System and method for maintaining redundant databases

• US 5,873,099 A
• Filed: 04/13/1995
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Global Crossing Telecommunications Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Global Crossing Advanced Card Services, Inc. (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Austin, Mark A., Smith, Keith E., Busch, Eric M., Berry, Dana Bruce, Kripakaran, Raghavan, Hogan, Steven J., Vercande, David J., Murdock, Douglas R., Jayasimha, Madhigubba G., Goodman, Todd A., Tangeman, Michael R., Feltz, Kristi T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RONES, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/421,745
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202, 379/220, 379/142, 379/207, 379/113, 379/67, 379/112, 379/115, 379/114, 395/444, 395/600, 395/182.09, 395/700, 395/800, 395/182.04, 235/383, 707/202, 707/204
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A system and method for processing telephone calls and providing enhanced services is presented. The call processing system includes a network control processor for controlling the processing and routing of the calls and for providing enhanced features, and a matrix switch for routing calls from an originating location to a terminating location. Operator consoles can be included to provide operator assistance to the caller. The network control processor comprises a central message processor that receives call data, determines the type of call, determines the processing required, and determines whether operator assistance is required. A call route distributor allocates an operator console to the call if required. A billing server is used to track billing information for the call while it is in progress. A database server is provided for database look-ups and storage. The call processing system also includes a validation system, a billing system, a distribution system, and a fraud detection and prevention system. The validation system is used to validate call information to determine whether the call can be placed. The billing system determines rates for calls and calculates the cost of completed calls. The distribution system distributes changes that are made to a master database to the appropriate slave database. The fraud detection and prevention system monitors originating and in-process calls to detect and possibly prevent possible fraudulent uses of phone services and systems. A client interface is provided to facilitate communications among applications and DEF records are used to define specific call processing actions.

Claims

1. A system for updating one or more redundant databases to reflect a change made to a first database, comprising:

distribution means for receiving the change made to the first database and for determining which of said one or more redundant databases is to be updated to reflect the change;

first storage means comprising a location for storing the change made to the first database;

second storage means comprising an entry for storing an indication of each determined database and for storing an indication of said location where said change is stored in said first storage means; and

dealer means for updating said indicated database, said dealer means including

means for reading said entry from said second storage means,

means for retrieveing said change from said first storage means, and

means for updating said indicated redundant database using the change retrieved from said first storage means.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for reading said entry comprises

means for reading an oldest entry from said second storage means.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said dealer means further comprises means for deleting said oldest entry from said second storage means after said indicated redundant database has been updated.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising configuration table means for storing information regarding whether one or more of the plurality of redundant databases exists.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said distribution means further comprising means for sending an event indication message to said dealer means indicating that the change was received.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

third storage means within the database for storing the change made to the first database; and

means for sending a message to said distribution means indicating that the change has been stored in said third storage means.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising means for deleting the change from said third storage means after the change is stored in first storage means.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for sending the change to a second table, wherein said second table stores changes made to the first database.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for sending a trigger message to said distribution means to indicate that the change has been stored in said second table.

10. In a computer system having a first database that is updated by an application and a plurality of redundant databases, a system for updating one or more of the redundant databases to reflect a change made to said first database, comprising:

means for receiving an event indicating that the change has been made to said first database;

means for determining which one or more of the redundant databases is to be updated to reflect the change made to said first database;

table means for storing the change to be made to said determined one or more of the redundant databases;

means for retrieving the change from said table means and updating said one or more determined redundant databases to reflect the change; and

wherein the system performs the database updates without requiring involvement by the application updating the first database.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising storage means for storing information as to whether said one or more of the at least one redundant database by said means for determining exists in the computer system.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said table means comprises:

a first table for storing a message in a location, wherein said message indicates the change to said first database; and

a second table for storing an entry for each redundant database to be updated as determined by said means for determining, wherein each entry indicates said location in said first table of said message indicating the change.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said means for retrieving and updating comprises:

means for reading an oldest entry from said second table, said entry indicating a redundant database to be updated and indicating said location in said first table of the change for said indicated redundant database,

means for reading said location pointed to by said second table to retrieve the change from said first table, and

means for updating said indicated redundant database using the change retrieved from said first table.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said means for updating and deleting further comprises means for deleting said oldest entry from said second table after said indicated redundant database has been updated.

15. In a computer system having a first database that is updated by an application and at least one redundant database, a method of updating one or more of the at least one redundant database to reflect a change made to said first database, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving from the first database an event indicating that the change has been made to the first database;

(b) storing a message in a location in a first table, wherein said message indicates the change to said first database;

(c) determining which one or more of the at least one redundant database is to be updated to reflect the change made to the first database;

(d) updating a second table to include an entry for each redundant database to be updated as determined in said determination step (c), wherein each entry indicates said location in said first table of said message indicating the change; and

(e) updating each said redundant database to be updated as determined in step (c), step (e) comprising the steps of

i. reading an oldest entry from said second table, said entry indicating a redundant database to be updated and indicating said location in said first table of the change for said indicated redundant database,

ii. reading said location pointed to by said second table to retrieve the change from said first table, and

iii. updating said indicated redundant database using the change retrieved from said first table.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said steps (a)-(e) are performed by a distribution system and further comprising the steps, before said step (a), of:

storing in a delta table the change made to the first database; and

sending a first message to the distribution system indicating that the change has been stored in said delta table.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of deleting the change from said delta table after said message is stored in said first table.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of checking a configuration table to determine whether said one or more of the at least one redundant database determined in said step (c) exists in the computer system.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said step (e) is performed by a dealer, the method further comprising the step of sending an event indication message to said dealer indicating that said event was received in said step (a).

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein said step (e) further comprises the step of deleting said oldest entry from said second table after said indicated redundant database has been updated.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step (e) is repeated for each entry in said second table.

22. In a computer system having a first database that is updated by an application and a redundant database, a method of updating the redundant database to reflect a change made to said first database, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving from the first database an event indicating that the change has been made to the first database;

(b) storing a message in a location in a first table, wherein said message indicates the change to said first database;

(c) updating a second table to indicate said location in said first table of said message indicating the change; and

(d) updating the redundant database, comprising the steps of

i. reading an oldest entry from said second table, said entry indicating said location in said first table of the change for the redundant database,

ii. reading said location pointed to by said second table to retrieve the change from said first table, and

iii. updating the redundant database using the change retrieved from said first table.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said steps (a)-(d) are performed by a distribution system and further comprising the steps, before said step (a), of:

storing in a delta table the change made to the first database; and

sending said message to the distribution system indicating that the change has been stored in said delta table.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of deleting the change from said delta table after said message is stored in said first table.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein said step (d) is performed by a dealer, the method further comprising the step of sending an event indication message to said dealer indicating that said event was received in said step (a).

26. In a computer system having a first database that is updated by an application and a plurality of redundant databases, a method of updating one or more of the redundant databases to reflect a change made to said first database, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an event indicating that the change has been made to said first database;

(b) determining which one or more of the redundant databases is to be updated to reflect the change made to said first database;

(c) updating a table to reflect the change to be made to said one or more determined redundant databases; and

(d) retrieving the change from said table and updating said one or more determined redundant databases to reflect the change;

wherein said steps (a)-(d) are performed without requiring involvement by the application updating the first database.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of checking a configuration table to determine whether said one or more of the at least one redundant database determined in said step (b) exists in the computer system.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein said table comprises a first and a second table and said step (c) comprises the steps of:

i. storing a message in a location in said first table, wherein said message indicates the change to said first database; and

ii. updating said second table to include an entry for each redundant database to be updated as determined in said step (b), wherein each entry indicates said location in said first table of said message indicating the change.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said step (d) comprises the steps of:

i. reading an oldest entry from said second table, said entry indicating a redundant database to be updated and indicating said location in said first table of the change for said indicated redundant database,

ii. reading said location pointed to by said second table to retrieve the change from said first table, and

iii. updating said indicated redundant database using the change retrieved from said first table.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said step (d) further comprises the step of deleting said oldest entry from said second table after said indicated redundant database has been updated.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein said step (d) is repeated for each entry in said second table.

32. In a computer system having a first database that is updated by an application and at least one redundant database, a method of updating one or more of the at least one redundant database to reflect a change made to said first database, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving from the application the change to be made to the first database;

(b) updating the first database to reflect the change;

(c) sending an event to a first table, said event indicating that the change has been made to the first database;

(d) sending a first trigger to a distribution server, the trigger indicating that said event has been sent to said first table;

(e) said distribution server retrieving said event from said first table in response to said first trigger; and

(f) said distribution server updating one or more of the at least one redundant database to reflect the change made to the first database as determined by said retrieved event;

wherein said steps (c)-(f) are performed without requiring involvement by the application updating the first database.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of determining which one or more of the at least one redundant database is to be updated to reflect a change made to said first database.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of checking a configuration table to determine whether said one or more of the at least one redundant database determined exists in the computer system.

35. In a computer system having a first database that is updated by an application and a plurality of redundant databases, a method of updating one or more of the redundant databases to reflect a change made to said first database, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving from the application the change to be made to the first database;

(b) updating a first table in the first database to reflect the change;

(c) sending an event to a second table, said event indicating that the change has been made to said first table;

(d) sending a first trigger to a distribution server, the trigger indicating that said event has been sent to said second table;

(e) said distribution server retrieving said event from said second table in response to said first trigger;

(f) said distribution server determining which one or more of the at least one redundant database is to be updated to reflect the change made to said first database;

(g) said distribution server updating distribution tables to reflect the change to be made to said determined one or more of the redundant databases;

(h) said distribution server sending a second trigger to a dealer indicating that one or more of the redundant databases is to be updated; and

(i) said dealer retrieving the change from said distribution tables and updating said determined one or more of the redundant databases to reflect the change.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the step of deleting the change from said second table after said message is stored in said first table.

37. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the step of checking a configuration table to determine whether said one or more of the at least one redundant database determined in said step (f) exists in the computer system.

38. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the step of deleting said oldest entry from said second table after said indicated one or more of the redundant databases has been updated.