Method for creating and modifying similar and dissimilar databases for use in operator services configurations for telecommunications systems

• US 6,243,712 B1
• Filed: 04/02/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Watson, Eric B., Mahaney, William T., Lennert, Joseph Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOULES, JACK M
• Application Number:
  US09/054,206
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 107/104, 107/203, 107/204, 379/14, 379/201, 379/207, 379/220, 379/226, 379/227, 379/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/558 Databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider
• 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 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

This invention uses a computer program to mine preexisting operator services configuration data located in a variety of preexisting source operator services configuration databases. The computer program either creates a new operator services configuration database from parts of existing operator services configuration databases or modifies an existing operator services configuration database. The computer program replaces the current system'"'"'s reliance upon manual data entry by data engineers to configure the operation of a new telecommunication switch or replace the software in a telecommunication switch that was damaged or requires a new operator services configuration data configuration. This invention provides accurate and timely customer information, significantly decreases the time interval for engineering a new operator services configuration database, decreases the research and data entry time, decreases the interval for lab planning and project management, improves operator services configuration database integrity, provides a cleaner operator services configuration database, reuses existing operator services configuration data eliminating double data entry, reuses some existing software code, and uses preexisting office data administration tools and provides a platform for future growth and expandability. By accomplishing these tasks, the telecommunication switch manufacturer or telecommunication switch operator saves time, money and decreases time-to-market product and service schedules.

Claims

1. A process for configuring an operator services database consisting of the steps of:

selecting an operator services database engineering computer program;

selecting characteristics desired in the new operator services database;

selecting a location of the new operator services database;

creating an operator services data directory structure for the new operator services database capable of receiving new data copied from at least one source database;

selecting from the at least one source database, source data for copying into the operator services data directory structure;

creating an index of data elements for the at least one source database;

creating an index of operator services data from the at least one source database;

converting the selected operator services data from a binary format to an ASCII format;

copying the ASCII formatted data into a memory structure;

determining if the ASCII formatted data is the same version or release;

evolving the ASCII formatted data if the ASCII formatted data is not the same;

merging the ASCII formatted data into the operator services data directory structure;

converting the ASCII formatted data to binary formatted data; and

loading the binary formatted data into the operator services data directory structure.

2. The process for configuring the operator services database described in claim 1, further comprising the step of locating the operator services database engineering computer program on one machine.

3. The process for configuring the operator services database described in claim 1, further comprising the step of locating the operator services database engineering computer program on multiple machines virtually connected via a network file share capability.

4. The process for configuring the operator services database described in claim 1, further comprising the step of locating the operator services database engineering computer program on multiple machines virtually connected via a network file share capability allowing all the virtual machines to appear as one machine and containing all existing source databases or source data resources.

5. The process for configuring the operator services database described in claim 1, further comprising the step synchronizing at least one source database having access utilities with the same versions that correspond to additional source databases.

6. The process for configuring the operator services database described in claim 1, further comprising the step of checking the location where the new operator services data directory structure will be located for the existence of data.

7. The process for configuring the operator services database described in claim 1, where the synchronizing at least one source database has access utilities.

8. A method comprising the steps of:

based on a plurality of characteristic elements desired in the database, selecting one or more source databases;

searching the one or more source databases for data fields related to the plurality of characteristic elements desired in the database;

selecting data from the data fields;

converting the selected data into formatted data;

determining whether the formatted data is the same version or release;

evolving the formatted data when the formatted data is not the same version or release; and

loading the formatted data into the database.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data represents at least one of:

DSL assignment data;

TCP/IP assignment data;

IP addresses;

IP address to port data;

digit tables;

IP access number data;

ETSI operator services data; and

AMI operator services data.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering authorized calling numbers for the database.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering booking priorities and codes for the database.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering announced text patterns and line code digit information for the database.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering operator assignments for the database.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering office options for the database.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering service center to administration processor number maps for the database.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering a number of operator queue determinations for the database.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering country code and international routing numbers for the database.

18. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering expanded operator queue determinations for the database.

20. The method of claim 8, wherein the data represents at least one of:

DSL assignment data;

TCP/IP assignment data;

IP addresses;

IP address to port data;

digit tables;

IP access number data;

ETSI operator services data; and

AMI operator services data.

21. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering authorized calling numbers for the database.

22. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering booking priorities and codes for the database.

23. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering announced text patterns and line code digit information for the database.

24. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering operator assignments for the database.

25. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering office options for the database.

26. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering service center to administration processor number maps for the database.

27. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering a number of operator queue determinations for the database.

28. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering country code and international routing numbers for the database.

29. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engineering expanded operator queue determinations for the database.

19. A method comprising the steps of:

selecting a location for a database;

creating a directory structure for the database;

based on a plurality of characteristic elements desired in the database, selecting one or more source databases;

searching the one or more source databases for data fields related to the plurality of characteristic elements desired in the database;

selecting data from the data fields;

converting the selected data into formatted data;

determining whether the formatted data is the same version or release; and

evolving the formatted data when the formatted data is not the same version or release; and

loading the formatted data into the database.