Tekelec

U.s.t.n. Services

Michael J Mueller

Virgil E Long

Venkataramaiah Ravishankar

Dean Douglas Glenn

Gerald W Fikis

Lee B Smith

H Stewart Patch

Venkat Ravishankar

Richard Arthur Ellis

Jesse Sherwood

Craig C Pedersen

Brian Frederick Bidulock

Bruce E Johnson

A method and apparatus for signal mediation in a common channel signaling network are described. The method involves identifying candidate message signal units that require mediation and transmitting the candidate signal unit to an associated mediation function which performs access mediation on the contents of the candidate signal unit. The access mediation function may return one or more data packets to the network. The apparatus includes the signal transfer point, the associated mediation function and enhanced functionality in the signal transfer point for screening candidate signal units. The advantage is a more flexible and easily managed signal mediation point that removes the bulk of signal mediation from the signal transfer point so that the signal transfer point can remain dedicated to its signal transfer function.

Method and apparatus for signal mediation in a common channel signaling

An enhanced frame relay access device (FRAD) capable of bidirectional interfacing between Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) protocol and Frame Relay protocol is utilized to economically transport SS7 signaling and link management information between SS7 networks via a Frame Relay protocol digital communications network. In an outgoing data transfer, the enhanced SS7 FRAD interface determines and eliminates redundant signaling unit information found in an SS7 data stream before packaging the essential information into a frame 'payload' and introducing the frame into the Frame Relay network. For incoming data transfers, the SS7 FRAD extracts the frame payload data and regenerates the appropriate SS7 signaling units to maintain a continuous and synchronous data stream on the SS7 network. In the event communications with an SS7 facility is not possible (for example, an SS7 network or facility is down), the SS7 FRAD communicates its operational status to other SS7 FRADs by sending a proprietary coordination and status information frame across the Frame Relay network. A plurality of SS7 FRADs are configurable to provide multiple efficient links between different SS7 facilities over the Frame Relay network. In addition, each FRAD is individually customized to provide special functions such as encryption/decryption and data compression/decompression.

Frame relay access device and method for transporting SS7 information

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Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Michael J Mueller