Systems and methods for communicating from an integration platform to a provisioning server

• US 7,054,866 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Trivedi, Prakash A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahmoudi, Hassan
• Application Number:
  US10/097,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/102, 707/103.R, 709/225, 709/226, 709/231, 715/764, 718/101
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1446 inter-operator billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2433 Allocation of priorities to traffic types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4523 using lightweight directory access protocol [LDAP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 : at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 : specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 : Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 : Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 : Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 : Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 : for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/52 : for operator independent billing system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 : using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 : for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 : for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 : based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 : based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 : Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 : Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 : hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 : Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 : Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 : Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 : On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0172 : Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 : Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 : Hybrid network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 : Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method for communicating from an integration platform to a server that executes object request broker (ORB) software includes receiving user-entered information at the integration platform. The integration platform generates an event based on the user-entered information and publishes the event on a channel subscribed to by a connector associated with the server. The connector receives the event information, transforms the event information to a format compatible with the server and establishes communications with the server. The connector downloads the information to the server and the server updates its database. The connector may also determine whether at least one other system received the event information before downloading the data to the server.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of sequences of instructions, said sequences of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

monitor an input channel for data associated with at least one of adding, deleting or modifying information stored in a server, the server executing an object request broker (ORB) that complies with common object request broker architecture (CORBA);

receive the data associated with at least one of adding, deleting or modifying information stored in the server;

forward the data to a data storage system;

receive an indication that the data storage system stored the data;

establish communications with the server in response to receiving the indication;

format the data based on a type associated with the received data; and

download the formatted data to the server.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein when forwarding the data to a data storage system, the instructions cause the processor to:

forward event information associated with the received data to a channel subscribed to by the data storage system.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 2, including instructions for causing the processor to:

receive a first message from the data storage system when the data storage system was unable to store the data; and

send a second message to the server in response to receiving the first message, the second message instructing the server to return the server to a state prior to when the server received the formatted data.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the first message includes information indicating why the data storage system was unable to store the data and the instructions further cause the processor to:

forward an error message to a user.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, including instructions for causing the processor to:

queue the event if communications with the server are not established;

periodically attempt to establish communications with the server; and

generate an alarm if communications with the server are not established after a predetermined number of attempts or after a predetermined period of time.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, including instructions for causing the processor to:

send a message to the data storage system if communications with the server cannot be established, the message instructing the data storage system to return the data storage system to a state prior to when the data storage system received the data.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the data associated with at least one of adding, deleting or modifying information stored in the server comprises information associated with voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the VoIP services comprise at least one of call blocking, follow me, call forwarding, voice mail, conference calling, single line extension, call screening, quality of service, class of service, dial-plan restrictions, dynamic registration, secondary directory number or call transfer.

9. A support system, comprising:

a memory configured to store an application program to integrate a number of hardware platforms; and

a processor configured to execute the application program and;

receive input data,

transform the data into an appropriate format based on a type associated with the input data,

output event information associated with the input data to a channel subscribed to by at least one connector,

forward the data to at least one system,

receive an indication that the at least one system has stored the data,

establish communications with a redirect server in response to receiving the indication, the redirect server executing an object request broker (ORB) in accordance with common object request broker architecture (CORBA), and

download the transformed data to the redirect server.

10. The support system of claim 9, wherein the at least one system comprises an operational data storage system.

11. The support system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send a message to a user when the operational data storage system is unable to store the data.

12. The support system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

queue the event if communications with the redirect server cannot be established, and

periodically attempt to establish communications with the redirect server.

13. The support system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate an alarm if communications with the redirect server are not established after a predetermined period of time or after a predetermined number of attempts.

14. The support system of claim 9, wherein the input data is associated with at least one of call blocking, follow me, call forwarding, voice mail, conference calling, single line extension, call screening, quality of service, class of service, dial-plan restrictions, dynamic registration, secondary directory number or call transfer.

15. A method for communicating from a first system to a first server, the first server executing an object request broker (ORB) that is common object request broker architecture (CORBA) compliant, the method comprising:

receiving user-entered information at the first system;

sending, by the first system, event information to a channel, the event information being based on the user-entered information and the channel being subscribed to by an ORB connector;

receiving, by the ORB connector, the event information;

transforming the event information to a format compatible with the first server;

establishing, by the ORB connector, communications with the first server, the first server controlling access to a first database;

downloading the transformed event information to the first server;

preparing, by the first server, to write the transformed event information to the first database;

determining, by the ORB connector, whether a message from a database system have been received; and

signaling the first server to write the transformed event information to the first database when the message from the database system has been received.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

writing the transformed event information to the first database in response to the signaling.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first server comprises a redirect server and the sending includes:

sending the event information to a channel subscribed to by the database system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

signaling the redirect server to not write the transformed event information to the first database if the determining indicates that the database system has not received the event information.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

queuing the event if the ORB connector is unable to establish communications with the first server; and

periodically attempting to establish communications with the first server.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

generating an alarm if communications with the first server are not established after a predetermined period of time or after a predetermined number of attempts.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the user-entered information comprises information associated with at least one of updating information corresponding to a session initiation protocol service or requesting a new session initiation protocol service.

22. A software-based connector for interfacing between an integration platform and a server executing an object request broker (ORB) that is common object request broker architecture (CORBA) compliant, the connector comprising:

a transformer module configured to;

receive input information associated with at least one of a request to change attributes associated with a service or add a new service,

output event information associated with the received input information to a channel subscribed to by a connector associated with an operational data storage system, and

transform the input information into an appropriate format based on the request; and

a client module configured to;

establish communications with the server,

receive a message from the operational data storage system when the operational data storage system has received the event information, and

download the transformed input information to the server after the message has been received.

23. The software-based connector of claim 22, wherein the client module is further configured to:

queue the transformed data if communications with the server cannot be established, and

periodically attempt to establish communications with the server.

24. The software-based connector of claim 22, wherein the input information comprise information associated with, at least one of least one of call blocking, follow me, call forwarding, voice mail, conference calling, single line extension, call screening, quality of service, class of service, dial-plan restrictions, dynamic registration, secondary directory number or call transfer.

25. The software-based connector of claim 22, wherein the server comprises a redirect server that stores routing information associated with routing calls over an Internet Protocol communications network.