Processes and apparatus for maintaining data concurrence between

Abstract

Data concurrence processes and systems for maintaining concurrence of parallel sets of data stored in telecommunication Network Elements. According to a preferred embodiment of such processes, an originating entity such as a Service Node sends a Request Message to a Network Element such as a Source Service Control Point in order to update data on that Source. The Source then sends a Request Message to the other Network Element, such as a Target Service Control Point, in order to update the parallel data contained in that Service Control Point. The Network Elements whose data are updated may send appropriate Result Messages in order to verify integrity of the data. Synchronization according to the preferred embodiment is preferably implemented by time stamping particular data in Request Messages at the first level, such as in the Service Node; the Request Messages and the updated data, together with Result Messages, then contain that time stamp which greatly simplifies reconciliation and verification efforts. The processes and apparatus also allow resynchronization of the data to occur at desired predetermined intervals, as well as data updating to occur during Area Transfer Operations in which particular subscriber data is being transferred from one mated pair of Network Elements to another. These data concurrence processes and systems are particularly useful for implementing new services such as Personal Number Calling services in an intelligent telecommunications network, because they allow updating of the parallel databases quickly, efficiently, and with a minimum of required coordination, management and opportunity for lost communications, stale data, and mishandled call processing.