Data collection system and method for reducing latency

• US 20020087743A1
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amdocs Development Limited (Amdocs Ltd.), Amdocs Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Xacct Technologies, Inc. (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Inventors: Givoly, Tal
• Granted Patent: US 6,950,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/330
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5045 Making service definitions prior to deployment

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are provided for reducing latency while handling network accounting records using an aggregator. Initially, records are received which are indicative of network events. Such records are received in an aggregator for the purpose of aggregating the records. Thereafter, a command is generated in response to the receipt of the records before work is done by the aggregator. Accordingly, services may be rendered in response to the command with minimal latency caused by the aggregator.

Claims

1. A method for reducing latency while handling network accounting records using an aggegator, comprising:

(a) receiving records indicative of network events, wherein the records are received in an aggregator for the purpose of aggregating the records; and

(b) generating a command in response to the receipt of the records by the aggregator;

(c) wherein services are rendered in response to the command with minimal latency caused by the aggregator.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the command includes a start command that is generated immediately before the aggregator generates a memory state in response to the receipt of records.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the command includes a start command that is generated immediately before other operations are performed by the aggregator in response to the receipt of the records.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the command includes a start command that is sent immediately to a receiving device or module in a data collection system of which the aggregator is a component.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the start command is sent over a network utilizing at least one of UDP/IP, TCP/IP, and IPX protocol.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the records are received over a network utilizing at least one of UDP/IP, TCP/IP, and IPX protocol.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the records are received from information sources.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising determining whether any of the records is a signal, wherein the aggregation is evaluated in immediate response to the receipt of the signal to further minimize latency.

9. A computer program product for reducing latency while handling network accounting records using an aggregator, comprising:

(a) computer code for receiving records indicative of network events, wherein the records are received in an aggregator for the purpose of aggregating the records; and

(b) computer code for generating a command in response to the receipt of the records before work is done by the aggregator;

(c) wherein services are rendered in response to the command with minimal latency caused by the aggregator.

10. A system for reducing latency while handling network accounting records using an aggregator, comprising:

(a) logic for receiving records indicative of network events, wherein the records are received in an aggregator for the purpose of aggregating the records; and

(b) logic for generating a command in response to the receipt of the records before work is done by the aggregator;

(c) wherein services are rendered in response to the command with minimal latency caused by the aggregator.

11. A method for reducing latency while handling network accounting records using an aggregator, comprising:

(a) receiving records indicative of network events, wherein the records are received in an aggregator for the purpose of aggregating the records; and

(b) sending a command to a receiving device or module in a data collection system of which the aggregator is a component in response to the receipt of the records by the aggregator;

(c) wherein services are rendered in response to the command with minimal latency caused by the aggregator.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, and further comprising generating the update or stop command immediately in response to the receipt of the records if the update or stop command is necessary.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the command is sent immediately to a receiving device or module in a data collection system of which the aggregator is a component.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the command is sent over a network utilizing at least one of UDP/IP, TCP/IP, and IPX protocol.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, and further comprising determining whether any of the records is a signal, wherein the aggregation is evaluated in immediate response to the receipt of the signal.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the evaluation of the records includes determining whether a threshold is met.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the threshold is user-configured.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the aggregation is updated by marking one of the records that was last sent if an update threshold is met.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the aggregation is stopped by resetting a memory state associated with the records if a stop threshold is met.

21. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the aggregation is evaluated periodically in addition to being updated in immediate response to the receipt of the signal.

12. A method for reducing latency while handling network accounting records using an aggregator, comprising:

(a) receiving records indicative of network events, wherein the records are received in an aggregator for the purpose of aggregating the records; and

(b) evaluating the records in immediate response to the receipt of the records to determine whether an update or stop command is necessary; and

(c) wherein minimal latency is caused by the aggregator.

22. A computer program product for reducing latency while handling network accounting records using an aggregator, comprising:

(a) computer code for receiving records indicative of network events, wherein the records are received in an aggregator for the purpose of aggregating the records; and

(b) computer code for evaluating the records in immediate response to the receipt of the records to determine whether an update or stop command is necessary;

(c) wherein minimal latency is caused by the aggregator.

23. A system for reducing latency while handling network accounting records using an aggregator, comprising:

(a) logic for receiving records indicative of network events, wherein the records are received in an aggregator for the purpose of aggregating the records; and

(b) logic for evaluating the records in immediate response to the receipt of the records to determine whether an update or stop command is necessary;

(c) wherein minimal latency is caused by the aggregator.

24. A method for reducing latency while handling network accounting records using an aggregator, comprising:

(a) receiving records indicative of network events, wherein the records are received in an aggregator for the purpose of aggregating the records; and

(b) generating an update or stop command immediately in response to the receipt of the records if the update or stop command is necessary;

(c) wherein minimal latency is caused by the aggregator.

25. A method for reducing latency while handling network accounting records using an aggregator, comprising:

(a) receiving records indicative of network events, wherein the records are received in an aggregator for the purpose of aggregating the records; and

(b) sending an update or stop command to a receiving device or module in a data collection system of which the aggregator is a component in immediate response to the receipt of the records by the aggregator;

(c) wherein minimal latency is caused by the aggregator.

26. A method for reducing latency while handling network accounting records using an aggregator, comprising:

(a) receiving records indicative of network events, wherein the records are received in an aggregator for the purpose of aggregating the records; and

(b) generating a command in response to the receipt of the records by the aggregator;

(c) wherein services are rendered in response to the command within a predetermined amount of time.