IP Library Granted Patent US 10,341,172
Granted Patent B1
US 10,341,172 · App. 16/166,288 · Granted Jul 2, 2019

System and method for configuring networks

Inventors: Matthew Vanden Berg (Tarragindi, AU); Christopher E. Lerato (Dutton Park, AU)
Assignee: CSG Media, LLC
H04L41/08G06F16/22G06F16/2343G06F16/24532G06F16/24535G06F16/24542G06F16/951
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,341,172
App. No.
16/166,288
Granted
Jul 2, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system and method for handling queries where the queries and the answers to those queries are transmitted by means of a network which may have significantly variable latencies. The system and method involve copying the queries and calculating a response to each copy of the query and sending each response over the network. The first-received response can then be acted upon. The query may be divided up into sub-queries which are then replicated and sent for determination.

Claims (46)

1. A system for configuring electronic elements in an electronic communication network, the system comprising:

a query handler device, the query handler device being coupled to a first electronic communication network, the query handler device being disposed at a central processing location;

a plurality of update circuits, each of the plurality of update circuits being arranged to operate electronically in parallel with the others, the plurality of update circuits being coupled to the query handler device;

a database, the database storing data entries that include subscriber information;

at least one writer device, the at least one writer device being coupled to the database;

wherein the query handler device is configured to:

receive a query from a network service provider;

copy the query to form a set of queries, wherein each member of the set of queries is a copy of the query;

transmit each query in the set of queries to an individual one of the update circuits;

wherein each of the update circuits is configured to:

receive one query from the set of queries;

determine an answer to the received query, the answer being determined potentially in parallel time relation with respect to answers being determined at other update circuits;

transmit the answer to the query handler;

wherein one of the answers is a first answer, the first answer being received by the query handler device first-in-time compared to the other answers, wherein the first answer is transmitted to the at least one writer device;

wherein the at least one writer device is configured to:

receive the first answer;

adjust an entry in the database according to the first answer using a write operation such that no other adjustment to the entry can occur until the write operation is completed;

wherein the query handler device is configured to transmit the first answer to the network service provider via the first electronic communication network;

wherein the network service provider responsively adjusts and configures electronic network elements in a second electronic communication network in conformance with the first answer.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one electronic queue, the at least one electronic queue being electronically coupled between the update devices and the at least one writer device, the at least one electronic queue configured to temporarily store the answers determined by the update devices.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one electronic queue is a single queue.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one electronic queue comprises a plurality of separate queues.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one writer device locks the query prior to performing the write operation and removes the lock once the write operation is completed.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one writer device comprises a single writer device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one writer device comprises a plurality of separate writer devices.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one electronic queue comprises a plurality of separate queues.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third electronic communication network electronically coupled between the at least one writer device and each of the update circuits, wherein a range of data communication latencies exist between each of the update circuits and the at least one writer device.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the database and the at least one writer device are disposed at the central processing location.

11. A method for configuring electronic elements in an electronic communication network, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of update circuits to operate electronically in parallel with the others;

storing data entries that include subscriber information in a database;

at a query handler device that is disposed at the central processing location, receiving a query from a network service provider, copying the query to form a set of queries, wherein each member of the set of queries is a copy of the query, and transmitting each query in the set of queries to an individual one of the update circuits;

at each of the update circuits, receiving one query from the set of queries, determining an answer to the received query, the answer being determined in parallel time relation with respect to answers being determined at other update circuits, and transmitting the answer to the query handler;

wherein one of the answers is a first answer, the first answer being received by the query handler device first-in-time compared to the other answers, wherein the first answer is transmitted to the at least one writer device;

at the at least one writer device, receiving the first answer, and adjusting an entry in the database according to the first answer using a write operation such that no other adjustment to the entry can occur until the write operation is completed;

at the query handler device, transmitting the first answer to the network service provider via the first electronic communication network;

wherein the network service provider responsively adjusts and configures electronic network elements in a second electronic communication network in conformance with the first answer.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising temporarily storing the answers determined by the update devices in at least one electronic queue, the at least one electronic queue being electronically coupled between the update devices and the at least one writer device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one electronic queue is a single queue.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one electronic queue comprises a plurality of separate queues.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one writer device locks the query prior to performing the write operation and removes the lock once the write operation is completed.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one writer device comprises a single writer device.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one writer device comprises a plurality of separate writer devices.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one electronic queue comprises a plurality of separate queues.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a third electronic communication network electronically coupled between the at least one writer device and each of the update circuits, wherein a range of data communication latencies exist between each of the update circuits and the at least one writer device.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the database and the at least one writer device are disposed at the central processing location.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, RECORDED ON MARCH 17, 2025 AT REEL 070529 FRAME 0981 Recorded May 19, 2026
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: CSG SYSTEMS, INC.; INTEC BILLING, LLC
Reel/Frame 075588/0682 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: CSG SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070541/0032 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 17, 2025
From: CSG SYSTEMS, INC.; INTEC BILLING, LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070529/0981 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 4, 2020
From: CSG SYSTEMS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053396/0709 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 30, 2020
From: CSG MEDIA, LLC
To: CSG SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053085/0088 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2019
From: VANDEN BERG, MATTHEW
To: CSG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 048279/0219 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2019
From: LERATO, CHRISTOPHER E.
To: CSG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 048279/0316 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2019
From: CSG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD
To: CSG MEDIA, LLC
Reel/Frame 048279/0535 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,259,880 US 12,265,527