IP Library Granted Patent US 12,323,297
Granted Patent B2
US 12,323,297 · App. 18/524,649 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Consolidation of existing signal transfer points in a telecommunication network

Inventor: Brad Smeal (Carnegie, PA)
Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
H04L41/0816H04L41/082H04L41/0826H04W24/02H04W76/11
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,323,297
App. No.
18/524,649
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to consolidation of STP pairs without deploying new STP pairs and without making changes at a Service Switching Point to reflect the consolidation. In one aspect, a method includes identifying a first pair of signal transfer point devices to be decommissioned from a telecommunication network; identifying a second pair of signal transfer point devices to assume, in part, functionalities of the first pair of signal transfer point devices, each signal transfer point device of the first pair and the second pair having at least one primary point code and at least one secondary point code assigning a temporary secondary point code to each signal transfer point device of the first pair; and modifying at least one secondary point code of each signal transfer point device of the second pair with a primary point code of at least one signal transfer point device of the first pair.

Claims (24)

1. A method of managing networked devices, the method comprising:

identifying a first pair of signal transfer point devices to be decommissioned from a telecommunication network;

identifying a second pair of signal transfer point devices to assume, in part, functionalities of the first pair of signal transfer point devices, each signal transfer point device of the first pair and the second pair having at least one primary point code and at least one secondary point code;

activating, on each signal transfer point device of the first pair and the second pair, a multiple point code feature; and

modifying at least one secondary point code of each signal transfer point device of the second pair with a primary point code of at least one signal transfer point device of the first pair.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each signal transfer point device of the first pair and the second pair are located in different geographical locations.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modifying the at least one secondary point code of each signal transfer point device of the second pair is a per link set process.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each link set connects one signal transfer point device of the first pair to a different signal transfer point device of the second pair.

5. A network controller configured to manage networked devices, the network controller comprising:

memory having computer-readable instructions stored therein; and

one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:

identify a first pair of signal transfer point devices to be decommissioned from a telecommunication network;

identify a second pair of signal transfer point devices to assume, in part, functionalities of the first pair of signal transfer point devices, each signal transfer point device of the first pair and the second pair having at least one primary point code and at least one secondary point code;

activate, on each signal transfer point device of the first pair and the second pair, a multiple point code feature; and

modify at least one secondary point code of each signal transfer point device of the second pair with a primary point code of at least one signal transfer point device of the first pair.

6. The network controller of claim 5 , wherein modifying the at least one secondary point code of each signal transfer point device of the second pair is a per link set process.

7. The network controller of claim 6 , wherein each link set connects one signal transfer point device of the first pair to a different signal transfer point device of the second pair.

8. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-readable instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of a network controller, cause the network controller to:

identify a first pair of signal transfer point devices to be decommissioned from a telecommunication network;

identify a second pair of signal transfer point devices to assume, in part, functionalities of the first pair of signal transfer point devices, each signal transfer point device of the first pair and the second pair having at least one primary point code and at least one secondary point code;

activate, on each signal transfer point device of the first pair and the second pair, a multiple point code feature; and

modify at least one secondary point code of each signal transfer point device of the second pair with a primary point code of at least one signal transfer point device of the first pair.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein modifying the at least one secondary point code of each signal transfer point device of the second pair is a per link set process.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein each link set connects one signal transfer point device of the first pair to a different signal transfer point device of the second pair.

Assignments (3)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Nov 4, 2024
From: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; GLOBAL CROSSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069295/0749 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 4, 2024
From: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; GLOBAL CROSSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069295/0858 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2023
From: SMEAL, BRAD
To: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065719/0609 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17841862 · Jun 16, 2022
Continuation 16775038 · Jan 28, 2020
Provisional Application 62808202 · Feb 20, 2019
Related Publication 20240097977A1 · Mar 21, 2024
References Cited (10)
US 11368364B2 · Smeal · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11838177B2 · Smeal · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20030031307A1 · Khadri · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030169779A1 · Craig · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030169867A1 · Nekrasovskaia · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040062377A1 · Daoud · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20070109960A1 · Feng · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080285737A1 · Agarwal · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20200267577A1 · Smeal · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20220311665A1 · Smeal · 2022 [cited by applicant]