Telephonic communications – With usage measurement – Call traffic recording or monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-27
2001-07-24
Smith, Creighton (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
With usage measurement
Call traffic recording or monitoring
C379S229000, C379S207030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266402
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications and more particularly to an apparatus and method for detecting focused overload.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Both public and private communications switching networks are arranged as groups of interconnected switching points. A local service provider maintains a network of interconnected switching points to provide service to its customers. The switching points are coupled at transfer points and each switching point serves a number of connected devices, such as telephones, terminals, and computers. To establish communications between two devices, an originating device dials a number identifying a destination device. The interconnected switching points route the call to the called party in accordance with the dialed number.
Under certain conditions, namely when a destination device is flooded by communications traffic from an exceedingly large number of originating devices, the switching point connected to that destination device can experience an overloaded condition. Such an overloaded condition may be referred to as focused overload. Excessive traffic to a specific destination device can have an adverse effect on the performance of a local service provider's telecommunications network. In particular, excessive traffic may cause network congestion, the failure of resident applications at switching points, or complete element failure at the switching point closest to the destination device. Other network devices and/or connections may be similarly overloaded or have their performance interrupted during excessive communications traffic to a single destination device.
Examples of events resulting in excessive communications traffic to a single device include, for example, calls placed to a specific number during radio contests, calls placed to government, administration, or public service organizations during natural disasters, and other unannounced or unpredicted large call volume events. Call control systems such as Automatic Code Gapping are currently available to handle excessive amounts of communications traffic to a single number if the occurrence of such large call volume events are either planned, predicted, or detected. Problems arise, however, when a large call volume event to a single destination device occurs without proper planning or adequate determination.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, the problems and consequences caused by the inability of prior apparatus and methods inability to adequately and rapidly detect excessive communications traffic to a single destination device have been substantially reduced or eliminated.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for detecting focused overload in a telecommunications network is disclosed that comprises a plurality of originating switching points each coupled to a plurality of originating devices. The apparatus further comprises a destination switching point coupled to a destination device. The apparatus further comprises a transfer point coupled to the plurality of originating switching points and the destination switching point, each of the plurality of originating devices initiating communication through one of the plurality of originating switching points to the destination device utilizing the transfer point, the transfer point detecting focused overload at the destination switching point by detecting a predetermined threshold of initiated communications traffic communicated from the plurality of originating devices to the destination device.
Technical advantages of the present invention include detecting excessive communications traffic directed at a single destination device. Additionally, the present invention provides an early indicator to a telecommunications network that overload conditions may exist. The apparatus and method of the present invention also allows the detection of excessive communications traffic to a device without the necessity for large amounts of processing or memory. A further advantage of the present invention includes utilizing detected excessive communications traffic to reduce or prevent the occurrence of overloaded conditions. Other advantages are readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the following figures, description, and claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5778057 (1998-07-01), Atai
patent: 5825860 (1998-10-01), Moharram
Ali Mohammed Z.
Ferguson Thomas L.
O'Toole Maureen R.
Wagner Kurt D.
Alcatel USA Sourcing L.P.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Smith Creighton
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