Billing system utilizing a modified file transfer protocol for collecting non-file MIB tables for billing in an ATM network
First Claim
1. A billing system for use in an ATM network having a plurality of ATM switches, each of said switches responding to network users either directly or indirectly, via intermediate ATM switches, such that each of said switches establishes virtual connections from one network user to another network user, said system comprising:
- a) at least one data generator associated with one of the ATM switches, said data generator having means for generating billing data when virtual connections are established through the one of the switches and means for storing said billing data in an MIB table, said data generator having a modified TFTP communications capability, said modified TFTP communications capability including means for reading said billing data from said MIB table, means for generating TFTP packets containing said billing data read from said MIB table, and means for sending TFTP packets via TFTP protocol; and
b) a billing collector associated with the one of the ATM switches, said billing collector having standard TFTP communications capability, said standard TFTP communications capability includes means for receiving TFTP packets and means for saving data contained in TFTP packets to a file, wherein said at least one data generator reads said billing data from said MIB table, generates TFTP data packets containing said billing data, and sends said TFTP packets via TFTP protocol to said billing collector and said billing collector saves said billing data as a file.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ATM billing system includes a data (billing) generator at each slot of an ATM switch, a plurality of billing collectors, and a billing center coupled to the ATM network. The data generators are provided with SNMP communication capability and with a modified TFTP communication capability. The data generators monitor the MIBs in their respective slots in ATM switches and, in particular, monitor the contents of tables which contain accounting information. When a table is 90% full, the data generator sends a trap to the billing collector associated with the particular switch and the billing collector sends a TFTP GET request to the data generator. The modified TFTP protocol in the data generator creates a pseudo filename, generates TFTP data packets containing the entire contents of the MIB billing table, and sends the packets according to TFTP protocol to the billing collector. The billing collector uses standard TFTP protocol to receive the TFTP packets and assemble them as a file which is stored. Upon successful receipt of the billing data, the billing collector sends the TFTP acknowledgement to the data generator and the data generator deletes the records in the MIB table for terminated calls. The billing collectors periodically read the billing data files and convert the data contained therein to a format which is suitable for the billing center.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A billing system for use in an ATM network having a plurality of ATM switches, each of said switches responding to network users either directly or indirectly, via intermediate ATM switches, such that each of said switches establishes virtual connections from one network user to another network user, said system comprising:
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a) at least one data generator associated with one of the ATM switches, said data generator having means for generating billing data when virtual connections are established through the one of the switches and means for storing said billing data in an MIB table, said data generator having a modified TFTP communications capability, said modified TFTP communications capability including means for reading said billing data from said MIB table, means for generating TFTP packets containing said billing data read from said MIB table, and means for sending TFTP packets via TFTP protocol; and b) a billing collector associated with the one of the ATM switches, said billing collector having standard TFTP communications capability, said standard TFTP communications capability includes means for receiving TFTP packets and means for saving data contained in TFTP packets to a file, wherein said at least one data generator reads said billing data from said MIB table, generates TFTP data packets containing said billing data, and sends said TFTP packets via TFTP protocol to said billing collector and said billing collector saves said billing data as a file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A billing system for use in an ATM network having a plurality of ATM switches, each of said switches responding to network users either directly or indirectly, via intermediate ATM switches, such that each of said switches establishes virtual connections from one network user to another network user, said system comprising:
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a) a plurality of data generators, each data generator associated with a respective ATM switch and having means for generating billing data based on virtual connections established through said respective ATM switch and means for storing said billing data in a respective MIB table, each of said data generators having a modified TFTP communications capability, said modified TFTP communications capability including means for reading said billing data from said MIB table, means for generating TFTP packets containing said billing data read from said MIB table, and means for sending TFTP packets via TFTP protocol; and b) a plurality of billing collectors, each billing collector associated with an ATM switch, said billing collectors having standard TFTP communications capability, said standard TFTP communications capability includes means for receiving TFTP packets and means for saving data contained in TFTP packets to a file, wherein each of said data generators reads said billing data from said MIB table, generates TFTP data packets containing said billing data, and sends said TFTP packets via modified TFTP protocol to a respective billing collector and said respective billing collector saves said billing data as a file.
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9. A billing system for use in an ATM telecommunications network, comprising:
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a) an ATM switch coupled to the network and including means responsive either directly or indirectly to network users for establishing virtual connections through said ATM switch between said network users, said ATM switch having data generator means for generating billing data based on said virtual connections established through said ATM switch and storing said billing data in an MIB table, said data generator means having a modified TFTP communications capability, said modified TFTP communications capability including means for reading said billing data from said MIB table, means for generating TFTP packets containing said billing data read from said MIB table, and means for sending TFTP packets via TFTP protocol; and b) a billing collector associated with said ATM switch, said billing collector having TFTP communications capability, said TFTP communications capability includes means for receiving TFTP packets and means for saving data contained in TFTP packets to a file, wherein said data generator means reads said billing data from said MIB table, generates TFTP data packets containing said billing data, and sends said TFTP packets via modified TFTP protocol to said billing collector and said billing collector saves said billing data as a file.
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10. A method of generating and collecting billing information in an ATM network having a plurality of ATM switches, each of the switches responding to network users either directly or indirectly, via intermediate ATM switches, such that each of the switches establishes virtual connections from one network user to another network user, said system, comprising:
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a) generating billing data based on the virtual connections established through an ATM switch; b) storing the billing data in an MIB table; c) reading the billing data from the MIB table; d) generating TFTP packets containing the billing data read from the MIB table; and e) sending the TFTP packets via a modified TFTP protocol to a billing collector. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of transmitting MIB information from an MIB table in an ATM switch over an ATM network where MIB table entries are made by the switch when virtual connections are established between network users through the switch, said method comprising:
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a) reading data from the MIB table in the ATM switch; b) generating TFTP packets containing the data read from the MIB table; and c) sending the TFTP packets via a modified TFTP protocol from the ATM switch to a data requestor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification