Flexible network platform and call processing system

• US 6,724,875 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1997
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schroeder, Timothy P., Parolkar, Satish, Doherty, James M., Chorley, Will R., Mueller, Stephen M., Slaten, Charles B., Cunetto, Philip C., Adams, Thomas L., LeMay, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAO, SUE X
• Application Number:
  US08/871,545
• Time in Patent Office: 2,507 Days
• Field of Search: 709/104, 709/102, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/226, 379/201.01, 379/201.03, 379/201.02
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/135 Service creation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13503 object-oriented systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13504 client/server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13526 resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A flexible network platform and call processing system are disclosed. The call processing system includes a particular call processing architecture and a resource managing system which allow new services to be implemented rapidly. An OAM&P subsystem and systems for performing data provisioning and service creation are each provided for use with the disclosed call processing system. The call processing system may include a call processing mechanism for performing call processing in accordance with defined service logic, and call processing resources connected to the call processing mechanism. The call processing resources are designed so that any service logic unit may be linked to any particular event that might occur in connection with the call processing system. A resource managing system is also disclosed for assigning resources for use by a call processing system. A resource is assigned in response to a request made by the call processing system specified capability. The resource managing system receives the request for a specified capability and allocates a logical resource object that identifies a particular resource that will support the specified resource capability.

Claims

1. A resource managing system for use in performing call processing comprising:

a call processing system having a multi-layered software architecture;

a plurality of physical resources, each physical resource supporting at least one basic capability;

logical resource objects representing physical resources and translating generic commands into commands understandable by the physical resource represented;

a resource broker having an index of basic capabilities, each basic capability referring to logical resource objects supporting the basic capability,

wherein the call processing system requests a basic capability and the resource broker determines the logical resource object supporting the requested basic capability by searching a set of resource objects comprising a plurality of elements, each element comprising a logical resource type, a basic capability, and a preference indication, the resource broker allocating the logical resource object to the call processing system; and

a preference system that determines which logical resource type supports the request in accordance with the preference indication when more than one logical resource satisfies the requested capability,

wherein each logical resource type has as many elements in the set of resource objects as the logical resource type has basic capabilities it supports.

2. The resource managing system according to claim 1, further comprising a confirmation system which confirms the allocation of the logical resource object to the call processing system thereby allowing the call processing system to begin using the requested basic capability.

3. The resource managing system according to claim 2, wherein the request represents a plurality of different basic capabilities required by the call processing system, and wherein

the confirmation system confirms the allocation only after logical resource objects supporting all the different requested basic capabilities have been allocated.

4. The resource managing system according to claim 1, wherein the request comprises a communication path designation for coupling the allocated resource to the call processing system.

5. A resource managing system for use in performing call processing comprising:

a call processing system having a multi-layered software architecture;

a plurality of physical resources, each physical resource supporting at least one basic capability;

logical resource objects representing physical resources and translating generic commands into commands understandable by the physical resource represented; and

a resource broker having an index of basic capabilities, each basic capability referring to logical resource objects supporting the basic capability,

wherein the call processing system requests a basic capability and the resource broker determines the logical resource object supporting the requested basic capability by searching a set of resource objects comprising a plurality of elements, each element comprising a logical resource type and a basic capability, the resource broker allocating the logical resource object to the call processing system,

wherein each logical resource type has as many elements in the set of resource objects as the logical resource type has basic capabilities it supports.

6. The resource managing system according to claim 5, further comprising a confirmation system which confirms the allocation of the logical resource object to the call processing system thereby allowing the call processing system to begin using the requested basic capability.

7. The resource managing system according to claim 6, wherein the request represents a plurality of different basic capabilities required by the call processing system, and wherein

the confirmation system confirms the allocation only after logical resource objects supporting all the different requested basic capabilities have been allocated.