Integrating signaling system number 7 (SS7) networks with networks using multi-protocol label switching (MPLS)

A multi-protocol marking and signaling system technology, applied in the field of packet switching communication network, can solve the problems of inability to ensure high performance and low efficiency

CN1268140CInactive Publication Date: 2006-08-02TELEFON AB LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2006-08-02
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

Techniques for implementing Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) directly in an SS7 protocol stack enable SS7 network layer protocols to interface, via MPLS, with literally any link layer technology. As a result, label switching can be used seamlessly throughout a collection of heterogeneous networks, including both IP-based and SS7-based networks. An exemplary method of routing SS7 data packets through a heterogeneous packet-switching network using MPLS includes the steps of: establishing an MPLS forwarding equivalence class (FEC), at least one element of the FEC being an SS7 destination; associating a label with the FEC at a first router in the heterogeneous packet switching network; attaching the label, at the first router, to a data packet belonging to the FEC; and forwarding the labeled data packet from the first router to a second router in the communications network. The SS7 destination can be, for example, a Destination Point Code (DPC), a Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP) global title, or an SCCP subsystem number (SSN).
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Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to packet switched communication networks, and in particular to the integration of Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) networks with recently developed data communication networks using Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS). Background technique

[0002] Presently, communication networks utilize a hierarchical design in which peer-to-peer processes residing on different nodes in the network communicate without regard to the detailed operations of lower-level processes required to perform the communication. Advantageously, such a layered structure results in standard, interchangeable and widely available network modules.

[0003] Most of today's layered networks resemble the seven-layer Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model proposed by the International Standards Organization (ISO). See, eg, D. Bertsekas and R. Gallager, Data Networks, Prentice-Hall Company, 1987, pp. 14-26. According to the OSI reference, networking...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0032] To illustrate certain aspects of the invention, a brief description of conventional MPLS and SS7 networks is provided immediately below. A more detailed description of MPLS can be found, for example, in April 1999 Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Network Working Group, Multiprotocol Label Switching Architecture (Multiprotocol Label Switching Architecture) by E. Rosen et al., Internet draft draft-ietf-mpls Found in -arch-05.txt, all merged here for reference. A more detailed description of SS7 can be found, for example, in 1992 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard T1.110-1992, Signaling System Number 7 - General Information (Signaling System Number 7 - General Information), also incorporated here in its entirety for reference.

[0033] In general, label switching can be decomposed into a forwarding component and a control component. In the forwarding component, the next-hop selection made by a Label Switching Router (LSR) for an incoming packet i...