Proxy database for element management system of telephone switching network

• US 6,512,824 B1
• Filed: 08/03/1999
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Services Fulfillment Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ren, Liwei, Marzullo, Phil A., Hsieh, Jian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, BING Q
• Application Number:
  US09/366,238
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.02, 379/201.03, 379/201.05, 379/201.12, 379/221.08, 379/219, 379/230, 707/10
• US Class Current: 379/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2263 Network management

Abstract

An element management system (“EMS”) interfaces between a telephone company computer or a terminal for use by a telephone company system administrator or customer service representative, and a telephone network element such as a central office or a group of central offices. In order to store and process subscriber data during the time periods when a telephone computer system is busy controlling telephone switching functions and therefore giving low priority to such data, the EMS contains a proxy database and maintains it between the periods when access to the telephone computer system is desired and available, without detrimentally involving the telephone computer system, the telephone switching network or any elements thereof. The EMS is capable of operating as the sole repository of subscriber data in a telephone computer system configured to operate in such an environment. The proxy database effectively mirrors subscriber data in one or more central offices and/or other network elements of the telephone computer system. By utilizing the proxy database, the EMS (i) provides relatively current subscriber data to telephone company personnel and systems, and (ii) accepts telephone network configuration commands from such personnel and systems, communicates the commands to the corresponding network elements, and upon receiving information indicating that the commands have been carried out, provides verification information to the client personnel and systems.

Claims

1. In a network element management system having means for communicating information from a telephone switching network to a client system, and for communicating configuration commands from the client system to the network, the improvement comprising:

a proxy database for storing subscriber data comprising information as to subscriber requirements and subscriber line characteristics;

bidirectional network interface means for coupling information from, and command signals to at least one element of said network having associated subscriber data storage means;

initialization means for initializing said proxy database at the startup of the element management system, by storing in said proxy database subscriber data received from said associated subscriber data storage means via said network interface means;

database updating means coupled to network interface means for repopulating said proxy database with current subscriber data stored in said associated subscriber data storage means to update the data in said proxy database;

query means responsive to a query signal from said client system for retrieving corresponding subscriber data from said proxy database and communicating the same to said client system;

configuration means responsive to a network element configuration command signal from said client system for altering the configuration of said at least one network element in accordance with said configuration command signal, said configuration means comprising

means for translating the configuration command signal into a corresponding network element command signal,

means for communicating the network element command signal to said at least one network element via said network interface means,

means for receiving at least one response signal comprising a corresponding item of subscriber data from said associated subscriber data storage means via said network interface means,

means for storing said corresponding item of subscriber data in said proxy database to update the same, and

means for communicating a response message corresponding to said response signal back to the client system; and

database synchronization means for synchronizing the subscriber data stored in the proxy database with the corresponding subscriber data stored in said associated subscriber data storage means, said database synchronization means comprising

means for downloading log files from said associated subscriber data storage means,

means for parsing the log files to detect any changes in said corresponding subscriber data made by network elements other than said element management system,

means for transmitting network element commands to said other network elements to retrieve said corresponding subscriber data therefrom, and

means for updating said proxy database with said retrieved corresponding subscriber data.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said response signal indicates whether or not the configuration change requested by said configuration command signal has occurred, and said response message provides verification information respecting said configuration command signal.

3. In a network element management system having means for communicating information from a telephone switching network to a client system, the improvement comprising:

a proxy database for storing subscriber data respecting subscriber requirements and subscriber line information;

network interface means for coupling information from at least one element of said network having associated subscriber data storage means to said proxy database;

initialization means for initializing said proxy database by storing in said proxy database data corresponding to subscriber requirements and subscriber line characteristics received from said associated subscriber data storage means via said network interface means;

database updating means coupled to said network interface means and modifying the data in said proxy database to reflect current subscriber data;

query means responsive to a query signal from said client system for retrieving corresponding data from said proxy database and communicating the same to said client system; and

database synchronization means coupled to said network interface means for synchronizing the subscriber data stored in the proxy database with the corresponding subscriber data stored in said associated subscriber data storage means.

4. The improvement according to claim 3, further comprising configuration means responsive to a network element configuration command signal containing configuration data from said client system, said configuration means comprising:

means for translating the configuration command signal into a corresponding network element command signal,

means for communicating the network element command signal said at least one network element via said network interface means,

means for receiving at least one response signal comprising a corresponding item of configuration data from said at least one network element via said network interface means,

means for storing said corresponding item of configuration data in said proxy database to update the same, and

means for communicating a response message corresponding to said response signal back to the client system.

5. The improvement according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said database synchronization means comprises:

means for downloading log files from said associated subscriber data storage means,

means for parsing the log files to detect any changes in the particular subscriber data respecting said at least one network element made by network elements other than said element management system,

means for transmitting network element commands to said other network elements to retrieve said particular subscriber data therefrom, and

means for updating said proxy database with said retrieved particular subscriber data.

6. The improvement according to claim 5, wherein said response signal indicates whether or not the configuration change requested by said configuration command signal has occurred, and said response message provides verification information respecting said configuration command signal.