1. A method for handling network accounting information, comprising:
(a) receiving records indicative of network events from an input source:
(b) storing data associated with the records in a table, wherein the table includes a plurality of rows each containing a plurality of columns each including data of a different type, the data of each of the rows expiring after a predetermined time period;
(c) selecting action events based on the input source; and
(d) executing the selected action events on the records;
(e) wherein at least one of the action events is executed to delete the data of each of the rows upon expiring;
(f) wherein multiple action events are executed in parallel;
(g) wherein the action events operate on the network accounting information and are selected from the group consisting of usage metering, reading, tracking, correlating, and aggregating;
(h) wherein the execution of the selected action events includes: discarding records stored dunng the execution of previous action events, parsing configuration data associated with the selected action events, and utilizing the parsed configuration data to repeat at least one of operations (a)-(d);
(i) wherein a configuration event defines a plurality of action events by specifying code capable executing each action event.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the network accounting information Includes a session source, destination, user name, duration, time, date, type of server, and volume of data transferred.
3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein an initialization event is executed fir preparing for the receipt of the records.
4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the initialization event includes reading the configuration data, creating tables, and creating input sources.
5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein creating the input sources utilizes the configuration data.
6. A method for handling network accounting information of any type, comprising:
(a) reading configuration data which defines a table by specifying at least one field identifier and a timeout type and period, the configuration data further defining a plurality of input sources by specifying at least one parameter for each input source, the configuration data further defining a plurality of action events by specifying code capable of executing each action event;
(b) creating the table defined by the field identifier of the configuration data;
(c) initializing the input sources;
(d) receiving records indicative of network events from the initialized input sources;
(e) storing the records in the table;
(f) selecting action events based on the input source associated with the received records;
(g) executing the selected action events on the records utilizing event handlers; and
(h) deleting the records upon expiring in accordance with the timeout type and period of the configuration data;
(i) wherein at least one of the action events is executed to determine whether the data of each of the rows is deleted upon expiring;
(j) wherein multiple action events are executed in parallel;
(k) wherein the action events operate on the network accounting information and are selected from the group consisting of usage metering, reading, tracking, correlating, and aggregating;
(l) wherein the execution of the selected action events includes: discarding records stored during the execution of previous action events, parsing configuration data associated with the selected action events, and utilizing the parsed configuration data to repeat at least one of operations (a)-(h);
(m) wherein a configuration event defines a plurality of action events by specifying code capable of executing each action event.
7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the configuration data is written in an XML format.
8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the configuration data includes an XML header, a tables section, an input section, and an events section.
9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the tables section includes a name attribute, a poolsize attribute, and a flushhandlers attribute.
10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the input section includes a name attribute, a type attribute, and a handlers attribute.
11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the handlers attribute contains a list of events that are triggered when each record arrives at the input source.
12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the events section includes a name attribute.
13. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the configuration data includes a fields section.
14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the fields section includes a name attribute, a type attribute, a key attribute, all overflow attribute, and a comment attribute.
15. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the configuration data includes a timeouts section.
16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the timeouts section includes a type attribute and a period attribute.
17. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the configuration data includes a params section.
18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the params section includes a name attribute and a value attribute.
19. A data structure embodied on a computer readable medium for handling network accounting information of any type, comprising:
(a) a configuration data object which defines a table by specifying at least one field identifier and a timeout type and period, the configuration data object further defining a plurality of input sources by specifying at least one parameter for each input source, the configuration data object further defining a plurality of action events by specifying code capable of executing each action event;
(b) wherein the configuration data object is adapted for being used to create the table defined by the field identifier of the configuration data object, initialize the input sources, and load event handlers with the code included with the configuration data object;
(c) wherein Multiple action events are capable of being executed in parallel;
(d) wherein the action events are capable of operating, on the network accounting information and are selected from the group consisting of usage metering, reading, tracking, correlating, and aggregating;
(e) wherein the execution of the selected action events includes: discarding records stored during the execution of previous action events and parsing configuration data associated with the selected action events;
(f) wherein a configuration event defines a plurality of action events by specifying code capable of executing each action event.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A communication device, comprising a controller element to:
receive a silencing signal from an RFID device of the communication device, the RFID device providing the silencing signal in response to an RF signal received from a remote RF transmitter;
present one or more silencing options in response to the silencing signal;
receive a selection corresponding to one of the one or more silencing options; and
adjust an audible alerting function of the communication device responsive to the selection of the one or more silencing options;
wherein the RFID device comprises a passive RFID device,
wherein the passive RFID device stores the silencing signal in its memory while the communication device is in an off-state, and
wherein the passive RFID device presents the silencing signal to the controller element responsive to an on-state of the communication device.
2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller element presents the one or more silencing options by way of a display of the communication device.
3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the one or more silencing options comprise at least one among a vibration mode, a text mode and an off-state of the communication device.
4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller element adjusts the communication device to at least one among a vibration mode, a text mode and an off-state of the communication device when the selection of the one or more silencing options is not received in a specified time period.
5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the RF signal is a first RF signal and wherein the controller element:
receives a non-silencing signal from the RFID device, the non-silencing signal being provided by the RFID device in response to receipt of a second RF signal; and
adjusts the audible alerting function of the communication device responsive to the non-silencing signal.
6. The communication device of claim 5, wherein the adjustment of the communication device responsive to the non-silencing signal comprises at least one among a ring tone mode and an on-state of the communication device.
7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the RF signal is a first RF signal and wherein the controller element:
receives a non-silencing signal from the RFID device, wherein the RFID device provides the non-silencing signal in response to a second RF signal;
presents one or more non-silencing options in response to the non-silencing signal;
receives a selection corresponding to one of the one or more non-silencing options; and
adjusts the audible alerting function of the communication device responsive to the selection of the one or more non-silencing options.
8. A silencing system, comprising a controller element to transmit an RF signal to an RF receiver of a mobile communication device, wherein an audible alerting function of the mobile communication device is adjusted in response to the RF signal, wherein the RF receiver comprises a passive RFID device, wherein the RF receiver to the mobile communication stores a silencing signal in a memory of the passive RFID device in response to detecting the RF signal when the mobile communication device is in an off-state, and wherein the RF receiver presents the silencing signal to the mobile communication device responsive to an on-state of the mobile communication device.
9. The silencing system of claim 8, wherein the RF signal corresponds to a silencing signal, and wherein the mobile communication device presents one or more silencing options in response to the silencing signal, and wherein the mobile communication device is silenced in response to a selection of the one or more silencing options.
10. The silencing system of claim 9, wherein the audible alerting function of the mobile communication device is adjusted to one among a vibration mode, a text mode and an off-state of the mobile communication device when the selection of the one or more silencing options is not received in a specified time period.
11. The silencing system of claim 8, wherein the RF signal corresponds to a silencing request, and wherein the mobile communication device is silenced based at least in part on a pre-selection of silencing options comprising at least one among a vibration mode, a text mode and an off-state of the mobile communication device.
12. The silencing system of claim 8, wherein the RF signal corresponds to a non-silencing signal, and wherein the audible alerting function of the mobile communication device is adjusted in response to said non-silencing signal.
13. The silencing system of claim 12, wherein the audible alerting function of the mobile communication device is adjusted to at least one among a ring tone mode and an on-state of the mobile communication device in response to the non-silencing signal.
14. A passive RFID device, comprising a controller element to:
receive an RF signal from a remote RF transmitter; and
provide a silencing signal to a mobile communication device in response to the RF signal, wherein an audible alerting function of the mobile communication device is silenced in response to the silencing signal, wherein the silencing signal is stored in a memory of the passive RFID device when the mobile communication device is in an off-state, and wherein the passive RFID device presents the silencing signal to the mobile communication device responsive to an on-state of the mobile communication device.
15. The RFID device of claim 14, wherein the RF signal is a first RF signal and wherein the controller element:
receives a second RF signal; and
provides a non-silencing signal to the mobile communication device in response to the second RF signal, wherein the audible alerting function of the mobile communication device is adjusted in response to the non-silencing signal.
16. The RFID device of claim 15, wherein the audible alerting function of the mobile communication device is adjusted to at least one among a ring tone mode and an on-state of the mobile communication device in response to the non-silencing signal.