Databases in telecommunications

• US 5,999,946 A
• Filed: 04/10/1996
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Svetz, Terry Gregory, Jackson, Allen, Kaplan, Robert Alan, Bailis, Jason Mansfield, Bell, Karen Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US08/630,249
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 395/615, 395/712, 379/201, 379/207, 379/93.04, 379/32, 707/201, 707/104, 709/35, 709/226, 455/404
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54533 Configuration data, translation, passwords, databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A telephone switch system is connected digitally to an external computer system operating database software and having access to a digitally stored database of information used by the switch. The switch performs data transactions on the database in the manner of a client. The database engine allows live queries, which automatically update querying clients as pertinent data changes. The database engine also allows query concentration, which caches query results and supplies the cached results to querying clients making identical queries within a prescribed period of time. The database engine further allows batch inserts, which allow a user to add a plurality of records with a single command.

Claims

1. A telecommunication switching system comprising:

(a) a telecommunication switch;

(b) a computer system located external to said telecommunication switch, said computer system executing standard database software;

(c) means for digital data communication between said computer system and said telecommunication switch;

(d) means for digital data storage accessible by said computer system and by said database software; and

(e) call processing software executing within said telecommunication switch, said call processing software able to manipulate said digital data through said database software.

2. A method for allowing a telephone switch to store and retrieve digital data, said digital data stored in a database on digital data storage means, said storage means accessible by a computer system, said computer system operating standard database management software, said computer system and storage means physically located external to said switch, said switch having client access to said database software through said computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) adding data to a database to reflect the current status of a telephone system by performing client inserts through said database software; and

(b) extracting data from the database to determine status of the telephone system by performing client queries through the database software.

3. An apparatus for management of data as part of a telecommunication system, said apparatus comprising:

(a) telecommunication equipment;

(b) a computer system, said computer system connected to allow digital communication with said telecommunication equipment;

(c) means for digital data storage accessible by said computer system and by a database software; and

(d) said database software allowing database clients to manipulate said data in a database, said database stored in said digital data storage means, said telecommunication equipment connected to said computer system as a client and able to access said software as a client, said database software also allowing said database clients to query said database software, said database software providing notice to said clients as to changes in query results during duration of said query.

4. An apparatus for management of a database as part of a telecommunication system, said apparatus comprising:

(a) telecommunication equipment;

(b) computer system, said computer system connected to allow digital communication with said telecommunication equipment;

(c) means for digital data storage accessible by said computer system and by a database software; and

(d) said database software allowing database clients to manipulate information in a database, said database stored in said digital data storage means, said telecommunication equipment connected to said computer hardware as a client and able to access said software as a client, said software also allowing said database clients to insert multiple records into said database through a single command to said database software.

5. An apparatus for management of a database as part of a telecommunication system, said apparatus comprising:

(a) telecommunication equipment;

(b) computer system, said computer system connected to allow digital communication with said telecommunication equipment;

(c) means for digital data storage accessible by said computer system and by a database software; and

(d) said database software allowing database clients to manipulate information in a database, said database stored in said digital data storage means, said telecommunication equipment connected to said computer hardware as a client and able to access said software as a client, said software storing query results in a cache storage, said software supplying query results from cache for subsequent identical queries while cached data is still valid.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein validity of said cached data is determined by comparison of time between original query and subsequent query is compared to a maximum allowed time.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said maximum allowed time is configurable.