Apparatus and method for processing information from a telecommunications network

A method of processing information from a telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving messages from a telecommunications network, each message being related to a particular transaction, each transaction being formatted in one of a plurality of different predetermined protocols;
• determining in which one of the plurality of different predetermined protocols a received message is formatted;
• generating an identification key for each received message relating to a particular transaction in the particular protocol;
• associating all received messages with the same identification key into a single transaction record;
• and
• outputting complete transaction records to one or more output channels for further processing.

An apparatus for processing information from a telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising:

• receiving means for receiving messages from a telecommunications network, each message being related to a particular transaction;
• means for generating an identification key for each received message relating to a particular transaction;
• matching means coupled to the receiving means and the identification key generating means for associating all received messages with the same identification key into a single transaction record;
• means for determining when a transaction record is complete including means for comparing a period of time elapsed since a most recent received message was added to a pending transaction record with a predetermined timeout value and for designating the pending transaction record as complete when the period of time exceeds the predetermined timeout value;
• and
• an output means coupled to the matching means for outputting complete transaction records to one or more output channels for further processing.

A method of processing information from a telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving messages from a telecommunications network, each message being related to a particular transaction;
• generating an identification key for each received message relating to a particular transaction;
• associating all received messages with the same identification key into a single transaction record;
• comparing a period of time elapsed since a most recent received message was added to a pending transaction record with a predetermined timeout value and designating the pending transaction record as complete when the period of time exceeds the predetermined timeout value;
• and
• outputting complete transaction records to one or more output channels for further processing.