System and method for processing call detail records

• US 6,396,913 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NetCracker Technology Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Convergys Corporation
• Inventors: Perkins, Frank Clifford III
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/425,548
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112,113,114,115,119,121,133,134,34,112.01,112.02,112.04,112.05,112.1
• US Class Current: 379/112.01
• 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 15/31 Distributed metering or calculation of charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• 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 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0172 Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/96 Distributed calculation of charges, e.g. in different nodes like for mobiles between HLR and VLR, or between the terminal and the billing function
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A system and method for partitioning call detail records (CDRs) is disclosed. CDRs are grouped and routed based on one or more digits of the billable telephone number or the billable mobile identification number (MIN). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the last two digits of the billable telephone number or MIN are used. Once partitioned, the CDRs may be distributed across multiple processes for additional processing. In addition, subscriber, rate, and other information that may be necessary for usage processing is routed to processes based on the corresponding billable telephone number or MIN. Partitioning of CDRs and related data based on digits of the billable telephone number or MIN results in statistically balanced loading due to the random nature of calls and telephone number assignments

Claims

1. A method for processing call detail records comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting a plurality call detail records from a switch;

(b) creating a plurality of data stores;

(c) reading the last two digits from a billable telephone number field of a call detail record;

(d) assigning said call detail record to one of said plurality of data stores based on said last two digits from said billable telephone number field of said call detail record;

(e) determining whether a limit for said data store is met;

(f) repeating steps (c)-(d) if said limit for said data store is not met; and

(g) usage processing said call detail records in said data store if said limit for said data store is met.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining whether said data store limit is met comprises of determining the age of said the steps of:

converting each of said call detail records from a switch format to an internal processing format;

determining whether each of said call detail records meets filtering criteria; and

determining whether each of said call detail records is a duplicate of a record previously received.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining whether said data store limit is met comprises the step of determining the age of said call detail records in said data store.

2. A method for processing call detail records comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting a plurality call detail records from a switch;

(b) creating a plurality of data stores;

(c) reading digits from a billable telephone number field of a call detail record;

(d) assigning said call detail record to one of said plurality of data stores based on said digits from said call detail record;

(e) determining whether a limit for said data store is met;

(f) repeating steps (c)-(d) if said limit for said data store is not met;

(g) usage processing said call detail records in said data store if said limit for said data store is met;

(h) creating a cache of data based on said digits from said call detail records in said data store; and

(i) processing said call detail records using said data cache.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of processing said call detail records in said data store comprises the steps of:

converting each of said call detail records from a switch format to an internal processing format;

determining whether each of said call detail records meets filtering criteria; and

determining whether each of said call detail records is a duplicate of a record previously received.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of determining whether said data store limit is met comprises the step of determining the age of said call detail records in said data store.

5. A method for partitioning call detail records, comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a plurality of call detail records from a switch;

(b) creating a plurality of usage processors, said usage processor adapted to process call detail records;

(c) examining at least one digit from a billable telephone number or MIN field in a call detail record;

(d) assigning said call detail record to one of said plurality of usage processors based on said at least one digit; and

(e) repeating steps (c)-(d) until no more call detail records are transmitted from said switch;

(f) creating a cache of data by selecting records from a database in accordance with said at least one digit; and

(g) processing said call detail records using said data cache.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of assigning said call detail record to one of said plurality of usage processors based on said at least one digit comprises the step of holding said call detail record in a data store accessible by one of said plurality of usage processors.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said data store is an internal holding queue.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of writing the contents of said internal holding queue to a file when said internal holding queue has reached a pre-defined limit.