Abstract:
A system and method downloads data and reconfigures the data into a database. A telephone user purchases a specific number of lines and specific services (i.e., call waiting) from a telephone company. The telephone company then programs a switch associated with that user so that the user receives the services purchased. The telephone company also inserts the user&#39;s purchases into a database used for generating the user&#39;s bills. Discrepancies can occur between the data in the switch and the data in the billing database. Billing correction is performed by downloading all of the data within a switch, reconfiguring the data into a database and then comparing the switch database against the billing database to detect billing errors. To facilitate ease of this billing correction process, the switch database is transmitted to the billing correction center via a network instead of the traditional method of using direct tape copies of the switch being physically transported to the billing correction center.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional application of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 09/115,614 filed Jul. 15, 1998. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to systems and methods for extracting information from switches and billing systems which is used, for instance, to reconcile the data between the switches and the billing systems. A reconciliation system and process then generates data which is used to make billing adjustments. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A central office switch handles many features for a customer at the local level. These features include how many lines a customer is using and whether or not these lines have select features, such as call-waiting and call-forwarding. How the switch is programmed will establish which features and service each customer receives. 
     While telephone features and services are provided by the switch, billing is provided for by a different system. A Customer Record Information System (CRIS)  11  is a database containing a record of all of the features and service each customer purchases from the phone company. CRIS  11  is used to generate the bill the customer receives. It is therefore clear that the services and features provided by the switch must correspond to the data stored in CRIS  11  in order for the phone company to receive the money it is owed (i.e., avoid underbilling) and to not charge the customers for services and features they did not purchase (i.e., avoid overbilling). 
     FIG. 1 shows a traditional system with switches  1  to  3  where billing discrepancies are discovered by having field technicians download the data stored in the switches  1  through  3  to tapes loaded into the tape drives  4  through  6 . Typically, these tape drives  4  through  6  support 9-track tapes. Once the switch data is downloaded, the tapes are physically transported, represented with trucks  8  through  10 , to a Database Reconciliation Tool (DBRT)  7 . DBRT  7  is typically a personal computer (PC). 
     The DBRT  7  also receives data from CRIS  11 . As stated earlier, CRIS  11  is a database of what the service provider understands to be the services and features being used by each customer which is used for billing the customer. Data in CRIS  11  is typically sent to DBRT  7  electronically as shown in FIG.  1 . However, CRIS  11  has a tape port (not shown) so that, if necessary, data from CRIS  11  can be transported to DBRT  7  in a manner similar to the manner switch data is currently transported to DBRT  7 . 
     Once the DBRT  7  has the tape data from the switch and CRIS  11 , it performs a comparison process, which involves logic comparisons, between the two sets of data to detect discrepancies. Discrepancies are printed on paper  13  and forwarded to an ESSX Billing Reconciliation Unit (EBRU)  14 . EBRU  14  is a group of people who manually read the discrepancy report produced by DBRT  7 . They will then generate a corrected billing statement  38  for sending to the customer which corresponds to the discrepancies between CRIS  11  and the customer&#39;s switch data. In addition to providing customers with corrected bills, EBRU  14  informs the CRIS  11  technicians so they may make adjustments to the data stored in CRIS  11  to avoid incorrect billing in the future. 
     Supporting EBRU  14  is a Billing Integrity Reconciliation System (BIRS)  15 . BIRS  15  tracks activity on accounts and keeps statistics regarding the time an individual in EBRU  14  spends on resolving errors and the dollar amounts of any billing adjustments. 
     There are many problems associated with conventional collection systems such as the one depicted in FIG.  1 . Most of these problems revolve around the utilization of magnetic tapes to transfer data from either the switches  1  to  3  to DBRT  7 . First, collecting data via magnetic tape is labor intensive. A technician must travel to the individual switches  1  to  3 , manually load and unload the tape into the tape drive of each switch in the phone company&#39;s network. The labor intensiveness of this type of data transfer is amplified by a phone company owning and operating a large number of switches. The phone company must therefore maintain and employ a large number of field technicians to complete this work. 
     It should also be noted that while the data in the CRIS  11  is periodically updated, it is not always 100 percent synchronized with the data in the switch. This problem arises when a particular customer orders new services, i.e. call-waiting. Ideally, the phone company will update both CRIS  11  and the customer&#39;s service in the switch simultaneously. However, should an error occur, one of the two sets of data will be inaccurate. If it is impossible for a field agent to download the data from the customer&#39;s switch for a week or so, the discrepancy will not be discovered for a while. If the switch data is incorrect, this week or longer time period before correction could result in a disgruntled customer calling his telephone provider to complain. 
     Another problem with the conventional collection systems involves the volatility of the tapes. During transport from either the switches  1  to  3  or CRIS  11 , the tapes may be erased or otherwise damaged due to extreme temperature, electromagnetic field, or physical impact. 
     Another problem with the conventional collection systems involves the cost of purchasing and maintaining all of the tapes needed to transfer the data from the plurality of switches. Even a small phone company will probably operate thousands of switches requiring it to invest thousands of dollars in a plurality of tapes. 
     Another problem with the conventional collection systems is the frequency that switch downloads are performed. Due to limited manpower and limited funds which can be allocated to the tapes themselves, only a percentage of all the switches a phone company operates can be downloaded in a day. Should the phone company suffer a shortage of labor or tapes, it would severely harm the phone company&#39;s ability to correct billing errors. The end result could be a switch which is not downloaded for a long period of time such that a customer is continually billed incorrectly to the point that the customer becomes disgruntled with the phone company. 
     Also, due to the limited manpower, there exists a latency period from the point when the switch data is downloaded to a magnetic tape to the point when the data is inputted into DBRT  7 . Thus, a comparison between data retrieved from CRIS  11  today and data retrieved from a switch yesterday could introduce a discrepancy where none exists. It is simply an error of comparing old data which was in the switch to updated data in the CRIS  11 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the problems described above by providing systems and methods for extracting switch data. The systems of the present invention improve upon those above noted deficiencies. In particular, the systems of the present invention allow for data to be downloaded into the DBRT from the switch much faster than is presently possible. 
     The present invention also substantially reduces the costs in tape expenditures. 
     The present invention also saves on labor costs in that the data is now communicated directly to the DBRT instead of relying on transported tapes. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with respect to the remainder of this document. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, disclose the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first example of a conventional billing reconciliation system. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a billing reconciliation system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the process steps in determining bill discrepancies according to a preferred method according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a CODES of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a preferred method of operation for the CODES. 
     FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a preferred method of operation for the proxy database. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, non-limiting examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 shows a system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system includes a Customer Record Information System (CRIS)  11  coupled to a Database Reconciliation Tool (DBRT)  7  electronically. A plurality of Central Office Data Extract Systems (CODES)  32   a-c  read the data in switches  1 - 3  and each CODES  32   a-c  produces a proxy database  39   a-c . The CODES  32   a-c  transmit a portion of each proxy database  39   a-c  to DBRT  7  via a Central Office Wide Area Network (COWAN)  34 . As will become more apparent from the description below, this system eliminates the need for a tape to communicate data between any switch  1 - 3  and DBRT  7 . 
     DBRT  7  compares the data it receives from the plurality of CODES  32   a-c  with the data it receives from CRIS  11 . DBRT  7  then forwards any discrepancies it detects back to CRIS  11 , along with additional miscellaneous data  36 , in the form of an Other Changes and Credits (OC&amp;C) file. CRIS  11  uses the OC&amp;C file to find the correct customer who needs a billing adjustment and forwards all of the appropriate information to the Automatic Adjustment Center  37 . The Automatic Adjustment Center  37  uses the data it receives from CRIS  11  to generate the corrected billing statement  38  which is then forwarded to the customer. 
     FIG. 3 is a flowchart describing a method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and FIG. 4 is a more detailed diagram of a switch  1  and CODES  32 . At step  41 , a scheduling mechanism  60  within each switch tells the switch when to download its data. When the scheduling mechanism  60  detects that the time is right, it causes the switch to begin downloading its data at step  42 . At step  43 , a tape emulator  61  on the CODES  32   a  detects this download of data and initiates storage of the data on a SCSI hard drive  67 . After all the switch data has been downloaded and saved at step  43 , the CODES  32   a  translates the downloaded switch&#39;s data into the proxy database  39   a  at step  44 . Typically, the downloading of data occurs once a day so the proxy database  39   a  associated with the data in switch  1  is updated once a day. 
     The proxy databases  39   a-c  are representations of the data stored in the switch which is used to determine billing discrepancies instead of the actual switch data itself. By using the proxy databases  39   a-c  instead of the raw switch data, the systems and methods according to the present invention achieve advantages which will be described later. 
     At step  45 , CRIS  11  goes through a similar timing check as the switches  1 - 3 . At step  46 , CRIS  11  downloads a portion of its data to DBRT  7 . It should be noted that CRIS  11  does not download data for every phone number everyday. Instead, CRIS  11  will select a percentage of all phone numbers to be checked and forward the corresponding data to DBRT  7 . In this manner, CRIS  11  determines which of the millions of customers&#39; services will be checked that day. Typically, CRIS  11  segregates customers based on their area code and exchange number (i.e., 123-456-xxxx where the digits are where the segregation occurs). Upon receipt of this data from CRIS  11 , DBRT  7  determines where each number which it received from CRIS  11  resides in the network. It then issues contract requests to the appropriate CODES  32   a-c  informing those CODES  32   a-c  which portion of their proxy databases  39   a-c  is needed for billing reconciliation at that time at step  47 . At step  48 , the CODES  32   a-c  receive the contract requests and transmit only the requested portion of their proxy databases  39   a-c  to DBRT  7  thereby fulfilling the contract requests. 
     At step  49 , DBRT  7  receives the portions of the proxy database  39   a  information and sends an acknowledgment signal back to CODES  32   a  informing it that the portion of proxy database  39   a  requested was received. After reception of the proxy database is completed, DBRT  7  performs logic rules based comparisons on the data received from CRIS  11  and CODES  32   a  at step  49 . The logic comparison involves the use of a rules database which defines what the relationship is supposed to be between the proxy database data and the CRIS data. This type of comparison determines discrepancies between the two sets of data. 
     Also at step  49 , DBRT  7  inputs additional miscellaneous data  50  and combines the miscellaneous data to form the OC&amp;C. At step  51 , DBRT  7  forwards the OC&amp;C to CRIS  11 . 
     At step  52 , CRIS  11  uses the OC&amp;C to “locate” the appropriate customer&#39;s data within its database. Once the appropriate customer is found, CRIS  11  forwards a report to the Automatic Adjustment Center  37 . The Automatic Adjustment Center  37  generates a corrected bill for forwarding to the customer at step  53 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a more detailed block diagram of the CODES  32  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this example, the switch  1  controls the services and features a customer purchases from his phone company. The switch  1  contains the scheduling mechanism  60  which is used to control when the switch  1  automatically begins to download all of its data. The switch  1  outputs its data to a tape emulator  61  via buses  62  and  64  and an interface  63 . 
     Interface  63  is used to translate the output of the data from the switch. Tape emulator  61  is designed to receive PERTEC level signals. PERTEC signals are an industry standard used for tape. Should the switch  1  output data in a different format, say SCSI, the interface  63  is used to translate those signals from SCSI into PERTEC level signals so they are compatible with the tape emulator  61 . Should the switch  1  output data in PERTEC format, the interface  63  would not be needed and can be removed. 
     The tape emulator  61  receives the PERTEC level, raw switch data and translates it into SCSI format for transmission over a SCSI bus  66 . The SCSI hard drive  67  is coupled to the SCSI bus  66  to receive the SCSI formatted switch data under control of the tape emulator  61 . A processor  65  retrieves the SCSI data from the SCSI hard drive  67 , converts the raw switch data into the proxy database  39   a  and stores the proxy database in system hard drive  68 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the system hard drive  68  has two directories  68   a  and  68   b  used to store proxy databases. By using two directories, the CODES  32   a  maintains a copy of the proxy database associated with the present data dump and a copy of the proxy database associated with the last data dump. This storage technique allows for utilization of one proxy database while the other is being created in the separate directory. 
     A watchdog system  70  detects conditions such as temperature and low voltage. If a condition occurs that is unfavorable to the CODES  32   a , the watchdog system  70  reboots the processor  65 . Additionally, the watchdog system  70  receives a heartbeat signal from within the CODES  32   a.  Should the watchdog system  70  not receive that heartbeat signal after a predetermine time, it will reboot the processor  65 . The processor  65  is coupled to a communications (COMM) port  71  which is coupled to the COWAN  34 . 
     FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a preferred method of operation for the CODES  32   a-c . At step  81 , the scheduling mechanism  60  within the switch  1  detects a particular clock reading so as to initiate the switch to begin downloading data at step  82 . 
     The tape emulator  61  triggers the SCSI hard drive  67  to receive this data dump at step  82  for storage. At step  83 , the processor  65  detects when the SCSI hard drive  67  has received all of the data from the tape emulator  61  and then translates the raw switch data into the proxy database  39   a.    
     As the processor  65  is translating the switch data into the proxy database  39   a , it stores the proxy database information onto one of the system hard drive directories  68   a  or  68   b  at step  84 . 
     After the proxy database  39   a  is created and stored, the CODES  32   a  waits at step  85  to receive a contract request from DBRT  7 . Once the CODES  32   a  has received the contract request, it will transmit the appropriate portions of the proxy database  39   a  over the COWAN  34 . 
     Some advantages of the present invention should be noted. First, the use of the interface  63  also allows for future switches to be developed without the need to redevelop the CODES  32   a.  The interface  63  can therefore be used with a switch developed to outputs its data in a new format with the interface  63  converting that new format into the tape emulator compatible format PERTEC. Thus, the utilization of the tape emulator  61  and interface  63  gives the CODES  32  of the present invention universal application to both existing switches and future switches. 
     Beyond storing a copy of the switch onto the SCSI hard drive  67 , the processor  65  performs a transformation on the switch data so as to create the proxy database  39   a  which is then stored in the system hard drive  68 . The proxy database  39   a  is a mirror image of the data within the switch. By storing the switch data in the format of the proxy database  39   a , the system is able to perform relational operations and can therefore, for instance, locate specific information stored within the proxy database  39   a.    
     As an example, the contract request form DBRT  7  only needs specific information from each switch when performing reconciliation. Thus, properly structured database queries into the CODES  32   a  will cause the CODES  32   a  only to send the needed information, and no more, to DBRT  7 . Thus, traffic over the COWAN  34  is much less than would otherwise occur if the entire proxy database  39   a  were sent to the DBRT  7  every time billing reconciliation is performed. 
     FIG. 6 shows a preferred process by which the CODES  32   a-c  translates the raw switch data into the proxy databases  39   a-c . The raw switch data is received at step  90  and the processor  65  determines the data structure of a block of data read from the SCSI hard drive  67 . It should be noted that there are thousands of data structures used within a switch where different values within a particular data structure will give a customer different services. For example, for a single customer who needs ‘x’ number of telephone lines, with ‘y’ of these lines receiving call waiting and ‘z’ of these lines receiving caller ID, the customer would be assigned particular data values within a particular data structure. A different customer who only needs ‘j’ telephone lines with ‘k’ lines receiving call forwarding and ‘l’ lines using a phone company provided voice mail system would be assigned either a different data structure or be given different values in the data structure used for the first customer. 
     Each type of switch uses different word data structures. Due to this variety, the CODES  32   a-c  contains many data structures and extraction procedures which correspond to all of the features and services provided by each type of switch. In other words, CODES  32   a-c  are not specific to just a subset of all switches but instead are able to operate across a wide variety of switches. Thus, should a phone company decide to replace a switch with an existing switch whose data structures have already been written, the phone company would only need to inform the CODES  32   a-c  that it is no longer translating data from switch x, but it is now being expected to translate data from switch y. Now CODES  32   a-c  invokes the proper, already written, procedures and functions for proper database translation. 
     The forgoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. 
     For instance, the tape emulator  61  is designed to interface with the SCSI hard drive  67 . However, the tape emulator  61  can be replaced with another interface which is compatible with writeable CD ROM, DAT, removable disk drives and the 9-track tapes of the conventional collection systems. Additionally, while a specific network, the COWAN, has been described in this application, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that any network system which couples DBRT to the plurality of CODES will also work effectively. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.