Switch control methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a device by means of a computer to provide a plurality of services employing the device for a plurality of entities, the method comprising the steps of:
- for each service, providing a copy of the complete code required to define the service, each of said services comprising a service process that includes a first process and a second process, which, when run, cooperate to cause the computer to execute the copy of the code for the service;
for each entity, establishing a correspondence between the entity and only one of the services; and
responding to an event message including any one of a plurality of identifiers which identifies one of the entities by causing the computer to execute the code for the service to which the entity corresponds by causing the process corresponding to the service to run.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for employing a computer to control a device to provide a plurality of services for a plurality of entities. Each entity corresponds to exactly one of the services and each service has its own copy of the code which defines the service. The system associates a process which executes the service with each service. The code for a service defines a finite state machine which is continually executed by the service'"'"'s process. While in a given state, the finite state machine may traverse a decision graph which is directly accessible to the process. Actions to be taken on traversal of a node of the decision graph may be defined in the finite state machine. The service'"'"'s process communicates with other processes and with itself by means of interprocess messages. Each state of the finite state machine contains event handlers for responding to messages received by the service'"'"'s process. The finite state machine is defined by a special language, the service, logi language, and the decision graphs are defined by means of a graphical editor. The compiler for the service logic language produces not only C++ code defining the finite state machine, but also data base and shell scripts which are used to provision and maintain the services. An embodiment of the system is disclosed which is used in a service node of a telephone switching network to provide telephone services such as 800 number service, caller ID, and the like.
67 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a device by means of a computer to provide a plurality of services employing the device for a plurality of entities, the method comprising the steps of:
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for each service, providing a copy of the complete code required to define the service, each of said services comprising a service process that includes a first process and a second process, which, when run, cooperate to cause the computer to execute the copy of the code for the service; for each entity, establishing a correspondence between the entity and only one of the services; and responding to an event message including any one of a plurality of identifiers which identifies one of the entities by causing the computer to execute the code for the service to which the entity corresponds by causing the process corresponding to the service to run.
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2. Apparatus for controlling a device by means of a computer to provide a plurality of services employing the device for a plurality of entities, the apparatus comprising:
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means for establishing a correspondence between entities and services such that each entity corresponds to only one service; for each service, a copy of the complete code required to define the service, each of said services comprising a service process that includes a first process and a second process, which, when run, cooperate to cause the computer to execute the copy of the code for the service; and means responsive to any one of a plurality of identifiers identifying a specific entity for causing the computer to execute the copy of the code for the service to which the entity corresponds by causing the process corresponding to the service to run by sending an event message to said process. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification