IP Library Granted Patent US 8,089,891
Granted Patent B2
US 8,089,891 · App. 11/966,752 · Granted Jan 3, 2012

System and method for auditing route parameters in a network

Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,089,891
App. No.
11/966,752
Granted
Jan 3, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes a collector module configured to collect route parameters from a selected node of a plurality of nodes in the network, wherein the route parameters from the selected node are indicative of a first route to a destination address and a second route to the destination address; and a route processor configured to determine a first intermediate node along the first route communicatively coupled to the destination address and a second intermediate node along the first route communicatively coupled to the destination address, based at least in part on the collected route parameters. A method includes collecting route parameters from a first intermediate node and a second intermediate node that can be configured to communicatively couple a source node to the destination node, determining at least a first route through the first intermediate node and a second route through the second intermediate node, and determining which route among the first route and the second route is optimal according to one or more criteria.

Claims (24)

1. A computer-implemented method for auditing routes in a network, the method comprising:

collecting route parameters from a first node in the network, wherein the route parameters are indicative of routes configured in the first node;

based at least in part on the route parameters from the first node, determining whether routes indicated by the route parameters from the first node correspond to routes configured in a second node in the network, wherein the first node or the second node comprises a Signal transfer Point (STP);

collecting route parameters from a non-network source identifying route parameters indicative of routes purportedly used by the first node; and

determining whether a discrepancy exists between routes indicated by the non-network source of route parameters and the routes indicated by the route parameters collected from the first node.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first node and the second node comprise a mated pair of nodes.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the mated pair of nodes comprises a Signal transfer Point (STP).

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether a route configured in a third node that is homed to the first node is also configured in the first node.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the non-network source of route parameters comprises one or more of a bill, a report, or an invoice.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the route parameters from the first node comprise one or more point codes and one or more route costs.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a Signaling System 7 (SS7) network.

8. A method for choosing a route to be used between a source node and a destination node over a network, the method comprising:

collecting route parameters from a first intermediate node and a second intermediate node that can be configured to communicatively couple the source node to the destination node, wherein the source node comprises a Signal switching Point (SSP) and the network comprises a Signaling System 7 (SS7) network and wherein the first intermediate node or the second intermediate node comprises a Signal transfer Point (STP);

based on the collected route parameters, determining at least a first route through the first intermediate node and a second route through the second intermediate node, wherein the first and second routes can be used by the source node to communicate with the destination node; and

determining which route among the first route and the second route is optimal according to one or more criteria.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more criteria comprise route cost.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the route parameters comprise one or more point codes and one or more route costs.

11. A method for choosing a route to be used between a source node and a destination node over a network, the method comprising:

collecting route parameters from a first intermediate node and a second intermediate node that can be configured to communicatively couple the source node to the destination node, wherein the first intermediate node or the second intermediate node comprises a Signal transfer Point (STP) and the network comprises a Signaling System 7 (SS7) network;

based on the collected route parameters, determining at least a first route through the first intermediate node and a second route through the second intermediate node, wherein the first and second routes can be used by the source node to communicate with the destination node; and

determining which route among the first route and the second route is optimal according to one or more criteria.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the one or more criteria comprise route cost.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the source node comprises a Signal switching Point (SSP).

14. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the route parameters comprise one or more point codes and one or more route costs.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL RECORDED AT R/F 069295/0858 Recorded Jun 12, 2026
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS RETIRING COLLATERAL AGENT
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075738/0427 →
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 Mar 6, 2008
From: LYNETTE, TROY; BROWN, GREGORY; SMEAL, BRAD
To: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 020608/0713 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090168652A1 · Jul 2, 2009