Unisys Corporation

Michael H Penrod

Nancy L Sweet

Yi Lin

Linda Trout-Jordan

Gerald J Wardzinski

Judith L Culpepper

James Aridas

Kathleen A Giessuebel

Karen Wolff

Dennis A Perkinson

Anthony J Brinkman

A platform for connecting to a CCS7 network for supporting concurrently running CCS related applications. Copies of the SUs flowing through the network are sent to the platform where the FISUs, LSSUs and MSUs are filtered to provide the desired SU type for each of the applications. The MSUs are filtered by MSU category and MSU type within category into groups of MSUs of particular interest to the applications, respectively. Linked lists of filter elements associated with the respective linksets of the CCS7 network perform the filtering by comparing category and type fields to the MSU categories and types to form the groups. Filter change data received at a user interface is utilized to modify the filters.

Extracting and processing data derived from a common channel signalling

A computer platform with a Call Billing application thereon monitors linksets of the CCS/SS7 network extending between Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) Signaling Transfer Points (STP) and Competitive Access Provider (CAP) switches such as End Offices (EO) and Tandem Offices, where the CAP switches have access to the LEC switching offices in the LEC area for providing service therein. The platform receives SS7 Signal Units (SU) copied from the linksets and filters the SUs to pass ISUP MSUs of message types Initial Address Message (IAM), Exit Message (EXM), Address Complete Message (ACM), Answer Message (ANM), Reset Circuit Message (RSC) and Release Message (REL). The application correlates a received IAM against subsequently received and filtered ISUP messages in accordance with correlation search keys Originating Point Code (OPC), Destination Point Code (DPC) and Circuit Identification Code (CIC) so as to correlate the filtered ISUP MSUs that originate, set up and terminate a call. The elapsed time of the call is determined based on the difference between a call start time and a call end time where the start time is predicated on a call originating or setup MSU and the end time is predicated on a call terminating MSU. The call type can be for either 'access' or 'conversation' elapsed time depending on call direction and destination. Different ISUP MSU criteria are utilized for the two call types. For call type access, ACM may be utilized on which to base the start time, whereas for call time conversation, ANM may be utilized as the basis for the start time.

Apparatus and method for generating call duration billing records

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Chesapeake, VA, United States of America

Michael H Penrod