Telecommunications switching system utilizing a channelized database access mechanism

A database system comprising:

• at least one intelligent peripheral device;
• a plurality of databases connected to said at least one intelligent peripheral device through a communications medium;
• a default database connected to said at least one intelligent peripheral device through said communications medium, said default database containing configuration data about said plurality of databases;
• said at least one intelligent peripheral device accessing data stored in said at least one of said plurality of databases by acquiring said configuration data from said default database and communicating with at least one of said plurality of databases in accordance with said configuration data;
• and
• said at least one intelligent peripheral device accesses data stored in said at least one of said plurality of databases based on a database map derived from said configuration data and a data request received by said at least one intelligent peripheral device.

A channelized database system comprising:

• at least one intelligent peripheral device;
• a plurality of communication channels connected to said at least one intelligent peripheral device, each communication channel associated with a database;
• a memory element connected to said at least one intelligent peripheral device for providing configuration data about said plurality of communication channels to said at least one intelligent peripheral device such that said at least one intelligent peripheral device can locate and access data stored in at least one database associated with said at least one of said plurality of communication channels;
• and
• said at least one intelligent peripheral device accesses data stored in said at least one database based on a channel map derived from said configuration data and a data request received by said at least one intelligent peripheral device.

A method for accessing a plurality of databases comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request for data from a user;
• accessing a default database for configuration data for said plurality of databases;
• deriving a database map from said requested data, said configuration data, and user information;
• accessing at least one database of said plurality of databases for said requested data based on said database map;
• receiving said requested data from said at least one database;
• and
• transmitting said requested data to said user.