Mci Communications Corporation

James P Brechtel

John Rivera

Greg La Buhn

A Data Enhancement Engine uses a novel object-oriented architecture to provide real-time data enhancement on event records. The architecture is highly scalable so that new data enhancement processes are added quickly and easily, allowing client system requirements to be met in minimal time. In the preferred embodiment, the Data Enhancement Engine is employed in a Network Information Concentrator for a telecommunications network. It receives a real-time feed of event records from a network information distributor process and activates specific enhancement processes based on filtering criteria. These enhancement processes are realized with derivable object classes. They will retrieve appropriate data from an object database and enhance the record with that data. The Data Enhancement Engine will then format the enhanced record according to a specific client's requirements, and send the record to the client. There is a distinct record receiving and filtering process defined for each client system. There are also distinct enhancement processes defined for each type of record enhancement that a client requires. If new enhancement types are required, then new enhancement processes may be created by simply deriving from a base class a new set of classes. This new set of classes may then be defined with the specific methods needed for the enhancement types they support.

Data enhancement engine

The present invention is a set of common utilities, implemented as object classes, that provide common channels of communications among applications that run on a distributed platform. An application developer can program communications interfaces to other applications by creating a single application interface using these utilities. Creating this single interface simply involves abstracting an object class from a base class, and defining a few key methods. The invention allows an application developer to focus efforts on the application itself and rapidly prototype the application, by removing the need to develop communication interfaces with other applications. All requirements for inter-application communications are contained within the common utilities.

Growing community of inventors

Florissant, CO, United States of America

James P Brechtel