Tekelec

Robert John Tinsley

Peter Joseph Marsico

David Michael Sprague

Virgil E Long

Lee B Smith

Gregory Allen Hunt

Lee Barfield Smith

Virgil Elmer Long

A network element that is capable facilitating the routing and accounting of messages between a plurality of network elements that do not share a common signaling application protocol nor a common transport protocol suite. In one embodiment of the present invention, a Multi-Protocol Gateway (MPG) is adapted to receive a signaling message and subsequently translate both the signaling and transport protocol suite prior to message routing. The MPG node is also configured to create and maintain usage and measurements data that may subsequently be used to produce billing records.

Methods and systems for providing message translation, accounting and routing service in a multi-protocol communications network environment

A distributed gateway includes distributed gateway routing elements co-located with SS7 network elements. Each distributed gateway routing element performs an SS7 routing function, such an MTP level 3 routing function. The distributed gateway routing elements communicate with each other over a virtual bus that guarantees quality of service for SS7 message packets. Accordingly, the distributed gateway routing elements set quality of service parameters in the SS7 message packets that are forwarded over the virtual bus.

Distributed signaling system 7 (SS7) message routing gateway

Growing community of inventors

Durham, NC, United States of America

Robert John Tinsley