Processing notifications relating to telecommunication sessions
Measures, including methods, systems and computer-readable storage mediums, for use in processing notifications relating to telecommunication sessions. A cluster of servers is operable to receive incoming notifications where each server can process any given notification and update a store holding records based on previous notifications. The cluster may include a timer function to allow records to be closed when no relevant notifications are received after a timeout interval.
1. A method of handling incoming notifications at a cluster of servers, the notifications relating to ongoing telecommunication sessions, the method comprising:
receiving a notification relating to an ongoing telecommunication session at a first server in the cluster;
retrieving a session information record relevant to the ongoing telecommunication session from a first data store;
updating the session information record to form an updated session information record, the updating taking place based on the contents of the notification;
depositing the updated session information record in the first data store;
determining that the time elapsed since receiving a notification relating to the ongoing telecommunications session has exceeded a timeout threshold;
retrieving the updated session information record from the first data store;
marking the updated session information record as prematurely completed, based on the determination, to form a closed session information record;
depositing the closed session information record in a second data store suitable for long term storage and retrieval of the closed session information record;
receiving a second notification relating to the ongoing telecommunication session;
retrieving the closed session information record relevant to the ongoing telecommunication session from the first data store;
updating the closed session information record to form a further updated session information record, the updating taking place based on the contents of the second notification; and
depositing the further updated session information record in the first data store.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising creating a timer responsive to receiving the notification relating to an ongoing telecommunication session,
wherein the determining that the time elapsed has exceeded a timeout threshold comprises receiving a timer pop indicating that the timer has expired.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the timer is created in a distributed timer service.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the timer pop is received at a second server in the cluster.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the timer's duration is based on the expected interval between successive notifications relating to the ongoing telecommunication session.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the timer's duration is based on a parameter of the ongoing telecommunication session.
7. The method of claim 1 , comprising depositing the closed session information record in the first data store.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second data store is a clustered, geographically distributed data-store.
9. The method of claim 1 , comprising depositing the further updated session information record in the second data store to replace the closed session information record.
10. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing an FTP interface to data in the second data store.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the incoming notifications relating to ongoing telecommunication sessions comprise diameter ACR messages for enabling charging for the ongoing telecommunication sessions.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the session information record is a Charging Data Record (CDR).
13. A cluster of servers for handling incoming notifications relating to ongoing telecommunication sessions, the cluster of servers further comprising a first data store, each server in the cluster comprising at least one memory including computer program code and at least one processor in data communication with the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
receive a notification relating to an ongoing telecommunication session;
retrieve a session information record relevant to the ongoing telecommunication session from the first data store;
update the session information record to form an updated session information record based on the contents of the notification;
deposit the updated session information record in the first data store;
determine that the time elapsed since receiving a notification relating to the ongoing telecommunications session has exceeded a timeout threshold;
retrieve the updated session information record from the first data store; and
mark the updated session information record as prematurely completed, based on the determination, to form a closed session information record;
depositing the closed session information record in a second data store suitable for long term storage and retrieval of the closed session information record;
receiving a second notification relating to the ongoing telecommunication session;
retrieving the closed session information record relevant to the ongoing telecommunication session from the first data store;
updating the closed session information record to form a further updated session information record, the updating taking place based on the contents of the second notification; and
depositing the further updated session information record in the first data store.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to perform a method of handling incoming notifications at a cluster of servers, the notifications relating to ongoing telecommunication sessions, the method comprising:
receiving a notification relating to an ongoing telecommunication session at a first server in the cluster;
retrieving a session information record relevant to the ongoing telecommunication session from a first data store;
updating the session information record to form an updated session information record, the updating taking place based on the contents of the notification;
depositing the updated session information record in the first data store;
determining that a time elapsed since receiving a notification relating to the ongoing telecommunications session has exceeded a timeout threshold;
retrieving the updated session information record from the first data store;
marking the updated session information record as prematurely completed, based on the determination, to form a closed session information record;
depositing the closed session information record in a second data store suitable for long term storage and retrieval of the closed session information record;
receiving a second notification relating to the ongoing telecommunication session;
retrieving the closed session information record relevant to the ongoing telecommunication session from the first data store;
updating the closed session information record to form a further updated session information record, the updating taking place based on the contents of the second notification; and
depositing the further updated session information record in the first data store.