Telecom Signaling Message Flow Control in Distributed Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow control mechanisms in telecommunications signaling platforms, such as the ticket voucher flow control, do not provide full-rated capacity information of service cards and rely on ring topology, which is not adaptable to star topology configurations, leading to inefficiencies and potential message bypass in distributed processing architectures.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where a source card maintains a local memory table with flow control status of each service card, allowing intelligent selection and transmission of messages to service cards with available capacity, using a broadcast signaling unit mechanism to update flow control status across the network, enabling efficient message routing in a distributed internal processing architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ticket voucher flow control mechanism is used, then flow control between source cards and service cards is provided, but full rated capacity information of service cards is not provided and ring topology is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the flow control information into individual service card capacity status entries stored in a local memory table at each source card. Each service card's flow control status is independently tracked and updated, allowing the system to move from a centralized ring-based approach to a distributed star topology where each node has local knowledge of service card capacities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a broadcast signaling unit as an intermediary mechanism that carries flow control status information from service cards to source cards. This intermediary enables efficient dissemination of capacity information in a star topology without requiring the grant to physically traverse the entire ring, thus resolving the topology constraint while maintaining flow control reliability.
2Reliability
If ring topology is used for flow control, then ticket voucher mechanism works, but star topology configuration is not supported and messages may bypass cards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic flow control status updates through broadcast signaling units that are sent whenever service card capacity changes. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to star topology configurations where routing paths may vary, ensuring that source cards always have current information about service card capacities regardless of the physical topology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by having service cards proactively broadcast their flow control status information to source cards before messages need to be routed. This ensures that source cards have up-to-date capacity information in their local memory tables, enabling intelligent selection of service cards even in star topology where messages might otherwise bypass certain cards.
3Productivity
If distributed internal processing architecture is used, then processing capacity is increased, but flow control between source cards and service cards becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling each source card to autonomously maintain its own local memory table with flow control status information for all service cards. Each source card independently queries this table to select appropriate service cards for messages, eliminating the need for complex centralized flow control management and reducing the overall system complexity despite the distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where service cards broadcast their flow control status information to source cards through broadcast signaling units. This continuous feedback loop ensures that source cards have real-time knowledge of service card capacities, enabling intelligent message routing decisions that optimize processing capacity utilization across the distributed architecture without adding significant complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing message flow control in a signal transfer point are described. One method includes receiving, at a source card in a signaling message routing platform having a distributed internal processing architecture, a message requiring a service. The method also includes maintaining, on the source card, a local memory table containing a list of service cards and corresponding flow control status of each service card. The local memory table on the source card is also queried to select a service card capable of performing the service. The message is transmitted to one of the service cards with an available flow control status.