Methods and systems for client or customer-site transaction processing in a distributed database system

• US 5,826,270 A
• Filed: 12/28/1995
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CSG Systems Incorporated (CSG Systems International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CSG Systems Incorporated (CSG Systems International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rutkowski, Steve, Rierden, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Application Number:
  US08/580,160
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.03
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A distributed database system for processing a client or customer-site initiated on-line database transaction includes a transaction keying and RF transmitting device and a transaction RF transmission relay device for transmitting the client or customer-site initiated on-line database transaction, a local order RF receiver-convertor for receiving the transaction and converting the transaction to a computer readable format, and a modem for data linking the transaction to a persistent queue, which initiates a database transaction, including information identifying service location equipment and a desired product, and transmits the transaction to the queue. A client message server retrieves the transaction from the queue and transmits the transaction to a data directory server, including a rules database, and the data directory server interrogates at least one of a plurality of dispatch utility servers to identify an available dispatch utility server and routes the transaction to the available dispatch utility server. The available dispatch utility server extracts the information identifying the service location equipment and the product from the transaction, formulates an addressability change remote procedure call (RPC), and transmits the RPC to the data directory server. The data directory server then transmits the RPC to an addressability open server, and the addressability open server identifies the controller, which controls enabling and disabling the desired product, and instructs the controller to update the status of the product.

Claims

1. A distributed database system for processing a client or customer-site initiated on-line database transaction comprising:

a transaction generator, which initiates at least one database transaction, including information identifying service location equipment and a desired product, and transmits said at least one transaction to a dispatcher means for tracking a geographic location of said generator, for routing each of said at least one transactions to a geographic system, and for queuing each of said at least one transactions within a queue;

transaction transfer means for retrieving said at least one transaction from said queue and transmiting said at least one transaction to interrogation server means;

wherein said server interrogation means for interrogating data extraction means, which extracts said information identifying said service location equipment and said product from said transaction, formulates an addressability change transaction, and transmits said change transaction to said server interrogation means; and

wherein said server interrogation means transmit said change transaction to an addressability change means for identifying controller means for enabling and disabling said desired product, and for instructing said controller means to update the status of said product.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said transaction generator comprises a local order RF transmitter for transmitting said client-site initiated on-line database transaction, a local order RF receiver-convertor for receiving said transaction and converting said transaction to a computer readable format, and a modem for data linking said transaction to said queue.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said local order transmitter comprises a transaction keying and RF transmitting device and a transaction RF transmission relay device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said queue is a persistent queue.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said server interrogation means includes a rules database controlling the interrogation of said data extraction means.

6. A distributed database system for processing a client or customer-site initiated on-line database transaction comprising:

a portable transaction generator, which initiates a database transaction, including information identifying service location equipment and a desired product, and transmits said transaction to a queue;

a client message server, which retrieves said transaction from said queue and transmits said transaction to a data directory server;

wherein said data directory server interrogates at least one of a plurality of dispatch utility servers to identify an available dispatch utility server and routes said transaction to said available dispatch utility server;

wherein said available dispatch utility server extracts said information identifying said service location equipment and said product from said transaction, formulates an addressability change transaction, and transmits said change transaction to said data directory server;

wherein said data directory server transmit said change transaction to an addressability open server; and

said addressability open server identifies a controller, which controls enabling and disabling said desired product, and instructs said controller to update the status of said product.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said transaction generator comprises a local order RF transmitter for transmitting said client-site initiated on-line database transaction, a local order RF receiver-convertor for receiving said transaction and converting said transaction to a computer readable format, and a modem for data linking said transaction to said queue.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said local order transmitter comprises a transaction keying and RF transmitting device and a transaction RF transmission relay device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said queue is a persistent queue.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said data directory server includes a rules database controlling the interrogation of said at least one of a plurality of dispatch utility servers by said data directory server to identify said available dispatch utility server.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said transactions comprise remote procedure calls.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein said plurality of dispatch utility servers operate in parallel to process a plurality of said database transactions concurrently.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein said plurality of dispatch utility servers operate in parallel to formulate a plurality of said addressability change transactions concurrently.

14. The system of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of controllers operating in parallel to process a plurality of said database transactions concurrently.

15. The system of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of controllers whereby an appropriate addressability change remote procedure call is formulated based on said client-site equipment.

16. A method of processing client or customer-site initiated on-line data transactions comprising the steps of:

initiating a data transaction, including information identifying service location equipment and a desired product, at a service location and transmitting said transaction to a queue;

retrieving said transaction from said queue and transmitting said transaction to a data directory server;

interrogating at least one of a plurality of dispatch utility servers to identify an available dispatch utility server and routing said transaction to said available dispatch utility server;

extracting said information identifying said service location equipment and said product from said data transaction, formulating an addressability change transaction and transmitting said change transaction to an addressability open server; and

identifying a controller, which controls enabling and disabling said desired product, and instructing said controller to enable or disable said product.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said queue is a persistent queue.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of establishing rules whereby the interrogation of said at least one of a plurality of dispatch utility servers by said data directory server to identify said available dispatch utility server is controlled.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said transactions comprise remote procedure calls.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of dispatch utility servers operate in parallel to process a plurality of said database transactions concurrently.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of dispatch utility servers operate in parallel to formulate a plurality of said addressability change transactions concurrently.

22. The system of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of controllers operating in parallel to process a plurality of said database transactions concurrently.

23. The system of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of controllers whereby an appropriate addressability change remote procedure call is formulated based on said client-site equipment.