IP Library Granted Patent US 7,158,627
Granted Patent B1
US 7,158,627 · App. 09/821,509 · Granted Jan 2, 2007

Method and system for inhibiting softswitch overload

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,158,627
App. No.
09/821,509
Granted
Jan 2, 2007
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a softswitch executing on a computer, a plurality of calls for switching, monitoring at least one criteria associated with operation of the computer, and based on the monitoring, limiting the number of calls processed by the computer.

Claims (34)

1. A method of call processing comprising:

receiving, at a softswitch executing on a computer, a plurality of calls for switching, wherein the computer includes a processing system and a memory, and the softswitch has a plurality of signaling subsystems;

monitoring at least one criterion associated with operation of the computer, wherein the at least one criterion comprises the amount of usage of at least a portion of the processing system, the amount of usage of the memory, the number of the plurality of calls that are being processed by each of the plurality of subsystems, or any combination thereof; and

based on the monitoring, limiting the number of calls processed by the computer.

2. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising limiting the number of calls in response to determining that the amount of usage of the memory exceeds approximately 80–85% of the capacity of the memory.

3. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising limiting the number of calls in response to determining the amount of usage of the processor exceeds approximately 90–95% of the amount of the processor.

4. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising limiting the number of calls processed by the computer in response to determining that the number of the plurality of calls being processed by the computer exceeds approximately 50% of capacity of buffers of the softswitch for processing calls.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein limiting the number of calls processed by the computer comprises accepting no additional calls processed by the computer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein limiting the number of calls processed by the computer comprises limiting the number of calls processed by the computer until the at least one criterion associated with operation of the computer reaches an acceptable level.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein limiting the number of calls comprises accepting no additional calls until the at least one criterion associated with operation of the computer reaches an acceptable level.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the acceptable level is an amount of usage of the memory that is 75–80% of the capacity of the memory.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the acceptable level is the amount of usage of the processor that is 90% of the capacity of the processor.

10. A system for call processing comprising:

a computer having a processor and an associated memory;

a softswitch operating on the computer for processing calls; and

program code stored on the memory and operable to:

monitor at least one criterion associated with the operation of the computer; and

in response to determining that at least one criterion exceeds an acceptable level, limit additional calls processed by the softswitch until the at least one criterion reaches a desired level, wherein the at least one criterion comprises the amount of usage of the processor, the amount of usage of the memory, the number of calls processed by the softswitch, or any combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the softswitch comprises a plurality of signaling subsystems and wherein the at least one criterion comprises the number of calls processed by at least one of the plurality of signaling subsystems at any given time.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the program code is operable to limit additional calls in response to a determination that the amount of usage of the processor exceeds 90–95% of the capacity of the processor.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the program code is operable to limit additional calls in response to a determination that the amount of usage of the memory exceeds 80–85% of the capacity of the memory.

14. A system for call processing comprising:

a computer adapted to receive one or more calls, the computer including:

a central processing system;

a memory in communication with the central processing system;

a softswitch module operating on the computer and adapted to perform processing operations on the one or more calls; and

an overload prevention module adapted to monitor at least one criterion associated with operation of the computer and limit the number of calls processed by the computer based on the monitoring,

wherein the criterion comprises the amount of usage of at least a portion of the processing system, the amount of usage of the memory, the number of calls processed by the softswitch, or any combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the overload prevention module is adapted to block additional calls from being processed by the computer in response to a determination that the criterion exceeds an acceptable level.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the criterion is usage of the memory and the acceptable level is 80–85% of the capacity of the memory.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the criterion is usage of at least a portion of the processing system and the acceptable level is 90–95% of the capacity of the processing system.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the overload prevention module is adapted to permit processing of additional calls in response to a determination that the criterion reaches an acceptable return level.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the criterion is usage of the memory and the acceptable return level is 75–80% of the capacity of the memory.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the criterion is usage of at least a portion of the processing system and the acceptable return level is 85–90% of the capacity of the processing system.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2024
From: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
To: RIBBON COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING COMPANY, INC. (F/K/A GENBAND US LLC AND SONUS NETWORKS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 067822/0433 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT AT R/F 044978/0801 Recorded Dec 6, 2021
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: RIBBON COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING COMPANY, INC. (F/K/A GENBAND US LLC AND SONUS NETWORKS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 058949/0497 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2020
From: RIBBON COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING COMPANY, INC.
To: CITIZENS BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052076/0905 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 16, 2019
From: SONUS NETWORKS, INC.
To: RIBBON COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 048078/0036 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 2, 2018
From: GENBAND US LLC; SONUS NETWORKS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 044978/0801 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 24, 2017
From: SONUS, INC.
To: SONUS NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044957/0213 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 24, 2017
From: SOLSTICE SAPPHIRE, INC.; SONUS NETWORKS, INC.; SONUS NETWORKS, INC.
To: SONUS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044957/0243 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SONUS NETWORKS, INC.; SONUS FEDERAL, INC.; NETWORK EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES, INCORPORATED; SONUS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TAQUA, INC.
Reel/Frame 044283/0361 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2014
From: SONUS NETWORKS, INC.; SONUS FEDERAL, INC.; NETWORK EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES, INCORPORATED; SONUS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 033728/0409 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2005
From: TELECOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SONUS NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 016245/0172 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2001
From: LU, JAMES J.
To: TELECOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 011672/0593 →