System and method therefor of viewing call traffic of a telecommunications network

• US 5,610,915 A
• Filed: 03/17/1995
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Gary E., Finucane, Jim, O'Reilly, Daniel L., Gottlieb, Louis, Elliott, Isaac
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TON, DANG T
• Application Number:
  US08/405,988
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 370/68.1, 370/17, 370/94.1, 370/60, 370/110.1, 370/62, 379/88, 379/196, 379/201, 379/202, 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 379/116, 379/119, 379/126, 379/127, 379/134, 379/135, 379/137, 379/139, 379/207, 379/131, 348/16, 348/15
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/024 using relational databases for representation of network management data, e.g. managing via structured query language [SQL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/142 using statistical or mathematical methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/18 Delegation of network management function, e.g. customer network management [CNM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/28 Restricting access to network management systems or functions, e.g. using authorisation function to access network configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5032 Generating service level reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5067 Customer-centric QoS measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5087 wherein the managed service relates to voice services management of VoIP services H04M7/0081
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/067 using time frame reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13504 client/server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13522 traffic management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13525 GUI - graphical user interface, inc. for service creation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management

Abstract

In a telecommunications network, to provide both statistical reporting functions and reporting on a call by call detail basis, a Traffic View Server (TVS) system is incorporated with a MCI Traffic Statistics (MTS) system. The TVS is responsive to instructions provided by subscribers so that reports may be provided on a given time period, at a given frequency and in a particular format, as instructed by the subscribers. Standard reports are delivered via E-Mail, fax or hard copy. A subscriber may obtain a static view of the traffic for a special service call number by communicating with the TVS. Moreover, a remote subscriber may download from the TVS a data file which contains raw call details and statistics that he can import to his own reports. Different types of call detail reports may be generated from the TVS.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications network, a system for reporting call detail statistics of special service calls, comprising:

at least one switching means for routing said calls;

processor means for determining the call details of said calls routed through said switching means;

database means for periodically collecting and storing as records the call details from said processor means for calls of at least one particular subscriber;

processing server means communicatively connected to said database means for receiving requests from said subscriber;

wherein in response to a request from said subscriber, said processing server means provides at predetermined intervals to said subscriber at least one report detailing statistics representative of said records of calls of said subscriber stored in said database means.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said call details include at least the number of call attempts, the number of call completions, the number of call incompletes and the number of call blocks for various ones of said calls routed through from said switching means for a given period of time.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

distribution means for disbursing said report to a location requested by said subscriber via E-Mail, fax transmission or hard copy.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said report comprises a data file containing the call details of said calls of said subscriber;

said system further comprising;

at least one computer work station whereat said subscriber communicates via said network with said processing server means for receiving said data file; and

wherein said subscriber can design and format a report using call detail data from said data file upon receipt of said data file.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

distribution means for distributing said report;

at least one terminal electrically connected to said distribution means for retrieving for said subscriber the call details of a special service call of said subscriber for a particular time period.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one terminal electrically connected to and interacting with said database means for retrieving for said subscriber the call details of a special service call of said subscriber for a particular time period.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

data entry processing means for said subscriber to provide said instructions to said database means to order said report.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

circuit availability storage means for periodically providing said database means mapping data to correlate number plan area (NPA) to states and localities within states, and country codes to different countries, said mapping data being used to add to said report call details dealing with the various locations where calls of said subscriber originate.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said database means comprises:

a plurality of processors each operating same applications, said processors connected via at least one communication line to a distribution means to provide said report to and communicate with said subscriber;

a plurality of memory means coupled to each of said processors for storing the call details of calls of said subscriber.

10. A system for viewing traffic statistics of special service calls for a plurality of subscribers in a telecommunications network having a plurality of switching means, comprising:

counting means for counting the calls being routed by said switching means and retrieving the call details of said special service calls;

processing means for collecting from said counting means the call details of respective ones of said special service calls associated with corresponding ones of said subscribers, said processing means being adapted to communicate with said subscribers;

database means associated with said processing means for storing the collected call details of said respective ones of said special service calls as a plurality of call detail records;

wherein said processing means outputs at least one report of call detail records associated with one of said special service calls of a corresponding one of said subscribers to said one subscriber in response to requests input to said processing means by said one subscriber so that the traffic statistics related to said one special service call of said one subscriber is presented to said one subscriber for viewing.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said counting means is connected to said switching means via a data interface means;

and

wherein said processing means communicates with said subscribers via a data host.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the call details for each of said special service calls includes at least the number of call attempts, the number of call completions, the number of call incompletes and the number of blocked calls related to said each call from said switching means for a given time period.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of work stations whereat respective ones of said subscribers retrieves call details of special service calls subscribed to by said subscribers from said processing means to effect corresponding reports.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

data entry processing means for said subscribers to enter respective specialized request to said processing means for retrieving corresponding specialized reports of call details stored in said database means.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

circuit availability storage means for periodically providing said database means mapping data to correlate number plan area (NPA) to states and cities or other municipalities within states, and country codes to different countries, said mapping data being used to add call details dealing with the various locations where calls of said subscriber originate.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of computerized terminals connected to said network to communicate with a data distribution host connected to said processing means so that the call details associated with any one special service call subscribed by any one of said subscribers can be retrieved by said any one subscriber from said database means for a given time period.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

data entry processing means for said subscribers to enter respective request to said processing means to order reports relating to traffic statistics of corresponding special service calls.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

circuit availability storage means for periodically providing said database means mapping data to correlate number plan area (NPA) to states and localities within states, and country codes to different countries, said mapping data adding call details dealing with the various locations where said special service calls originate.

19. In a telecommunications network, a method of reporting call detail statistics of special service calls comprising the steps of:

(a) processing the call details of said special service calls routed through a plurality of switching means;

(b) periodically collecting and storing as records in a database means the call details of special service calls for at least one subscriber;

(c) receiving at a processor server means at least one request from said one subscriber on how and when to disseminate the call details of special service calls subscribed by said one subscriber;

(d) said processing server means providing said one subscriber, per said at least one request from said one subscriber, at predetermined time intervals at least one report of records stored in said database means of call details of special service calls of said one subscriber.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said step (a) includes the steps of:

counting at least the number of call attempts, the number of call completions, the number of call incompletes and the number of call blocks for various ones of said calls routed through said switching means for a given period of time.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said step (d) further comprises the step of:

distributing said report to a location requested by said one subscriber via E-Mail, fax transmission or hard copy.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said report comprises a data file containing the call details of said calls of said one subscriber, and wherein for said subscriber, said method further comprising the steps of:

using at least one computer work station to communicate with said database means for receiving said data file; and

upon receipt of said data file, designing and formatting a report using the call detail data from said data file.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

using at least one computerized terminal in communication with a distribution means for retrieving for said one subscriber the call details of a special service call of said one subscriber for a particular time period.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

using at least one computerized terminal in communication with said database means for retrieving for said one subscriber the call details of a special service call of said one subscriber for a particular time period.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

providing a data entry processing means for said one subscriber to enter said request to said database means to order said report.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

periodically providing said database means mapping data to correlate number plan area (NPA) to states and localities within states, and country codes to different countries, said mapping data adding to said report call details dealing with the various locations where calls of said subscriber originate.

27. A method of viewing traffic statistics of special service calls for a plurality of subscribers in a telecommunications network having a plurality of switching means, comprising:

(a) counting the calls being routed by said switching means and retrieving the call details of said special service calls;

(b) collecting from said counting step the call details of respective ones of said special service calls associated with corresponding ones of said subscribers;

(c) storing the collected call details of said respective ones of said special service calls in a database means as a plurality of call detail records;

(d) outputting at least one report of call detail records associated with one of said special service calls of a corresponding one of said subscribers stored in said database means to said one subscriber in response to requests by said one subscriber to said database means so that the traffic statistics related to said one special service call of said one subscriber is presented to said one subscriber for viewing.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said step (a) further comprises the steps of:

interfacing with said switching means via a data interface means; and

communicating with said subscribers via a data host.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said step (b) further comprises the steps of:

collecting from the call details for each of said special service calls at least the number of call attempts, the number of call completions, the number of call incompletes and the number of blocked calls related to said each call from said switching means for a given time period.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

establishing a plurality of work stations at various locations of said network so that respective ones of said subscribers can retrieve stored call details of respective special service calls to effect corresponding reports.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein step (c) further comprises the step of:

adding a data entry processing means to said network to enable said subscribers to enter respective specialized instructions for retrieving corresponding specialized reports of call details stored in said database means.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

periodically providing said database means mapping data to correlate number plan area (NPA) to states and other localities within states, and country codes to different countries, said mapping data adding to said records call details dealing with the various locations where calls of said subscribers originate.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

interfacing a data distribution host to said database means; and

connecting a plurality of computerized terminals to said network to communicate with said data distribution host so that any one of said subscribers can retrieve the call details associated with any one special service call of said any one subscriber from said database means for a given time period.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

adding a data entry processing means to said network to enable said subscribers to enter respective instructions to order reports relating to traffic statistics of corresponding special service calls.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

periodically providing said database means mapping data to correlate number plan area (NPA) to states and localities within states, and country codes to different countries, said mapping data adding call details dealing with the various locations where said special service calls originate to said records.