Signaling data processing

Abstract

A system for processing signaling data is provided. The system includes a set of one or more signaling interface module(s), connected in series or in parallel. The interface module(s) is connected to the signaling interface module(s). A switching module is connected to the interface module(s). The switching module receives serial signaling data from the interface module(s) in a first sequence, and outputs the serial signaling data to the interface module(s) in a second sequence. The interface module(s) transmits the serial signaling data to the signaling interface module(s).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for processing signaling data comprising: one or more signaling interface modules;   one or more interface modules connected to the signaling interface module(s); and   one or more switching modules connected to the interface module(s), the switching module(s) being operable to receive serial signaling data from the interface module(s) in a first sequence, and to output the serial signaling data to the interface module(s) in a second sequence that is provided to the signaling interface modules.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a signaling resource manager coupled to the signaling interface module(s), the signaling resource manager operable to receive the serial signaling data in the second sequence from the signaling interface module(s) and to transmit serial output signaling data to the signaling interface module(s); and   wherein the switching module(s) are operable to receive the serial output signaling data from the signaling interface module(s) and to transmit the serial output signaling data to the interface module(s) in a predetermined order.   
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1 further comprising: one or more other signaling interface modules;   another interface module having one or more ports, the other interface module coupled to the switching module(s) and the other signaling interface module(s); and   wherein the other interface module is operable to transmit the serial signaling data in the second sequence to the other signaling interface module(s).   
     
     
       4. The system of claim 2 further comprising: another signaling resource manager coupled to the other signaling interface module(s), the other signaling resource manager operable to receive the serial signaling data in the second sequence from the other signaling interface module(s) and to transmit serial output signaling data to the other signaling interface module(s); and   wherein the switching module(s) is operable to receive the serial output signaling data from the other signaling interface module(s) and to transmit the serial output signaling data to the other interface module(s).   
     
     
       5. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface module(s) further comprise one or more circuit cards, where each circuit card further includes a predetermined number of ports. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 3 wherein the other interface module(s) further comprise one or more circuit cards, where each circuit card further includes a predetermined number of ports. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 3 further comprising one or more other switching modules coupled to the interface module(s) and the other interface module(s), the other switching module(s) operable to receive serial signaling data from the interface module(s) and the other interface module(s) in the first sequence, and to output the serial signaling data to the interface module(s) and the other interface module(s) in the second sequence. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 1 further comprising: one or more other signaling interface modules;   one or more other interface modules having one or more ports, where the other interface module(s) further comprises one or more circuit cards, and the interface module(s) further comprise one or more circuit cards, and where each circuit card further comprises a predetermined number of ports;   one or more other switching modules coupled to the other interface module(s), the other switching module(s) operable to receive serial signaling data from the other interface module(s) in the first sequence, and to output the serial signaling data to the other interface module(s) in a second sequence; and   wherein the other interface module(s) transmits the serial signaling data in the second sequence to the other signaling interface module(s).   
     
     
       9. A method for processing signaling data comprising: receiving incoming signaling data from one or more transmission links that includes multiple frames;   switching the multiple frames to form one or more incoming signaling data streams;   processing the incoming signaling data stream(s) to form one or more outgoing signaling data streams based on the destinations associated with the multiple frames; and   switching the outgoing data stream(s) for transmission over the transmission link(s).   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: receiving selected inband signaling data;   generating outbound signaling data in response to the inband signaling data; and   switching the outbound signaling data to one or more outbound data streams.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving incoming signaling data comprises receiving two or more data frames of data, each frame having a predetermined format, where at least one of the frames contains signaling data. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving incoming signaling data comprises receiving embedded SS7 data in a serial E1 data format. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 9 wherein switching the outgoing data stream(s) comprises transmitting a predetermined number of data frames such that each data frame is associated with a predetermined telecommunications channel. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 9 wherein switching the outgoing data stream(s) comprises transmitting telecommunications in a serial E1 data format, such that a switching module can switch each E1 telecommunications channel. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 9 wherein switching the incoming signaling data to form the incoming signaling data stream comprises switching selected data frames from a series of incoming data frames to form the incoming signaling data stream. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 9 wherein switching the incoming signaling data to form the incoming signaling data stream comprises switching signaling data frames from serial data in an E1 data format to form the incoming signaling data stream. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 10 wherein receiving selected inband signaling data comprises: receiving inband signaling from one or more users; and   processing the inband signaling data to determined destination signaling data.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting outbound signaling data comprises transmitting one or more frames of outbound signaling data in predetermined frame locations of an outbound series of data frames. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 10 wherein switching the outbound signaling data to one or more outbound data streams comprises: receiving a series of frames of outbound signaling data; and   switching the series of frames of outbound signaling data into one or more E1 data formats.   
     
     
       20. A method for processing signaling data comprising: receiving incoming signaling data that includes multiple frames from one or more telecommunications links;   switching the multiple frames to form one or more incoming signaling data streams;   processing the incoming signaling data stream(s) to form one or more outgoing signaling data streams based on the destinations associated with the multiple frames;   switching the outgoing signaling data stream(s) to one or more signaling interface modules; and   switching the outgoing signaling data stream(s) to one or more other signaling interface modules if the signaling interface module(s) becomes unavailable.   
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20 wherein receiving signaling data comprises: receiving one or more incoming data streams at an interface module, where each incoming data stream comprises one or more payload data frames and one or more signaling data frames;   transmitting the incoming data stream(s) to one or more switching modules in a predetermined format, where each data frame corresponds to a data channel; and   receiving the signaling data frame(s) at the switching module(s).   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 20 wherein switching the signaling data to form a single signaling data stream comprises: storing one or more signaling data frames in one or more corresponding buffer circuits; and   transmitting the signaling data frames from the buffer circuits through one or more switching modules in a predetermined order.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 20 wherein switching the outgoing signaling data stream(s) to the signaling interface module(s) comprises: transmitting one or more frames of signaling data in a serial E1 data format to an interface module, in which each frame of data contains signaling data;   transmitting the frame(s) of signaling data in a single signaling data stream from the interface module to the signaling interface module(s); and   receiving the frame(s) of signaling data at the signaling interface module(s).   
     
     
       24. The method of claim 20 wherein switching the signaling data stream to the other signaling interface module(s) if the signaling interface module(s) become unavailable comprises: receiving an unavailability message;   transmitting one or more frames of signaling data in a serial E1 data format to an interface module, in which each frame of data contains signaling data;   transmitting the frame(s) of signaling data in a signaling data stream from the interface module to the other signaling interface module(s); and   receiving the frame(s) of signaling data at the other signaling interface module(s).