth signalling Connection Control Part (SCCP) protocol instance SCCP 1 , SCCP2, SCCP3 , and SCCP4 are depicted that are implemented as different modes of operation of an SCCP software instance implemented on the processing system PS of the gateway node PN. Furthermore a first, a second, a third, and a fourth Transaction Capability Application Part (TCAP) protocol instance TCAP1, TCAP2, TCAP3, and TCAP4 are depicted that are implemented as different modes of operation of a TCAP software instance implemented on the processing system PS of the gateway node PN. The MTP3 protocol instances, the SCCP protocol instances, and the TCAP protocol instances are each related to a respective logical node. In particular the first MTP3 protocol instance MTP3_1, the first SCCP protocol instance SCCP1, and the first TCAP protocol instance TCAP1 are related to the first logical node LNl. Accordingly the second MTP3 protocol instance MTP3_2, the second SCCP protocol instance SCCP2, and the second TCAP protocol instance TCAP2 are related to the second logical node LN2. Furthermore the third MTP3 protocol instance MTP3_3, the third SCCP protocol instance SCCP3, and the third TCAP protocol instance TCAP3 are related to the third logical node LN3. Also the fourth MTP3 protocol instance MTP3_4, the fourth SCCP protocol instance SCCP4, and the fourth TCAP protocol instance TCAP4 are related to the fourth logical node LN4.

Figure 2 also depicts a first application protocol instance APP1 connectable to the first and the second TCAP protocol instance TCAP1 and TCAP2, a second application protocol instance APP2 connectable to the third TCAP protocol instance TCAP3, and a third application protocol instance APP3 connectable to the fourth Transaction Capability Application Part (TCAP) protocol instance TCAP4.

An identification of a logical node is assigned to the first, the second, the third, and the fourth logical node LNl. LN2, LN3, and LN4. The identification of the logical node advantageously identifies the respective protocol instance of the MTP3 protocol, the SCCP protocol and the TCAP protocol that processes a message received in the gateway node.

The determining of the appropriate protocol instance of a software instance shall be described by example of the protocol instances relating to the first logical node LNl.

For a signalling message received in the gateway node PN via the first logical link LI- 111, an identification of the first logical node LNl is determined on the level of the MTP- L3 (MTP-Layer 3) protocol according an identification of the first logical link LI-111. Said determining is advantageously implemented using a mapping table providing a mapping between an identification of a logical link and an identification of a logical node respectively. According to the determined identification of the first logical node LNl, the first MTP3 protocol instance MTP3_1 is selected as MTP3 protocol instance, which processes the received signalling message. The processing of the signalling message by the first MTP3 protocol instance MTP3_1 comprises a passing of service data units towards a protocol instance of the SCCP protocol. For that the first SCCP protocol instance SCCPl is determined according to the identification of the first logical node LNl as the SCCP protocol instance that processes the signalling message. Accordingly the processing of the signalling message by the first SCCP protocol instance SCCPl comprises a sending of further service data units towards a TCAP protocol instance. For that the first TCAP protocol instance TCAP1 is determined according to the identification of the first logical node LNl as the TCAP protocol instance that processes the signalling message. The first TCAP protocol instance TCAP1 further relays service data units to the first application protocol instance APP1 that advantageously responds to the received signalling message in a response message. In the processing of the response message appropriate respective service data units are passed from the first application protocol instance APP1 to the first TCAP protocol instance TCAP1, from the first TCAP protocol instance TCAP1 to the first SCCP protocol instance SCCPl, and from the first SCCP protocol instance SCCPl to the first MTP3 protocol instance MTP3_1 respectively. Said respective service data units advantageously comprise the identification of the first logical node LNl. Further a determining of an appropriate protocol instance is advantageously is performed according to the identification of the first logical node LNl .

The processing of the signalling message by the first SCCP protocol instance SCCPl advantageously comprises a message routing, a Global Title translation, a policing of the signalling message and a generation of accounting data according to the signalling message. For that the determining of the first SCCP protocol instance SCCPl according to the identification of the first logical node LNl can comprise a determining of an appropriate routing table, a determining of an appropriate mapping table for the Global Title Translation, a determining of an appropriate policing function or a determining of an appropriate accounting function, the respective determining being performed according to an identification of a logical node, e.g. the identification of the first logical node LNl described above.

The processing of an outgoing message, such as the above response message advantageously comprises a selection of an outgoing signalling link, a so-called SLS (signalling link selection). For that a determining of an appropriate processing unit performing the selection of the outgoing link is advantageously determined according to the identification of the logical node, e.g. the identification of the first logical node LNl described above. Said selection of the outgoing signalling link is advantageously performed according to a destination address for the outgoing message e.g. a DPC (destination point code).

Furthermore the first, the second, the third, and the fourth logical node LNl, LN2, LN3, and LN4 are advantageously managed, operated or maintained separately. For that a processing of a signalling message related to a managing, an operating or a maintaining of a logical node hosted by the gateway node PN can be performed according to an identification of a logical node. In particular, a processing unit performing a managing, an operating or a maintaining of a logical node is advantageously selected according to the identification of the logical node. By that the different logical nodes can be managed, operated, or maintained independently by different network operators. In that authorization procedures can be used advantageously for a protecting of sensitive data from another network operator.

For addressing the logical nodes separately, a network address, e.g. an SPC (Signalling Point Code) can be assigned to each of the logical nodes. The SPCs of the logical nodes are independent and can be different or can be the same depending on the topography of the adjacent networks.

Claims

1. Method for controlling a signalling network node (PN) that is connected to a first domain (NW1) of a signalling network by a first means for connecting (LI-111; LI-112) and to a second domain (NW2) of the signalling network by a second means for connecting (LI231; LI-232), wherein for the first domain (NW1) a first mode of processing signalling messages complying with a signalling protocol is defined and for the second domain (NW2) a second mode of processing signalling messages complying with said signalling protocol is defined, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a signalling message on one of the means for connecting, determining on which of the means for connecting the signalling message was received, selecting a mode of processing the received signalling message according to the determined means for connecting, and processing the signalling message according to the selected mode.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the means (LI- 111 ; LI- 112 ; LI- 121 ; LI- 122 ; Ll-231; LI-232; 341; 342) for connecting operate complying with the same communication protocol.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the means for connecting the signalling network node are signalling links.

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein the means for connecting the signalling network node are connections according to a connection-oriented protocol.

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the processing the message according to the selected mode comprises a routing of the message.

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the processing the message according to the selected mode comprises a policing of the message.

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the processing the message according to the selected mode comprises an accounting.

8. Signalling network node (PN) comprising a first means for connecting (LI-111 ; LI-112) the signalling network node (PN) to a first domain (NW1) of a signalling network and a second means for connecting (LI231; LI-232) the signalling network node (PN) to a second domain (NW2) of the signalling network, the signalling network node further comprising a processing system (PS) providing for the first domain a first mode of processing signalling messages complying with a signalling protocol and for the second domain a second mode of processing signalling messages complying with said signalling protocol, wherein the first (LI-111; LI-112) and the second (LI231 ; LI-232) means for connecting are adapted to receive signalling messages, the processing system (PS) is adapted to determine for a signalling message on which of the means for connecting the signalling message was received, to select a mode of processing the received signalling message according to the determined means for connecting, and to process the signalling message according to the selected mode.

9. Signalling network node (PN) according to claim 8, wherein the means for connecting (LI-111; LI-112; LI-121; LI-122; LI-231; LI-232; 341; 342) operate complying with the same communication protocol.

10. Signalling network node (PN) according to claim 9, wherein the means for connecting (LI-111; LI-112; LI-121; LI-122; LI-231 ; LI-232; 341; 342) the signalling network node are signalling links.

11. Signalling network node (PN) according to claim 9, wherein the means for connecting (LI-111; LI-112; LI-121; LI-122; Ll-231; LI-232; 341; 342) the signalling network node (PN) are connections according to a connection-oriented protocol.

12. Signalling network node (PN) according to any of the claims 8 to 11, wherein the processing the message according to the selected mode comprises a routing of the message.

13. Signalling network node according to any of the claims 8 to 12, wherein the processing the message according to the selected mode comprises a policing of the message.

14. Signalling network node according to any of the claims 8 to 13, wherein the processing the message according to the selected mode comprises an accounting.