Abstract:
Information stored within an SS7 signaling network is inserted within fields of an ISUP signaling message that are not dedicated to another use and the signaling message is sent to a service control point (SCP) within the SS7 network. At the SCP, information is extracted from the ISUP signaling message and existing databases are modified to reflect the addition of the extracted information.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to telecommunications, and in particular, to a system and method for dynamically updating information at a storage destination in a signaling network. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Telecommunication services typically need to update subscriber information frequently, such as whether new messages have been recorded in a subscriber&#39;s voicemail box, to provide optimal performance. By updating this information, a telecommunications service can then rapidly alert subscribers of messages or other events in near real time. 
     Most telecommunication systems now support the SS 7  (Signaling System  7 ) Integrated Services Digital Network User Part (ISUP) call-control protocol as described in American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard T1.113-1995, hereby incorporated by reference. This standard provides the protocol guidelines for the SS 7  signaling network, which supports communication of all signal traffic. 
     The SS 7  signaling network comprises customer premises equipment (CPEs), links or trunk lines, switches and databases. To provide enhanced services, telecommunication service entities must interact with these SS 7  system components and provide them with information and events related to their subscriber base so that appropriate signals are transmitted by the SS 7  network * subscriber CPEs. 
     Within the SS 7  system, one of the types of component switches, incumbent local exchange carriers (iLECs) class  5  switches can provide the functionality needed to update subscriber information and arrange for appropriate signaling to the subscriber base. However, these switches are owned and largely controlled by the local exchange carrier companies. For other entities, it is not practical to perform these services directly through the class  5  switches, necessitating other techniques to update information and provide for appropriate signaling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Information stored within a signaling network is modified. Information is inserted within fields of a signaling message that are not dedicated to another use and the signaling message is sent to a storage destination within the signaling network. At the storage destination, information is extracted from the message and existing databases are modified to reflect the addition of the extracted information. 
     In one embodiment, a subscriber database within a service control point is modified. This embodiment comprises assembling an ISUP initial address message containing, within its parameters, new subscriber information and sending the ISUP initial address message to a service control point. At the service control point, specific subscriber information is obtained by identifying and interpreting data stored within particular message parameters. The subscriber database is updated to reflect the obtained information. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portion of an SS 7  signaling network according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a set of subscriber records within an SCP database according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for dynamically updating an SCP through ISUP messages according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a table showing the mandatory parameters to be encoded into ISUP messages according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, information stored at a storage destination within a signaling network is updated without having to wait for the official periodic updates performed by the LECs. The updating occurs by sending a particular signaling message containing relevant information that automatically gets routed to the storage destination, and then processing the signaling message using program logic configured within the destination. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the storage destination is a Service Control Point (SCP) of an SS 7  signaling network, and the signaling message used to update the SCP is an ISUP initial address message. Optional and undefined parameters associated with an ISUP message are filled with subscriber information such as whether a new message has been entered into a particular subscriber&#39;s voicemail box, that can be identified using the program logic. Thereafter, relational database tables stored within the SCP are updated. Updates can be made to the tables on an as-needed basis, and can be made with greater frequency than would otherwise be available through the official LEC updates. 
     In FIG. 1, a class  5  switch  15  is shown connected to CPEs  22 ,  24 , which appear as telephones but can be other telecommunications units such as private branch exchanges (PBXs). Although only two subscriber CPEs  22 ,  24  are shown, it is to be understood that any number of subscriber units can connect with class  5  switch  15 . Another class  5  switch  40  is also shown connected to a corresponding CPE  42 . As noted above, class  5  switches are typically controlled by the entities (i.e. the LECs) that differ from those that control the service node  20  (discussed below). The loop between CPEs  22 ,  24  and the class  5  switch  15  is one local loop, the connection between Class  5  switch  40  and CPE  42  is a separate local loop. When calls are directed to or from outside the local loop, for instance from CPE  24  to CPE  42 , the signaling and voice traffic associated with the call may need to travel widely through the general public switched telephone network (“PSTN”)  55 . For example, a signal may be sent from CPE  24  through Class  5  switch  15  to Class  4  switch  45  then on through the PSTN  55 . Thereafter, the signal may be passed on trunk line  50  to Class  5  switch  40  and reach CPE  42 . 
     The class  5  switch  15  is linked to Signaling Transfer Point (“STP”)  25 . STP  25  acts as a switch directing signaling traffic from service switching points (SSPs) such as the class  5  switch  15  to other service points such as Class  4  switch  45  or other transfer points, such as STP  35 . In the figure, STP  25  is in turn linked to Service Control Point  30 . Along with its signaling capabilities, the SCP  30  includes a database that various services can use to store data and programs. The stored programs can, for example, be database programs that, given specific input messages, can extract telecommunications service information from the messages and maintain an up-to-date record of telecommunications events associated with a subscriber base. 
     The service node  20 , can be for example, a telecommunications service center operated by any telecommunications service that interacts with LEC equipment and supports various enhanced telecommunications services for a number of subscribers  22 ,  24 . For example, the service node can arrange to filter and block all calls to a particular subscriber  22 ,  24  between the hours of 1:00 and 2:00 P.M. As no direct connection exists between the subscribers  22 ,  24  and the service node  20 , the service node cannot perform such signaling related functions independently but it can operate through the class  5  switch, and thereby the local loop, to effectuate its services. 
     The service node  20  can maintain control of a portion  32  of the SCP database for its own uses and store information concerning subscribers in relational database tables. This portion can be in the form of accessible memory space, a particular application within the SCP software environment or a combination of software and hardware. As shown in FIG. 2, the SCP can store fields in a relational database related by subscriber phone number. Records such as call-waiting enabled, new messages and filter period can store either boolean yes/no values or substantive data depending upon the type of information required by each field. 
     The service node  20  can also store program logic in its portion  32  that can conditionally trigger various signal procedures depending upon the information received in the relational database tables. For example, if in record  1  of FIG. 2, the “new messages?” filter changed from N (None) to Y (new message present), in response to this change, program logic can cause instructions to be sent to the class  5  switch  15  associated with the phone number stored in record  1  to trigger a stutter dial tone when a phone goes off-hook at that number. In this manner, a subscriber can be made aware that new messages are present. 
     To cause appropriate signals to be generated based upon information in the service node&#39;s portion  32  of the SCP  30  database, the information in that portion must be updated closely following upon any messages or other events occur. FIG. 3 shows a method for dynamically updating an SCP through ISUP messages according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step  100 , the Service Node  20  commences the updating of information by assembling an ISUP initial address message containing proprietary information within standard ISUP message fields. 
     Each of the various ISUP signaling message can contain, for example, the four fields depicted in Table 1. 
     
       
         
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Routing Label 
               
               
                 Circuit Identification Code 
               
               
                 Message Type 
               
               
                 Parameters 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Each field can be formed of an integral number of bytes. The Routing Label identifies the origin and destination of the message, the Circuit Identification Code identifies the particular link along which the signal is assigned to travel, and the Message Type identifies the task to be performed on the selected traffic link. Each ISUP message includes at least one parameter. The ANSI standard contemplates the use of 256 different parameters, although the standard only defines approximately 60 out of the 256. 
     FIG. 4 shows the defined parameters for each given Message Type listed on the far-left column. There are 18 possible parameters for each Message Type. An “M” designates a mandatory parameter, while an “O” signifies an optional parameter. Such optional parameters can be used to store proprietary information if they are not necessary for the performance of the message. The majority of blank spaces, indicating that the parameter has not been defined, can also be used to store proprietary information, although with some caution because the ANSI has designated some of these undefined parameters as “reserved” parameters for future definition. 
     The first message type shown in FIG. 4 is “IAM”. This is an acronym for “initial address message”. This is the message type the Service Node  20  assembles at step  100  to update the SCP  30 . As shown, parameters  1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  12 ,  15  and  18  are mandatory for this message type. Parameter  14  is optional and the remaining parameters are undefined. The service node  20  can insert proprietary information within the optional and undefined parameters such as boolean bits or longer valued data that can represent, inter alia, whether a message has been received, whether call waiting has been enabled, screening parameters such as phone numbers screened and other pertinent service information. The information is coded as bits in specific ISUP parameter locations. 
     Upon assembling the initial address message containing proprietary information at step  100 , at step  110  the service node  20  sends a signal to the local loop class  5  switch  15  by dialing a specific phone number that is a prior established trigger queue at the Class  5  switch  15 . Exemplary service node  20  can establish such trigger numbers with the iLECs that own the Class  5  switch. At step  120 , the Class  5  switch  15  receives the signal and at step  130 , in response to the trigger, creates a query in the form of a TCAP (Transactional Capabilities Application Part) message that incorporates the information contained in the original initial address message in a different format. 
     At step  140 , the Class  5  switch  15  then sends the TCAP message query to the service control point  30 . At step  150 , the SCP  30  receives the query. At step  160 , program logic associated with the appropriated portion  32  of the SCP  30  interprets the message, and at step  165  identifies the information stored with the optional and undefined parameters of the initial address message. For example, the program logic can identify the first four bytes located in parameter # 8  of the initial address message as a representation of a particular subscriber&#39;s phone number. Similarly, the first bit of parameter # 17  can be a flag indicating whether a new message is present in a given subscriber&#39;s mailbox, “1” meaning yes, “0” meaning no. 
     At step  170 , the program logic matches the received information with records in the tables stored in the relational databases at SCP  30 , or portion  32 . After matching at step  170 , at step  175  the relational database tables are modified to reflect any changes associated with the new information received  150 . 
     Although various embodiments are specifically illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention. For example, although only a limited number of types of modifications have been mentioned, many other types of service updates can be performed using various combinations of the available ISUP message parameters, limited only by the total amount of information such non-mandatory parameters can store.