Duplicate record detection

• US 5,680,611 A
• Filed: 09/29/1995
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Data Systems Corporation (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alejandro, Rene L., Rail, Peter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, RUAY L
• Application Number:
  US08/536,413
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 395/601, 395/602, 395/603, 395/604, 395/605, 395/606, 395/607, 395/608, 395/609, 395/610, 395/611, 395/612, 395/613, 395/614, 395/615, 395/234, 395/235, 395/245, 380/42, 380/49, 380/51, 370/259, 370/298, 370/310, 370/320, 370/321, 370/326
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/10 Adding special bits or symbols to the coded information, e.g. parity check, casting out 9's or 11's
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1004 to protect a block of data words, e.g. CRC or checksum G06F11/1076 takes precedence; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorized activity G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A method for detecting duplicate records generates a checksum (222) for each record and compares the generated checksum (222) to checksums stored in check files (30). In a particular application, a system (10) for processing call detail records utilizes a duplicate check module (28) that detects duplicate records using checksum processing.

Claims

1. A method performed on a computer for identifying an individual record as a duplicate, comprising:

generating a checksum using at least a portion of an individual record; and

comparing the generated checksum to a plurality of stored checksums to identify the individual record as a duplicate, the stored checksums are associated with a plurality of processed records.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a checksum comprises:

extracting a plurality of selected fields from the individual record; and

generating a checksum using the selected fields.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual record is a call detail record and the step of generating a checksum comprises:

extracting a plurality of selected fields from the individual record, the selected fields comprising an originating number field, a terminating number field, a connect date field, a connect time field, and a duration field; and

generating a checksum using the selected fields.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a checksum comprises:

extracting a plurality of selected fields from the individual record;

generating a forward checksum using the selected fields; and

generating a reverse checksum using the selected fields.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a checksum comprises:

extracting a plurality of selected fields from the individual record; and

generating a checksum in response to a repetition of the selected fields.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual record is a call detail record and the stored checksums are associated with call detail records having a connect date field within a specified date range.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of storing the individual record in a duplicate file if the individual record is a duplicate.

8. A method for processing a call detail record, comprising:

generating the call detail record in response to a telephone call;

generating a checksum using at least a portion of the call detail record; and

comparing the generated checksum to a plurality of stored checksums to identify the call detail record as a duplicate, the stored checksums are associated with a plurality of processed call detail records.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising the step of converting the call detail record into a standard format before generating a checksum.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising the step of rating the call detail record before generating a checksum.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of generating a checksum comprises:

extracting a plurality of selected fields from the call detail record; and

generating a checksum using the selected fields.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of generating a checksum comprises:

extracting a plurality of selected fields from the call detail record;

generating a forward checksum using the selected fields; and

generating a reverse checksum using the selected fields.

13. The method of claim 8, comprising the step of storing the call detail record in a duplicate file if the call detail record is a duplicate.

14. The method of claim 8, comprising the following steps:

storing the call detail record in a master file if the call detail record is not a duplicate; and

generating bills in response to call detail records stored in the master file.

15. A system for processing a call detail record, comprising:

an input module operable to receive the call detail record;

a duplicate check module coupled to the input module, the duplicate check module operable to generate a checksum using at least a portion of the call detail record;

a check file coupled to the duplicate check module, the check file comprising a plurality of stored checksums associated with a plurality of processed call detail records; and

the duplicate check module operable to compare the generated checksum to the stored checksums in the check file to identify the call detail record as a duplicate.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the input module comprises:

a decode module operable to convert the call detail record into a standard format; and

a rate module operable to assign a billing rate to the call detail record.

17. The system of claim 15, comprising a master file coupled to the duplicate check module, the master file operable to store the call detail record that is not identified as a duplicate.

18. The system of claim 15, comprising a duplicate file coupled to the duplicate check module, the duplicate file operable to store the call detail record that is identified as a duplicate.

19. The system of claim 15, comprising:

a master file coupled to the duplicate check module, the master file operable to store the call detail record that is not identified as a duplicate; and

a bill module coupled to the master file, the bill module operable to generate a bill in response to the call detail record stored in the master file.

20. The system of claim 15, comprising:

a master file coupled to the duplicate check module, the master file operable to store the call detail record that is not identified as a duplicate;

a bill module coupled to the master file, the bill module operable to generate a bill in response to the call detail record stored in the master file; and

an error correction module coupled to the input module and the bill module, the error correction module operable to correct errors in the call detail record.