Importance

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Abstract

An ATM billing system includes a data (billing) generator at each slot of an ATM switch, a plurality of billing collectors, and a billing center coupled to the ATM network. The data generators are provided with SNMP communication capability and with a modified TFTP communication capability. The data generators monitor the MIBs in their respective slots in ATM switches and, in particular, monitor the contents of tables which contain accounting information. When a table is 90% full, the data generator sends a trap to the billing collector associated with the particular switch and the billing collector sends a TFTP GET request to the data generator. The modified TFTP protocol in the data generator creates a pseudo filename, generates TFTP data packets containing the entire contents of the MIB billing table, and sends the packets according to TFTP protocol to the billing collector. The billing collector uses standard TFTP protocol to receive the TFTP packets and assemble them as a file which is stored. Upon successful receipt of the billing data, the billing collector sends the TFTP acknowledgement to the data generator and the data generator deletes the records in the MIB table for terminated calls. The billing collectors periodically read the billing data files and convert the data contained therein to a format which is suitable for the billing center.

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First Claim