SS7 telecommunications node and method for synthetic global title translation
A telecommunications node (e.g., signalling transfer point) and method are described herein that implement a synthetic GTT transformation function which allows a direct address SCCP message received from a legacy switch to be transformed into a GTA SCCP message that can be propagated to another switch (located in the same network or in a different network) which requires the use of a GTT functionality. In turn, the telecommunications node and method can also provide the reverse capability as a SCCP message comes back to the legacy switch.
1. A telecommunications node, comprising:
a processor; and
a database, wherein said processor and said database enable a plurality of actions to be performed including:
receive a direct address SCCP message transmitted by a calling network element;
intercept the direct address SCCP message;
transform the intercepted direct address SCCP message into a global title address SCCP message by transforming a CdPA(PC) that defines a called network element in the intercepted direct address SCCP message that does not use a Global Title Address (GTA) to a CdPA(GTA) comprising a GTA of the called network element; and
route the global title address SCCP message to the called network element.
2. The telecommunications node of claim 1 , wherein said processor analyzes SCCP information in the intercepted direct address SCCP message to determine if the intercepted direct address SCCP message should be routed in a standard manner or if the intercepted direct address SCCP message should be modified in accordance with a synthetic GTT transformation function to form the global title address SCCP message.
3. The telecommunications node of claim 2 , wherein if said processor is not able to modify the intercepted direct address SCCP message using the synthetic GTT transformation function then said processor performs at least one of the following actions:
route the intercepted direct address SCCP message;
discard the intercepted direct address SCCP message; or
return an error message to an originator of said intercepted direct address SCCP message.
4. The telecommunications node of claim 2 , wherein said processor uses the synthetic GTT transformation function to lookup information in said database and to compare that information with information in the intercepted direct address SCCP message such that the CdPA(PC) in the intercepted direct address SCCP message can be transformed to the CdPA(GTA).
5. The telecommunications node of claim 4 , wherein said processor uses said database to map a DPC and a SSN associated with the CdPA(PC) to obtain the CdPA(GTA).
6. The telecommunications node of claim 4 , wherein said processor uses said database to analyze one or more protocol layers in addition to a SCCP layer in the intercepted direct address SCCP message to transform the CdPA(PC) into the CdPA(GTA).
7. The telecommunications node of claim 4 , wherein said database stores the following information:
a point code;
a SSN;
a global title indicator;
a translation type;
a nature of address;
a numbering plan;
an encoding scheme;
a MSISDN; and
a MIN/MDN.
8. The telecommunications node of claim 1 , wherein said processor is able to segment and/or reassemble the global title address SCCP message.
9. The telecommunications node of claim 1 , wherein said processor analyzes a MTP DPC in the SCCP message to determine whether or not to intercept the direct address SCCP message, and wherein said processor maps the MTP DPC and a SSN associated with the CdPA(PC) to obtain the CdPA(GTA).
10. The telecommunications node of claim 1 , wherein said processor transforms a CdPA(PC) that defines the calling network element in the intercepted direct address SCCP message to a CgPA(GTA) comprising a Global Title Address of the calling network element.
11. A method of transmitting a SCCP message from a calling network element to a called network element via a telecommunications node, said method comprising the steps of:
intercepting a direct address SCCP message transmitted by the calling network element;
transforming a CdPA(PC) that defines the called network element in the intercepted SCCP message that does not use a Global Title Address (GTA) to a CdPA(GTA) comprising a GTA of the called network element; and
routing the global title address SCCP message to the called network element.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a step of analyzing SCCP information in the intercepted direct address SCCP message to determine if the intercepted direct address SCCP message should be routed in a standard manner or if the intercepted direct address SCCP message should be modified in accordance with a synthetic GTT transformation function to form the global title address SCCP message.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said transforming step further includes the steps of looking-up information in a database and comparing that information with information in the intercepted direct address SCCP message such that the CdPA(PC) in the intercepted direct address SCCP message can be transformed to the CdPA(GTA).
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein said transforming step further includes a step of mapping a DPC and a SSN associated with the CdPA(PC) to obtain the CdPA(GTA).
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein said transforming step further includes a step of analyzing one or more protocol layers in addition to a SCCP layer in the intercepted direct address SCCP message to transform the CdPA(PC) into the CdPA(GTA).
16. The method of claim 11 , comprising the steps of:
analyzing a MTP DPC in the SCCP message to determine whether or not to intercept the SCCP message; and
mapping the DPC and a SSN associated with the CdPA(PC) to obtain the CdPA(GTA).
17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a step of transforming a CdPA(PC) that defines the calling network element in the intercepted direct address SCCP message to a CgPA(GTA) comprising a Global Title Address of the calling network element.