Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a system for Diameter routing and firewall filtering. The system includes a Diameter signaling router comprising a network interface for receiving, from a first Diameter node, a first Diameter message having Diameter information. The Diameter signaling router also includes a firewall module for determining whether the first Diameter message satisfies a firewall policy. The firewall policy is based on at least a portion of the Diameter information in the first Diameter message. The Diameter signaling router further includes a routing module for forwarding at least a portion of the first Diameter message towards a second Diameter node in response to the first Diameter message satisfying the firewall policy.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for answer-based routing of Diameter request messages are disclosed. According to one method, a Diameter request message is received from a first Diameter node at a. A copy of at least a portion of the Diameter request message is cached at the DSR and the Diameter request message is routed to a second Diameter node. The DSR determines whether a predetermined condition associated with an answer to the first Diameter request message exists. In response to determining that the predetermined condition exists, the cached portion of the Diameter request message is retrieved, a Diameter request that includes the cached portion of the Diameter request message is generated, and the generated Diameter request message is routed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing local application routing at a Diameter node are disclosed. One method includes receiving, at an ingress Diameter message processor associated with a Diameter signaling router (DSR), a Diameter message from a peer Diameter element. At the ingress Diameter message processor, application routing data is accessed to determine whether processing of the Diameter message by a Diameter application is required. In response to determining that Diameter application processing is required, the Diameter message is forwarded to a Diameter message processor hosting a Diameter application identified by the application routing data for processing. In response to determining that Diameter application processing is not required, the Diameter message is forwarded to an egress Diameter message processor associated with the DSR.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for Diameter-based steering of mobile device network access. The method includes receiving a Diameter message associated with a mobile device. The method also includes determining, based on the Diameter message, whether the mobile device should be steered to access a radio access network or a radio access network type that is different from a radio access network or radio access network type currently supporting network access of the mobile device. The method further includes, in response to determining that the mobile device should access the different radio access network or radio access network type, steering the mobile device to access the different radio access network or radio access network type.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for dynamically learning Diameter binding information are disclosed. According to one method, the method comprises receiving one or more response messages associated with the one or more Diameter signaling messages, determining, based on information contained in the one or more response messages, whether at least one of the one or more network service nodes was able to successfully process the one or more Diameter signaling messages, and generating, in response to determining that at least one of the one or more network service nodes was able to successfully process at least one of the one or more Diameter request messages, a Diameter binding record that associates the identification information and the at least one of the one or more network service nodes.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for screening Diameter messages within a Diameter signaling router (DSR) having a distributed message processor architecture. The method includes steps occurring at a DSR comprising a plurality of Diameter message processors, each configured to perform at least one Diameter function. The steps include receiving, at an ingress Diameter message processor of the Diameter message processors, a Diameter message from a Diameter peer node. The steps also include identifying, at a Diameter application message processor of the Diameter message processors, a Diameter message screening rule associated with the received Diameter message. The steps further include performing, at the Diameter application message processor of the Diameter message processors, a screening function associated with the identified Diameter message screening rule on the received Diameter message.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for routing query messages associated with prepaid subscribers in a number portability environment are disclosed. One method may include sending a registration message to an HLR. At the HLR, the ID or address of an STP is inserted as the prepaid SCP ID in a registration response message. The registration response message is sent to the MSC/VLR that originated the registration message. This action forces the VLR to send prepaid query messages to the STP, rather than to the prepaid SCP. When the STP receives a query message relating to call originating from the prepaid subscriber, the STP performs a number portability database lookup and determines the routing number corresponding to the called subscriber and the prepaid SCP corresponding to the calling subscriber. The STP then routes the query message to the appropriate prepaid SCP.

Abstract: A duplicate point code routing node is capable of routing messages to nodes having the same point code but being located in different national networks. The duplicate point code routing node associates a group code with received messages and uses the group code to route the messages to the appropriate national network. The group code may be determined based on the link or linkset from which a message is received or from the message itself.

Abstract: Methods and systems for triggerless prepaid short message service (SMS) screening and accounting in a signaling message routing node are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter herein includes a prepaid SMS screening and accounting module. The prepaid SMS screening and accounting module includes a prepaid SMS screening function, where the function is an application program for receiving SMS messages and determining whether the SMS messages are associated with prepaid subscribers. The prepaid SMS screening and accounting module further includes a prepaid SMS accounting function, where the function is an application program co-located with the prepaid SMS screening function for determining, for the prepaid SMS messages associated with prepaid subscribers, whether the subscribers have sufficient credit for delivery of the SMS messages, and, in response, for sending the SMS messages to their intended destinations. At least one processor executes the prepaid SMS screening and accounting functions.

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, systems, and computer program products for routing query messages associated with prepaid subscribers in a number portability environment are disclosed. One method may include sending a registration message to an HLR. At the HLR, the ID or address of an STP is inserted as the prepaid SCP ID in a registration response message. The registration response message is sent to the MSC/VLR that originated the registration message. This action forces the VLR to send prepaid query messages to the STP, rather than to the prepaid SCP. When the STP receives a query message relating to call originating from the prepaid subscriber, the STP performs a number portability database lookup and determines the routing number corresponding to the called subscriber and the prepaid SCP corresponding to the calling subscriber. The STP then routes the query message to the appropriate prepaid SCP.

Abstract: Methods and systems for triggerless prepaid SMS screening and accounting in a signalling message muting node are disclosed. According to one method, a prepaid SMS screening, accounting, and routing node receives a first SMS message including mobile subscriber identification information. It is determined whether the mobile subscriber has prepaid SMS service or post-paid SMS service. In response to determining that the mobile subscriber has prepaid SMS service, it is determined whether the mobile subscriber has sufficient prepald SMS credit for delivery of the first SMS message.

Abstract: A prepaid SMS screening, accounting, and routing node performs prepaid SMS screening and accounting functions. When the prepaid SMS screening, accounting, and routing node receives an SMS message, it determines whether the originating subscriber is a ported subscriber attempting to access an SMSC from the donor network. If the originating subscriber is a ported subscriber attempting to access a donor network SMSC, the SMS message may be discarded. If the originating subscriber is not a ported subscriber, the prepaid SMS screening, accounting, and routing node determines whether the subscriber is a prepaid subscriber. If the subscriber is a prepaid subscriber, the prepaid SMS screening, routing, and accounting node determines whether the subscriber has sufficient credit to send the SMS message. If the subscriber has sufficient credit to send the message, the prepaid SMS screening, accounting, and routing node debits its accounting database and forwards the message to its intended destination.

Abstract: A message processing platform correlates mobile call signaling messages transmitted between a home location register (HLR) and a (VLR) when a mobile subscriber changes locations. The message processing platform generates a change in location indication message in response to a change in location of a mobile subscriber. The change in location indication message is sent to a short message service center, which forwards a short message service message to the mobile subscriber.

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: An auto-provisioning routing node including a mobile services node network address translation database and an auto-provisioning function for automatically provisioning the database is disclosed. The auto-provisioning routing node receives signaling messages that require network address translation services. The auto-provisioning routing node routes messages for which no translations exist to a default mobile services node and adds entries for the corresponding IMSIs in its mobile services node network address translation database. The default mobile services node determines whether it has records for these messages. If the default mobile services node does not have records for these messages, the default mobile services node routes the messages to a second mobile services node via the routing node. The routing node updates entries for IMSIs in the mobile services node network address translation database based on the information inserted by the default mobile services node.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mobile application part (MAP) screening include a signaling gateway having a MAP screening module. The MAP screening module includes a MAP screening process and a signalling connection control part (SCCP) screening process. The SCCP screening process determines whether the message is a candidate for MAP screening. The MAP screening process determines whether the message is a candidate for SCCP authorization.

Abstract: Method and systems for providing triggerless screening services include a triggerless screening service routing node and a message processing platform. The triggerless screening service routing node identifies call setup messages that require one or more call screening services and diverts the messages to a message processing platform. The message processing platform performs at least one screening action on the call setup messages and modifies the messages to include the type and result of the screening action.

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.