MXPA96001431A - Method for selecting automatic message acting records (ama) using individual directory numbers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for processing automatic message posting (AMA) records, in an AMA record distribution network, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: initiating operation centers storing an AMA structure code table and call type codes in a database of the operation center, receive a substantially real-time data stream of all AMA records in the operation centers from host collection sites, determine upon receipt of an AMA record in At least one operation center if the AMA record received is of interest to the operation center, to perform a search of a number plan area (NPA) of a directory of numbers contained in the AMA record in an array of data stored in the center of operation and, in determining whether an NPA entry in the data array which matches the NPA of the directory number has an indicator, the operation center processes only the AMA records selected as of interest, the operation center discards the AMA records not selected as of interest, store at least one bitmap in a memory where the bitmap identifies the AMA records selected as of interest, determine if a record received from the network corresponds to the bitmap, and in response to determining that the record corresponds to the bitmap, perform invoice processing operations using the A record

Description

METHOD FOR SELECTING AUTOMATIC MESSAGE ACCOUNT RECORDS (AMA) USING INDIVIDUAL DIRECTORY NUMBERS r * »? Npr > This invention relates to telephone switching systems and more particularly to the classification and decentralized processing of Automatic Message Accounting Records (AMA) using bit mapping techniques. Background of the Invention In the telecommunications industry, certain kinds of telephone calls are subject to quota fees in the US, in general classes of call charges (ie fee calls) are referred to as long-distance telephone calls. distance. A common way to initiate a long distance call is to dial a ten-digit number: three digits that designate a numbering plan area (NPA), followed by three digits that define a terminating exchange in the NPA and four digits of identification Subscriber When a calling party initiates a long distance call in the manner described above, the call is routed from the local exchange, which serves the calling party to a quota switching network, as is known in the art. The fee switching network is comprised of multiple switches (such as the 4ESS® switch manufactured and sold by AT &T Networ Systems) that connects calls between a calling call served by a first local exchange carrier and a called party serving it serves for a second carrier of local exchange. Each use of the fee switching network causes a party (usually the calling party) to incur a fee. Accrued rates for fee calls are forwarded to telephone customers upon receipt of a detailed invoice that includes each quota call made during a pre-determined billing period. To facilitate the billing process for long distance calls, an automatic message accounting (AMA) record is generated for each use of the quota communication network. An AMA record, for a typical long distance call, includes information such as the directory number of the calling party, the dialed directory number and the duration of the call. Other information such as pre-defined structure codes and call type codes are also part of an AMA record to additionally identify the call. In order to provide the directory number necessary for registration (AMA), each local exchange includes automatic number identification (ANI) equipment that identifies and transmits the station directory number that calls an entry switch (ie the switch that serve the calling party) in the fee switching network.

The called station directory number and the switching system trunk equipment used to establish the call connection is also received in the ingress switch, to provide information required for the structure code and call code. The duration of the call is determined by a process in which the incoming switch detects call response at the called station and registers an entry that establishes the time at which the call was answered. Upon termination of the call, the ingress switch detects disconnection of the call and stations called from the call connection and records a disconnect time entry. The AMA registers are accumulated in a quota switch before transmission of the registers to one of a plurality of host collector sites, where the registers are transcribed to a storage medium, such as a magnetic tape. A central distribution center receives the AMA records stored from the host collector sites and stores the records using protocols that are known in the art. The classified records are transmitted by the central distribution center to various operation centers based on a relatively rigid hierarchy (for example, pre-defined structure codes). The inflexibility of the distribution hierarchy is necessary to avoid the interruption in processing that would result in the AMA registry distribution network, if the central distribution center were to be programmed with new distribution protocols. Although AMA records are generally referred to as "billing data," AMA records are used for a number of operations centers for a variety of purposes such as fraud detection or marketing support, as well as billing. During periods of peak usage of the fee switching network in the US. A., many millions of AMA records are generated per hour. Conventional processing techniques may require three to five days before a central distribution center receives AMA records from all host collector sites and provides each AMA record to one or more appropriate operation centers for further processing. Since the period of time between the generation of the AMA record and the final processing of the record by an operation center increases, so does the delay of the records. However, the processing by the central distribution center is necessary because the operation centers do not currently have the capacity to efficiently classify through all the AMA records generated by the quota switching network, in order to find those records which are of interest to that particular center.

In addition to the delay associated with the deferred classification of AMA records at a central site, the inflexible distribution protocols of the central distribution center result in the lack of capacity to adapt to new billing programs that may require AMA record distribution patterns alternate Therefore, there is a need in the art for a modern process, wherein the AMA registers can be efficiently classified by an operation center that has access to a continuous current of AMA registers generated by a switching system, and which is adapted to changes in distribution protocols. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This need is addressed and a technical advance is achieved in the specialty, by a system method in which each operation center is equipped with a filter routine that uses bitmaps to identify and recover AMA records based on to the directory number contained in the AMA record. In the exemplary embodiment of the method and system of the present invention, each operation center is in direct communication with each host collector site in an AMA registry distribution network. Collectively, host collector sites receive a continuous data stream of all AMA records generated by a quota switching network. Accordingly, the operation center also has access to all AMA records generated by the quota switching network. Before receiving the AMA records, the operation center is initialized with pre-determined information that allows the center to identify AMA records of interest, a table of structure codes and call type codes and a data set comprising a list of each NPA in the US The NPAs that are determined to be of "interest" for a particular operation center are marked with memory address sites (ie "pointers") directory number bitmaps, which are also stored in the billing operation center during an initialization process. Each directory number bitmap includes a numbered bit position that corresponds to seven digits of a defined directory number of interest to the center. As the AMA records are received from the host collector sites, the records that include a directory number corresponding to a numbered bit position of the directory number bitmap are identified as "interesting" to the operation center and recover from the AMA registry data stream for further processing. If there is no correspondence between the directory number in the AMA register and a numbered bit position of a directory number bitmap, the record is discarded and the next AMA record is evaluated. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1A is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a switch that generates AMA records of a quota switching network, - Figure IB is an exemplary embodiment of an AMA record portion generated by switch 100 in Figure 1A; Figure 2 is a simplified block diagram of an AMA registry distribution network of the prior art; Figure 3A is a simplified block diagram of an AMA registry distribution network, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3B is a graphical representation of an NPA data set; Figure 3C is a graphic representation of a bitmap for a given directory number in an NPA; and Figures 4A and 4B are flow charts of the method steps for controlling an operation center in an AMA registration distribution network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description Figure 1A is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an AMA registration generating equipment in switch 100. This particular mode is implemented in the 4ESS switch manufactured by AT &; T Network Systems and described in The Bell System Technical Journal (BSTJ), September 1977. The 4ESS call control processor is a 1A 102 processor described in BSTJ, February 1977. This processor communicates with an auxiliary processor 3B, the processor 104 described in BSTJ January 1977, 1983, Part II and is used to format AMA data to be recorded in tape unit 170 or transmitted over data link 122 to a host collection site (not shown). The information regarding a call is typically received in the form of an initial address message on a data link for common channel signaling such as a signaling link CCS7 120. In response to the address message, the processor 1A 102 which is controlled by the processing unit 103 (under program control 111 stored in memory 110) allocates a stable call accumulation register (SCAR) 112 in memory 110 to accumulate billing information. A sequence number (SN) 113 is assigned for use with reference to the call. If the call is one that requires access to a database shared by many quota switches (for example "800 calls") the shared database (not shown) is interrogated on the CCS7 120 signaling link. Special billing data is they return from the database via data link 120 and store at site 115. When a call is established and the called party answers the call, a response signal is received at signaling link CCS7 120. Two seconds after that a call has been received, appropriate data (including special billing data 115) is transmitted via a direct memory access link (DMA) 122 to processor 3B 104. Processor 3B records the data in an AMA recording register (AMARR). 152 within the memory 150 of the processor. The processor 3B is controlled by the central processing unit 142 which operates under the program control 151 stored in the memory 150. AMARR 152 is assigned in the memory 152 and stores the sequence number 153, the trunk number 154 of the trunk of revenue used in the call and special billing data with call 155. All data records are retained until the call is disconnected. When a call is established it disconnects, a disconnection indication is received at the signaling data link CCS7 120. A block of memory associated with the output trunk, block 116, is accessed by the processor 1A to find the sequence number Of the call. Data comprising the sequence number for the call and the disconnection time are sent over the DMA link 122 to the processor 3B 104. When the data is received in the processor 3B 104, the sequence number and the entry trunk number are used to find AMARR for the call and the disconnect time is then accessed at the temporary memory site 156. Under the control of program 151, the contents of AMARR 152 and location 156 are then formatted for the AMA record and the message containing This formatted data is either sent to an AMA 170 tape unit or sent over a data link 172 to a guest collection site (not shown). Figure IB is an exemplary embodiment of an AMA record generated by switch 100 in Figure 1A. For simplicity, only a portion 180 of a complete AMA record is illustrated. The AMA register portion 180 includes segments 182, 184 and 186. The segment 182 represents the structure code associated with this particular register. The structure code "09036c" means that the AMA register is a station-to-station long-distance call. Segment 184 is the call type code of the register. In this example, the call type code "090c" indicates that the long distance call is going to be billed to the calling station. Segment 186 (ie "708-755-1234") identifies the directory number of the calling station.

Figure 2 is a simplified block diagram of the AMA register distribution network of the prior art 200. The AMA register distribution network 200 includes switches 202 and 204 the 4ESS caules are manufactured by AT &T Network Systems and describe in detail in Figure 1 above. The quota switches 202 and 204 are representative of a quota switching network that is used to connect, for example calls between parties that are served by a first local central bearer (LEC 1) and parties that are served by a second bearer of local central (LEC 2). The switches 202 and 204 communicate with each other over the common channel signaling data link CCS7 203, as is known in the art. For clarity, only two quota switches are illustrated, but an operational quota network contains many more switches. The quota switches 202 and 204 generate AMA records in the manner described in Figure 1 above, in general, each switch accumulates a number of AMA records before transmission of the records to one of a plurality of guest collection sites, such as the guest collection site 206, over data links 205 in response to a polling message from the guest collection site. Once the AMA records are received, the guest collection site 206 transcribes the records in a storage medium, such as a magnetic tape.

The AMA records are retained by the host collection site 206 until an AMA registration request is received by the host collection site from the central distribution processor 210. In response to the request, the guest collection site 206 releases AMA records for transmission to central distribution processor 210 over data link 207A. The distribution processor 210 also receives AMA records from the other guest collection sites through the AMA register distribution system 200 over data links 207B and 207C. Each AMA record that is stored in a host collection site is finally supplied to the central distribution processor 210. The central distribution processor 210 classifies the AMA records received from the guest collection records, using an established classification protocol that employs codes of structure and codes of types of calls. Due to the massive number of AMA records that is generated by the quota switching network at any given time, the central distribution processor can not efficiently classify AMA records by directory numbers. Therefore, processing that requires specific registration information, such as a directory number, is performed in operation centers. Also illustrated are the billing operation center 212, the center for fraud detection operation 214 and the operation center for marketing support 216. The operation centers communicate with the distribution processor 210 via data links 211, 213 and 215 , respectively. The operation centers communicate with each other about the data links 217. For clarity, only 3 operation centers are illustrated but an operational AMA registry distribution network includes many other centers. In a predetermined periodic basis, the central distribution processor 210 transmits a batch of AMA records (classified on the basis of structure code and call type code) on a data link (e.g. data link 211, 213 or 215) to an appropriate operation center. AMA records received at an operation center are subject to further processing. For example, considering that the billing operation center 212 is responsible for generating detailed long distance bills. According to conventional techniques center 212 maintains account files organized by client directory numbers. On a monthly basis, a directory number is retrieved from an account file to determine if it corresponds to any of the directory numbers initiated by the station calling from station-to-station, contained in the AMA records received from the central distribution processor 210. If there is correspondence, that particular AMA record is used to derive other pertinent information (such as call duration, etc.) in order to generate a detailed long distance bill for account. Figure 3A is a simplified block diagram of an AMA register distribution network 300 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The registration distribution network AMA 300 includes switches 302 and 304 which are 4ESS switches manufactured by AT &; T Network Systems and described in detail in Figure 1 above. The quota switches 302 and 304 communicate with each other through the common channel signaling link CCS7 303, to allow call connections between clients served by a first local exchange carrier (LEC 1) and clients served by a second exchange carrier. local (LEC 2). As the call connections between parts are completed using the quota switching network employing quota switches 302 and 304, the AMA records for each call are generated in the manner described in Figure 1 above. Although only two switches are illustrated, it will be understood that an operational quota network includes many more switches. Accumulated AMA records are stored on each switch until a request for AMA records is received from one of the host collection sites such as the host collection site 308. In response to the request, a batch of AMA records is transmitted to the site of the host. guest collection 308 from switch 302 and switch 304 over data link 307A and 307B, respectively. Also illustrated are the billing operation center 312, the fraud detection operation center 314 and the marketing support operation center 316 communicating with the collection site 308 via data links 309, 310 and 311, respectively. Each operation center includes a central processing unit (UPC) 318 communicating with the random access memory (RAM) 320, the read-only memory (ROM) 322, the non-volatile database 324 and the network adapter 326 through data pipelines 325. For clarity, only the center is described in detail below to billing operations center 312. Database 324 of billing operations center 312 includes table 327 which contains a structure directory, codes of type of call and other information regarding AMA records concerning the structure code and call type code. In an alternate mode, the structure codes and call type can be stored as bitmaps. The database 324 also stores account files of customer directory numbers that are of interest to the billing operation center. The RAM 320 includes the filter routine 323 that allows each operation center classified through all the AMA records generated by the quota switching network and identify those records that are of interest to the center. The filter routine 323 operates in coordination with data sets and bitmaps that are also stored in the RAM 320 during an initialization process. Figure 3B is a graphical representation of the data set 350 that is stored in RAM 320 and used by the billing operation center 312 in conjunction with the filter routine 323 to classify AMA records. In this example, data set 350 comprises a list of all possible NPAs in the U.S.A. An NPA code in the U.S.A. You can not start with the number "0" or "1". Therefore, data set 350 has 799 entries in a list that starts with NPA "200" and ends with NPA "999." For purposes of illustration, consider that only the AMA record of interest to operation center 312 is one containing the station directory number calling "708-555-1234." To identify the NPA of the directory number ("708") as an NPA of interest, the data set 350 includes the "pointer" 352 (represented by letter "X") to the entry corresponding to NPA "708". A pointer is a memory address location that is used by the filter routine 323 to locate information stored in RAM 320. In this example, the stored information in the location of memory address specified by the pointer 352 is the directory directory number bitmap 360 of a calling station identified by the number "555-1234." Figure 3C is a graphic representation of a bitmap of a director number io 360 which is used to identify the directory number "555-1234" as a number of interest. A bitmap is a means to encode decision information in a compact form. In this example, the bitmap 360 is a set comprising numbered bit positions 362 that is in the range of 1,111,111 to 9,999,999. Continuing with the previous example, considering that the only directory number of interest to the billing operation center 312 is "708-555-1234". Accordingly, each bit portion numbered in the bitmap 360 is filled with zeros except the bit position 5, 551, 234-th containing a binary bit "1" indicating that the directory number corresponding to that bit position (i.e. "555-1234") of interest to the billing operation center 312. In this example, the bitmap 360 may have been squashed using a "run length" coding technique that is known in the technique. In operation, the CPU 318 of the billing operation center 312 continuously issues requests to the guest collection site 308 to receive a data stream of AMA registers via data link 309 and the network adapter 326. Each AMA register is processed using the filter routine 323 (described in detail below) to determine if the AMA record is of interest to the billing operation center. The AMA records that are considered of interest to the center are retained in RAM 320 for further processing. Those records that are not considered of interest to a particular operation center are discarded. In an exemplary embodiment, each operation center has access to the AMA records stored in each host collection site in the AMA 300 registry distribution network. Since the host collection sites collectively collect all the AMA records generated by the network of quota switching (in this example the quota switching network is represented by switches 302 and 304) it is concluded that each operation center also receives all generated AMA records. In an alternate mode, each operation can be in direct communication with each switch in a fee switching network, so that the host collector sites can be completely eliminated. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the method steps performed by the billing operation center 312 of the registration distribution network AMA 300, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For clarity, continuing with the previous example where an AMA record containing a calling station directory number of "708-555-1234" is the only record of interest to the billing operation center 312. The process starts at the step 400 wherein the operation center is initialized by storing table 327 comprising a directory of structure codes and call type codes in database 324 and data set 350 and its corresponding directory number bitmap 360 in RAM 320. Operation center 312 is considered to maintain account files and continuously receive a data stream of AMA records from host collection site 308. The process continues in step 402 where an AMA record is read. . In step 406 a search of the structure code in the AMA register is performed using the code table types called / structure 327. The structure codes are used to identify a category of call, such as a call "800", call of station-to-station or directory assistance call. The process continues at decision stage 408, where it determines whether the structure code of the AMA record of interest to the operation center. In this example, consider only "station-to-station" calls of interest to the billing operation center 312. If the outcome of the decision stage 408 is a "NO" decision, the process continues from step 410 where this AMA record is discarded and the process returns to step 410 where the next AMA record is read. If the result of decision step 408 is a "YES" decision (YES) the process continues to step 412 where the AMA register call type code is read. In step 414, a search of the call type code is performed using a table 327 in the database 324. The process continues to the decision stage 416, where it determines whether the call type code is of interest to the operation center. Call type codes are more specific than structure codes and identify calls by categories such as "local currency call" or "call initiated by calling station". In this example, only calls initiated by the calling station are of interest to billing center 312. If the result of decision step 416 is a "NO" decision, the process returns to step 410 where this AMA record particular is discarded and the same process that was previously described to recover the next AMA record is performed. If the result of decision step 416 is a "YES" decision, the process continues (through connector A to FIG. 4B) to step 418 where a location search is performed field number called station directory of this particular type of AMA record. The field location information calling station directory number relates to the structure code and the call type code of an AMA register and is therefore located in table 327 in database 324. The process continues in step 420 where the calling station directory number of the AMA register is read. In step 422 of the NPA the directory number of the calling station obtained from the AMA register is used to be targeted in corresponding NPA of the data set 350 stored in RAM 320. In the decision stage 424 it is determined whether the number of NPA of the calling station directory number is of interest (ie if the corresponding NPA in data set 350 has a pointer). If the result of decision step 424 is a "NO" decision, the process continues to step 410, wherein the AMA record is discarded and the next AMA record is retrieved in a process described above. If the result of the decision step 424 is a "YES" decision, the process continues from step 426 where the directory number bitmap 360 is accessed and read. The directory number bitmap 360 is accessed in RAM 320 by using the memory address location retrieved from the pointer 352 in the data set 350. In the decision step 428 it is determined whether the remaining portion (ie all the digits except the digits NPA) of the calling station directory number in the AMA register contain a binary bit "1" in a corresponding numbered bit portion in the directory number bitmap 360. In this example, the number of directory "555-1234" corresponds to the bit position numbered 5,551,234. If the result of decision step 428 is a "NO" decision, the process continues to step 410 where the AMA record is discarded and the next record and the next AMA record is retrieved in the manner described above. If the result of decision step 428 is a "YES" decision, the process continues to step 430 where the operation center processes the AMA record, using known techniques and the classification process ends in step 432. Although in In the previous example, the AMA records were classified based on a directory number (ie NPA-NNX-XXXX), the filter routine 323 can be altered to accommodate any classification process desired by the operation center. The method and system of the present invention are more efficient than the prior art in which AMA records can be directly received, classified and processed by each operation center and thus eliminates the need for partial or required processing in a central distribution center . In addition, since each operation center can use an alternating filter routine to classify and identify all AMA records that are of interest to a particular center, changes in the distribution classification process can be easily accommodated by changing the filter routine. It will be understood that the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only and that numerous other arrangements of the invention may be designed by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (14)

1. CLAIMS 1.- In an automatic message account registration (AMA) distribution network a method to classify AMA records, in an operation center, the method is characterized because it comprises the steps of: initializing the operation center, - receiving a data stream of AMA records; isolate a directory number in an AMA record; determine if a number plan area (NPA) of directory number is of interest to the operation center; and in response determine the NPA of interest, access a bitmap of directory numbers stored in the operation center, to determine whether a remaining portion of the AMA registration directory number is of interest to the operation center.
2. 2. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that determining whether an NPA of directory number is of interest to the operation center, comprises the steps of: performing an NPA search of the AMA registry directory number in a data set stored in the operation center; and determine if an NPA entry in the data set that corresponds to the directory number NPA has a pointer.
3. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that initializing the operation center comprises the step of storing the AMA structure code table and call type codes in a database of the operations center.
4. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that isolating a directory number in an AMA register, comprises the steps of: reading an AMA register structure code; read a call type code from the AMA register, - and perform a search on the table to determine a directory number field for AMA registration.
5. 5. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that accessing a bitmap of directory numbers stored in the operations center to determine if a remaining portion of the directory number is of interest, comprises the steps of: locating a directory number bitmap and an operations center memory; and determining whether a numbered bit position of the directory number bitmap corresponding to the directory number of the AMA register is encoded with a binary bit "1".
6. 6. - In an AMA record distribution network that receives AMA registers generated by a switching network, a system for classifying AMA registers is characterized in that it comprises: means for receiving AMA registers of a quota switching network; a central processing unit; a filter routine that responds to the central processing unit; a database that responds to the filtering routine, wherein the database stores a table of structure codes and call type codes; a data set accessed by the filtering routine, the data set comprises a plurality of entries corresponding to NPA codes, wherein at least one entry in the data set includes a pointer, - and at least one bitmap of Directory numbers identified by the pointer, wherein the bitmap includes a plurality of numbered bit portions.
7. 7. - The system according to claim 6, wherein the pointer in the data set comprises a memory location location of the directory number bitmap.
8. 8. - The system according to claim 6, wherein the bitmap of directory numbers comprises a plurality of bit portions numbered in the range from 1,111,111 to 9,999,999.
9. 9. - The system according to claim 8, characterized in that a directory number in an AMA register received by the system corresponds to a bit portion numbered in the directory number bitmap.
10. 10. - In a distribution system that receives records from a switching network, a method for classifying records is characterized because it includes the steps of: initializing the system with data that allows the system to identify records of interest; storing at least one bitmap in a system memory, - determining a memory address location of the bitmap; determining whether the register received from the switching network corresponds to the bitmap; and in response to determining that the register corresponds to the bitmap, processing the record in the system.
11. 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that initializing the system with data, comprises the step of storing a structure table AMA the type of call code in a system database.
12. 12. - The method according to claim 10, wherein determining a memory address location of a bitmap comprises the steps of: performing a search of a portion of the record that corresponds to an entry in a data set; and find a pointer in the data set, where the pointer is the address location of the bitmap memory.
13. 13. - The method according to claim 10, characterized in that storing at least one bitmap in a system memory comprises a step of storing a bitmap of directory number in the random access memory of the system.
14. 14. - The method according to claim 13, wherein determining whether the record corresponds to the bitmap, comprises the step of matching a portion of the register with a numbered bit portion of the directory number bitmap .