System and method for providing a graphical representation of a frame inside a central office of a telecommunications system

A program storage device having computer-readable code embedded therein for a host computer on a network, the host computer being operable to communicate with a client computer on the network and having access to a database of information relating to one or more frames laid out in a matrix of blocks, each block laid out in a matrix of pins, the one or more frames located at telecommunications system central offices, the code comprising:

• code for processing requests from the client computer for data relating to one or more frames;
• code for initiating database interface code, the database interface code retrieving the requested data from the database, the database maintaining data describing one or more frames, including (a) data uniquely identifying blocks in the one or more frames, and (b) data describing a current condition of the one or more frames, including data indicating which pins in the one or more frames are currently in use and which pins in the one of more frames are currently available for use, wherein the database identifies blocks in the one or more frames using a triple for each identified block, the triple indicating for each identified block a module, a shelf within the module and a block within the shelf in a case where the frame is a single-sided frame and a side, a vertical coordinate and a horizontal coordinate in a ease where the frame is a double-sided frame;
• code for formatting a graphical representation of a current condition of the one or more frames in the request, the graphical representation including a visual indication of a plurality of pins currently in use and a visual indication of a plurality of pins available for use;
• and
• code for communicating the formatted graphical representation of the one or more frames to the client computer and for allowing a user of the client computer to interface with the graphical representation to effect a mapping between available pins on the one or more frames and telecommunications lines leading to and from the one or more frames.

A server computer on a network, the server computer having access to a database of information relating to one or more frames laid out in a matrix of blocks, each block laid out in a matrix of pins, the one or more frames located at telecommunications central offices, the server computer being operable to:

• communicate with a client computer on the network;
• process requests from the client computer for data relating to one or more frames including data indicating which pins in the one or more frames are currently in use and which pins in the one or more frames are available for use;
• initiate database interface code, the database interface code retrieving the requested data from the database, the database maintaining data describing the one or more frames, including (a) data uniquely identifying blocks in the one or more frames and (b) data describing a current condition of the one or more frames, including data indicating which pins in the one or more frames are currently in use and which pins in the one or more frames are currently available for use wherein the database identifies blocks in the one or more frames using a triple for each identified block, the triple indicating for each identified block a module, a shelf within the module and a block within the shelf in a case where the frame is a single-sided frame and a side, a vertical coordinate and a horizontal coordinate in a case where the frame is a double-sided frame;
• format a graphical representation of a current condition of the one or more frames in the request, the graphical representation including a visual indication of a plurality of pins currently in use and a visual indication of a plurality of pins available for use;
• and
• communicate the formatted graphical representation of the one or more frames to the client computer and allow a user of the client computer to interface with the graphical representation to effect a mapping between available pins on the one or more frames and telecommunications lines leading to and from the one or more frames.

A program storage device having embedded therein computer code for a client computer on a network, the code comprising:

• code for communicating with a server on the network, the server having access to a database of information relating to one or more frames located at telecommunications central offices, each frame laid out in a matrix of blocks, each block laid out in a matrix of pins, the database maintaining data describing the one or more frames, including (a) data uniquely identifying blocks in the one or more frames, and (b) data describing a current condition of the one or more frames, including data indicating which pins in the one or more frames are currently in use and which pins in the one or more frames are available for use wherein the database identifies blocks in the one or more frames using a triple for each identified block, the triple indicating for each identified block a module, a shelf within the module and a block within the shelf in a case where the frame is a single-sided frame and a side, a vertical coordinate and a horizontal coordinate in a case where the frame is a double-sided frame;
• code for sending requests to the server for information relating to one or more frames, the requests causing the server to initiate execution of database interface code, the database interface code retrieving the requested data from the database and formatting a graphical representation of a current condition of the one or more frames in the request, the graphical representation including a visual indication of a plurality of pins currently in use and a plurality of pins available for use;
• code for receiving the formatted graphical representation of the one or more frames from the server, the received graphical representation allowing a user of the client computer to interface with the graphical representation to effect a mapping between available pins on the one or more frames and telecommunications lines leading to and from the one or more frames.

An apparatus for presenting to a user a visual representation of a frame laid out in a matrix of blocks, each block laid out in a matrix of pins, the frame resident at a central office of a telecommunications system, the apparatus comprising:

• means for accessing a database maintaining data describing the frame, including (a) data uniquely identifying blocks in the frame, and (b) data describing a current condition of the frame, including data indicating which pins in the frame are currently in use and which pins in the frame are available for use wherein the database identifies blocks in the frame using a triple for each identified block, the triple indicating for each identified block a module, a shelf within the module and a block within the shelf in a case where the frame is a single-sided frame and a side, a vertical coordinate and a horizontal coordinate in a case where the frame is a double sided-frame;
• means for displaying, based on the accessed data, a graphical representation of the frame, the graphical representation including a visual indication of the current condition of the frame including a visual indication of a plurality of pins currently in use and a visual indication of a plurality of pins available for use;
• and
• means for allowing a user to interface with the graphical representation to effect a mapping between available pins on the frame and telecommunications lines leading to and from the frame.