System and method for recording transactions using a chronological list superimposed on an indexed list

Abstract

Recording transactions using a chronological list superimposed on an indexed list. A transaction log of transaction entries is maintained as a data structure logically organized as a chronological list superimposed on an indexed list. In one aspect of the invention, the transaction log is implemented in an element of a telecommunications network. In another aspect of the invention, the transaction log is implemented in a computer system. Preferably, each transaction entry includes a transaction identifier field, a time stamp field, a chronological list pointer field and an indexed list pointer field. A first chronological list pointer points to the oldest transaction entry in the transaction log and a last chronological list pointer points to the latest transaction entry in the transaction log. The chronological list pointer field of a transaction entry points to the next oldest transaction entry. The indexed list includes a number of indexed list entry pointers. Each indexed list entry pointer corresponds to an index and points to a transaction entry with the same index. The indexed list pointer field of a transaction entry points to another transaction entry with the same index. Adding a transaction entry to the transaction log or deleting a transaction entry from the transaction log includes updating the chronological list pointers and the indexed list pointers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.