Database updated in a mobile communication system

• US 6,871,068 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange Personal Communications Services Limited (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: O'Neill, Dominic Desmond Phelim
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US09/582,721
• Time in Patent Office: 2,282 Days
• Field of Search: 435/433, 435/426, 435/568, 435/8, 435/9, 707/10, 707/202, 707/204, 379/221.04, 379/133, 379/112.04, 379/112.05
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

In a telecommunications system a data function and a date control function are replicated in a plurality of databases (50, 51, 52, 53, 54). In order to synchronize updating of the databases (50, 51, 52, 53, 54), one database is identified as a primary database (50), at least one is identified as a primary standby database (51), and the others identified as secondary databases (52, 53, 54). Then, in normal operation, the data control function of the primary database (50) is arranged to generate signals for synchronized updating of the other databases. In the event of a failure of the primary database, the or a standby primary database (51) takes over the up-grading operating. Tee present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, directed to a telecommunications system for mobile telephones.

Claims

1. A telecommunication network having at least one database of functions for controlling the network, said database comprising at least a data function and a data control function;

characterised in that;

the database is replicated a plurality of times, the database of one of said replicated databases is a primary database, the data control function of which is arranged to generate signals for synchronised updating of all of said replicated databases, at least a second database is a primary standby database, the data control function of which is arranged to generate signals for synchronised updating of all of said replicated databases in the event of a failure of said primary database, and at least one secondary database other than said primary database and said primary standby database, wherein the at least secondary database is arranged to signal to said primary and/or said primary standby database when it has been updated in response to the updating signals from said primary database or said primary standby database.

2. A network according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of databases are primary standby databases.

3. A network according to claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary database is a plurality of secondary databases.

4. A method of operating a telecommunication network, in which the network is controlled by at least one database of functions, said database comprising at least a data function and a data control function;

characterised in that;

the database is replicated a plurality of times, and the method comprises;

designating one of said replicated databases as a primary database;

designating at least one other of said replicated databases as a primary standby database;

designating at least one other of said replicated databases as a secondary database;

updating all of said replicated databases on the basis of updating signals from said primary database unless said primary database has failed;

updating all of said replicated databases on the basis of updating signals from said at least one primary standby database when said primary database has failed; and

signaling to the primary and/or the primary standby database(s) when the at least one secondary database has been updated in response to the updating signals from the primary database or the primary standby database.

5. A method of operating a telecommunication network according to claim 4, wherein the at least one secondary database is a plurality of secondary databases.

6. A telecommunications network comprising:

a primary database having at least a data function and a data control function; and

a plurality of databases which are replicas of the primary database, wherein at least one of the plurality of databases in a primary standby database, and wherein at least one other of the plurality of databases is a secondary database;

wherein the data control function of the primary database is arranged to generate signals for synchronised updating the plurality of databases, and wherein the data control function of the primary standby database is arranged to generate signals for synchronised updating of the plurality of databases in the even of a failure of the primary database; and

wherein the at least one secondary database is arranged to signal to the primary or the primary standby database when it has been updated in response to the updating signals from the primary database.

7. A network according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of primary standby databases.

8. A telecommunications network according to claim 6, wherein the at least one secondary database is a plurality of secondary databases.

9. A method of operating a telecommunication network, comprising:

providing an initial database having at least a data function and a data control function;

replicating the initial database to form plurality of replicated databases;

designating one of the replicated databases as a primary database;

designating at least one other of the replicated databases as a primary standby database;

designating at least one other of said replicated databases as a secondary database;

updating all of the replicated database on the basis of updating signals received from the primary database unless the primary database has failed;

updating all of the replicated databases on the basis of updating signals from the at least one primary standby database when the primary database has failed; and

signaling to the primary and/or the primary standby database(s) when the at least one secondary database has been updated in response to the updating signals from the primary database or the primary standby database.

10. A method of operating a telecommunication network according to claim 9, wherein the at least one secondary database is a plurality of secondary databases.