Flexible network element interface
AssigneeConvergys CMG Utah, Inc.
InventorsChandramouli Swarna, Renjith Ramachandran, Niraj Desai, Asha Sebastian, Vijayekkumaran Murugaiah, Jayakumar Kuppuswamy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mediation system for converged network system for an xSP (i.e., any service provider of Information Technology (IT)/business services) is readily configured to collect revenue related transaction data (usage data) from new network elements by referencing one or more adapters. Rather than being a compiled, validated and distributed component of the mediation system, these adapters may be accessed after fielding the mediation system or created via a network element definition GUI, thereby reducing the lag time in accommodating new types of network elements.
Claims7
A method of receiving usage data from a collection point including a network element of one of plurality of types, each type having a specified data format, the method comprising:
- creating an adapter to define a new data format;
- associating a type of network element with the adapter;
- identifying receiving usage data from a collection point as being from the associated type of network element;
- and
- parsing the received usage data message into a standard format by referencing the associated adapter.
The method of claim 3, wherein defining a network element further comprises:
- displaying a graphical user interface;
- and
- parsing a scripting language input by a user via the graphical user interface.
An apparatus for mediating usage data from a network for use by a billing-related system, comprising:
- a file collector coupled to an operator network to receive usage data from at least one network element;
- a data handler configured to convert received usage data from a data type format to a standard format;
- and
- at least one adapter including a network element definition associated with the at least one network element, the network element definition including a mapping of the usage data to the standard format.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.