Methods, systems, and computer program products for using signaling system 7 (ss7) subsystem numbers to route messages to session initiation protocol (sip) nodes

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for using signaling system 7 (SS7) subsystem numbers to route message to session initiation protocol (SIP) nodes. According to one method, an SS7 message can be received. A SIP message can be generated based on the SS7 message. A subsystem number associated with the SS7 message can be identified. A destination SIP node for the SIP message can be identified based on the subsystem number. Further, the SIP message can be forwarded to the SIP node.

1 . A method for using SS7 subsystem numbers to route messages to session initiation protocol (SIP) nodes, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving an SS7 message;   (b) generating a SIP message based on the SS7 message;   (c) identifying a subsystem number associated with the SS7 message;   (d) identifying, based on the subsystem number, a destination SIP node for the SIP message; and   (e) forwarding the SIP message to the SIP node.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying a subsystem number associated with the SS7 message includes extracting the subsystem number from the SS7 message. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying a subsystem number associated with the SS7 message includes performing a global title translation for the SS7 message. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein performing steps (a)-(e) includes performing steps (a)-(e) using a signaling transfer point and an SS7/SIP gateway external to the signal transfer point. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein performing steps (a)-(e) including performing steps (a)-(e) using a signal transfer point and an SS7/SIP gateway located internal to the signal transfer point. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  comprising assigning a plurality of different subsystem numbers to a plurality of different SIP nodes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  comprising assigning at least one subsystem number to a group of SIP nodes for load sharing purposes. 
     
     
         8 . A system for using SS7 subsystem numbers to route messages to session initiation protocol (SIP) nodes, the system comprising:
 (a) a communication module for receiving an SS7 message; and   (b) a gateway function configured to:
 (i) generate a SIP message based on the SS7 message; and 
 (ii) identify a subsystem number associated with the SS7 message; and 
   (c) a distribution function configured to:
 (i) identify, based on the subsystem number, a destination SIP node for the SIP message; and 
 (ii) forward the SIP message to the SIP node. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the gateway function is configured to extract the subsystem number from the SS7 message. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  comprising a global title translation function operable to perform a global title translation for the SS7 message and determine the subsystem number. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  comprising a signaling transfer point (STP) and an SS7/SIP gateway (SSG) external to the signal transfer point, wherein the communication module is a component of the STP and the gateway function is a component of the SSG. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  comprising a signaling transfer point (STP) and an SS7/SIP gateway (SSG) located internal to the signal transfer point, wherein the communication module is a component of the STP and the gateway function is a component of the SSG. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the gateway function is configured to assign a plurality of different subsystem numbers to a plurality of different SIP nodes. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the gateway function is configured to assign at least one subsystem number to a group of SIP nodes for load sharing purposes. 
     
     
         15 . A system for distributing an SS7 message to one of a plurality of SS7/session initiation protocol gateways (SSGs), the method comprising:
 (a) a communication module for receiving an SS7 message;   (b) a global title translation function for performing global title translation of the SS7 message to identify a subsystem number for the SS7 message; and   (c) a distribution function for selecting an SSG from a plurality of SSGs based on the subsystem number, and for forwarding the SS7 message to the selected SSG.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the SSG is configured to generate a SIP message corresponding to the SS7 message and to forward the SIP message to a SIP destination. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  comprising a SIP node for generating a SIP message including a subsystem number that identifies the SSG in the SIP message. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  comprising a distribution function for identifying at least one second SIP message as being associated with the same transaction as the first SIP message using the subsystem number that identifies the SSG.