Patent ID: 7360090

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 in response to predetermined control data messages, (C) a signaling communication system for two-way communications of said control data messages between said central office switching systems, said signaling communication system interconnecting the central office switching systems; (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 central office switching systems by way of 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 evaluate an encrypted portion of said control data messages including digital time stamps so as to authenticate corresponding ones of said control messages and, in response, determine if said control data messages are chronologically sequenced.