Patent ID: 6614894
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for monitoring message traffic levels in a communications network having a plurality of nodes, said network nodes coupled by communications links, wherein messages pass between said nodes over said communications links, and whereinwherein a plurality of interlinked monitoring units are coupled to said communications links, said monitoring units capturing said messages on said communications links and correlating associated ones of said captured messages; said method comprising the steps of: filtering said messages using preselected profiles, wherein said profiles comprise message destination data to be used when filtering said messages; tracking, at a first monitoring unit, a number of messages sent to a plurality of destinations during a particular period of time; detecting, at said first monitoring unit, when said number of messages sent to a particular one of said plurality of destinations exceeds a first threshold level; designating said first monitoring unit as a master monitoring unit for said particular destination, wherein other of the plurality of monitoring units forward information the master regarding all future detections of messages sent to said particular destination; detecting, at said first monitoring unit, when said number of messages sent to said particular destination exceeds a second threshold level; and when said number of messages exceeds said second threshold level, directing one or more originating network nodes to reduce a number of future calls to said destination, wherein said originating nodes originate or forward said messages sent to said particular destination.