System and method for billing system interface failover resolution
First Claim
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- determining whether a first application server of a group of N application servers having only a single coordinator, N being at least two, is said coordinator of said group, each of said N application servers having an instance of a software component thereon;
responsive to determining that said first application server is said coordinator of said group, establishing a connection between said first application server and a billing system, via;
a transfer control protocol connection between said first application server and a terminal server, anda serial cable between said terminal server and said billing system, such that only a single one of said N application servers can connect to said billing system at any given time, said connection between said first application server and said terminal server including an instance of said software component residing on said first application server running on a processor of said first application server to initiate said transfer control protocol connection between said first application server and said terminal server, those of said N application servers other than said first application server not running, except for a heartbeat function, while said first application server is said coordinator of said group;
determining whether a second application server of said group of N application servers is said coordinator of said group;
responsive to determining that said second application server is not said coordinator of said group, continuing to check whether said second application server of said group of N application servers is said coordinator of said group;
responsive to said first application server experiencing difficulty, determining that said second application server now is said coordinator of said group; and
responsive to determining that said second application server now is said coordinator of said group, establishing a connection between said second application server and said billing system, via;
a transfer control protocol connection between said second application server and said terminal server, andsaid serial cable between said terminal server and said billing system, said connection between said second application server and said terminal server including an instance of said software component residing on said second application server running on a processor of said second application server to initiate said transfer control protocol connection between said second application server and said terminal server, those of said N application servers other than said second application server not running, except for said heartbeat function, while said second application server is said coordinator of said group;
wherein said determining steps are carried out by said heartbeat function sending multicast heartbeats over a transmission control protocol/internet protocol network connecting said N application servers.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A determination is made whether a first application server of a group of N application servers, N being at least two, is a coordinator of the group. Responsive to determining that the first application server is the coordinator of the group, a connection to a billing system is established, via a terminal server, by the first application server. A determination is made whether a second application server of the group of N application servers is the coordinator of the group. Responsive to determining that the second application server is not the coordinator of the group, a periodic check is made whether the second application server of the group of N application servers is the coordinator of the group. The second application server may later be determined to be the coordinator of the group, when the first server experiences difficulty. Once it is determined that the second application server now is the coordinator of the group, a connection is established to the billing system, via the terminal server, by the second application server.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether a first application server of a group of N application servers having only a single coordinator, N being at least two, is said coordinator of said group, each of said N application servers having an instance of a software component thereon; responsive to determining that said first application server is said coordinator of said group, establishing a connection between said first application server and a billing system, via; a transfer control protocol connection between said first application server and a terminal server, and a serial cable between said terminal server and said billing system, such that only a single one of said N application servers can connect to said billing system at any given time, said connection between said first application server and said terminal server including an instance of said software component residing on said first application server running on a processor of said first application server to initiate said transfer control protocol connection between said first application server and said terminal server, those of said N application servers other than said first application server not running, except for a heartbeat function, while said first application server is said coordinator of said group; determining whether a second application server of said group of N application servers is said coordinator of said group; responsive to determining that said second application server is not said coordinator of said group, continuing to check whether said second application server of said group of N application servers is said coordinator of said group; responsive to said first application server experiencing difficulty, determining that said second application server now is said coordinator of said group; and responsive to determining that said second application server now is said coordinator of said group, establishing a connection between said second application server and said billing system, via; a transfer control protocol connection between said second application server and said terminal server, and said serial cable between said terminal server and said billing system, said connection between said second application server and said terminal server including an instance of said software component residing on said second application server running on a processor of said second application server to initiate said transfer control protocol connection between said second application server and said terminal server, those of said N application servers other than said second application server not running, except for said heartbeat function, while said second application server is said coordinator of said group; wherein said determining steps are carried out by said heartbeat function sending multicast heartbeats over a transmission control protocol/internet protocol network connecting said N application servers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system comprising:
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a broadband provisioning system, said broadband provisioning system in turn comprising a group of N operatively interconnected application servers having only a single coordinator, N being at least two, each of said N application servers having an instance of a software component thereon; at least two billing systems; at least two terminal servers, each of said billing systems having at least one of said terminal servers associated therewith and operatively coupled thereto via a corresponding one of at least two serial cables, said terminal servers being selectively coupled to said N application servers; wherein said N application servers are cooperatively configured to; determine whether a first of said application servers is said coordinator of said group; responsive to determining that said first application server is said coordinator of said group, establish a connection between said first application server and a given one of said billing systems, via; a transfer control protocol connection between said first application server and a corresponding one of said terminal servers, and said corresponding one of said at least two serial cables, such that only a single one of said N application servers can connect to said given one of said billing systems at any given time, said connection between said first application server and said corresponding one of said terminal servers including a corresponding one of said instances of said software component, residing on said first application server, running on said first application server to initiate said transfer control protocol connection between said first application server and said corresponding one of said terminal servers, those of said N application servers other than said first application server not running, except for a heartbeat function, while said first application server is said coordinator of said group; determine whether a second application server of said group of N application servers is said coordinator of said group; responsive to determining that said second application server is not said coordinator of said group, continue to check whether said second application server of said group of N application servers is said coordinator of said group; responsive to said first application server experiencing difficulty, determine that said second application server now is said coordinator of said group; and responsive to determining that said second application server now is said coordinator of said group, establish a connection between said second application server and said given one of said billing systems, via; a transfer control protocol connection between said second application server and said corresponding one of said terminal servers, and said corresponding one of said at least two serial cables, said connection between said second application server and said corresponding one of said terminal servers including a corresponding one of said instances of said software component, residing on said second application server, running on said second application server to initiate said transfer control protocol connection between said second application server and said corresponding one of said terminal servers, those of said N application servers other than said second application server not running, except for said heartbeat function, while said second application server is said coordinator of said group; wherein said application servers are operatively interconnected by a transmission control protocol/internet protocol network and said servers make said determinations by said heartbeat function sending multicast heartbeats over said transmission control protocol/internet protocol network. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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means for determining whether a first application server of a group of N application servers having only a single coordinator, N being at least two, is said coordinator of said group, each of said N application servers having an instance of a software component thereon; means for, responsive to determining that said first application server is said coordinator of said group, establishing a connection between said first application server and a billing system, via; a transfer control protocol connection between said first application server and a terminal server, and a serial cable between said terminal server and said billing system, such that only a single one of said N application servers can connect to said billing system at any given time, said connection between said first application server and said terminal server including an instance of said software component residing on said first application server running on a processor of said first application server to initiate said transfer control protocol connection between said first application server and said terminal server, those of said N application servers other than said first application server not running, except for a heartbeat function, while said first application server is said coordinator of said group; means for determining whether a second application server of said group of N application servers is said coordinator of said group; means for, responsive to determining that said second application server is not said coordinator of said group, continuing to check whether said second application server of said group of N application servers is said coordinator of said group; means for, responsive to said first application server experiencing difficulty, determining that said second application server now is said coordinator of said group; and means for, responsive to determining that said second application server now is said coordinator of said group, establishing a connection between said second application server and said billing system, via; a transfer control protocol connection between said second application server and said terminal server, and said serial cable between said terminal server and said billing system, said connection between said second application server and said terminal server including an instance of said software component residing on said second application server running on a processor of said second application server to initiate said transfer control protocol connection between said second application server and said terminal server, those of said N application servers other than said second application server not running, except for said heartbeat function, while said second application server is said coordinator of said group; wherein said means for determining comprise means for sending multicast heartbeats over a transmission control protocol/internet protocol network connecting said N application servers, said means for sending comprising said heartbeat function. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification