Patent ID: 6512824
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
In a network element management system having means for communicating information from a telephone switching network to a client system, and for communicating configuration commands from the client system to the network, the improvement comprising:a proxy database for storing subscriber data comprising information as to subscriber requirements and subscriber line characteristics; bidirectional network interface means for coupling information from, and command signals to at least one element of said network having associated subscriber data storage means; initialization means for initializing said proxy database at the startup of the element management system, by storing in said proxy database subscriber data received from said associated subscriber data storage means via said network interface means; database updating means coupled to network interface means for repopulating said proxy database with current subscriber data stored in said associated subscriber data storage means to update the data in said proxy database; query means responsive to a query signal from said client system for retrieving corresponding subscriber data from said proxy database and communicating the same to said client system; configuration means responsive to a network element configuration command signal from said client system for altering the configuration of said at least one network element in accordance with said configuration command signal, said configuration means comprising means for translating the configuration command signal into a corresponding network element command signal, means for communicating the network element command signal to said at least one network element via said network interface means, means for receiving at least one response signal comprising a corresponding item of subscriber data from said associated subscriber data storage means via said network interface means, means for storing said corresponding item of subscriber data in said proxy database to update the same, and means for communicating a response message corresponding to said response signal back to the client system; and database synchronization means for synchronizing the subscriber data stored in the proxy database with the corresponding subscriber data stored in said associated subscriber data storage means, said database synchronization means comprising means for downloading log files from said associated subscriber data storage means, means for parsing the log files to detect any changes in said corresponding subscriber data made by network elements other than said element management system, means for transmitting network element commands to said other network elements to retrieve said corresponding subscriber data therefrom, and means for updating said proxy database with said retrieved corresponding subscriber data.