Abstract: A rate-limited user status broadcast method consists of a broadcast registration procedure and a broadcast procedure and makes use of a database including a user information data table for storing the current status of each user, a broadcast registration table for holding the current registration status of each user for which service is provided, and a destination list containing all concerned destinations for each user. In the broadcast registration procedure, a user is registered to be the subject of a broadcast procedure, and if there has been a change in the user's status, the user's status information is updated. In the periodically activated broadcast procedure, the status changes of registered users are sent to destinations associated with each user.

Abstract: A connection-oriented congestion controller for a common channel signaling network comprises a memory for storing data representative of established connections, and a data transceiver connected between user terminals and remote signaling nodes for receiving and sending data messages on the established connections. The data transceiver is responsive to a blocking status indication for imposing flow control on the data messages and marking the established connections as blocked in the memory, and is responsive to an unblocking status indication for removing the flow control and marking the established connections as unblocked in the memory.

Abstract: In a common channel signaling network which includes a plurality of signaling points or point codes connected to each other by signaling data links, a routing message is received from a remote signaling point via a signaling data link and translated into availability states and congestion levels of a message transfer controller and a signaling subsystem controller part and stored into a point code status memory. A composite state of a point code is derived from the stored availability states and congestion levels to create a local database. In accordance with the composite state of a point code, the routing of signaling messages to that point code is controlled. In response to a request, the composite state of a point code of the network is reported to the requesting user. The composite states of the code points are constantly monitored. When a change occurs, a new composite state is broadcast to all users.