Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-02
2001-11-27
Black, Thomas (Department: 2171)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C379S242000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324547
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a computer program that can create new intelligent network databases from all or parts of one or more existing databases containing data information for the operation of data and voice audio telecommunication switches. In addition, this program allows users to browse both similar and dissimilar databases to select the intelligent network data aspects of existing databases that can be copied into a new or modified database.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The configuration of telecommunication switches usually occurs in at least three environments. First, during the testing of switch hardware and software, a laboratory switch is configured to the requirements established for the test. Second, when a switch is sold to a customer, the switch is configured to the customer's specifications. Third, when a switch experiences a full failure, it often requires reconfiguration of the databases supporting the failed switch or configuration of new databases for an emergency backup switch or replacement switch. Normally, the configuration of telecommunication switches during these three environments requires the manual input of thousands and possibly millions of records of information. This process is extremely time consuming and can take weeks or months to complete.
In the first environment, telecommunication companies continually test new versions of switch software, peripheral devices and other hardware devices during the life of a telecommunication switch. When testing software or hardware, switch engineers design different operating environments to establish operating parameters of the new software or hardware. Data engineers manually input data to configure the operation of the switch for the designed test. Usually, the configuration of the testing environment is performed on a data build machine (computer). The configuration of the switch to simulate the desired testing operation conditions often involves retesting an archived configuration or modified archived configurations. Otherwise, the testing configuration is accomplished by manual data entry.
In the second environment, telecommunication switches sold to customers are configured based on the customer's intended operational conditions and requirements. Usually, the configurations for new switches are manually built using new data configurations that do not rely on existing database configurations. However, the configuration of features, switching software, and hardware is often adopted from other existing configurations.
The third operational environment is recovery of the switch after the switch has experienced a failure. These failures can result from equipment failure to natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes or fires. Recovery of the failed switch sometimes requires the installation of an emergency backup switch. The emergency backup switch requires database configurations that replicate the databases in the damaged switch. Normally, the configuration of the emergency backup switch requires manual, time consuming input of data that will support specific customer features and routing of calls on the emergency backup switch. Having the ability to configure the telecommunication switch by transferring existing data information from known databases into new databases by automating the manual tasks of data entry would save considerable time, money and significantly improve productivity. In addition, instant access to many different switching systems is a critical task that currently requires many hours or days of research and manual browsing. A need exists for a robust process to automatically replace the current manual method data entry to configure intelligent network data for telecommunications switches.
SUMMARY
In order to automate the current manual data entry process of engineering intelligent network configuration databases, the computer program of this invention establishes a new database structure and mines source databases to load source database intelligent network data into the new intelligent network database structure. The computer program is capable of searching and automates many of the tasks for configuring a new intelligent network database from multiple source databases. This eliminates manual data entry for configuring new intelligent network databases for a telecommunication switch.
This computer program is multifunctional allowing for the browsing of all intelligent network databases prior to configuration. Once the target source intelligent network databases are determined, the computer program creates a new data directory structure and selectively copies all or part of the data from the source intelligent network databases into the new database. The computer program selects the source databases, the user identifies and selects the global point codes in the source databases, performs a best fit or manually configures the data, and converts the global point codes to new values. The computer program identifies whether common channel signaling exists, and if not configures a dialing plan, hardware equipment and network databases. The program allows a user to select between creating a switch based or network based intelligent network. The program supports the various services for the switch based and network based intelligent network. The program converts the data from binary format into ASCII formatted data. The network configuration data is configured for the new database and the network configuration data is reengineered for the new database. The data is extracted and converted to the same software release and loaded into the new network configuration data directory structure.
This invention provides accurate and timely customer information, significantly decreases the time interval for engineering a new database, decreases the research and data entry time, decreases the interval for lab planning and project management, improves intelligent network database integrity, provides a cleaner intelligent network database, reuses existing intelligent network data eliminating double data entry, reuses some existing software code, can use preexisting tools, and provides a platform for future growth and expandability. By accomplishing these tasks, the telecommunication switch manufacturer or telecommunication switch operator saves time, money and decreases time-to-market product and service schedules.
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Lennert Joseph Francis
Mahaney Rowena F.
Mahaney William T.
Zawiski Curt R.
Black Thomas
Le Uyen
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
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