Universal smdr buffer

Abstract

The present invention provides a highly flexible system that can receive SMDR messages in many different formats and process these messages to produce useful reports and control information. The system can collect data via a LAN/WAN connection from PBX systems with internal data storage, PBX systems without internal data storage and legacy PBX systems that are connected to a buffer for storage of SMDR records.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 a first computer receiving from a first device through a first connection a first type of information comprising one of a group consisting of: information pertaining to at least one call center, and information pertaining to call-related metrics;   a web-based host subscription service receiving the first type of information from the first computer through a second connection; and   the web-based host subscription service analyzing the first type of information.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the information pertaining to call-related metrics comprises quality of service information. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the information pertaining to call-related metrics comprises at least one call detail record (CDR). 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the web-based host subscription service generating a report based on the analyzing of the first type of information. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first device is an Internet Protocol (IP) Private Branch Exchange (PBX). 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first connection is one of a group consisting of: an Ethernet connection, a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) connection, a TCP/IP connection, and an RS-232 connection. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second connection is one of a group consisting of: an Ethernet connection, a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) connection, a TCP/IP connection, and an RS-232 connection. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the first computer sending the first type of information to a second computer through a fourth connection, wherein the fourth connection is one of a group consisting of: an Ethernet connection, an FTP connection, a TCP/IP connection, and an RS-232 connection. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the first computer sending results of the analyzing of the first type of information by the web-based host subscription service to a second computer through a fourth connection, wherein the fourth connection is one of a group consisting of: an Ethernet connection, an FTP connection, a TCP/IP connection, and an RS-232 connection. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising a software buffer storing the first type of information. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the software buffer is connected to the first computer through one of a group consisting of: an Ethernet connection, an FTP connection, a TCP/IP connection, and an RS-232 connection. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the software buffer is connected to the first device through one of a group consisting of: an Ethernet connection, an FTP connection, a TCP/IP connection, and an RS-232 connection. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the web-based host subscription service comprises an accounting and productivity service. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein results of the analyzing of the first type of information by the web-based host subscription service comprises call usage analysis reports. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 the first computer receiving from a second device through a third connection a second type of information;   the web-based host subscription service receiving the second type of information from the first computer through the second connection; and   the web-based host subscription service analyzing the second type of information.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the second device is an IP PBX. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the third connection is one of a group consisting of: an Ethernet connection, an FTP connection, a TCP/IP connection, and an RS-232 connection. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the second type of information comprises the other one of a group consisting of: information pertaining to at least one call center, and information pertaining to call-related metrics. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the first computer sending the second type of information to a second computer through a fourth connection, wherein the fourth connection is one of a group consisting of: an Ethernet connection, an FTP connection, a TCP/IP connection, and an RS-232 connection. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the first computer sending results of the analyzing of the second type of information by the web-based host subscription service to a second computer through a fourth connection, wherein the fourth connection is one of a group consisting of: an Ethernet connection, an FTP connection, a TCP/IP connection, and an RS-232 connection. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising a software buffer storing at least the second type of information. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the software buffer is connected to the second device through one of a group consisting of: an Ethernet connection, an FTP connection, a TCP/IP connection, and an RS-232 connection. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the web-based host subscription service generating a report based at least in part on the analyzing of the second type of information.