Abstract: A method for implementing indirect GTP firewall filtering includes using a signaling message routing node to dynamically populate an indirect GTP-C firewall filtering database with IMSIs and VPLMN IDs extracted from mobility management signaling messages for updating the locations of outbound roaming subscribers. The method further includes receiving a CCR-I message generated in response to a GTP-C message. The method further includes extracting an IMSI and a VPLMN ID from the CCR-I message. The method further includes accessing the indirect GTP-C firewall filtering database using the IMSI extracted from the CCR-I message. The method further includes determining that a record corresponding to the IMSI is present in the indirect GTP-C firewall filtering database. The method further includes determining that a VPLMN ID in the record does not match the VPLMN ID extracted from the CCR-I message.

Abstract: A method for implementing indirect GTP firewall filtering includes using a signaling message routing node to dynamically populate an indirect GTP-C firewall filtering database with IMSIs and VPLMN IDs extracted from mobility management signaling messages for updating the locations of outbound roaming subscribers. The method further includes receiving a CCR-I message generated in response to a GTP-C message. The method further includes extracting an IMSI and a VPLMN ID from the CCR-I message. The method further includes accessing the indirect GTP-C firewall filtering database using the IMSI extracted from the CCR-I message. The method further includes determining that a record corresponding to the IMSI is present in the indirect GTP-C firewall filtering database. The method further includes determining that a VPLMN ID in the record does not match the VPLMN ID extracted from the CCR-I message.

Abstract: A method for overload and flow control at a service capability exposure function (SCEF) includes providing for configuration of, in memory accessible by the SCEF, at least one of user equipment (UE), service capability server (SCS), application server (AS), and application programming interface (API) gateway specific message priority rules. The method further includes providing for configuration of, in the memory accessible by the SCEF, at least one of SCS, AS, and API gateway capacity information. The method further includes throttling message traffic at the SCEF based on the at least one of UE, SCS, AS, and API gateway specific message priority rules and the at least one of SCS, AS, and API gateway capacity information.

Abstract: A method for overload and flow control at a service capability exposure function (SCEF) includes providing for configuration of, in memory accessible by the SCEF, at least one of user equipment (UE), service capability server (SCS), application server (AS), and application programming interface (API) gateway specific message priority rules. The method further includes providing for configuration of, in the memory accessible by the SCEF, at least one of SCS, AS, and API gateway capacity information. The method further includes throttling message traffic at the SCEF based on the at least one of UE, SCS, AS, and API gateway specific message priority rules and the at least one of SCS, AS, and API gateway capacity information.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for location-sensitive identifier translation in a telecommunications network are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for providing location-sensitive called-party identifier translation in a telecommunications network. The method includes, at a signaling node that includes at least one processor: receiving a first signaling message that includes a called party identifier; determining proximity information associated with the calling party; performing a location-sensitive called party identifier translation based on the proximity information associated with the calling party; and sending the first signaling message or a second signaling message, the sent message including the translated called party identifier.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing toll-free service in a telecommunications network are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for providing toll-free service in a telecommunications network. The method includes, at a signaling node that includes at least one processor: receiving a first signaling message that includes a toll-free called party number, where the first signaling message is one of a non-TCAP call setup message, a mobility management query, a number portability (NP) query, and an E.164 number (ENUM) query; determining a directory number associated with the toll-free called party number; and sending the first signaling message or a second signaling message, the sent message including at least one of the directory number and routing information associated with the directory number.

Abstract: Methods and systems for load sharing and preserving sequencing of signaling connection control part (SCCP) messages are disclosed. According to one method, SCCP messages are received at an inbound interface module and assigned a sequence number. Each SCCP message is then transmitted using a load sharing algorithm to any one of a plurality of SCCP modules for SCCP processing. After the SCCP processing, the SCCP messages are returned to the inbound interface module and ordered based on the assigned sequence numbers the messages are then transmitted in order to an outbound interface module.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for location-sensitive identifier translation in a telecommunications network are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for providing location-sensitive called-party identifier translation in a telecommunications network. The method includes, at a signaling node that includes at least one processor: receiving a first signaling message that includes a called party identifier; determining proximity information associated with the calling party; performing a location-sensitive called party identifier translation based on the proximity information associated with the calling party; and sending the first signaling message or a second signaling message, the sent message including the translated called party identifier.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing toll-free service in a telecommunications network are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for providing toll-free service in a telecommunications network. The method includes, at a signaling node that includes at least one processor: receiving a first signaling message that includes a toll-free called party number, where the first signaling message is one of a non-TCAP call setup message, a mobility management query, a number portability (NP) query, and an E.164 number (ENUM) query; determining a directory number associated with the toll-free called party number; and sending the first signaling message or a second signaling message, the sent message including at least one of the directory number and routing information associated with the directory number.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing stateful signaling transactions in a distributed processing environment are disclosed. A method for performing stateful signaling transactions in a distributed processing environment includes receiving a signaling message at a routing node, such as a signal transfer point. The signaling message is distributed to one of the plurality of stateful processing modules. The receiving stateful processing module buffers the signaling message and initiates a stateful transaction based on the signaling message. Initiating the stateful transaction may include generating a query message and inserting a stateful processing module identifier in the query message. The query message is sent to an external node, such as an SCP, which formulates a response. The SCP may insert the stateful processing module in the response and send the response back to the signal transfer point.

Abstract: A porting control routing (PCR) node (302) is adapted to efficiently route signaling messages associated with a mobile subscriber that has been either ported in to or out of a service provider's wireless communication network. The PCR node (302) includes both range- and exception based routing rule databases (348 and 346). These databases increase flexibility in allocating mobile identification numbers among multiple mobile service nodes. Furthermore, the association of a ported status indicator and related routing information with entries in the exception based database allows the PCR node (302) to more efficiently manage a service provider's mobile service resources.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing messages at a first network node in a mobile communications network are disclosed. A first message relating to a communication in a mobile communications network that includes a called directory number is received. A lookup is performed in a first database based on the called directory number to determine whether a called party has been ported out of a first network and to determine a migration status of the called party. In response to determining that the called party has been ported out of the first network, a first reply message is formulated including first routing information from the first database that indicates a second network to which the called party has been ported. If the called party has not been ported out, a second reply message is formulated including second routing information from the first database that corresponds to the determined migration status.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for post global title translation load sharing include receiving a plurality of signaling messages sent route on global title. Global title translation is performed for the signaling messages to result in multiple global title destinations for at least some of the signaling messages. One of the destination addresses is selected using the parameter in the signaling messages and the load sharing algorithm so that messages that are part of the same transaction are sent to the same destination address and messages related to different transactions are load shared among different destination addresses. Sequencing may also be performed so that sequenced messages are transmitted in the same order that they are received.

Abstract: Methods and systems for load sharing signaling messages among signaling links in a network utilizing an international signaling protocol are disclosed. A routing node receives a signaling message formatted according to an international signaling protocol. The routing node generates a signaling link selection parameter for the signaling message. The routing node selects an outbound signaling link based on the generated signaling link selection parameter. The number of bits in the generated SLS value is user-configurable, thus allowing load sharing among arbitrary numbers of signaling links.

Abstract: A flexible routing node for re-directing signaling messages in a communications network is disclosed. Re-direction or re-routing of signaling message packets is accomplished through the use of a range or block-based database in conjunction with an exception-based database. The range-based routing instruction databases incorporates a data structure that maps ranges or blocks of mobile identification numbers (MINs) to a single destination network address, while the exceptions database stores any exceptions to these range or block-based rules. The pair of routing databases is implemented such that, when a signaling message is received that requires re-direction, the exception-based database is queried first. If a match is found in the exceptions database, the signaling message is modified using the returned routing instructions and transmitted into an associated communication network. If no match is found in the exception-based database, a default query is performed against the range-based database.

Abstract: A flexible routing node for re-directing signaling messages in a communications network is disclosed. Re-direction or re-routing of signaling message packets is accomplished through the use of a range or block-based database in conjunction with an exception-based database. The range-based routing instruction databases incorporates a data structure that maps ranges or blocks of mobile identification numbers (MINs) to a single destination network address, while the exceptions database stores any exceptions to these range or block-based rules. The pair of routing databases is implemented such that, when a signaling message is received that requires re-direction, the exception-based database is queried first. If a match is found in the exceptions database, the signaling message is modified using the returned routing instructions and transmitted into an associated communication network. If no match is found in the exception-based database, a default query is performed against the range-based database.

Abstract: A porting control routing (PCR) node (302) is adapted to efficiently route signaling messages associated with a mobile subscriber that has been either ported in to or out of a service provider's wireless communication network. The PCR node (302) includes both range- and exception based routing rule databases (348 and 346). These databases increase flexibility in allocating mobile identification numbers among multiple mobile service nodes. Furthermore, the association of a ported status indicator and related routing information with entries in the exception based database allows the PCR node (302) to more efficiently manage a service provider's mobile service resources.

Abstract: Methods and systems for load sharing signaling messages among signaling links in a network utilizing an international signaling protocol are disclosed. A routing node receives a signaling message formatted according to an international signaling protocol. The routing node generates a signaling link selection parameter for the signaling message. The routing node selects an outbound signaling link based on the generated signaling link selection parameter. The number of bits in the generated SLS value is user-configurable, thus allowing load sharing among arbitrary numbers of signaling links.

Abstract: A porting control routing (PCR) node (302) is adapted to efficiently route signaling messages associated with a mobile subscriber that has been either ported in to or out of a service provider's wireless communication network. The PCR node (302) includes both range- and exception based routing rule databases (348 and 346). These databases increase flexibility in allocating mobile identification numbers among multiple mobile service nodes. Furthermore, the association of a ported status indicator and related routing information with entries in the exception based database allows the PCR node (302) to more efficiently manage a service provider's mobile service resources.

Abstract: A flexible routing node for re-directing signaling messages in a communications network is disclosed. Re-direction or re-routing of signaling message packets is accomplished through the use of a range or block-based database in conjunction with an exception-based database. The range-based routing instruction databases incorporates a data structure that maps ranges or blocks of mobile identification numbers (MINs) to a single destination network address, while the exceptions database stores any exceptions to these range or block-based rules. The pair of routing databases is implemented such that, when a signaling message is received that requires re-direction, the exception-based database is queried first. If a match is found in the exceptions database, the signaling message is modified using the returned routing instructions and transmitted into an associated communication network. If no match is found in the exception-based database, a default query is performed against the range-based database.