Cisco Technology, Inc.

Wayne Taylor

Uwe Sellentin

Robert J Delaney

Christopher O'Rourke

Jonathan Felten

Gopal K Dommety

Joseph Salowey

Paul Aloysius Schmidt

Amitava Das

William C Gossman

Michael A Wright

Randal L Dunn

Christopher C O'ROURKE

Techniques for processing an IP packet at a router that supports SS7 signaling include receiving IP routing data that associates a network link and a destination IP address for a node in a signaling network that includes a plurality of signaling nodes. When an ingress IP data packet is received, it is determined whether conditions are satisfied for locally processing an SS7 payload within the ingress IP data packet. If it is determined that conditions are satisfied for locally processing the SS7 payload, then the SS7 payload is processed locally, i.e., without sending the SS7 payload over a network link to a different node in the signaling network. If it is determined that conditions are not satisfied for locally processing the SS7 payload, then the ingress IP data packet is routed normally. These techniques allow reduced numbers of expensive STP devices and expanded routing options in a signaling network.

Techniques for integrated routing of call circuit signaling and the internet protocol

A multi-homed endpoint, having multiple interfaces with respective source addresses, selects a source address for transport of a message according to a prescribed multi-homed transfer protocol, based on source-destination address pair metrics, each source-destination address pair metric identifying link performance between a corresponding source address and a corresponding destination address. Each source-destination address pair is assigned a counter for tracking respective acknowledgements to messages output via the corresponding source-destination address pair. The multi-homed endpoint selects a source-destination address pair, for transport of messages, based on the corresponding metric identifying the highest relative link performance. Heartbeat messages are periodically sent for unselected source-destination pairs to maintain updated link performance metrics between the respective source-destination address pairs. Hence, the multi-homed endpoint can ensure selection of a link having opimum link performance based on the corresponding counter specifying the highest relative link performance for the corresponding source-destination address pair.

Arrangement in a multi-homed transport endpoint for selecting a source address based on source-destination address pair metrics

A system for user authentication includes a gateway operable to receive a user authentication request in an Internet Protocol format from a server. The gateway communicates the user authentication request in a Signaling System 7 protocol to a user registry. The gateway is also operable to receive a user authentication response in the Signaling System 7 protocol from the user registry. The gateway communicates the user authentication response in the Internet Protocol format to the server.

System and method for network user authentication

A signaling network node is configured for identifying a received signaling message as corresponding to one of a plurality of prescribed message classes, based on prescribed message class selection criteria. The signaling network node determines an outbound linkset for the received signaling message based on selected message parameters, for example destination point code, input linkset, service indicator values, etc., where the outbound linkset typically includes at least two links. The signaling network node selects one of the at least two links based on the identified message class.

Arrangement for routing a received SS7 signaling message based on packet classification

A multi-homed endpoint, having multiple interfaces with respective source addresses, selects a source address for transport of a message according to a prescribed multi-homed transfer protocol, based on source-destination address pair metrics, each source-destination address pair metric identifying link performance between a corresponding source address and a corresponding destination address. Each source-destination address pair is assigned a counter for tracking respective acknowledgements to messages output via the corresponding source-destination address pair. The multi-homed endpoint selects a source-destination address pair, for transport of messages, based on the corresponding metric identifying the highest relative link performance. Heartbeat messages are periodically sent for unselected source-destination pairs to maintain updated link performance metrics between the respective source-destination address pairs. Hence, the multi-homed endpoint can ensure selection of a link having optimum link performance based on the corresponding counter specifying the highest relative link performance for the corresponding source-destination address pair.

Growing community of inventors

Durham, NC, United States of America

Wayne Taylor