System and method for controlling redundant components

Abstract

A system for providing control of redundant components is presented. The system includes two resource modules. The resource module is connected to a data bus, but only the active resource module has control of the data bus. Two call processor systems are connected to the resource modules, and the active call processor is connected to the active resource module. A call processor connection client operating on the resource module transmits a connection request message to the call processor systems. A call processor connection server operating on the call processor system can receive the connection request message and assign the resource module active status.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A redundant telecommunication system comprising: at least two resource modules coupled to a data bus, where one of the resource modules asserts control of the data bus;   at least two call processor systems coupled to the resource modules; and   wherein the particular resource module that asserts control of the data bus is assigned active status and is operable to query some or all of the call processor systems and a particular call processor system is assigned active status upon receipt of the query by one of the call processor systems.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein the resource modules are switching modules. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1 wherein the resource modules are telephony support modules. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 1 further comprising: at least two network management servers coupled to the call processor systems; and   wherein the particular call processor system is assigned active status and is operable to query some or all of the network management servers.   
     
     
       5. The system of claim 1 further comprising: at least two signaling interface modules, each signaling interface module coupled to one call processor system and one or more resource modules; and   wherein the call processor is operable to automatically shut down if the signaling interface module associated with the call processor fails.   
     
     
       6. A redundant telecommunication system comprising: at least two resource modules coupled to a data bus, where one of the resource modules asserts control of the data bus;   at least two call processor systems coupled to the resource modules;   a connection client element operating on the resource modules, where the connection client element is operable to transmit a connection request message to one or more of the call processor systems; and   a connection server element operating on the call processor systems wherein the connection server element is operable to receive the connection request message and to designate one of the call processor systems as the active call processor system upon receipt of the connection request message.   
     
     
       7. The system of claim 6 further comprising: two or more network management systems coupled to the call processor systems;   a connection client element operating on the call processor systems, where the connection client element is operable to transmit an active status message to one or more of the network management systems; and   wherein the network management system is operable to receive an active status message from the call processor system and to transmit a primary status lockout message to one or more other call processor systems.   
     
     
       8. The system of claim 7 wherein the two or more network management systems comprise a primary network management system and a secondary network management system where failure of the primary network management system when it is in active mode will result in a change in status of the secondary network management system from standby to active. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 6 wherein the switching module that has control of the data bus is in active mode and where one or more of the other switching modules are in standby mode. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 7 wherein the network management system is operable to cause startup data to be transferred to the call processors, such that if an active call processor fails, a standby call processor can change to active status and receive the startup data. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 6 wherein one or more of the resource modules further comprise a data transfer system that is operable to transfer data from an active resource module to a standby resource module, such that if the active resource module fails, the standby resource module maintains the established telecommunication channels that were being carried by the active resource module without a loss of service. 
     
     
       12. A method for providing a redundancy scheme in a telecommunications system comprising: taking control of a data bus with one of two or more resource modules;   assigning an active mode status to the resource module having control of the data bus;   transmitting an active mode status message from the active resource module to one or more call processor systems;   assigning an active mode status to the first call processor system to receive the active mode status message;   assigning a standby mode status to one or more other call processor systems; and   assigning a standby mode status to one or more other resource modules.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12 wherein taking control of a data bus with one of two or more resource modules comprises: receiving a signal from one of a control bus and a pulse code modulation bus at a switching module; and   transmitting a signal on one of the control bus and the pulse code modulation bus with the switching module if the signal is a null signal.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 12 wherein transmitting an active mode status message from the active resource module to two or more call processor systems comprises: transmitting an active mode status message a predetermined number of times from an active switching module to a first call processor system;   assigning an active status at the first call processor system if the first call processor system receives the active mode status message; and   transmitting an active mode status message the predetermined number of times from the active switching module to a second call processor system if no response to the active mode status message is received at the active switching module.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 12 wherein assigning an active mode status to the first call processor system to receive the active mode status message comprises: receiving the active mode status message at a first call processor system;   transmitting an active mode status message from the first call processor system to a first network server; and   transmitting a standby mode assignment message to one or more other call processor systems from the first network server.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 12 further comprising: assigning one or more predetermined resources to the active mode call processor system; and   processing call data with the active mode call processor system after one or more predetermined resources have been assigned to the active mode call processor system.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 12 further comprising: transmitting system data to the active mode call processor system; and   processing call data with the active mode call processor system after the system data has been transmitted to the active mode call processor system.   
     
     
       18. A method for providing a redundancy scheme in a telecommunications system comprising: gaining control of a first element by a second element;   generating data at the second element in response to gaining control of the first element;   determining a failed third element from the data; and   transferring predetermined standby components to active status.   
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18 wherein obtaining control of a first element by a second element comprises obtaining control of a control bus by a switching module. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 18 wherein obtaining control of a first element by a second element comprises obtaining control of a pulse code modulation bus by a switching module. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 18 wherein obtaining control of a first element by a second element comprises obtaining control of a switching module by a call processor system. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 18 wherein obtaining control of a first element by a second element comprises obtaining control of a telephony support module by a call processor system. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 18 wherein obtaining control of a first element by a second element comprises obtaining control of a call processor system by a network management server. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 18 wherein generating data at the second element in response to gaining control of the first element comprises generating a switching module ready message at a switching module in response to gaining control of a control bus. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 18 wherein generating data at the second element in response to gaining control of the first element comprises generating a switching module ready message at a switching module in response to gaining control of a pulse code modulation bus. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 18 wherein generating data at the second element in response to gaining control of the first element comprises generating a n active status message at a call processor in response to gaining control of a switching module. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 18 wherein generating data at the second element in response to gaining control of the first element comprises generating a configure call processor message at a network management server in response to gaining control of a call processor. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 18 wherein determining a failed third element from the data comprises determining that an active switching module has failed from switching module ready data received from a standby switching module at a call processor. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 18 wherein determining a failed third element from the data comprises determining that an active call processor has failed from switching module ready data received at a standby call processor. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 18 wherein determining a failed third element from the data comprises determining that an active network management server has failed from network management server status data received at one or more switch system elements. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 18 wherein transferring predetermined standby elements to active status comprises transferring a standby switching module to active status. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 18 wherein transferring predetermined standby elements to active status comprises transferring a standby call processor system to active status. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 18 wherein transferring predetermined standby elements to active status comprises transferring a standby interface module and a standby signaling system interface module to active status.