Modular application software and data providing mobility in telecommunication networks

Claim 10

A system as recited in claim 5, wherein: said means for searching comprises a high speed data link.

Claim 11

A system as recited in claim 5, further comprising: means for retrieving the required data from an identified data manager and writing the retrieved data from the identified data manager to the application module for use during continued execution of said application software.

Claim 12

A system as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for retrieving comprises a high speed data link.

Claim 13

A system as recited in claim 5, further comprising: means for updating the required data in the identified data manager and storing the updated data in the identified data manager for use during continued execution of said application software.

Claim 14

A system as recited in claim 5, further comprising: means for backing up the required data in an identified data manager and storing the backed up data in the identified data manager for use during continued execution of said application software.

Claim 15

A data manager for supporting application modules in application software executable on switching systems located within a heterogeneous telecommunications network, comprising: scheduler means responsive to a request from an application module regarding data in a database distributed independently of said application software throughout the telecommunications network for controlling communications between the application module and said data manager according to a defined protocol; database management means responsive to said scheduler means for storing and retrieving data from a portion of the database located locally in said telecommunications network; directory management means responsive to said scheduler means for identifying other data managers storing the remaining portion of the database distributed at other locations in the telecommunications network and within operational, accounting and maintenance modules; and communications means responsive to said scheduler means and directory management means for searching the other data managers for the data and retrieving the data therefrom for use during execution of said application software.

Claim 16

A data manager for supporting application modules in application software executable on switching systems located within a heterogeneous telecommunications network, comprising: scheduler means responsive to a request from an application module regarding data in a database distributed independently of said application software throughout the telecommunications network for controlling communications between the application module and said data manager according to a defined protocol; database management means responsive to said scheduler means for storing and retrieving data from a portion of the database located locally in said telecommunications network; directory management means responsive to said scheduler means for identifying other data managers storing the remaining portion of the database distributed at other locations in the telecommunications network and within operational, accounting and maintenance modules; and communications means responsive to said scheduler means and directory management means for searching the other data managers for the data and retrieving the data therefrom for use during execution of said application software.

Claim 17

A system as recited in claim 11, wherein said communications means comprises: a high speed data link for searching the other data managers and retrieving data therefrom.

Claim 18

A system as recited in claim 11, wherein said communications means comprises: means for retrieving the data from other data managers and said scheduler means comprises means for writing the retrieved data from said communications means to the application module for use during continued execution of said application software.

Claim 19

A system as recited in claim 11, further comprising: transaction means responsive to said scheduler means for updating the data in the other data managers via said communications means and storing the updated data in any selected one of said data managers.

Claim 20

A system as recited in claim 11, further comprising: recovery means responsive to said scheduler means for backing up the data in the other data managers and storing the backed up data in any selected one of said data managers.

Claim 21

A heterogenous telecommunications network of switching systems, each system having hardware controlled by application software running on an operating system for providing and managing telecommunications services to subscribers independent of other such switching, maintenance and accounting systems, said switching system comprised of a plurality of independent switching modules, each of said switching systems comprising: at least one application module for storing prior to execution said application software, said application software having control instructions and wherein data necessary for execution by said application software is stored in a separate operational, accounting or maintenance module and is independent of other application and data modules in said switching system, said application software operating said application modules by using stored data, wherein said application software is used for providing a set of services to a subscriber associated with said switching system; and at least one resource module for executing the control instructions provided by said application module and controlling hardware thereof to provide the set of services to a subscriber, said resource modules being connected to resources in other switching systems via high speed data links.

Claim 22

A heterogenous telecommunications network of switching systems, each system having hardware controlled by application software running on an operating system for providing and managing telecommunications services to subscribers independent of other such switching, maintenance and accounting systems, said switching system comprised of a plurality of independent switching modules, each of said switching systems comprising: at least one application module for storing prior to execution said application software, said application software having control instructions and wherein data necessary for execution by said application software is stored in a separate operational, accounting or maintenance module and is independent of other application and data modules in said switching system, said application software operating said application modules by using stored data, wherein said application software is used for providing a set of services to a subscriber associated with said switching system; and at least one resource module for executing the control instructions provided by said application module and controlling hardware thereof to provide the set of services to a subscriber, said resource modules being connected to resources in other switching systems via high speed data links.

Claim 23

A heterogenous telecommunications network as set forth in claim 16 wherein said application module comprises: means to access data stored in the hardware controlled by other resource modules within said heterogenous telecommunications network.

Claim 24

A heterogenous telecommunications network as set forth in 16 further comprising: means to make accessible the set of services available to an associated subscriber from a first application module on a first switching to the same subscriber through a second application module on a second switching system when a subscriber is connected to said second switching system.

Claim 25

A heterogenous telecommunications network as set forth in 16 further comprising: means to make accessible the set of services available to an associated subscriber from a first application module on a first switching to the same subscriber through a second application module on a second switching system when a subscriber is connected to said second switching system.