Data processing: software development – installation – and managem – Software program development tool – Translation of code
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-13
2001-07-10
Powell, Mark R. (Department: 2122)
Data processing: software development, installation, and managem
Software program development tool
Translation of code
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260186
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The following co-pending United States patent applications filed concurrently with this application contain related information and are incorporated herein by reference:
U.S. patent application of Daniel James entitled “A UNIVERSAL DATA STRUCTURE FOR USE WITH A CONCURRENT STATE MACHINE SPACE IN A TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK” Ser. No. 08/969,822 filed of even date herewith; and
U.S. patent application of Daniel James entitled “A UNIVERSAL STATE MACHINE FOR USE WITH A CONCURRENT STATE MACHINE SPACE IN A
TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK” Ser. No. 08/969,373 filed of even date herewith.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a processing system in a reactive system and, in particular, to a call control processing system using a concurrent state machine processing system in a telecommunications network.
BACKGROUND
Development of new software architecture and applications programs for program controlled telecommunications systems has historically been a complex and time-consuming task. Current software for a large telecommunications network may contain millions of lines of code. Developing new software requires not only developing functional specifications defining the operation and interaction of new software code (new services, enhancements, modifications, etc.) with existing code, but also the testing of the new code with existing code to ensure compatibility. Such a process may take a significant amount of time, thus delaying the operation of new services and software into the marketplace. Thus, developing new software systems and applications is a very expensive and time-consuming process.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a software architecture in a telecommunications system that allows use, and re-use, of modular software components allowing them to be integrated quickly into the existing software. In addition, there is a need for a software architecture useful in a complex telecommunications environment wherein many separate tasks within a particular call may be most appropriately performed concurrently and without explicit prior knowledge of one another. Such an architecture should provide an interpreted and dynamic environment in which not only data definitions are configurable at run-time and modifiable during run-time, but so is the activation, functionality and interaction of state machines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for control processing in a reactive system. The method includes providing a first universal state machine definition defining a first universal state machine. The first universal state machine definition having an entry state, a first state, an exit state, and transition criteria information. An event is received in response to a first event occurring in the reactive system. In response to the first event an instantiated first universal state machine is generated having a first reference with information identifying or pointing to the first universal state machine definition and a second reference with information identifying or pointing to a current state of the first universal state machine. The first universal state machine is processed in accordance with its functionality.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided another method that includes providing a first universal state machine definition defining a first universal state machine. The first universal state machine definition having an entry state, a first state, an exit state, and transition criteria information. An event is received in response to a first event occurring in the telecommunications system. In response to the event an instantiated first universal state machine is generated having a first reference with information identifying or pointing to the first universal state machine definition and a second reference with information identifying or pointing to a current state of the first universal state machine. The first universal state machine is processed in accordance with its functionality in response to one or more universal data structures.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for call control processing in a telecommunications system. The apparatus stores a universal state machine definition defining a universal state machine, the universal state machine definition including an entry state, a first state, an exit state, and transition criteria information. The apparatus also generates an instantiated universal state machine in response to any one of a predetermined set of events occurring in the telecommunications system. The instantiated universal state machine has a given functionality and points to or identifies the universal state machine definition and a current state of the universal state machine. The apparatus processes the universal state machine in accordance with its functionality.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4507732 (1985-03-01), Catiller et al.
patent: 6052455 (2000-04-01), James
patent: 6080062 (2000-06-01), Olson
patent: 6122356 (2000-09-01), James
Carr & Storm, L.L.P.
Holmes Michael B.
Nortel Networks Limited
Powell Mark R.
LandOfFree
Universal state machine for use with a concurrent state... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Universal state machine for use with a concurrent state..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Universal state machine for use with a concurrent state... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2521128