Methods and elements to reduce the number of quieries to a foreign network element

• US 6,532,490 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2000
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, John E., Quettan, Saurel
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Application Number:
  US09/594,177
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/213, 709/214, 709/246, 709/248, 711/118, 711/113, 711/133, 711/137, 711/141
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Queries and responses between network elements and a foreign network element are intercepted. As responses from the foreign network element are intercepted, the data from a response is stored so as to build a local cache of retrieved data. In response to the interception of a query, a check is made to determine whether the data sought by the query is stored in the local cache. If the data is stored in the local cache, an integrity check with respect to the data may be carried out. If the integrity check is passed, then the data is returned to the appropriate network element without the query having been transmitted to or the data obtained from the foreign network element. If the integrity check is not passed, or if the data is not stored in the local cache, then the data is obtained or updated from the foreign network element. Advantageously, the data obtained from the foreign network element is added to the local cache so that a subsequent query for the same data does not have to be transmitted to the foreign network element. Rather, if the integrity check is passed, the data is supplied from the local cache.

Claims

1. In a system wherein network elements make a number of queries of a foreign network element, a method to build a local cache of retrieved data for use in responding to the network elements so as to reduce the number of queries to the foreign network element by the network elements, the method comprising:

A. receiving from a network element a query for data stored in the foreign network element;

B. determining the data is not stored in a local cache;

C. obtaining the data from the foreign network element;

D. storing the data in the local cache;

E. setting a time-to-live (TTL) register with respect to the data in the local cache; and

F. transmitting a response to the network element wherein the response comprises the data obtained from the foreign network element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises calling name information.

3. In a system wherein network elements make a number of queries of a foreign network element, a method to reduce the number of queries from the network elements to the foreign network element, the method comprising:

A. providing a local cache for data;

B. in response to a query for the data, checking the local cache for the data;

C. in response to finding the data in the local cache, then supplying the data from the local cache in response to the query; and

D. in response to failing to find the data in the local cache, obtaining the data from the foreign network element, storing the data obtained from the foreign network element in the local cache, setting a time-to-live (TTL) register with respect to the data in the local cache, and transmitting a response to the query wherein the response comprises the data obtained from the foreign network element.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data comprises calling name information.

5. In a system wherein queries from network elements made to a foreign network element are sought to be reduced by storage of data obtained from the foreign network element in a local cache, a method to increase probability the data in the local cache matches corresponding data in the foreign network element, the method comprising:

A. receiving from a network element a query for data stored in the foreign network element;

B. determining the data is stored in the local cache;

C. despite the data being stored in the local cache, determining to obtain the corresponding data from the foreign network element;

D. obtaining the corresponding data from the foreign network element;

E. updating the data stored in the local cache with the corresponding data from the foreign network element so as to store updated data in the local cache;

F. setting a time-to-live (TTL) register with respect to the updated data in the local cache; and

G. transmitting a response to the network element wherein the response comprises the updated data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data comprises calling name information;

wherein the corresponding data comprises corresponding calling name information; and

wherein the updated data comprises updated calling name information.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

prior to receiving the query from the network element, setting a number of responses comprising the data that are provided to the network elements from the local cache without a refresh of the data; and

wherein action C comprises determining to obtain the corresponding data from the foreign network element based on the number of responses being exceeded.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

prior to receiving the query for the data from the network element, causing previously retrieved data retrieved from the foreign network element in response to a previous query to be stored in the local cache so that a previous query parameter of the previous query is stored in association with the previously retrieved data;

wherein action B comprises determining the data is stored in the local cache as the previously retrieved data; and

wherein action C comprises determining to obtain the corresponding data from the foreign network element instead of transmitting the previously retrieved data in response to the query based on a failure of a query parameter of the query to match the previous query parameter.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the data comprises calling name information;

wherein the corresponding data comprises corresponding calling name data;

wherein the method further comprising prior to receiving the query from the network element, causing previously retrieved calling name data, retrieved from the foreign network element in response to a previous query, to be stored in the local cache so that previous called party data of the previous query is stored in association with the previously retrieved calling name data; and

wherein action C comprises determining to obtain the corresponding calling name data from the foreign network element instead of transmitting the previously retrieved calling name data in response to the query based on a failure of called party data of the query to match the previous called party parameter of the previous query.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

prior to receiving the query from the network element, setting a time-to-live (TTL) register with respect to the data in the local cache; and

wherein action C comprises determining to obtain the corresponding data from the foreign network element based on a determination the TTL register is expired.

11. In a system wherein queries from network elements made to a foreign network element are sought to be reduced by storage of retrieved data from the foreign network element in a local cache, a method to increase the probability the retrieved data in the local cache matches corresponding data in the foreign network element, the method comprising:

A. setting a threshold with respect to a number of responses comprising the retrieved data that are provided to the network elements from the local cache in response to queries from the network elements;

B. when the threshold is exceeded, obtaining the corresponding data from the foreign network element; and

C. updating the retrieved data with the corresponding data in the local cache.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the retrieved data comprises calling name information;

and wherein the corresponding data comprises corresponding calling name information.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein action B comprises determining the threshold is exceeded by determining that a response to a new query comprises the retrieved data, and by determining that the response added to a previous number of responses results in a new number of responses greater than the number of responses set as the threshold.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein action C comprises updating the retrieved data with the corresponding data in the local cache as updated retrieved data, and setting a time-to-live (TTL) register with respect to the updated retrieved data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein setting the TTL register with respect to the updated retrieved data comprises updating a previously set TTL register, the previously set TTL register having been set with respect to the retrieved data.

16. In a system wherein queries from network elements made to a foreign network element are sought to be reduced by storage of retrieved data from the foreign network element in a local cache, a method to increase the probability the retrieved data in the local cache matches corresponding data in the foreign network element, the method comprising:

A. storing a query parameter of a query for the retrieved data in association with the retrieved data;

B. in response to receipt of a new query for new data, making a determination (1) the new data comprises the retrieved data, and (2) a new query parameter of the new query matches the query parameter for the retrieved data; and

C. in response to the determination, transmitting the retrieved data from the local cache rather than obtaining the corresponding data from the foreign network element in response to the new query.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the retrieved data comprises calling name information;

wherein the new data comprises the calling name information; and

wherein the corresponding data comprises corresponding calling name information.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein action C comprises in response to the determination, transmitting the retrieved data from the local cache rather than obtaining the corresponding data from the foreign network element in response to the new query, and setting a time-to-live (TTL) register with respect to the retrieved data in the local cache.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein setting the TTL register comprises updating a previously set TTL register with respect to the retrieved data.

20. In a system wherein a local cache of a plurality of retrieved data is built to minimize the number of queries to a foreign network element, the plurality of retrieved data having been retrieved from the foreign network element, a method to increase the probability that retrieved data supplied by the local cache in response to a new query matches corresponding data in the foreign network element, the method comprising:

A. causing the retrieved data, retrieved from a foreign network element in response to a query, to be stored in the local cache so that a query parameter of the query is stored in association with the retrieved data;

B. in response to receipt of the new query for new data, the new query having a new query parameter, determining the new data is stored in the local cache as the retrieved data;

C. checking whether the new query parameter of the new query matches the query parameter stored in association with the retrieved data; and

D. if the new query parameter matches the query parameter, then providing a response to the new query, the response including the retrieved data stored in the local cache,

whereby a match between the new query parameter and the query parameter increases the probability the retrieved data supplied from the local cache matches the corresponding data in the foreign network element.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

E. if the new query parameter fails to match the query parameter, obtaining the corresponding data from the foreign network element; and

F. providing the corresponding data from the foreign network element in response to the new query.

22. In a system wherein queries from network elements of a foreign network element are sought to be reduced by storage of retrieved data from the foreign network element in a local cache, a method to increase the probability the retrieved data in the local cache matches corresponding data in the foreign network element, the method comprising:

A. setting a time-to-live (TTL) register with respect to the retrieved data in the local cache;

B. determining the TTL register is expired; and

C. in response to expiration of the TTL register, obtaining the corresponding data from the foreign network element; and

D. updating the retrieved data with the corresponding data in the local cache.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the retrieved data comprises calling name information;

and wherein the corresponding data comprises corresponding calling name information.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein action D comprises updating the retrieved data with the corresponding data in the local cache as updated retrieved data, and setting the TTL register with respect to the updated retrieved data.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein action B comprises determining the TTL register is expired as a result of checking the TTL register in response to receipt of a query for the retrieved data.

26. In a system wherein network elements make a number of queries of a foreign network element, an intelligent network element (INE) that reduces the number of queries from the network elements to the foreign network element and that provides accurate data to the network elements, the INE comprising:

a local cache for storing data received in a response from the foreign network element;

a time-to-live (TTL) register functionally connected to the local cache for setting a time with respect to the data stored in the local cache;

an intercept module operative to receive from a network element a query for the data;

a control module functionally connected to the intercept module, and operative to receive the query from the intercept module; and

service logic functionally connected to the control module, operative to receive the query from the control module, to determine the data sought in the query is stored in the local cache, to check the time of the TTL register with respect to the data, and if the time has not expired, to cause the data to be provided to the network element in response to the query,

whereby the number of queries from the network elements to the foreign network element are reduced by storing the data in the local cache and by providing the data in response to the query instead of the foreign network element providing the data, and whereby the data is accurate because it is provided only if a time set with respect to the data has not expired.

27. The INE of claim 26, wherein the service logic is also operative to check that a threshold set with respect to the data has not been exceeded, the threshold having been set as a number of responses comprising the data that is provided to the network elements from the local cache without a refresh of the data, and if the threshold has not been exceeded, to cause the data to be provided to the network element in response to the query.

28. The INE of claim 26, wherein the service logic is also operative to check that an association between an entity associated with the query for the data and another entity associated with the data is satisfied, and if the association has been satisfied, to cause the data to be provided to the network element in response to the query.

29. The INE of claim 26, wherein the intercept module is also operative to receive from a network element another query for other data;

wherein the control module is also operative to receive the another query from the intercept module; and

wherein the service logic is also operative to receive the another query from the control module, to determine the other data sought in the another query is not stored in the local cache, and to transmit the another query to the foreign network element.

30. The INE of claim 26, wherein the intercept module is further operative to receive a response from the foreign network element, the response comprising other data;

wherein the control module is further operative to receive the other data in the response from the intercept module;

wherein the service logic is further operative to receive the other data in the response from the control module;

wherein the local cache is also operative to store the other data in response to receipt of the other data from the service logic; and

wherein the TTL register is also operative for setting another time with respect to the other data stored in the local cache,

whereby the other data stored in the local cache may be provided in response to any query calling for the other data without the foreign network element having to provide the other data.