Signaling Gateway SCCP Subsystem Local Message Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the No. 7 signaling network, signaling gateways (SG) and Media Gateway Controllers (MGC) often share the same signaling point code, leading to inefficiencies as the SG is not configured with the SCCP protocol, resulting in wasted bandwidth and processing resources due to unnecessary message interactions.
Innovation Solution
The SG is configured with the SCCP protocol and equipped with SCCP service-related subsystems, allowing it to determine whether messages are local or destined for another office, thereby forwarding them appropriately within the MTP3 or M3UA protocols, reducing interactions with the MGC without requiring additional signaling point codes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the SG does not configure the SCCP protocol to save point code resources, then the SG and MGC can share the same signaling point code, but message forwarding efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary back-and-forth transfers between SG and MGC
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SCCP protocol functionality by introducing a subsidiary SCCP process that runs within the SG alongside the M3UA agent process. This subsidiary SCCP process handles local SCCP message processing independently, while the main M3UA agent process continues to handle MTP3-to-M3UA adaptation. This segmentation allows the SG to process SCCP messages locally without requiring additional point codes, resolving the contradiction between resource utilization and forwarding efficiency.
2Productivity
If the SG configures the SCCP protocol to improve message forwarding efficiency, then local message processing is enabled, but point code resources are consumed requiring additional signaling point codes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the SCCP protocol functionality into the existing SG architecture by running a subsidiary SCCP process within the same system that hosts the M3UA agent process. Both processes share the same signaling point code and system resources. This merging allows the SG to gain SCCP processing capabilities without requiring additional point code resources, as the SCCP functionality is integrated into the existing point code structure rather than requiring separate allocation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the SG and MGC share the same signaling point code to save resources, then resource utilization improves, but bandwidth and processing resources are wasted due to unnecessary message interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the SG to serve itself by implementing a subsidiary SCCP process that can independently process SCCP messages locally. When an SCCP message arrives at the SG, the subsidiary SCCP process can handle it directly without requiring forwarding to the MGC. This self-service capability eliminates unnecessary message interactions between SG and MGC, reducing bandwidth consumption and processing resource waste while maintaining the resource-efficient point code sharing arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A signaling gateway (SG) and a method for the SG to process signaling. The method comprises: after a SG which is configured with SCCP protocol, one or more SCCP service related subsystems, and GT translation function receives a connectionless-oriented SCCP service message in MTP3 protocol, the SG determining whether the message is a local office message according to a destination signaling point code carried in the message or a signaling point code generated by translating a GT carried in the message; and if the message is a local office message, the SG forwarding the message to a corresponding SCCP service related subsystem configured in the SG according to a subsystem number carried in the message, or forwarding the message to a corresponding SCCP service related subsystem configured in a MGC; the MGC and SG having the same signaling point code and being connected in the M3UA protocol. By configuring the SG with SCCP, management subsystem as well as service related subsystems, the present invention reduces the message interaction between the SG and the MGC without increasing the signaling point codes, thus improving the message forwarding efficiency.