Signaling Gateway TID Segmentation for Reliable IP-SS7 Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, especially when connecting IP and SS7 networks, existing methods struggle to accurately route messages to the correct application server process due to overlapping transaction ID (TID) allocations and limitations in modifying the called address, which can be unreliable and undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A signalling gateway that receives messages, reads the transaction identifier, identifies the application server process from specific parts of the TID, and forwards the message accordingly, allowing for the modification of TID to ensure correct routing without requiring non-overlapping TID ranges across application server processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If ASPs generate overlapping TID ranges to simplify configuration, then device complexity is reduced, but message routing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TID into multiple parts: a first part (higher-order bits) that identifies the ASP, and a second part (lower-order bits) that identifies the transaction. This segmentation allows ASPs to use overlapping TID ranges while the gateway can still uniquely identify each ASP by extracting the first part of the TID, thus resolving the contradiction between configuration simplicity and routing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The signalling gateway acts as an intermediary that intercepts messages containing TIDs, extracts the ASP identifier from the first part of the TID, and routes the message to the correct ASP. This intermediary function allows ASPs to generate overlapping TIDs without compromising routing accuracy, as the gateway mediates the routing decision based on the segmented TID information
2Measurement precision
If the called address is modified in reply messages to enable routing, then message routing accuracy improves, but protocol compatibility and reliability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the called address in reply messages (a reactive approach), the patent implements a preliminary action by segmenting the TID structure in advance and using the first part to identify the ASP. This allows the gateway to route messages correctly from the outset without needing to modify message contents, thereby maintaining protocol compatibility while achieving accurate routing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by not modifying the called address field but instead utilizing the existing TID field in a novel way. By extracting the ASP identifier from the first part of the TID, the system achieves routing accuracy without altering message contents, thus avoiding protocol compatibility issues while maintaining reliability
3Ease of operation
If TID structure is used without segmentation to identify ASPs, then message processing simplicity is maintained, but routing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation to the TID structure, dividing it into a first part for ASP identification and a second part for transaction identification. This segmentation enables precise routing to the correct ASP while maintaining simplicity in message processing, as the gateway only needs to extract the first part of the TID for routing decisions without complex message modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway extracts the ASP identifier from the first part of the TID, separating the routing information from the transaction information. This extraction approach maintains message processing simplicity by using only the necessary portion of the TID for routing, while achieving precise routing to the correct ASP without requiring changes to the overall message structure
Data Source
AI summary
A signaling gateway for passing messages from a first network to an application server process provided on a second network, the messages comprising a transaction identifier, the signaling gateway being operable to receive a message and read the transaction identifier, identify the application server process from a part of the transaction identifier and forward the message to the application server process.