Method of forwarding data from a network element and an arrangement for uitilizing data from a network element

• US 6,819,751 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lewis, Peter Reginald, Kilkelly, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu, Binh
• Application Number:
  US10/258,724
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112.01, 379/112.06, 379/112.09, 379/114.01, 379/126, 379/133, 379/134, 379/137, 379/141, 379/112.05, 379/115.01, 379/115.03, 379/121.01, 379/127.02
• US Class Current: 379/126
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management

Abstract

This invention relates to switching and operational support systems in the area of general telecommunications and more particularly, to a new type of solution for forwarding data from a network element and to a new type of solution for utilizing data from a network element. In a method of forwarding data according to the invention the software module that supports the customer billing information data stream is adapted to include the complete usage data information for the whole network element as well as the customer billing information. This usage data stream can then be obtained by different systems for various purposes.

Claims

1. A method of collecting and communicating telecommunication data within a telecommunication network, said method further comprising the steps of:

collecting a plurality of data within said telecommunication network wherein said plurality of data represents usage data associated with a telecommunications element within said telecommunications network wherein said plurality of data are independent of any particular data receiver;

storing said collected plurality of data within a mediation element;

identifying a plurality of data receivers for receiving certain of said plurality of data;

generating a separate data record for each of said plurality of data receivers wherein said data record includes certain of said plurality of data specified by each of said data receiver;

transmitting each of said data records to said identified data receiver; and

wherein each of said data receiver is selectively capable of receiving a second data record including said certain of plurality of data specified by said each data receiver and transmitted by said telecommunications element to said each data receiver.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said mediation element further stores criteria data received from a particular data receiver indicating certain portion of said plurality of data to be communicated to said data receiver.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said data record comprises Call Detail Records (CDR).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said data receivers include customer billing system.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said data receivers include Network Element Manager System.

6. A telecommunications network including a plurality of network elements for processing and transporting data therein and a plurality of network applications for collecting and analyzing usage data associated with processing and transporting said data within said network, further comprising:

a mediation device communicably coupled between said plurality of network elements and said plurality of network applications wherein said mediation device further comprising;

a receiving module for receiving first data from one or more of said plurality of network elements wherein said first data represents usage data generated by said network elements and wherein said first data are independent of any particular network application;

a record for storing criteria data indicating certain ones of said usage data to be forwarded to each of said plurality of network applications wherein each network application is associated with different criteria; and

a transmitter module for transmitting a different data record to each of said network applications wherein said data record includes only those data within said first data identified by said criteria data associated with said each of said network applications;

wherein each of said network applications is selectively capable of receiving a second data record transmitted by a particular one of network elements wherein said second data record includes only those data identified be said criteria data associated with said network element.

7. The telecommunications network of claim 6 wherein said particular one of said plurality of network elements is selectively capable of receiving data record from said second mediation device.

8. The telecommunications network of claim 6 wherein said data record comprises Call Detailed Record (CDR).

9. The telecommunications network of claim 6 wherein said plurality of network applications include customer billing system.

10. The telecommunications network of claim 6 wherein said plurality of network applications include Network Element Manager for providing operational and maintenance (OMS) support.