Patent ID: 6078584
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
A method of relieving the loading of a service function node to which query messages are addressed over a telecommunications signalling network from a querying entity, said query messages each including source and destination data and giving rise to corresponding response messages returned to said querying entity over said signalling network; said method comprising the steps of:(a) intercepting messages on at least one link of said signalling network and selecting from the intercepted messages at least certain of said query messages addressed to the service function node;(b) for each selected query message, generating appropriate response data;(c) replacing each said selected query message with a response message including said response data, the response message having its destination data set to the source data of the corresponding query message; and(d) forwarding on over the signalling network the response messages provided in step (c), said response messages being forwarded in a direction corresponding to that in which said query messages were traveling when intercepted in step (a).