Patent ID: 7251659

Claim:
One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of allocating resource indexes in a communications networking environment, the method comprising: receiving one or more requests to identify one or more indexes available for allocation; wherein said indexes are to be respectively and uniquely associated with one or more network resources, and wherein said network resources include one or more selections from the following: (1) a network element including a switch, a router, a signal-transfer point, a computer-processing component, or an office facility; (2) a database table; and (3) a call-routing path; querying a data-storage component to identify a set of available indexes consistent with said request(s), wherein querying said data-storage component includes providing a count parameter to denote a number of requested indexes; denoting the identified indexes as unavailable for subsequent allocation; and respectively allocating one or more of said identified indexes to one or more requesting components.