Method and apparatus for a messaging protocol within a distributed telecommunications architecture

1. A telecommunications system having a network services processor (NSP) for handling telecommunications in conformance with a predefined signaling system and for distributing processing applications including call handling and routing to a plurality of platforms, each platform having a unique address and responds to application specific messages, comprising:

a plurality of packet managers (PMs) for accessing, processing, and distributing packetized call data over a packet network;

a plurality of media control platforms (MCPs) for accessing, processing, and distributing media tasks (MCTs);

a plurality of interconnect controllers (ICCs) and corresponding plurality of local area networks (LANs), each for interfacing the NSP with the plurality of platforms including the PMs and the MCPs through a corresponding LAN, wherein a message protocol (hiQ) is employed which encapsulates the application specific messages within a standard LAN protocol for distribution among the plurality of platforms connected to the LANs.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hiQ protocol includes a unicast message frame wherein one of the plurality of platforms connected to the LANs is addressed.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of LANs include at least one partner pair of LANs, acting as primary and redundant LANs in active and standby modes, the plurality of platforms connected to the primary LAN being active in processing applications and the plurality of platforms connected to the redundant LAN being in standby mode.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hiQ protocol includes a multicast message frame wherein each pair of the plurality of platforms connected to the LANs are addressed.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the ICC includes means for switching over a redundant LAN from standby to active upon determination of a fault in a platform connected to the primary LAN.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hiQ protocol includes a broadcast message frame wherein all of the plurality of platforms connected to the LANs is addressed.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ICC distributes a first broadcast message frame having a status request broadcasted to the plurality of platforms connected to the LANs, and the ICC performs fault identification and location among the plurality of platforms by examining responses received from the plurality of platforms.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the ICC determines a fault exists in a platform if the platform fails to respond to the status request within a specified period of time.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the ICC distributes a second broadcast message frame which includes responses from all the plurality of platforms connected to the LANs to provide a connectivity map of each of the plurality of platforms connected to the LANs.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first broadcast message frame and the second broadcast message frame are consecutive message frames.

11. A method of message handling in a telecommunications system having a network services processor (NSP) for accessing, processing, and distributing telecommunications in conformance with a predefined signaling system and for distributing processing applications including call handling and routing to a plurality of platforms, each platform having a unique address and responds to application specific messages, the method comprising:

connecting the plurality of platforms to local area networks (LANs), the plurality of platforms include packet managers (PMs) for accessing, processing, and distributing packetized call data over a packet network and a plurality of media control platforms (MCPS) for accessing, processing, and distributing media tasks (MCTs);

connecting the LANs to a corresponding plurality of interconnect controllers (ICCs), each ICC for interfacing the NSP with the plurality of platforms through a corresponding LAN; and

distributing application specific messages to the plurality of platforms via a message protocol (hiQ) having a message frame which encapsulates application specific messages within a standard LAN protocol.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hiQ protocol includes an unicast message frame wherein one of the plurality of platforms connected to the LANs is addressed.

13. The method of claim 11 , further including assigning one partner pair from the plurality of LANs to act as primary and redundant LANs in active and standby modes, the plurality of platforms connected to the primary LAN being active in processing applications and the plurality of platforms connected to the redundant LAN being in standby mode.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the hiQ protocol includes a multicast message frame wherein each pair of the plurality of platforms connected to the LANs are addressed.

15. The method of claim 14 , further including the step of switching over a redundant LAN from standby to active upon determination of a fault in a platform connected to the primary LAN.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hiQ protocol includes a broadcast message frame wherein all of the plurality of platforms connected to the LANs is addressed.

17. The method of claim 11 , further including the steps of distributing a first broadcast message frame having a status request broadcasted to the plurality of platforms connected to the LANs, and performing fault identification and location among the plurality of platforms by examining responses received from the plurality of platforms.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fault is identified and located when a platform fails to respond to the status request within a specified amount of time.

19. The method of claim 17 , further including the step of distributing a second broadcast message frame which includes responses from all the plurality of platforms connected to the LANs.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first broadcast message frame and the second broadcast message frame are consecutive message frames.

21. The method of claim 11 , wherein the standard LAN protocol is UDP/IP.

22. The method of claim 11 , wherein the predefined signaling system is SS7.