Methods and systems for communicating SS7 messages over packet-based network using transport adapter layer interface
View Patent ↗A transport adapter layer interface (TALI) includes messages, processes, and packet structures for sending and receiving SS7 information over a stream-oriented connection, such as a TCP/IP connection. For example, the TALI interface includes test messages for testing the status of a connection and allow and prohibit messages for enabling and disabling service data communications without invoking a TCP handshaking procedure. The TALI interface also includes SYNC and LENGTH fields for facilitating extraction of individual message packets over a stream-oriented connection.
1. A method for suspending and resuming SS7 message communications over a stream-oriented connection, the method comprising:
(a) establishing a first stream-oriented connection between a first signaling node and a second signaling node;
(b) sending and receiving IP-encapsulated SS7 messages over the first stream-oriented connection; and
(c) receiving, by a transport adapter layer interface (TALI) layer that resides between a transport layer and an SS7 layer in a network protocol stack at the first signaling node, a first control message originating from a TALI layer that resides between a transport layer and an SS7 layer in a network protocol stack of the second signaling node over the first stream-oriented connection and, in response, stopping the sending of SS7 messages from the first signaling node over the first stream-oriented connection, wherein the first control message includes a prohibit message that informs the first signaling node that the second signaling node is not willing to carry any SS7 service over the first stream-oriented connection, wherein the first-stream oriented connection includes a TALI-level session between the first signaling node and the second signaling node.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising, after receiving the first control message, resuming the sending of SS7 messages over the first stream-oriented connection in response to receiving a second control message over the first stream-oriented connection.
3. The method of claim 1 comprising, in response to receiving the first control message, switching SS7 communications between the first and second signaling nodes to a second stream-oriented connection established between the first and second signaling nodes.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the first control message includes receiving the first control message signed using a predetermined encryption algorithm and verifying that the first control message originating from an authorized node using the first encryption algorithm.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the first stream-oriented connection between first and second signaling nodes includes establishing the first stream-oriented connection between a signaling gateway and a media gateway controller.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the first stream-oriented connection between first and second signaling nodes includes establishing a connection between a first SS7 signaling node and an IP node.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the first stream-oriented connection between first and second signaling nodes includes establishing a connection between a first IP-capable SS7 signaling node and a second IP-capable SS7 node.
8. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:
(a) establishing a first stream-oriented connection between a first signaling node and a second signaling node;
(b) sending and receiving IP-encapsulated SS7 messages over the first stream-oriented connection; and
(c) receiving, by a transport adapter layer interface (TALI) layer that resides between a transport layer and an SS7 layer in a network protocol stack at the first signaling node, a first control message originating from a TALI layer that resides between a transport layer and an SS7 layer in a network protocol stack of the second signaling node over the first stream-oriented connection and, in response, stopping the sending of SS7 messages from the first signaling node over the first stream-oriented connection, wherein the first control message includes a prohibit message that informs the first signaling node that the second signaling node is not willing to carry any SS7 service over the first stream-oriented connection, wherein the first-stream oriented connection includes a TALI-level session between the first signaling node and the second signaling node.
9. The computer program product of claim 8 comprising, after receiving the first control message, resuming the sending of SS7 messages over the first stream-oriented connection in response to receiving a second control message over the first stream-oriented connection.
10. The computer program product of claim 8 comprising, in response to receiving the first control message, switching SS7 communications between the first and second signaling nodes to a second stream-oriented connection established between the first and second signaling nodes.
11. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein receiving the first control message includes receiving the first control message signed using a predetermined encryption algorithm and verifying that the first control message originated from an authorized node using the first encryption algorithm.
12. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein establishing the first stream-oriented connection between first and second signaling nodes includes establishing the first stream-oriented connection between a signaling gateway and a media gateway controller.
13. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein establishing the first stream-oriented connection between first and second signaling nodes includes establishing a connection between a first SS7 signaling node and an IP node.
14. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein establishing the first stream-oriented connection between first and second signaling nodes includes establishing a connection between a first IP-capable SS7 signaling node and a second IP-capable SS7 node.