Very high capacity signaling transfer point for intelligent network services

The DEX signal transfer point (STP), a member of the DEX MegaHub family, is described. It is based on a highly distributed network of microprocessors interconnected through an internal message transport network (MTN) with a peak throughput of over 5000000 packets/s. The DEX STP supports up to 720 SS7 signaling links and has a message-processing capacity in excess of 100000 SS7 messages per second. Optimization of internal-message routing will increase the message procession capacity of the DEX STP in excess of 150000 SS7 messages/s. The ability to support features such as global title translation and gateway (internetwork) screening with a minimal impact on message throughput is also discussed.<>