Method and system for optimizing switch-transaction processing in a telecommunications network

• US 7,184,439 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Fallis, Kevin Michael, Aubuchon, Kenneth James, Johnson, Daniel Christian, Harris, Ronald Christopher, Ewy, Robert Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong; Blanche
• Application Number:
  US10/134,810
• Time in Patent Office: 1,765 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.1
• US Class Current: 370/395.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering

Abstract

A method, system and article for optimizing the processing of switch transactions and updating multiple switches of a communications network based on a single transaction is provided. When a switch is backlogged with transactions beyond a threshold quantity, those transactions heading to the backlogged switch are grouped together, placed in a file and sent to the switch as a single transaction. Some of the batched individual transactions may be dependent upon other switches as well. The present invention accommodates for multiple dependencies and responds with a success notification only when all portions of the original transaction are complete. In another aspect of the invention, where multiple switches require updating, such updating can be accomplished with only a single transaction. Switch identification information is included with the transaction permitting multiple switches to be updated from the single transaction.

Claims

1. A method for processing a switch transaction for updating multiple switches of a telecommunications network, comprising:

receiving a first switch transaction bound for a first target switch and at least a second target switch;

grouping said first switch transaction with other switch transactions also bound for said first target switch, wherein said grouping of said first switch transaction with the other switch transactions comprises;

determining that said first target switch is backlogged with switch transactions beyond a threshold quantity;

determining which of said backlogged switch transactions can be grouped; and

placing said backlogged switch transactions into a first data file; and

updating said multiple switches in response to processing said grouped transactions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said updating said multiple switches, comprises:

transmitting a first data file to a batching manager for preparing said first switch transaction and said other transactions for processing;

creating a first child transaction from said first switch transaction wherein said first child transaction includes updating said first target switch;

creating a second child transaction from said first switch transaction wherein said second child transaction includes updating said second target switch;

creating a second data file comprising said first child transaction and other transactions bound for said first switch; and

creating a third data file comprising said second child transaction and other transactions bound for said second switch.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

inserting a first identification marker into said second data file to identify said first child transaction as a child of said first switch transaction; and

inserting a second identification marker into said third data file to identify said second child transaction as a child of said first switch transaction.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

processing said second data file by said first target switch; and

processing said third data file by said second target switch.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

preserving said first and second identification markers as said second and third data files are processed by said first target switch;

marking a completion within said second data file of said first child transaction after the processing of said second data file; and

marking a completion within said third data file of said second child transaction after the processing of said third data file.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting said second data file back to said batching manager; and

retrieving said completed first child transaction.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising maintaining said first child transaction until said third data file is received by said batching manager.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting said third data file back to said batching manager.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

retrieving said completed second child transaction; and

completing said first switch transaction in response to retrieving said completed second child transaction.

10. A system for processing a switch transaction for updating multiple switches of a telecommunications network, comprising:

a transaction-receiving component for receiving a first switch transaction bound for a first target switch and at least a second target switch;

a transaction-grouping component, logically coupled with said transaction-receiving component, for grouping said first switch transaction with other switch transactions also bound for said first target switch, wherein said grouping of said first switch transaction with the other switch transactions comprises;

determining that said first target switch is backlogged with switch transactions beyond a threshold quantity;

determining which of said backlogged switch transactions can be grouped; and

placing said backlogged switch transactions into a first data file; and

a multiple switch updating component, logically coupled with said transaction-grouping component, for updating said multiple switches in response to processing said grouped transactions.

11. A system for processing a switch transaction for updating multiple switches of a telecommunications network, comprising:

a feed handler to accept an incoming transaction;

a batching manager to group a set of transactions, wherein said batching manager comprises;

an optimizer for generating a plurality of subfiles comprising a plurality of child transactions to be processed by a single switch logically coupled with said transaction scheduler;

an optimizer master for matching said plurality of child transactions to a parent transaction logically coupled with said originating service request system responder; and

an optimizer slave responder for creating a response file for each of said plurality of child transactions logically coupled to said transaction scheduler, said originating service request system responder, and to said optimizer master;

a switch-command sender logically coupled to at least one switch;

a transaction scheduler to send a single transaction to a plurality of switches and logically coupled with said feed handler, said batching manager, and said switch-command sender; and

an originating service-request system responder logically coupled with said batching manager and said transaction scheduler.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said feed handler comprises:

a service request sending system for accepting an incoming switch transaction; and

a transaction generator logically coupled with said service request sending system for populating a first database table and a second database table wherein said first database table comprises an instruction for said switch and said second database table comprises a transaction scheduling command.

13. Apparatus for processing a switch transaction bound for multiple switches of a telecommunications network, comprising:

means for receiving a first switch transaction bound for a first target switch and at least a second target switch;

means for grouping said first switch transaction with other switch transactions also bound for said first target switch, wherein said grouping of said first switch transaction with the other switch transactions comprises;

determining that said first target switch is backlogged with switch transactions beyond a threshold quantity;

determining which of said backlogged switch transactions can be grouped; and

placing said backlogged switch transactions into a first data file; and

means for updating said multiple switches in response to processing said grouped transactions.

14. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable code embodied thereon, said computer-readable medium for processing a switch transaction bound for multiple switches of a telecommunications network, said computer-readable code, comprising:

code for receiving a first switch transaction bound for a first target switch and at least a second target switch;

code for grouping said first switch transaction with other switch transactions also bound for said first target switch, wherein computer code for grouping said first switch transaction with other switch transactions, comprises;

code for determining that said first target switch is backlogged with switch transactions beyond a threshold quantity;

code for determining which of said backlogged switch transactions can be grouped; and

code for placing said backlogged switch transactions into a first data file; and

code for updating said multiple switches in response to processing said grouped transactions.

15. The computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein computer code for updating said multiple switches, comprises:

code for transmitting said first data file to a batching manager for preparing said first switch transaction and said other transactions for processing;

code for creating a first child transaction from said first switch transaction wherein said first child transaction includes updating said first target switch;

code for creating a second child transaction from said first switch transaction wherein said second child transaction includes updating said second target switch;

code for creating a second data file comprising said first child transaction and other transactions bound for said first switch; and

code for creating a third data file comprising said second child transaction and other transactions bound for said second switch.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 15, further comprising:

code for inserting an identification marker into said second data file to identify said first child transaction as a child of said first switch transaction; and

code for inserting an identification marker into said third data file to identify said second child transaction as a child of said first switch transaction.

17. The computer-readable media of claim 16, further comprising:

code for processing said second data file by said first target switch; and

code for processing said third data file by said second target switch.

18. The computer-readable media of claim 17, further comprising:

code for preserving said first and second identification markers as said second and third data files are processed by said first target switch;

code for marking a completion within said second data file of said first child transaction after the processing of said second data file; and

code for marking a completion within said third data file of said second child transaction after the processing of said third data file.

19. The computer-readable media of claim 18, further comprising:

code for transmitting said second data file back to said batching manager; and

code for retrieving said completed first child transaction.

20. The computer-readable media of claim 19, further comprising:

code for holding said first child transaction;

code for transmitting said third data file back to said batching manager; and

code for completing said first switch transaction in response to retrieving said completed second child transaction.

21. A method for processing a switch transaction for updating multiple switches of a telecommunications network, comprising:

receiving a first switch transaction bound for a first target switch and at least a second target switch;

grouping said first switch transaction with other switch transactions also bound for said first target switch; and

updating said multiple switches in response to processing said grouped transactions, wherein said updating said multiple switches, comprises;

transmitting a first data file to a batching manager for preparing said first switch transaction and said other transactions for processing;

creating a first child transaction from said first switch transaction wherein said first child transaction includes updating said first target switch;

creating a second child transaction from said first switch transaction wherein said second child transaction includes updating said second target switch;

creating a second data file comprising said first child transaction and other transactions bound for said first switch; and

creating a third data file comprising said second child transaction and other transactions bound for said second switch.

22. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable code embodied thereon, said computer-readable medium for processing a switch transaction bound for multiple switches of a telecommunications network, said computer-readable code, comprising:

code for receiving a first switch transaction bound for a first target switch and at least a second target switch;

code for grouping said first switch transaction with other switch transactions also bound for said first target switch; and

code for updating said multiple switches in response to processing said grouped transactions, wherein computer code for updating said multiple switches, comprises;

code for transmitting said first data file to a batching manager for preparing said first switch transaction and said other transactions for processing;

code for creating a first child transaction from said first switch transaction wherein said first child transaction includes updating said first target switch;

code for creating a second child transaction from said first switch transaction wherein said second child transaction includes updating said second target switch;

code for creating a second data file comprising said first child transaction and other transactions bound for said first switch; and

code for creating a third data file comprising said second child transaction and other transactions bound for said second switch.

23. A system for processing a switch transaction for updating multiple switches of a telecommunications network, comprising:

a transaction-receiving component for receiving a first switch transaction bound for a first target switch and at least a second target switch;

a transaction-grouping component, logically coupled with said transaction-receiving component, for grouping said first switch transaction with other switch transactions also bound for said first target switch; and

a multiple switch updating component, logically coupled with said transaction-grouping component, for updating said multiple switches in response to processing said grouped transactions, wherein said updating said multiple switches, comprises;

transmitting a first data file to a batching manager for preparing said first switch transaction and said other transactions for processing;

creating a first child transaction from said first switch transaction wherein said first child transaction includes updating said first target switch;

creating a second child transaction from said first switch transaction wherein said second child transaction includes updating said second target switch;

creating a second data file comprising said first child transaction and other transactions bound for said first switch; and

creating a third data file comprising said second child transaction and other transactions bound for said second switch.