Point Code Emulation™ for SEGway™ STPs

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Expands Signaling Networks Without the Addition of Costly Point Codes in the Public SS7 Network
  
• Simplifies the Addition of New SS7 Nodes
  
• Lowers STP Port Charges by Concentrating SS7 Links
  
• Available in ANSI, ITU, Japanese, or Chinese Variants
  
• Use With IP or Circuit- Switched SS7 Links
  

Performance Technologies’ Point Code Emulation™ (PCE) solution is a new SEGway™ feature that provides network operators with the ability to transparently configure and manipulate SS7 nodes without disrupting or reconfiguring the public SS7 network. Point Code Emulation is similar to NAT on an IP network, whereby private network addresses are hidden from the outside world and incoming messages are re-routed to their proper destination. Using PCE, network operators have more control over their networks by minimizing administrative and coordination delays when introducing, retiring, or reconfiguring SS7 nodes. Typical Point Code Emulation applications are switch cutovers, A/F Link consolidation, reduction of STP interconnection charges, or point code preservation/conservation.

How PCE Works

PCE allows all unique point codes in your network to be “hidden” from the public SS7 network and represented as a single node to the outside world. To illustrate, your “private network” will continue to operate as a normal network within itself, with each node having a unique point code, links, and routes to an STP. PCE modifies the routing label and unique CIC identifiers so your network appears as one large switch to the outside world. This means no one needs to know about what goes on in your network – you just make the changes to suit your application, and all the outside world knows is that you need to add additional trunks. This is a very simple process when compared to obtaining new point codes, coordinating inter-company translations, soaking new links, and propagating these changes throughout multiple nodes in other networks that have different operating constraints and challenges.

The PCE Application

With Point Code Emulation, ISUP traffic flowing toward a node that resides in a private network will be routed by the SEGway™ STP to an internal, virtual SS7 point code known only to the public network. The PCE application then changes the routing label and routes the ISUP messages to the appropriate node in the private network based on the point code/Circuit Identification Code (CIC) that corresponds to that node as per the following example:

Incoming routing label BEFORE PCE

Incoming routing label AFTER PCE

Messages flowing from nodes in the private network to the public network are routed by the SEGway STP, with the Originating Point Code (OPC) of the private node substituted with the point code whose presence is known within the public network. Messages between nodes in the private network are routed locally by the STP using the OPC and Destination Point Code (DPC) and need never traverse the public network.

Incoming message BEFORE PCE

Incoming message AFTER PCE

Specifications subject to change without notice. The names of actual companies, products, or services may be the trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective owners in the United States and other countries.