System and method for provisioning virtual circuit orders on an asynchronous transfer mode subnetwork

• US 6,885,672 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.), New Boston Systems Co.
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Khan, Asad, Merali, Hanif, Tang, Harry, Wilson, M. Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain
• Assistant Examiner(s): QURESHI, SHABANA
• Application Number:
  US09/741,480
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/226, 709/232, 709/235, 370/230.1, 370/235, 370/396, 370/412, 710/29
• US Class Current: 370/412
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM

Abstract

A storage structure includes a plurality of sequentially arranged positions, each position for holding one order at a time. One of the positions is an end position from which an order is to be taken up for provisioning. Each order in a position moves to the next sequential position toward the end position, as the next sequential position becomes empty and available. The positions are organized into a first section and a second section. The first section is distal from the end position and includes at least one position. The first section receives orders from a first order delivery system into a receiving position. The second section is proximate to the end position and includes at least one position. The second section receives orders from a second order delivery system into a receiving position. If the second section cannot receive an order from the second order delivery system due to the receiving position thereof already holding an order, a pre-determined interval is observed prior to attempting to again receive the order. The pre-determined interval is selected to allow enough orders in the storage structure to be taken up and to allow the receiving position of the second section to become empty.

Claims

1. A storage structure implemented on a computer for buffering orders to be provisioned, the storage structure comprising:

a plurality of sequentially arranged positions, each position for holding one order at a time, one of the positions being an end position from which an order therein is to be taken up for provisioning, each order in a position being moved to the next sequential position toward the end position as such next sequential position becomes empty and available, the positions being organized into;

a first section distal from the end position and including at least one position, the first section for receiving orders from a first order delivery system into a receiving one of the positions thereof; and

a second section proximate to the end position and including at least one position, the second section for receiving orders from a second order delivery system into a receiving one of the positions thereof;

wherein one of either attempting to receive an order from the second order delivery system while the second section cannot receive the order due to the receiving position thereof already holding an order and attempting to receive an order from the first order deliver system, triggers observing a pre-determined interval prior to attempting to again receive the order.

2. The storage structure of claim 1 wherein the pre-determined interval is selected to allow enough orders in the storage structure to be taken up such that the receiving position of the second section becomes empty.

3. The storage structure of claim 1 wherein the first section includes two sequential positions.

4. The storage structure of claim 1 wherein the second section includes two sequential positions.

5. The storage structure of claim 1 in combination with the first order delivery system, the first order delivery system being an individual order entry system for entering and forwarding an individual order to be provisioned upon forwarding.

6. The storage structure of claim 1 in combination with the second order delivery system, the second order delivery system being a bulk order entry system for entering and forwarding a bulk order to be provisioned along with other bulk orders in a batch process.

7. The storage structure of claim 1 in combination with the first order delivery system, the first order delivery system being a bulk order entry system for entering and forwarding a bulk order to be provisioned along with other bulk orders in a batch process.

8. The storage structure of claim 1 in combination with the second order delivery system, the second order delivery system being an individual order entry system for entering and forwarding an individual order to be provisioned upon forwarding.

9. The storage structure of claim 1 in combination with an order provisioning system, the order provisioning system being an element management system for taking up an order from the end position for provisioning.

10. The storage structure of claim 9 in combination with an asynchronous transfer mode subnetwork, the element management system being connected to and communicating with the asynchronous transfer mode subnetwork, the asynchronous transfer mode subnetwork for provisioning an asynchronous transfer mode circuit corresponding to the order taken up by the element management system.

11. The storage structure of claim 9 in combination with an digital subscriber and multiplexing (DSLAM) switch, the element management system being connected to and communicating with the DSLAM switch, the DSLAM switch for provisioning a DSLAM circuit corresponding to the order taken up by the element management system.

12. The storage structure of claim 1 in combination with a timer, the predetermined interval being governed by the timer.

13. A computer having a storage structure implemented thereon for buffering orders to be provisioned, the storage structure comprising:

a plurality of sequentially arranged positions, each position for holding one order at a time, one of the positions being an end position from which an order therein is to be taken up for provisioning, each order in a position being moved to the next sequential position toward the end position as such next sequential position becomes empty and available, the positions being organized into;

a first section distal from the end position and including at least one position, the first section for receiving orders from a first order delivery system into a receiving one of the positions thereof; and

a second section proximate to the end position and including at least one position, the second section for receiving orders from a second order delivery system into a receiving one of the positions thereof;

wherein one of either attempting to receive an order from the second order delivery system while the second section cannot receive the order due to the receiving position thereof already holding an order and attempting to receive an order from the first order deliver system, triggers observing a pre-determined interval prior to attempting to again receive the order.

14. The computer of claim 13 wherein the pre-determined interval is selected to allow enough orders in the storage structure to be taken up such that the receiving position of the second section becomes empty.

15. The computer of claim 13 wherein the first section includes two sequential positions.

16. The computer of claim 13 wherein the second section includes two sequential positions.

17. The computer of claim 13 in combination with the first order delivery system, the first order delivery system being an individual order entry system for entering and forwarding an individual order to be provisioned upon forwarding.

18. The computer of claim 13 in combination with the second order delivery system, the second order delivery system being a bulk order entry system for entering and forwarding a bulk order to be provisioned along with other bulk orders in a batch process.

19. The computer of claim 13 in combination with the first order delivery system, the first order delivery system being a bulk order entry system for entering and forwarding a bulk order to be provisioned along with other bulk orders in a batch process.

20. The computer of claim 13 in combination with the second order delivery system, the second order delivery system being an individual order entry system for entering and forwarding an individual order to be provisioned upon forwarding.

21. The computer of claim 13 further comprising an order provisioning system, the order provisioning system being an element management system for taking up an order from the end position for provisioning.

22. The computer of claim 21 in combination with an asynchronous transfer mode subnetwork, the element management system being connected to and communicating with the asynchronous transfer mode subnetwork, the asynchronous transfer mode subnetwork for provisioning an asynchronous transfer mode circuit corresponding to the order taken up by the element management system.

23. The computer of claim 21 in combination with an digital subscriber and multiplexing (DSLAM) switch, the element management system being connected to and communicating with the DSLAM switch, the DSLAM switch for provisioning a DSLAM circuit corresponding to the order taken up by the element management system.

24. The computer of claim 21 in combination with a timer, the predetermined interval being governed by the timer.

25. The computer of claim 21 further comprising a controller for monitoring and controlling the plurality of sequentially arranged positions, the first order delivery system, the second order delivery system, and the order provisioning system.

26. A method of provisioning orders received from a first order entry system and a second order entry system, the method employing a storage structure implemented on a computer for buffering orders to be provisioned, the storage structure comprising a plurality of sequentially arranged positions, each position for holding one order at a time, one of the positions being an end position from which an order therein is to be taken up for provisioning, each order in a position being moved to the next sequential position toward the end position as such next sequential position becomes empty and available, the positions being organized into:

a first section distal from the end position and including at least one position, and a second section proximate to the end position and including at least one position, the method comprising;

receiving orders from the first order delivery system into a receiving one of the positions of the first section;

receiving orders from a second order delivery system into a receiving one of the positions of the second section;

observing a predetermined interval if one of either the second section cannot receive an order from the second order delivery system due to the receiving position thereof already holding an order and attempting to receive an order from the first order deliver system; and

attempting to again receive the order after the pre-determined interval is observed.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the pre-determined interval being selected to allow enough orders in the storage structure to be taken up such that the receiving position of the second section becomes empty.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising entering and forwarding an individual order into the first order delivery system, the individual order to be provisioned upon forwarding.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising entering and forwarding a bulk order into the second order delivery system, the bulk order to be provisioned along with other bulk orders in a batch process.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising entering and forwarding a bulk order into the first order delivery system, the bulk order to be provisioned along with other bulk orders in a batch process.

31. The method of claim 26 further comprising entering and forwarding an individual order into the second order delivery system, the individual order to be provisioned upon forwarding.

32. The method of claim 26 further comprising taking up an order from the end position into an order provisioning system for provisioning of the order.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein taking up an order from the end position into an order provisioning system for provisioning of the order further comprises taking up an order from the end position into an order provisioning system, the order provisioning system being an element management system.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein taking up an order from the end position into an order provisioning system for provisioning of the order further comprises taking up an order from the end position into an order provisioning system, the order provisioning system being an element management system for provisioning an asynchronous transfer mode circuit on a asynchronous transfer mode subnetwork.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein taking up an order from the end position into an order provisioning system for provisioning of the order further comprises taking up an order from the end position into an order provisioning system, the order provisioning system being an element management system for provisioning a digital subscriber and multiplexing (DSLAM) circuit on a DSLAM switch.

36. The method of claim 26 wherein observing a predetermined interval if the second section cannot receive an order from the second order delivery system due to the receiving position thereof already holding an order further comprises observing a predetermined interval governed by a timer if the second section cannot receive an order from the second order delivery system due to the receiving position thereof already holding an order.

37. The method of claim 26 further comprising moving each order in a position to the next sequential position toward the end position as such next sequential position becomes empty and available.