Patent ID: 7218613

Claim:
A communication network, comprising: (A) local communication links, (B) a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the local communication links, (C) a signaling communication system including at least one signaling network element, said signaling communication system configured to provide two-way communications of control data messages between and among said central office switching systems and said signaling network element, said signaling communication system interconnecting the central office switching systems and said signaling network element; (D) a signaling gateway, separate from the central office switching systems and connected to said signaling communications system, said signaling gateway including an interface connected to a remote communications network and configured to exchange said control data messages between said remote communication network and said signaling communication system, and (E) a signaling system security monitor, separate from the central office switching systems, said signaling system security monitor configured to maintain records of contexts of existing calls and transactions, and evaluate whether control data messages are appropriate to those contexts.