Method, system, and computer program product for managing database servers and service

• US 7,123,608 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Array Telecom Corporation
• Inventors: Scott, Mark, Wong, William, Cheng, Anita, Ho, Simon, Irimescu, George, Voineag, Dorel, Yao, Min, Zadeh, Row J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, Cynthia L.
• Application Number:
  US09/527,915
• Time in Patent Office: 2,405 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/353
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product for managing database servers and services is disclosed, which expands the capabilities of existing systems by providing better scalability and security. A database management system includes databases consisting of database clients and servers that handle the storing of information, a multi-database client that manages database servers, service modules which allow other systems to access the database servers, and a database access manager that manages requests from the service modules. A database access manager facilitates and coordinates interaction between the service modules and the multi-database client. Service modules provide interfaces from which other external or internal systems can access the managed databases. Requests can be sent between systems and the database access manager via the service modules. Two present and representative implementations of service modules are: user management and call detail record (CDR) collection. The user management service module allows systems to access user account information stored in the databases. The CDR collection service module inserts details for each call made on the network.

Claims

1. A system for providing database services in a voice communication system over a packet-switched network, comprising:

at least one database that stores data relating to Internet Protocol (IP) telephony;

at least one database client server that accesses said at least one database;

at least one database client that accesses said at least one database client server;

a plurality of service modules including at least an account management service module and a call detail record (CDR) service module;

a multi-database client that manages each service module'"'"'s access to said at least one database client; and

a database access manager that monitors each service module'"'"'s access to said multi-database client.

2. A system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of service modules includes an event log service module.

3. A system of claim 2, wherein said service module for logging events comprises:

receiving means for receiving a request for service;

determining means for determining the type of service being requested;

recording means for recording said request for service and the details of the service provided as an event; and

sending means for sending said event to a multi-database client.

4. A system of claim 1, wherein said at least one database includes a relational database.

5. A system of claim 1, wherein said at least one database includes a non-relational database.

6. A system of claim 1, wherein said at least one database and said at least one database client server are configured behind a firewall.

7. A system of claim 6, wherein said at least one database client accesses said at least one database client server through said firewall.

8. A system of claim 1, wherein said service module for managing accounts comprises:

obtaining means for obtaining account information;

requesting means for requesting said account information from at least one multi-database client;

receiving means for receiving said account information from at least one multi-database client;

first forwarding means for forwarding said account information to a multi-database client; and

second forwarding means for forwarding said account information to a database access manager.

9. A system of claim 8, wherein said account information includes a user'"'"'s name, telephone number, identification number, password, system service access level, billing information, and preferred calling patterns.

10. A system of claim 8, wherein said account information includes a group'"'"'s name, identification number, password, system service access level, usage restrictions, billing information, and preferred calling patterns.

11. A system of claim 1, wherein said service module for recording call details comprises:

recording means for recording call details;

storing means for storing said call details in a call detail records server;

first sending means for sending said call details to a multi-client database;

receiving means for receiving a request for said stored call detail records from a database access manager; and

second sending means for sending said stored called details to said multi-database client from said call detail records server.

12. A system of claim 11, wherein said storing means comprises:

a local cache to automatically store call detail records, wherein said service module for recording call details stores said call details when first sending means is unsuccessful.

13. A system of claim 1, wherein said database access manager comprises:

connecting means for connecting the service modules to the multi-database client;

monitoring means for monitoring requests for service from said service modules to a multi-database client;

authorizing means for authorizing said requests for service from said service modules to said multi-database client; and

prioritizing means for prioritizing said requests for service from said service modules to said multi-database client.

14. A system of claim 1, wherein said multi-database client comprises:

first connecting means for connecting with the service modules;

second connecting means for connecting with the at least one database client;

receiving means for receiving requests for service from said service modules;

queuing means for queuing said requests for service from said service modules;

forwarding means for forwarding requests for service from said service modules to said at least one database client; and

confirming means for confirming with said at least one database client that said requests for service from said service modules was received as forwarded.

15. A system of claim 1, further comprising:

another at least one database client server that receives requests from said multi-database client;

another at least one database client that receives said requests from said another at least one database client server; and

another at least one database that receives said requests from said at least one another database client.

16. The database services according to claim 1, further including computer interface means for displaying said database services to a predetermined computer, information being exchanged with said predetermined computer, said computer interface means being capable of configuring said database services.