Intelligent configuration server

Abstract

An intelligent configuration system automatically logs a sample of a PBX Call Detail Recording (CDR) message. The sample CDR messages are sent via modem from a local call accounting system connected to the PBX to a central configuration server. The configuration server analyzes the sample CDR messages to determine the PBX type. The appropriate PBX interface file for the identified PBX type is transmitted back to the call accounting system and used by the accounting system to interpret and price CDR messages output from the PBX into call accounting and traffic analysis reports. Identification and location data is transmitted from the accounting system to the configuration server. The configuration server uses the data to automatically transmit and update rate tables used in the accounting system.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of configurating a communication system comprising: 
 recording details of the operation of said communication system;    electronically communicating said details of operating to a configuration server;    examining said details of operation and generating identification data identifying said communication system; and    transmitting said identification data to said communication system to facilitate configuration of said communication system.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said communication system includes a computer running a an accounting program said accounting program reformatting said messages into accounting and traffic engineering analysis reports according to said identification data received from said configuration server.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said communication system includes memory for storing a telephone rate table transmitted to said communication system from said configuration server.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the configuration server includes a processor and a memory, the processor comparing the messages received from said communication system to sample messages for different types o communication systems previously stored in the configuration server memory.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein the configuration server memory stores multiple rate tables each associated with a different telephone area code and exchange, one of said multiple rate tables transmitted to said t communication system according to a local telephone area code associated with said communication system.  
     
     
         6 . A system comprising: 
 a telephone call interconnecting system which generates information which identifies characteristics said telephone call interconnecting system;    a server located at a location which is remote from said telephone call interconnecting system;    a communication system for communicating said information from said telephone call interconnecting system to said server;    a program in said server for identifying said telephone call interconnecting system from said information and for generating identification data;    an electronic transmissions system for transmitting said identification data from said server to said telephone call interconnecting system, and    a program in said telephone call interconnecting system for using said identification data transmitted from said configuration server to enable said telephone call interconnecting system to perform subsequent operations.    
     
     
         7 . A method of configurating a communication system comprising: 
 recording details of the operation of said communication system;    examining said details of operation and generating identification data identifying said communication system; and    utilizing said identification information to facilitate configuration of said communication system.