Method and apparatus for providing a real-time message routing communications manager
A communications manager in a telecommunications transaction server communicates service request messages and service response messages between one or more remotely executing service request processes and one or more service applications executing on the transaction server. A main thread in the communications manager monitors connections requests and initializes other threads. A unique logical communications connection is established between one of the service request processes and the communications manager. The communications manager creates both a read thread and a write thread for each logical communication connection that is validated and active. The read thread communicates service request messages from a service request process to an appropriate service application. The write thread communications service response messages from the service application to the service request process that issues the service request message. A monitor thread collects service response messages from a queue and directs them to the appropriate write threads via an in-memory write queue.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a processor configured to execute a main thread to monitor for receipt of a connection request associated with a logical communications connection for accessing a one of a plurality of service applications based on a service type associated with the connection request,
wherein the main thread creates, in response to the connection request, a read thread and a write thread associated with the logical communications connection,
wherein the read thread is configured to forward service request messages to a service request queue associated with the one service application for processing by the one service application,
wherein the write thread is configured to forward response messages generated by the one service application, the response messages being received from a service response queue associated with at least the one of the plurality of service applications, and
wherein the main thread further creates a monitor thread configured to detect a response message in the service response queue, to forward the response message to the write thread, and to monitor the status of a plurality of network connections.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the logical communications connection is established with a remote service request process that is configured to receive the request message from a switch.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein another logical communications connection is established with another remote service request process.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a new service request queue is created if the one service application is new.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the main thread is further configured to monitor for receipt of a particular type of connection request in which central processor unit (CPU) utilization is relinquished until the particular type of connection request is received.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the main thread is further configured to validate the connection request against a plurality of valid connection identifiers.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the monitor thread is further configured to dispose of the response message when one of the plurality of network connections is not currently active.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a connection status memory block configured to store information specifying active ones of the logical communications connections.
9. A system comprising:
a communication manager comprising a processor configured to execute a service request process; and
a transaction server configured to communicate with the communication manager, the transaction server including a processor configured to execute a main thread to monitor for receipt of a connection request associated with a logical communications connection for accessing a one of a plurality of service applications based on a service type associated with the connection request,
wherein the main thread creates, in response to the connection request, a read thread and a write thread associated with the logical communications connection,
wherein the read thread is configured to forward service request messages from the service request process to a service request queue associated with the one service application, for processing by the one service application,
wherein the write thread is configured to forward response messages generated by the one service application to the service request process, the response messages being received from a service response queue associated with at least the one of the plurality of service applications, and
wherein the main thread further creates a monitor thread configured to detect a response message in the service response queue, to forward the response message to the write thread, and to monitor the status of a plurality of network connections.
10. A system according to claim 9 , wherein the communication manager is further configured to receive the request message from a switch.
11. A system according to claim 9 , further comprising:
another communication manager configured to communicate with the transaction server over another logical communications connection, the other communication manager being further configured to execute another service request process.
12. A system according to claim 9 , wherein a new service request queue is created if the one service application is new.
13. A system according to claim 9 , wherein the main thread is further configured to monitor for receipt of a particular type of connection request in which central processor unit (CPU) utilization is relinquished until the particular type of connection request is received.
14. A system according to claim 9 , wherein the main thread is further configured to validate the connection request against a plurality of valid connection identifiers.
15. A system according to claim 9 , wherein the monitor thread is further configured to dispose of the response message when one of the plurality of network connections is not currently active.
16. A system according to claim 9 , wherein the transaction server further includes a connection status memory block configured to store information specifying active ones of the logical communications connections.
17. A method comprising:
receiving a service request process over a data network from a communication manager;
monitoring, by a main thread, for receipt of a connection request associated with a logical communications connection established with the communication manager for accessing a one of a plurality of service applications based on a service type associated with the connection request,
wherein the main thread creates, in response to the connection request, a read thread and a write thread associated with the logical communications connection,
wherein the read thread is configured to forward service request messages from the service request process to a service request queue associated with the one service application for processing by the one service application,
wherein the write thread is configured to forward response messages generated by the one service application to the service request process, the response messages being received from a service response queue associated with at least the one of the plurality of service applications, and
wherein the main thread further creates a monitor thread configured to detect a response message in the service response queue, to forward the response message to the write thread, and to monitor the status of a plurality of network connections.
18. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the communication manager is further configured to receive the request message from a switch.
19. A method according to claim 17 , wherein another logical communications connection is established with another service request process.
20. A method according to claim 17 , wherein a new service request queue is created if the one service application is new.
21. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the main thread is further configured to monitor for receipt of a particular type of connection request in which central processor unit (CPU) utilization is relinquished until the particular type of connection request is received.
22. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the main thread is further configured to validate the connection request against a plurality of valid connection identifiers.
23. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the monitor thread is further configured to dispose of the response message when one of the plurality of network connections is not currently active.
24. A method according to claim 17 , further comprising:
storing information specifying active ones of the logical communications connections.