Method and apparatus for exchanging administrative information between local area networks

摘要

The system of the invention has particular application to a wide area network (WAN) where call routing information often changes in one local area network (LAN) (e.g. a switching system) while other LANs (e.g. cellular communication systems) are unaware of the changes. Because of the heavy flow of traffic in such networks, the minimization of administrative traffic data is desirable. The invention solves the need for constant updating and auditing of the LANs in the WAN. One LAN is considered the master LAN for a given parameter and contains an accurate directory of administrative data for that parameter. Each of the other LANs operate on the assumption that the administrative or directory information it contains is correct. If this assumption is wrong for a particular parameter and a LAN contains incorrect information, in response to a communication to or from the LAN, the system: 1) recognizes that the information relating to the parameter is incorrect; 2) determines the correct information and completes the communication based upon the correct information; and 3) updates the LAN with the correct information from the master LAN such that the next time the same communication is attempted the LAN has the correct information. In this manner, the LANs are updated on a need to know basis only after an actual communication is attempted thereby eliminating the constant transmission of administrative information between the LANs that exists in the prior art systems.