Telecom-database with CDR's

All,

I'm working on a database with CDR's (Call Detail Records). One phonecall to a person generates 1 to n records in this database (with the duration(part) of the call. These records (belonging to one call) do point/refer to eachother, using 2 fields e.g.:

record A (field 1) points to record B (field 2), duration 10 seconds record B (field 1) points to record A (field 2) (yes, is possible!), duration 3 seconds
record C (field 1) points to record B (field 2), duration 23 seconds record D (field 1) points to record E (field 2), duration 7 seconds

etc., so with a picture somethin like:

      *
    / \

• * / / \ * * * / \
  • * / \
    • *

In theory, this could go as deep as .... whatever .

Now I need the quickest way to aggregate the total duration to the top level (the 'first' or 'original' record of the call). So I want to have one record in the database (new table) with the total duration of the whole call, aggregated by the 'original' record.

 I was told that Oracle has something (a function?) called 'Bill of Material'
which can help me with this??? Anyone any idea if this is true, and if yes, how to use it??????

Thanks!

Rgds,
Arjan ... Received on Mon Oct 23 2000 - 12:51:12 CDT