Patent EP0228053A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0228053A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control of real-time systems utilizing a nonprocedural language
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1986-12-19
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A telecommunication system for the switching of voice and data controlled by a computer executing a nonprocedural language that allows for the explicit control of interaction between features by the program scripts executing the programs. The program scripts are written in the nonprocedural language that allows for a state definition, an event definition, and an operation definition which are called triples. The triples automatically respond to the system state and system signal to execute the necessary actions to control the telecommunication system. During the run time of the system, a script whose triples implement a particular feature can control whether or not features of lower precedence are allowed to be implemented by determining whether or not allow the continuation of the processing of the system signals to the scripts of lesser precedence. In addition, a script can control its own deactivation until later conditions are met that allow the deactivation of the script.
Inventors
- 👤 Terris Lee Hansen
- 👤 Wayne Edward Hyatt
- 👤 Wo-Hon Francis Leung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/30; G06F8/31; H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/42; H04Q3/54; H04Q3/545; H04Q3/54575; H04Q3/54583; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for controlling a real-time process utilizing a computer system controlled by program scripts written in a nonprocedural language with each of said scripts defining an operation to be performed by said real-time process, comprising the steps of: executing a first one of said scripts to control a first operation in said process in response to a first signal from said process; directing said computer system to respond to the next sequential signal in said execution of said first one of said scripts to block execution of a second one of said scripts from responding to said first signal; reexecuting said first one of said scripts to control a second operation in said process in response to a second signal from said process; and allowing in said execution of said one of said scripts said second one of said scripts to respond to said second signal thereby performing another operation in said process.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for controlling a real-time process utilizing a computer system controlled by program scripts written in a nonprocedural language with each of said scripts defining an operation to be performed by said real-time process, comprising the steps of: executing a first one of said scripts to control a first operation in said process in response to a first signal from said process; directing said computer system to respond to the next sequential signal in said execution of said first one of said scripts to block execution of a second one of said scripts from responding to said first signal; reexecuting said first one of said scripts to control a second operation in said process in response to a second signal from said process; and allowing in said execution of said one of said scripts said second one of said scripts to respond to said second signal thereby performing another operation in said process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 further comprises the step of: deactivating said first one of said scripts in said computer system by a third one of said scripts; and controlling a third operation in said process by said second one of said scripts responding to said first signal upon the deactivation of said first one of said scripts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
156 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said real-time process assumes a plurality of states and each of said program scripts comprises a plurality of groups of instructions each of whose execution is determined by one of the process states and one of the signals from the real-time process, said executing step to control said first operation comprises the steps of responding to said first signal by one of said groups of instructions of said first one of said scripts upon said process being in one of said states; performing the control of said first operation by execution of one of said program instructions of said group of instructions of said first one of said scripts; and said step of directing comprises the step of stopping further groups of instructions from responding to said first signal by execution of a second one of said instructions of said group of instructions of said first one of said script.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method of claim 3 further comprises the steps of deactivating said second one of said scripts in said computer system by execution of a fourth one of said scripts; generating a deactivate signal upon the execution of the step of deactivating said second one of said scripts; storing a signal indicating that said second one of said scripts is to be deactivated in another one of said process states; and stopping the further processing of said deactivate signal by other groups of instructions of said second one of said scripts in response to said deactivate signal thereby inhibiting the deactivation of said second one of said scripts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said step of deactivating said second one of said scripts further comprises the step of purging said second one of said scripts by another group of instructions of said second one of said scripts in response to said stored signal and upon said process entering said other state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said computer system is further controlled by a finite state machine control program and said method further comprises the steps of maintaining a set of signals defining the present state of said process by said finite state machine program; searching all of said scripts to identify groups of instructions within said scripts whose set of state and signal information matches the present set of state signals and said first signal from said process; and inhibiting further search of said scripts by said first one of said scripts upon finding said first one of said scripts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the step of stopping the further processing of said deactivate signal of said second one of said scripts further comprises the steps of searching for said group of instructions of said second one of said scripts whose state information matches the present set of state signals and responsive to said deactivate signal; finding said group of instructions of said second one of said scripts upon the latter group of instructions' state and signal information matching the present state signals and said deactivate signal; and terminating said search operation based on the match of present state signals and said deactivate signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said step of purging comprises the steps of identifying all groups of instructions of said second one of said scripts by execution of said finite state machine program; and removing reference to the identified groups of instructions used by execution of said finite state machine program.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
389 words
A method for controlling a real-time process having a plurality of states and generating a plurality of signals controlled by computer system executing program scripts written in a nonprocedural language with each of said scripts defining an operation to be performed by said real-time process and each of said program scripts comprises a plurality of groups of instruction each of whose execution is determined solely by said real-time process being in a predefined state and generating a predetermined process signal and said computer system further controlled by a finite state machine program routine, comprising the steps of: maintaining a plurality of identification tables for each process state by execution of said finite state machine routine; storing in each individual table in interscript control preference references identifying the groups of instructions activated by an individual process signal; maintaining present state signals representing the present state of said process by said finite state machine program routine; detecting the occurrence of a first one of said process signals; identifying the set of identification tables associated with the present state as determined by the present state signals; finding a first one of said identification tables within said set of identification tables associated with said first process signal; determining a first group of program instructions of a first program script to be executed utilizing said interscript preference; executing the determined group of program instructions to perform a first operation in said process; directing said finite state machine program to process the sequential next signal by the execution of one of said instructions of said first group of program instructions to block the execution of the next group of program instructions determined in accordance with said interscript preference; detecting the occurrence of a second one of said process signals; reidentifying said set of identification tables associated with said present state as designated by said present state signals; finding a second table within said set of identification tables associated with said second process signal; determining a third group of program instructions to execute within said other identification table utilizing said interscript preference; executing said third group of program instructions to perform a second operation in said process; and allowing the execution of the next group of program instructions as identified by said interscript preference by the execution of one of said third group of program instructions.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
389 words
A method for controlling a real-time process having a plurality of states and generating a plurality of signals controlled by computer system executing program scripts written in a nonprocedural language with each of said scripts defining an operation to be performed by said real-time process and each of said program scripts comprises a plurality of groups of instruction each of whose execution is determined solely by said real-time process being in a predefined state and generating a predetermined process signal and said computer system further controlled by a finite state machine program routine, comprising the steps of: maintaining a plurality of identification tables for each process state by execution of said finite state machine routine; storing in each individual table in interscript control preference references identifying the groups of instructions activated by an individual process signal; maintaining present state signals representing the present state of said process by said finite state machine program routine; detecting the occurrence of a first one of said process signals; identifying the set of identification tables associated with the present state as determined by the present state signals; finding a first one of said identification tables within said set of identification tables associated with said first process signal; determining a first group of program instructions of a first program script to be executed utilizing said interscript preference; executing the determined group of program instructions to perform a first operation in said process; directing said finite state machine program to process the sequential next signal by the execution of one of said instructions of said first group of program instructions to block the execution of the next group of program instructions determined in accordance with said interscript preference; detecting the occurrence of a second one of said process signals; reidentifying said set of identification tables associated with said present state as designated by said present state signals; finding a second table within said set of identification tables associated with said second process signal; determining a third group of program instructions to execute within said other identification table utilizing said interscript preference; executing said third group of program instructions to perform a second operation in said process; and allowing the execution of the next group of program instructions as identified by said interscript preference by the execution of one of said third group of program instructions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: detecting the occurrence of a third one of said process signals; finding a third table within said set of identification tables associated with said third process signal; determining a fourth group of instructions to execute utilizing said interscript preference; deactivating said first one of said scripts by the execution of a program instruction of said fourth group of program instructions; and controlling a third operation in said process by said next group of program instructions of said identification table in response to said first process signal upon the deactivation of said first one of said scripts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said step of deactivating comprises the steps of: generating a deactivation signal; finding a fourth table within said present state's set of the tables associated with said deactivation signal; determining a fifth group of program instructions to be executed from said fourth table; executing a fourth operation in said process in response to said first program instructions of said fifth group of program instructions; allowing the continuation of processing said deactivation signal by the execution of a second program instruction of said fifth group of program instructions; and purging said first script of program instructions upon the allowance of said continuation of processing of said deactivation signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said step of purging comprises the steps of: identifying each set of said identification tables by said finite state machine program; checking each table within the identified set of identification tables for the occurrence of a reference to a group of instructions of said first set of program scripts; and removing the reference of the identified group of instructions of said first set of program scripts from each of said identified set of tables.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said deactivating step further comprises the steps of: generating a deactivation signal; finding a fifth table within said present state's set of tables associated with said deactivation signal; determining the sixth group of program instructions within said fifth table to be executed using said interscript preference; executing said sixth group of instructions to perform the fifth operation within said process; and preventing the execution of the next group of program instructions as determined in accordance with said interscript preference by the execution of a second group of instructions of said sixth group of instructions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said interscript preference is determined by the steps of: identifying for each of said identification tables the groups of program instructions to be referenced by those tables and the corresponding script; and storing the reference to each of said groups of instructions in said identified table in the order in which the scripts are to have preference.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
267 words
A method for controlling feature interactions in a voice and data telecommunication system in response to a plurality of system states and a plurality of system signals by a computer controlled by a nonprocedural language program providing a plurality of features each performing a predefined voice and data service by a series of operations and said program having sets of instructions for implementing each of said features with each of said sets having independent groups of instructions each for performing an individual operation and each of said groups of instructions' execution controlled by an individual system state and an individual system signal and a plurality of control structures maintained by said computer, comprising the steps of: relating individually in each of said plurality of control structures ones of groups of instructions that respond to the identical system state and system signal stimul i in accordance with a predefined preference of feature interaction; identifying one of said control structures in response to the present system state and the occurrence of a first one of said system signals; executing the group of instructions having highest preference referenced by the identified control structure to perform a first feature operation in said telecommunication system; allowing the group of instructions having second highest preference referenced by said identified control structure to execute by the execution of a second one of the highest preference group of instructions; and directing said computer to process the next sequential signal by execution of one instruction of the second highest preference group of instructions to block the execution of the group of instructions having third highest preference.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
267 words
A method for controlling feature interactions in a voice and data telecommunication system in response to a plurality of system states and a plurality of system signals by a computer controlled by a nonprocedural language program providing a plurality of features each performing a predefined voice and data service by a series of operations and said program having sets of instructions for implementing each of said features with each of said sets having independent groups of instructions each for performing an individual operation and each of said groups of instructions' execution controlled by an individual system state and an individual system signal and a plurality of control structures maintained by said computer, comprising the steps of: relating individually in each of said plurality of control structures ones of groups of instructions that respond to the identical system state and system signal stimul i in accordance with a predefined preference of feature interaction; identifying one of said control structures in response to the present system state and the occurrence of a first one of said system signals; executing the group of instructions having highest preference referenced by the identified control structure to perform a first feature operation in said telecommunication system; allowing the group of instructions having second highest preference referenced by said identified control structure to execute by the execution of a second one of the highest preference group of instructions; and directing said computer to process the next sequential signal by execution of one instruction of the second highest preference group of instructions to block the execution of the group of instructions having third highest preference.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 15 further comprises the steps of: deactivating the set of program instructions containing said second preference group of instructions; and executing the third preference group of instructions referenced by said identified control structure to perform another feature operation in said telecommunication system in response to said first one of said system signals and upon said set of program instructions being deactivated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said step of deactivation comprises the step of removing from said plurality of control structures all reference to groups of instructions that make up said set of instructions containing said second preference group of instructions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 16 wherein each of said control structures is associated with one of said system states and each of said control structures comprises a plurality of tables each associated with one of said system signals occurring in the system state of the associated control structure, said relating step comprises the steps of: determining the one of said tables that corresponds to the state and system signal to which individual groups of instructions respond; and storing into the determined one of said tables a reference for each of the groups of instructions for which the determination was performed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said step of deactivation comprises the steps of: generating a deactivate signal; searching for another one of said tables contained within said control structures that contain a group of instructions responsive to said deactivate signal; storing a variable signal indicating that said set of instructions containing said second preference group of instructions is to be deactivated in another one of said system states; and stopping the further processing of said deactivate signal by a group of instructions of said other one of said tables thereby inhibiting the deactivation of said set of instructions associated with said second preference group of instructions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said deactivation step further comprises the steps of: changing the state of said system from the present state to a new system state; and purging said set of instructions containing said second preference group of instructions upon entering said other system state and upon the existence of said variable signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 15 wherein each of said control structures is associated with one of said system states and each of said control structures comprises a plurality of tables each associated with one of said system signals occurring in the system state of the associated control structure, said relating step comprises the steps of: determining the one of said tables that corresponds to the state and system signal response of each individual group of instructions; and storing into the determined one of said tables a reference for the group of instructions for which the determination was performed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said step of allowing comprises the step of obtaining the reference to said second highest preference group of instructions from the table containing said first preference group of instruction contained in the control structure of the present system state; and executing said second highest preference group of instructions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said directing step comprises the step of ceasing to process said system signal by inhibiting the determination of the reference to said third highest preference group of instructions of said table.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
213 words
A computer system for controlling a real-time process by executing a stored program and said process assuming one of a plurality of states and generating a plurality of signals, comprising: said program comprises program scripts written in a nonprocedural language with each of said scripts defining an operation to be performed by said real-time process in response to predefined system states and signals; said computer system controlling a first operation in said process by executing a first one of said scripts in response to a first signal from said process; said computer system further responsive to the execution of said first one of said scripts for processing the next sequential signal thereby blocking the communication of said first signal to a second one of said scripts and inhibiting the execution of a second one of said program scripts; said computer system further responsive to a second signal from said process to control a second operation in said process by executing said first one of said scripts; and said computer system further controlled by said first one of said scripts responding to said second signal for allowing the communication of said second signal to said second one of said scripts thereby enabling said second one of said scripts to respond to said second signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
213 words
A computer system for controlling a real-time process by executing a stored program and said process assuming one of a plurality of states and generating a plurality of signals, comprising: said program comprises program scripts written in a nonprocedural language with each of said scripts defining an operation to be performed by said real-time process in response to predefined system states and signals; said computer system controlling a first operation in said process by executing a first one of said scripts in response to a first signal from said process; said computer system further responsive to the execution of said first one of said scripts for processing the next sequential signal thereby blocking the communication of said first signal to a second one of said scripts and inhibiting the execution of a second one of said program scripts; said computer system further responsive to a second signal from said process to control a second operation in said process by executing said first one of said scripts; and said computer system further controlled by said first one of said scripts responding to said second signal for allowing the communication of said second signal to said second one of said scripts thereby enabling said second one of said scripts to respond to said second signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
76 words
The computer system of claim 24 wherein said program further comprises a third one of said scripts and said computer system upon executing said third one of said scripts deactivates said first one of said scripts; and said computer system further responsive to said first signal to communicate the latter signal to said second one of said scripts for controlling a third operation in said process upon the deactivation of said first one of said scripts.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
84 words
The computer system of claim 25 wherein said program further comprises a fourth one of said scripts and said computer system responsive to a third signal for activating said first one of said scripts in said computer system by the execution of said fourth one of said scripts; and said computer system further responsive to said first signal for preventing the execution of said second one of said scripts in response to said signal upon the activation of said first one of said scripts.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
248 words
The computer system of claim 26 comprises a memory means for storing a plurality of control structures each identified with one of said states and each comprising a plurality of tables each identified with one of said signals; each of said scripts comprises a plurality of groups of instructions each actuated on the occurrence of a predefined state and signal to perform a predefined action; said program further comprises a relating program routine responsive to said groups of instructions of all of said scripts for storing references in each of the tables as defined by the predefined state and signal of each of said groups; said program further comprises a finite state machine program routine to process said signals from said process; said computer system further responsive to the execution of said finite state machine program routine and the occurrence of said first signal for determining the first control structure associated with the present state and the table within the latter structure identified with the first signal; said computer system further responsive to said finite state machine program routine and said determination of the identified table for executing the group of instructions of said first script referenced within said table to perform said first operation; and said computer system further responsive to the execution of one of said instructions in said group of instructions for terminating the determination of further tables within said first identified structure thereby preventing the communication of the first signal to said second script.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
191 words
The computer system of claim 27 wherein said system further responsive to execution of said finite state machine program routine and said second script for determining a second control structure identified with said present state and a second table within the second identified structure identified with said second signal; said computer system responsive to execution of said finite state machine program routine and the determination of second identified control structure and said second table for enabling the execution of another one of said groups of instructions of said first script to perform said second operation; said computer system further responsive to the execution of one of the instructions of said other group of instructions of said first script for continuing the communication of said second signal to said second script by enabling the finite state machine program to search further in said second table to find a reference to a group of instructions of said second script; and said computer system further responsive to said group of instructions of said second script for executing said latter group of instructions to control a process operation defined by said latter group of instructions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
82 words
The computer system of claim 28 wherein said program further comprises a purge program routine and said computer system further responsive to execution of said finite state machine program routine and a group of instructions of said third one of said scripts for enabling the execution of said purge program routine; and said computer system further responsive to the execution of said purge program routine for removing from all of said tables references to said groups of instructions of said first script.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
221 words
A computer for controlling a plurality of features in a telecommunication system by executing a stored program and said system having a plurality of states and generating a plurality of signals, comprising: said program comprises program scripts written in a nonprocedural language with each of said scripts defining one of said features to be performed by said system in response to predefined system states and signals; said computer controlling a first feature in said system by executing a first one of said scripts in response to a first signal from said system; said computer further responsive to the execution of said first one of said scripts for processing the next sequential signal thereby blocking the communication of said first signal to be a second one of said scripts and inhibiting the provision of the feature defined by said second one of said scripts; said computer further responsive to a second signal from said system to control a second feature in said system by executing said first one of said scripts; and said computer further controlled by said first one of said scripts responding to said second signal for allowing the communication of said second signal to said second one of said scripts thereby enabling said second one of said scripts to respond to said second signal to provide a third feature.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
221 words
A computer for controlling a plurality of features in a telecommunication system by executing a stored program and said system having a plurality of states and generating a plurality of signals, comprising: said program comprises program scripts written in a nonprocedural language with each of said scripts defining one of said features to be performed by said system in response to predefined system states and signals; said computer controlling a first feature in said system by executing a first one of said scripts in response to a first signal from said system; said computer further responsive to the execution of said first one of said scripts for processing the next sequential signal thereby blocking the communication of said first signal to be a second one of said scripts and inhibiting the provision of the feature defined by said second one of said scripts; said computer further responsive to a second signal from said system to control a second feature in said system by executing said first one of said scripts; and said computer further controlled by said first one of said scripts responding to said second signal for allowing the communication of said second signal to said second one of said scripts thereby enabling said second one of said scripts to respond to said second signal to provide a third feature.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
73 words
The computer of claim 30 wherein said program further comprises a third one of said scripts and said computer upon executing said third one of said scripts deactivates said first one of said scripts; and said computer further responsive to said first signal to communicate the latter signal to said second one of said scripts for controlling a fourth feature in said system upon the deactivation of said first one of said scripts.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer of claim 31 wherein said program further comprises a fourth one of said scripts and said computer upon executing said fourth one of said scripts activates said first one of said scripts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.